E-readers are not quite books, but most use some form of electronic ink to mimic books, right down to the ability to mark your place by virtually turning down page corners. The advantage over books is that you can carry a thousand tomes in a tiny reader, and search for passages as you would on a computer. Unlike on a computer, a battery charge can last weeks.
When it comes to pure e-readers, those monochromatic slates that are just for consuming books and magazines, there are still a lot of features to consider before you buy.
The first consideration is size. Which is more important to you, portability or large print? Screen sizes range from about 5 inches, around the size of a trade paperback, to about 10 inches, approximately the size of a hardback.
But the largest screens aren’t necessarily the easiest to read – there is also the matter of resolution, which affects how sharp the text looks. For instance, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite has a 5-inch screen, but rivals 10-inch readers with its 1,024-by-758 screen resolution.
The readers have to connect to the Internet to download books, but the method affects the price. Wi-Fi-only models tend to be less expensive than those that also connect over the 3G phone network. The Paperwhite is available with Wi-Fi only for $120, or with a 3G connection for $180. The spontaneity of 3G’s ability to download books anytime and anywhere is attractive, but since the reader is estimated to hold more than 1,000 books at a time, with a little planning you won’t run out of reading material between nearly ubiquitous Wi-Fi hotspots.
Another consideration is if you like to read in the dark. Screens that are not illuminated, like that of the bargain $100 Nook Simple Touch require a light source, like a regular book. The similar Nook Simple Touch With Glowlight ($120) has its own light. But that will drain the battery more quickly.
There are readers with even more advanced features, like color screens – better for enjoying magazines – that allow readers to also watch video, listen to music, browse the Web and send e-mail. But arguably those machines, like the $200 Kindle Fire HD, cross the line from e-reader to tablet.
Gadgetwise Blog: Print to Pixels: Picking an E-Reader
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Gadgetwise Blog: Print to Pixels: Picking an E-Reader
