Having worked in a book store for 3 years, I swore I would never buy an eReader – and then I tried one. Everyone I know who has bought one has loved it, even my mom has become a recent convert and totes her Kindle everywhere. An eReader is portable, compact, environmentally friendly, and very convenient. But what really is the best one to go with? What should you be looking for? We’re going to take a look at some of the most popular eReaders in a two part series….
The Kindle from Amazon has always been a popular eReader. It has some very solid features and prices start at around $115. The newest release is advertised as having 50% better contrast, which is a big deal with e-Readers. Though you can’t get your email or play games on the Kindle, it does have Wi-Fi or 3G connection for downloading books and checking facebook.
One of the biggest things that users enjoy is that the battery will last up to a month. For an eReader this is phenomenal, especially compared to the Kobo, which lasts for 2 weeks and the Nook, which lasts for just 10 days.
The Kindle has a 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology; you can read in bright sunlight with no glare. They advertise a sleek new design and improved fonts for clarity. It only weighs 8 ½ ounces which is less than most paperbacks. It will hold 3,500 books which is twice what some eReaders offer.
The Kobo eReader also runs around $120, making it one of the least expensive eReaders around. Their Ink Technology gives you book-quality printing with no backlight, glare, or reflection on a 6-inch screen (reducing the strain on your eyes!). They also advertise all-new and improve flexible fonts that are very easy on the eyes and offer a choice between serif and sans serif styles in five type sizes.
The Kobo eReader comes pre-loaded with Borders Desktop App making it easy to shop for eBooks, organize your library, and download content. Another feature that users enjoy is the Quilted Back, which gives users a comfortable touch experience. It offers easy navigation through text and books.
The Kobo measures approximately 4.7 x 7.2 x 0.4 inches, and weighs less than 8 ounces. With the 1 GB Memory, you can carry up to 1,000 titles wherever you go but it also has an SD memory card for additional storage. The Kobo eReader lets you wirelessly connect with select smartphones via Bluetooth, and update your reading list no matter where you are. The battery will last up to two weeks.
NOOK
The NOOK eReader is advertised as being Just-Like-Paper Reading Experience. It offers best-in-class E Ink® display with text as crisp and clear as a printed page. The 16-level gray scale display offers great contrast with no glare or backlight so you can read your favorite novel even in bright sunlight. This is an important feature to consider when purchasing an eReader.
The NOOK runs around $150 to $200 but does have 2GB of memory so you can store up to 1,500 books, magazines and newspapers. It also has a SD memory card slot for additional memory. They allow users to browse and buy from their extensive collection of over 2 million books, including over a million free titles and others priced at $9.99 or less. You can sample a book for free and then download it wirelessly in seconds.
One of the cool features that may catch on with other eReaders is the ability to sync the last page you read on your NOOK or NOOK app with another device. For instance, if you stop reading on page 85 of your NOOK, you can automatically open to the same place on your iPad, iPhone or Android-based smartphone using NOOK apps.
The NOOK has a catchy Easy-To-Use Color Navigation Panel that makes navigating through book titles and pages easy. The battery life is only 10 days, which is on the short side for an eReader.
The Kindle, Nook and Kobo are some of the more popular eReader options currently available, but definitely aren’t your only options. Check back later for Part II, focusing on some great eReader alternatives.
Do you have an eReader? Would you go back to paper books? Which eReader do you prefer? Comment below, drop us a line, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
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