E-readers
16 Jul 2013
Tired of lugging around a heavy book? E-readers weigh in at a fraction of the weight of just one book, and you’d be unlucky to run out of reading material.
What is an e-reader?
Also known as an e-book reader or e-book device, e-readers are electronic devices used for reading digitally published books, or e-books. While many devices can fulfil the job of displaying e-books, e-book readers are designed for maximum portability, battery life and readability.
They are not to be confused with tablets.
E-readers’ displays are optimised for reading while preserving battery life. Tablets perform multiple functions meaning they are larger, have significantly lower battery life and are not optimised for readability.
Weigh it up
Pros
- Adjustable font size
- Thousands of books in one device
- Lightweight and small
- Battery life of more than a week
- E-books generally cost less than half the price of a traditional book
- Saves paper
Cons
- Doesn’t have the touch, feel and smell of a traditional book.
- E-readers are less forgiving of coffee/tea spillage – falling asleep while reading in the bath is risky business.
- You don't have the satisfaction of building a physical library.
- An author cannot sign an e-book.
Reviews
On a budget: Sony Pearl eReader (Model PRST1BC) $79
A Sony product at the lower end of the price chain, the Sony Pearl is a lightweight (168g) six-inch, no frills touch screen e-reader that does exactly what you would expect. A word of warning, inexpensive e-readers are built with hardware that sometimes struggles to keep up with your hand gestures, so you may encounter freezing that can be frustrating.
Mid-range: Kobo Touch eReader $129
Ease of navigation and readability are the main attractions here, with book covers instead of text links used, and the ability to sort books into different ‘shelves’. Avid readers can get three weeks usage out of the Kobo Touch before needing to recharge the battery.
High-end: Kindle Keyboard 3G $189
Produced by the online giant Amazon, Kindle is the number one brand e-reader. The Kindle is simple to use its readability is on a different level. Holding up to 3500 books at any one time, you will never be without reading material. At just 241g and 1cm thick, the Kindle is lightweight and easily transported. With an hour of use per day, the battery should last a full month before needing a charge.
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