Because of this I decided to write this short beginners guide to reviewing an eReader. Here are the 7 most important things you need to know before making a decision:
1. Display - Since this device is used for reading it is important to have a good display. Most eReaders today use E Ink technology which makes the screen look like real paper and is less straining on the eyes. Make sure the display is big enough and that there are no reflections coming of the screen as this could be a problem when reading outdoors.
2. Compatibility - Find out which types of file formats does the eReader support. Some readers will support only specific formats where others will support a wide variety. The Amazon Kindle, for example, doesn't support PDF files but has an option that lets you convert PDF files into Kindle format whereas the Sony PRS-700 supports PDF files, Doc files and more.
3. Battery life- extremely important. You want to be able to read without having to recharge your device every 2 hours. An average device should hold up at least 25 hours before needing to recharge.
4. Availability of books - The Amazon Kindle store holds over 250,000 books. The Sony store holds over 100,000 books. Check out how many books will be available to you in according to the supported file types. You don't want to get stuck with a really neat eReader but no eBooks to read.
5. Warranty - since these are new gadgets that are still not fully explored they will sometimes have bugs and glitches. Therefore it is important to have at least a 1 year warrant for cases of "bad luck". Some stores allow you to increase your warranty at additional cost, I find this option extremely wise.
6. Size - you want to be portable. Especially if you're on the road a lot. Make sure you eReader is small enough and doesn't take much space. Also make sure that it isn't too small so you will still be able to read off it easily. Regarding weight the average eReader should weigh around 300gr (10 ounces).
7. Customer reviews - Probably the most important thing to remember. Since most of these gadgets are bought online you have access to hundreds of customer reviews. Make sure to go over them before deciding in order to succeed were others have failed. Here at eReader Central we supply you with full customer reviews at the end of each of our product reviews.
That's it. If you went over these 7 aspects you're 95% covered. I wish you the best of luck in finding your perfect eReading device.
Matt Palen is the editor of eReader Central, a website dedicated to eBook Reader reviews, eBook reader comparisons and updates.
earbud Headphones
Posts
