Choosing best e-reader_notes
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The document provides information to help readers choose the best e-reader for their needs, discussing factors like budget, intended use, reading environment, and source of ebooks. It outlines options ranging from basic e-ink readers starting around $69 to full-featured tablets up to $849. Each device is summarized, noting features such as screen size/resolution, storage, battery life, and ease of accessing the library ebook collection. The document recommends making a priority list and trying devices in person to find the best fit.
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Choosing best e-reader_notes
- 1. Choosing the Best E-Reader for Your Reading Needs Kathy Petlewski, Electronic Resources Librarian Plymouth District Library Dec. 2012 Lets talk about. Your Budget! Dedicated e-readers can range from $69 up to $300 for e-ink (black & white) devices. Color e-readers associated with book sellers (Kindles and Nooks) list from $139 to $499. Color tablets (iPad, Nexus, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface) cost between $199 and $849. What do you want to do with your e-reader? Only read e-books, either purchased or borrowed from a library. Read e-books and listen to some e-audiobooks. Read e-books but also be able to get e-mail and go on social media sites like Facebook & play games. Read e-books, play games, use a full-blown web browser, and also view movies & TV shows. Do all of the above, plus Skype, take photos and do word processing tasks. Will you be reading at night or during the day? Do you plan to only purchase e-books or do you want to borrow from the Library? Who will be using the e-reader/tablet? Are you the only person that will be using your device, or are you planning to share it with another adult or child? If so, the Kindle Paper White has parental controls and the Nook HD can have several different accounts on the same device. How Will I Get My e-Books? Purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, or iBooks. Download free or inexpensive books from Project Gutenberg, Smashwords, or OpenLibrary.org. Borrow OverDrive e-books free of charge from your local library. PDL is part of a 25-member consortium for e-books and audio e-books. These books are provided by OverDrive in several formats: EPUB & PDF for e-readers and WMA & MP3 for iPods and MP3 players. E-books are single user licenses, so you must place a hold on books that are checked out electronically. Titles are checked out for either 7 or 14 days. After that time they will cease to work. Downloading E-Books from PDL Some Devices are REALLY Easy with OverDrive Android tablets (Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy Tablet and Droid smart phones ) have a free OverDrive app at the Marketplace. iPads, iPhones & iPod Touch use an app from the Apple App Store. Get the Nook Color and Nook HD Tablets app from Barnes & Noble. Once the apps are installed, you can download your ebooks directly to your device.
- 2. Some Devices are Easier than others with OverDrive Kindle Fire 2 and Kindle HDs have full browsers, so you search the OverDrive site, check out your titles and download them from the same device using wifi. Once you check out your title on OverDrive, you are taken to the Amazon site where you log in and complete your downloading from that screen. The entire process is done wirelessly. Some Devices are Fairly Easy to use with OverDrive. Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle 2012 and Kindle Keyboard dont have full browsers, so you must do your OverDrive searching and check out process using a desktop or laptop computer. After your title is checked out, youre taken to the Amazon site where you select your device and tell it to download the title. Your e-book is downloaded wirelessly to your device if you are connected to wifi. Some Devices are Not That Easy with OverDrive! With the Nook Simple Touch and Simple Touch with Glowlight, you must also use a laptop or desktop computer to search, checkout and download e-books from OverDrive. You must download first to your computer and then transfer the titles using a USB cable to your device Adobe Digital Editions software must also be installed on your computer. What is available on the market and things to consider in making your selection. least expensive e-ink devices Kindle 2012 - $69 Nook Simple Touch - $99 No audio No audio Wi-Fi, 3G optional Wi-Fi only 2GB Memory 2GB Memory (1 GB storage) micro SD 3-8 week battery life card slot for 32 GB Weighs 5.98 oz. 800 x 600 resolution Supports parental controls 3-8 week battery life experimental browser Weighs 7.48 oz. No touch screen controller No browser available special offers on cheapest model. No landscape mode 6 inch e-ink devices with features Kindle Paperwhite $119 Nook Touch GlowLight - $119 No audio No audio Wi-Fi, 3G optional Wi-Fi only 2GB Memory 2GB Memory - micro SD card slot 1024 x 758 resolution 800 x 600 resolution 3-8 week battery life 3-8 week battery life
- 3. Weighs 7.5 oz. Weighs 6.95 oz. Front lit, high resolution screen. Front lit screen No support for EPUB format No browser available Parental controls No landscape mode Kindle Fire Color e-Readers Fire 2- $159 & up Fire HD - $199 & up 7 display 14.1 oz. Either a 7 (13.9 oz) or 8.9 (20 oz) Wifi display. Supports 3rd party apps. No SD slot, but Amazon Cloud Storage 2 speakers, audio jack and mic. 2 speakers, mic, Bluetooth, front 8-9 hours battery life. camera Costs more to remove ads. 16 GB memory minimum Great for movies! Supports 3rd party apps. 9-11 hours battery life. Nook Color & Nook Tablet Nook Color - $139 Nook Tablet - $159 & up 1024 X 600 res. 1024 x 600 res. 7 display, 15.8 oz. 7 display, 14.1 oz. 8GB memory & microSD card slot 8 or 16 GB memory & microSD card 1 speaker for audio slot. Wifi, full web browser 1 speaker for audio 8 hour battery life. Wifi, full web browser Parental controls 11 hour reading battery life Parental controls Nook HD and HD+ Nook HD - $199 & up Nook HD+ - $269 & up 1440 x 900 res. 1920 x 1280 res. 7 display, 11.1 oz. 9 display, 18.2 oz Dual-stereo speakers Dual-stereo speakers 8GB or 16GB memory 16GB or 32GB memory Parental controls Up to 10 hrs. reading Email & Calendar Syncing Create up to 6 profiles Great kids learning apps! Email & Calendar Syncing Stunning video display.
- 4. Android Tablets Google Nexus - $199 & up Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 - $249 (low as 1280 x 800 res. $179) or $400 ($299) 7 display, 12 oz. 1042 X 600 res. or 1280 x800 8 GB or 16 GB memory 7 display, 12.2 oz. or 10, 1.25 lbs 10 hours of e-reading 8 - 16 GB but has slot Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS Android 4.0 OS Wifi & Bluetooth Front & Rear cameras Speaker & audio jack Dual speakers & jack Front-facing camera Wifi & bluetooth iPad & iPad Mini iPad 4th Gen. - $499 & up iPad Mini - $329 & up 2048 x 1536 res. 1,024 x 768 res. 9.7 display, 1.4 lbs 7.9 display, 10.8 oz Front & rear cameras with video 16 GB & up 10 hour battery life Front & rear cameras with video Dual core processor 10 hour battery life Speaker & audio jack Speaker & audio jack Largest app selection Wifi 4G & LTE optional Wifi 4G & LTE optional Great app selection! Wrapping It Up Lots of others on the market, but these are currently the most popular ones. Make a list of your priorities when looking for an e-reader. Then narrow your choice down to those that meet that criteria. Its best to actually have a hands-on demonstration of the device so you can see if you like the feel of it. Realize that something flashier will be released soon, but the products out today are better than those from last year.