The price of books has increased over the years, and along with that the prominence of e-books and e-readers has only grown. Some might argue that reading real books is much better than using a piece of technology, and while that may be true, e-readers have a lot of great benefits that you would never have with a real book. For one thing, it’s really handy to have hundreds of books on just one, lightweight device that can fit into any bag without you ever even noticing it’s there. It’s great for if you’re moving, and even better for traveling.
However, with the increase in popularity for e-readers there are now so many options to choose from so it can be hard to decide what you actually want to use as your e-reader. Here are the top e-reader options, prices and what you can get out of all of them.
iPad
Although this is not inherently an e-reader, if you already have an iPad you may not even need to purchase one. With an iPad you have the ability to use the Kindle app, as well as iBooks. Additionally, if you’re subscribed to certain libraries then they may have apps where you can gain access to e-books as well.
This is kind of an all-in-one, and if you already have it, fantastic! You can stop reading here. However, if you don’t and you’re looking for an e-reader, an iPad may be overkill.
Kindle Fire
The Kindle Fire is probably the next most popular version of an e-reader for a couple of reasons. Costing only $50, this is a very cost-effective option, although it isn’t nearly as versatile as the iPad, however as of recently the newest version of the Kindle Fire does in fact have a selection of free apps, making it far closer to the iPad than any other e-reader of its time for the still ridiculously low price.
Made by Amazon, the Kindle Fire is most compatible when you’re buying e-books off of Amazon. If you’re looking to get them elsewhere that’s where this may fall short.
NOOK GlowLight Plus
Made by bookstore chain Barnes & Noble, the NOOK costs a fair bit more than the Kindle Fire, at $130. The NOOK is very sleek and durable, but doesn’t have nearly as many features as the other e-readers, so why it costs quite so much is a little confusing. This does have a long battery life, but other than that it’s not the best option out there. But, if all you want are books and something elegant and fashionable, this may be the choice for you.
When it comes to choosing an e-reader, it all comes down to personal preference and what you’re intended uses are. Some options may be better than others for you but not necessarily your friend. However, with the increasing popularity of e-books nowadays, your options are only ever going to go up.
You really need to mention when and why e-ink readers are so much better. I took one on holiday for three weeks. Mine is waterproof, glows nicely in the dark and the battery was barely half-used after reading 10 books. It’s also perfectly readable in full sunlight.
You’re right, the benefits are immense. I haven’t read a “dead tree book” in years.