Are your books piling up at home and you don't know where to put them? Perhaps it is the right time to purchase one of the best ebook or electronic book readers. There is a large catalog of models on the market to choose from.
Since they were created, they have evolved a lot. Most of them have left physical buttons behind to make way for touch screens that improve the user experience. Now, there are basic models that aim to facilitate electronic ink reading, while other models go one step further and will allow you to perform more tasks. So pay attention to this guide to choose your ideal book reader, as it will help you select the model that best suits your needs.
What to look for when choosing an e-book reader
There are different aspects of an e-book reader that you should take a good look at before taking the step and getting one model or another. What is the measurement of your screen; how much internal memory it has; What file formats are compatible and what extras each model offers you.
Screen
The screen of an e-book reader is essential. Typically, these are between 6 and 10 inches in size. And the technology used is known as electronic ink. This technology emulates printed paper and is less harmful to the eye than the screens of mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets.
Likewise, you should pay attention to the brightness offered by each panel – important if you usually read outdoors in full sunlight – and whether the response time is high or low. The latter will confirm whether when you turn the pages of the book you are reading you will see a lag –small delay– or it will move fluidly.
You should also not miss if the screen has some type of lighting that makes it easier for you to read books at night or in spaces with less light than usual. This will also make your eyes less tired and you will not have vision problems in the future.
Internal memory
Another aspect that you should take into account is the internal memory offered by that model you have your eye on. Although it is true that electronic books are files that take up very little, the more internal memory, the larger your digital library can be.
Meanwhile, there are models that offer the possibility of adding external storage through the use of memory cards – usually in microSD format. And this is not only positive for being able to store more digital volumes, but it will make it easier for you to transfer files between your computer and the e-book reader.
In general, current models on the market usually have a minimum of 8 GB of internal space, although it will be easy to find equipment that doubles or triples that space.
Supported formats
Leaving aside technical characteristics, one of the aspects that you should place the most emphasis on is the complete list of formats supported by that model in question. The most common format is EPUB. However, models as popular as the Amazon Kindle are not compatible with it.
Now, there are models on the market that will allow you to read – or consult – PDF documents. This format is usually used in manuals or technical documents, in general. And these do tend to take up more space than usual. Therein lies the importance of having an e-book reader with good internal storage.
wireless networks
Although not all models on the market are available with many connections – that is what tablets are for – it is true that some e-book readers offer the possibility of connecting to WiFi networks. So that? Well, among other things, to be able to download books wherever you are.
On the other hand, and you will discover it later, you can also get book readers that allow you to take notes freehand with the help of a pointer. And these notes can later be shared with your contacts. Hence you need an Internet connection.
Audiobooks are booming. Manufacturers know this and many of the models on the market are compatible with audio files. Therefore, if you are one of those users, a Bluetooth connection to be able to pair your headphones wirelessly will not be superfluous among the technical characteristics of your ideal e-book reader.
Ebooks that are also electronic notebooks
The e-book reader sector has evolved, with models reaching the market that also allow it to be a complete digital notebook where you can take notes and synchronize with popular services such as Google Drive, DropBox or OneDrive from Microsoft.
This is the case of Remarkable, a digital book reader with tablet capabilities to write down everything you want. What's more, the company launched an accessory for those users who are more intensive when it comes to typing: a protective case with an integrated keyboard.
But this model is not the only one of its kind. You can also find the Kindle Scribe or the Boox Note Air. The latter with an electronic ink screen but in full color. What's more, you will have access to the Google Play application store to be able to use it as a conventional tablet. Of course, all these models exceed 350 euros and you must be very clear about it when purchasing one of them.
Meanwhile, if your use is going to be more conventional, you have several Kindle or Kobo models that for just over 100 euros you will have a very portable device that offers a good user experience.
