It is more convenient to read electronic versions of books on a special gadget – Book Reader. Now we will tell you how to choose it, what parameters are important in this case and what you should pay attention to when buying.
E-book: what is it
This is a special device resembling a tablet, which is intended for reading books, magazines, newspapers, etc. It has fine settings for brightness, size, typeface, backlighting, as a rule, it supports many different formats, both popular and rare.
Reader will be a good alternative to a smartphone if you do not want to be distracted while reading by notifications, calls, messages in instant messengers, etc. Or if you are looking for a useful gadget for your child. Of course, an e-reader is much more convenient than a PC, because it has a proportional screen, and the eyes do not lose lines.
How to choose an e-book
Now let’s figure out how to choose an e-book so that it will most likely suit you for reading. Different manufacturers offer a fairly rich assortment, and in order not to get confused, the choice should be made according to certain parameters, for a start we will list them:
- The type of screen is a matrix display device, which determines the clarity of the transmission of letters and, as a result, the degree of stress on vision.
- Dimensions – Acceptable dimensions dictated by the screen diagonal that is easy to view on the page.
- Supported Formats – The ability of Reader to open a book saved in any extension.
- Memory – the amount of internal storage.
- Control – there are both touch devices and push-button devices.
- Wi-Fi – the device supports Internet access.
Now let’s take a closer look at each parameter.
The display can be:
- With a TFT-matrix – it is glossy, equipped with perpendicular illumination (when the rays are directed into the reader’s face), inexpensive, quite clearly conveys letters. At the same time, it tires the eyes, shines in the sun and reflects surrounding objects.
- With E-Ink-matrix – a display of a new generation using “electronic ink”. Possesses the highest clarity (even with multiple magnification, characters do not lose their shape), perfect for sensitive eyes, does not tire the eyesight, matte, does not create glare, holds a charge for a long time. At the same time, it is rarely combined with backlighting (which makes it impossible to read in twilight and darkness), very fragile, non-budgetary.
- With Triton matrix – color analogue of the previous version. It can convey all the beauty of children’s books with illustrations, so it will be a great gift for a younger student. Also does not let the eyes get tired, demonstrates high definition. However, it is not cheap, and the performance leaves much to be desired: a new page does not load immediately, but in 0.05 seconds. This seems like a negligible amount, but it is actually very annoying in the process of reading, especially if the display size is small and you have to scroll often.
The backlight can be of two types:
- perpendicular – when the light is directed into the reader’s eyes;
- lateral – when the rays “slide” over the screen, and their source is in the sidewalls of the device.
Undoubtedly, the second is preferable, especially if you have vision problems or you have to master a large amount of literature. The rays themselves can be either standard cold or warm. The latter are much more comfortable perceived in a dark room, do not suppress their brightness.
The diagonal of the e-book is of great importance – it depends on how convenient it will be for you. You have to choose from the following:
- Six inches is the most popular option to duplicate pocket-sized paperback books. It is quite easy for the eyes to follow the lines, the gadget can be taken with you wherever you go, it is not hard to hold in your hands, you can simply pick up a cover for it.
- Eight inches – in case you are showing yourself a large print due to some peculiarities of vision or reading educational literature with a lot of visual materials that should be carefully considered. It is difficult to take such a Reader on trips, it requires a shockproof case and a separate bag for transportation, you will have to put it on your knees or some kind of support, because your hands will get tired very soon.
- Ten inches – such a specimen is not easy to find, and it is very expensive. It makes sense to buy it for professional editors who study illustrated publications: magazines, comics, catalogs.
The resolution of an e-book must be high enough, otherwise its main advantage over a regular tablet or smartphone is lost – a low load on vision. Three options are usually offered:
- 1440 by 1080 dpi;
- 1024 by 758 dpi;
- 800 by 600 dpi.
All of them are equally comfortable for reading plain text, but the first two are better at displaying pictures or drawings.
The amount of flash memory affects the number of books that will fit on the device. Their weight largely depends on the extension, as well as on the illustrative support. Basically, 2 GB is roughly a thousand files. If you do not plan to part with publications, you read a lot, then it is better to purchase a Reader with a slot for a USB flash drive. Be sure to ask what storage limit is compatible with the gadget. Some models do not work correctly with drives of 32 GB or higher.
Pay close attention to the processor frequency and the amount of RAM – these are exactly the indicators that determine how quickly the pages are loaded and displayed (and we have already mentioned above that e-books do not differ in speed due to the characteristics of the matrix). Minimum requirements: 1 GHz frequency and 512 MB of RAM – this will ensure proper performance.
The battery capacity should start at 1600 mAh – e-books normally work offline from fourteen to thirty days. How often you need to charge your Reader, you yourself will understand during operation. Much depends on the individual settings and the intensity of use. If you constantly need bright lights and read for several hours a day, the battery charging routine may become weekly.
Some models provide an Internet connection and Wi-Fi connection – in this case, you can download books from various sites. However, even with a browser, viewing other pages in the e-book is not very convenient. The only exception is a device with a TFT matrix. If there is no access to the network, then you will have to use another method of downloading files:
- via USB – connect the book to the computer and transfer documents;
- through dedicated applications – some models, such as the Kindle, offer special programs that are installed on the PC and allow you to share files.
Book management can also be different:
- touch screen – pages are scrolled with just your fingers, like in a smartphone;
- stylus – the screen reacts only to the touch of the stylus, which excludes accidental flipping;
- buttons – also for protection against unintentional touches.
There are no special recommendations on how to choose the right one – take what is more convenient for you personally. Perhaps the push-button option will be the best if you are going to present the gadget to an older person who finds it difficult to work with a touch screen.
You can also purchase additional accessories for the book:
- protective case – the more often you leave the house with an e-book, the more durable it should be;
- headphones – if the model provides for the sound of works;
- external USB lamp – for books without illumination.
Be sure to check that the device supports popular formats : FB2, EPUB, MOBI, TXT, PDF, DJVU, DOCX. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a situation where the work you like exists in a single extension, namely your book refuses to read it.
Based on these tips, you can easily find the right Reader from a variety of different brands and modifications. If you have already bought an e-book, then write in the comments, where did you choose and are you satisfied with your gadget?