I was doing some research on this and was quickly overwhelmed by the amount of matterial on Ebook readers. However, there is a guide to help you to sort through the sales pitches and glitter of these products to find the "right one for you".
Here are the key point
1. What does it look like? Readers are fairly large while others ar small and sleak. It is something to consider depending on where you might be carrying it.
2. Screen size. Have a screen size about the size of an Ipod and others are almost the size of 8 x 11 sheet of paper.
3. Greyscales. Is there difference in grayscale or just one. This could make reading colored print more difficult if just one.
4. Connectivity. How does the reader connect and with who. Most have a WiFi connection which means you need a wireless service. Others will take a download from your computer through a cable. It pays to check.
5. Memory. Some readers can hold several hundred books. Others you can swap memory cards like in camaras. Again it depends on what you wish to do with it. Also bear in mind that some of these can receive emails and documents send electronically. so the person who is very moble can keep up.
6. Ability to edit. Some are now offering these feature as an option.
7. Battery. How many pages can you view before the battery goes dead. Also remember you have to charge witrh a computer and a USB connection.
8. Weight. Some readers are very lightweight others are not. Think about where you will be carrying this device.
9. Audio. Some readers will read you books to you if you buy them that way.
10. Input device. Most readers require a computer to recharge and upload or download information.
11. Screen refresh. How often does the screen refresh and how long. Blinks can be annoying when you are trying to read something.
12. File formats supported. Some readers handle as many formats as an computer does. again thing about how you are going to receive the material on your reader.
13. Release Date. This technology is changing fast so you really need to think about getting the "latest" release.
14. Cost. This I put last because there is a world of difference in cost of these devices, More features and memory, the more dollars.
I used this site for my information. http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/09/25/compare-and-contrast-ebook-readers-with-the-e-book-reader-guide/
In my next post terminology of ebook readers
I'm glad that this is your topic because I really don't know what an e-book reader even is besides what I looked up on wikipedia and read on your blog. Hopefully by the end of this blog topic i'll know more about them, but from what I have gathered from your research they seem pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am working on acronym page. I hate to admit it, it is not easy to make some of this simple.
ReplyDeleteI have created a square using Eric's tools to come up with a pretty easy to understand chart.