How to Choose?
- Readers' needs are different: one size does not fit all; your mileage may vary...
- Devices are more than the sum of specifications: experience, bookstores, vendor
- Design tradeoffs: no 'perfect' information device/system
- Models, features, prices, reviews change (check my OLLI course for details and updates)
- Total cost of ownership: device, accessories, content, time (advertising?, poor u.i.), ...
Features
- weight, portability, battery life, speed, storage, connectivity (USB, WiFi, 3G, 4G)
- display: size; contrast; brightness (indoor vs. outdoor use); black&white vs. color
- content: E-books-only, or E-books, apps, media; storage capacity
- ease of use; keyboard and/or buttons vs. touch and gestures
search, definitions, annotation, bookmarks, fonts, ...- reliability, support, upgrades; E-book availability, formats, stores, libraries
- DRM (Digital Rights Management) limitations: sharing, lending, voiceover, ...
Paper
- look, feel, smell
- no batteries required, though you may need reading glasses and a lamp
- read books of any size, from any bookstore
- no DRM: loan to any friend, for as long as you like
General Devices
- eReader apps available
- laptop, desktop: too large?
- smart phone: too small?
- eReaders (eInk) and Tablets: just right? -- highlight "major" ones, with iPad focus
eReader
- examples: Kindle Touch, Kobo Touch, Nook Simple Touch
- black&white "eInk" display
- E-book-only; internet?
- buttons/keyboard; newer: touch interface
- battery life: weeks
- cost: $80-$140
Tablet
- examples: Apple iPad, Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox, Nook Tablet
- color (LCD) display
- E-books, movies, apps, web/email
- touch/gesture interface
- battery life: hours
- cost: $200-$250 (7"); $500(10")
OLLI E-books: [Features] [Tablets and eReaders] [Google Books] [iPad] [Kindle] [Kobo] [Nook] [Overdrive] [Other]