Electronic reading devices are rapidly increasing in popularity for both casual readers and avid bibliophiles. However, it can be difficult to navigate the technical specifications and different features to identify which ereader is the right one for you. If you're thinking about buying an ereader but confused by all the tech talk, the following explains in plain English the features and benefits of the four most well-known ereaders: Amazon Kindle 3.0, Barnes & Noble Nook, Nook Color, and Sony Reader.
Kindle 3.0
Sold by: Amazon
Price: $139
At 6”, the Kindle 3.0 has one of the smallest display screens. One of the first ereaders available, the newest version of the Kindle uses Pearl e-Ink for easy reading and sharp contrast. Kindle 3.0 includes a web browser and built-in Wi-Fi for connecting to public and private hotspots. With 4GB of internal memory, the Kindle 3.0 can hold 3,500 books. Weighing only 8.7 ounces, it's the lightest and lowest-priced of the ereaders. The Kindle 3.0 does not have a touch screen and no expansion slots for additional memory. Read-To-Me feature allows the Kindle to read newspapers, blogs, books, and magazines out loud. The Kindle 3.0 does not have sharing features, so you won't be able to lend or borrow books with fellow Kindle users.
Nook
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Price: $149 Wi-Fi only; $199 Wi-Fi with 3G
The original Nook, like the Kindle, has a 6” display screen. While the Nook has a web browser, it is still a basic beta version. The Nook also has significantly less memory than the Kindle – 2GB vs. 4GB – and can hold 1,500 ebooks. However, the Nook includes a Micro SD expansion slot, which can hold a 16GB card and increase storage capacity to 17,500 ebooks. The Nook uses e-ink for easy reading.
Nook Color
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Price: $249
A bit bigger than its sister, the Nook Color has a 7” LCD display screen, making it much more like a computer screen than a traditional ereader. The Nook Color includes the features of the regular Nook, but also boasts a VividViewTM Color Touchscreen Display. The Nook Color claims the largest internal memory; with 8GB, it can hold up to 6,000 ebooks. It also has a memory expansion slot for a 32GB Micro SD card. The Nook Color features the capability of sharing updates on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
Sony Reader Daily Edition
Sold by: Sony
Price: $299.99
The 7” display includes an easy-to-use touchscreen. The Reader doesn't include a web browser and is meant to be used strictly as a repository for reading materials. The 2GB of memory allows the user to carry 1,200 books, but dual memory card expansion slots increase the the possible memory to 50,000 ebooks. The Reader does not have lending capabilities, nor does it feature Text to Speech like the Kindle.
While every ereader is different, one feature is the same between all devices: they all provide a portable reading experience. It's up to each person to decide what he or she wants that experience to be.
Kindle 3.0
Sold by: Amazon
Price: $139
At 6”, the Kindle 3.0 has one of the smallest display screens. One of the first ereaders available, the newest version of the Kindle uses Pearl e-Ink for easy reading and sharp contrast. Kindle 3.0 includes a web browser and built-in Wi-Fi for connecting to public and private hotspots. With 4GB of internal memory, the Kindle 3.0 can hold 3,500 books. Weighing only 8.7 ounces, it's the lightest and lowest-priced of the ereaders. The Kindle 3.0 does not have a touch screen and no expansion slots for additional memory. Read-To-Me feature allows the Kindle to read newspapers, blogs, books, and magazines out loud. The Kindle 3.0 does not have sharing features, so you won't be able to lend or borrow books with fellow Kindle users.
Nook
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Price: $149 Wi-Fi only; $199 Wi-Fi with 3G
The original Nook, like the Kindle, has a 6” display screen. While the Nook has a web browser, it is still a basic beta version. The Nook also has significantly less memory than the Kindle – 2GB vs. 4GB – and can hold 1,500 ebooks. However, the Nook includes a Micro SD expansion slot, which can hold a 16GB card and increase storage capacity to 17,500 ebooks. The Nook uses e-ink for easy reading.
Nook Color
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Price: $249
A bit bigger than its sister, the Nook Color has a 7” LCD display screen, making it much more like a computer screen than a traditional ereader. The Nook Color includes the features of the regular Nook, but also boasts a VividViewTM Color Touchscreen Display. The Nook Color claims the largest internal memory; with 8GB, it can hold up to 6,000 ebooks. It also has a memory expansion slot for a 32GB Micro SD card. The Nook Color features the capability of sharing updates on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
Sony Reader Daily Edition
Sold by: Sony
Price: $299.99
The 7” display includes an easy-to-use touchscreen. The Reader doesn't include a web browser and is meant to be used strictly as a repository for reading materials. The 2GB of memory allows the user to carry 1,200 books, but dual memory card expansion slots increase the the possible memory to 50,000 ebooks. The Reader does not have lending capabilities, nor does it feature Text to Speech like the Kindle.
While every ereader is different, one feature is the same between all devices: they all provide a portable reading experience. It's up to each person to decide what he or she wants that experience to be.
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