Handheld Ebook Reader – Your Own Portable Library
Anybody who loves books should have a handheld ebook reader. Books are heavy, something everyone has learned if they have ever moved. A small box of books can weigh more than larger boxes. Readers have had to deal with this problem for a long time. Now, they have the chance to carry their whole library in a half-pound device.
The books of the future are here now. They do not need paper, which is great news for our environment. There is a large movement supporting the use of resources which can be reused. Ebooks have made it possible to reduce our dependence on trees by reducing the need for paper.
Right now three major companies dominate the Ebook market. This is great news for readers, because these companies are very competitive. Each of the companies is helping to turn the ebook readers into excellent products for the general consumer.
The technology that has made this revolution possible is called the e-ink display. Essentially, these displays are electronic paper, with the look of real ink on real paper. This type of display does not have a back-light, which is commonly used for cellular devices. In a way, this makes the devices more like real paper, because a reader needs tohave a light source.
One nice feature of these displays is that they do not bother your eyes the way other electronic displays might. Plus, the e-ink makes the screen seem similar to normal paper, but it has a secret weapon. The size of words can be adjusted, depending whether a reader would like bigger words or smaller.
The Amazon Kindle 2 has the largest market presence right now. This device comes in one of two different sizes. It uses a complimentary wireless network to place orders and download ebooks.
The Sony Reader is one of the Kindle’s biggest competitors. The Kindle costs more than the Reader, giving the Reader a small advantage. On the other hand, Sony does not have as many books available for its device as Amazon does.
Barnes and Noble recently released their own device called the Nook. Everyone who loves books recognizes the Barnes and Noble name, and many believe the Nook will become more popular than the Kindle. Barnes and Noble offers the largest selection of books. In addition, the Nook has a color display which is touch sensitive. It seems to be a very strong competitor.
People who love to read have cause to be happy. Gone are the days of carrying heavy books from house to house. A handheld ebook reader can keep thousands of books in a small, easy to carry device.
Handheld Ebook Reader Customer Reviews
Reviews from Amazon.com
Love Kindle 2!, March 2, 2009
I’ve been holding out for a long time on the digital reading because it’s such a huge investment, but I’m so happy with my Kindle 2. Here are some major highlights:
- Screen: I know some people are really upset about the no backlight issue, but I’m glad because it is not as straining on my eyes as a computer screen. You can buy a booklight to clip to the cover for less than $10. I read for 2 hours in the middle of the night last night and my husband never knew, and my eyes didn’t hurt.
- Large selection: there aren’t many things I’ve wanted for the Kindle that I haven’t been able to find. Plus, many classics can be purchased for $1 or less, if you can’t find it for free. The ability to sample the materials before buying is also great. Keeping up with the news much more with the Kindle also.
- Highlight/edit: Sunday at church I got to add sermon notes to the text with the annotation function. I have also been able to highlight/annotate for book club. I am really enjoying this feature.
- Size/weight: fits much better in my purse than other books. I get a lot more reading done than I used to because I’m not having to decide whether or not I can lug around a huge volume.
My only complaints are that it is still so expensive and I wish there were more low-cost reads available. I don’t think anything should cost more than $10. But overall, it is fantastic, I love it, and I can’t imagine going back!
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Absolutely have NOT put it down since it got here!!, February 24, 2009My new Kindle 2 arrived at 430p local time & I am already finishing up one book & planning on reading another one I have been wanting to get to forever TONIGHT!!! I am an avid reader but the prospect of carrying my over 6000 volumes is daunting. I can honestly say after today, I cannot forsee having that problem in the future!!! The screen is amazing & the one thing that kept me from reading on into the night constantly eyestrain is NO LONGER a CONCERN!!! I splurged for a beautiful Cole Haan leather case for it & that’s worth every penny as well. The interface is near perfect, I have already sent 2 documents for conversion over to it & they converted beautifully & I cannot WAIT to see what else
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Goodbye paperbacks, hello Kindle, February 27, 2009My Kindle 2 arrived yesterday and I wanted to post a review before I forgot my initial impressions. The first thing I noted was the shipping package. It appeared to be in the standard Amazon brown box that all Amazon shipments come in, but upon closer look I saw that it was a custom package exclusively for the Kindle. The brown box had a pull tab to ease opening, no need for a cutting tool. Next to the pull tab were the words “Once upon a time…”. Cool.
The interior packaging was black and stylish, but it could have been a brown paper bag for all I cared. I opened it and looked at the Kindle. Right on the Kindle’s main screen is all you need to know to get the device setup. Basically, just plug into the wall to start charging and flip the switch to start using. It is that simple.
There was a Getting Started document and guide as well as a welcome letter, but after glossing over these quickly I found I didn’t need much help. You can pretty much figure everything out by just trying the buttons.
I went to the Kindle Store and noticed that it had a list of suggestion based on my past Amazon purchase and viewing history. Nice touch as I was able to easily find a book that I had intended to purchase. I clicked that books link, hit buy and within a few seconds I had the item in my library.
Reading on the Kindle 2 is practicaly effortless. With no previous experience with Kindle, I was still able to feel comfortable reading and paging within minutes. I read while exercising, lying in bed and on the train ride to work this morning. You really do forget the device is there. The reading experience is much easier than flipping through a dog-eared paperback. I am happy with my purchase knowing I got the best digital reading device on the market today.
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Great in so many ways!!!, March 22, 2009There were many reasons I decided to purchase a Kindle -- my hands ache when holding a book open, I get headaches from reading stuff on the computer, I wanted something I could throw in a bag and take anywhere, and it holds so many items that I don’t have to carry three or four novels with me in case I’m bored or finish one. Nothing could prepare me for the actuality that is Kindle. It integrated seamlessly into my life. If I’m at the desk, it’s beside me; if I’m in the bedroom, it’s on the nightstand; I even take the silly thing to the john. It’s so much easier than a book.
I expected it to be a little awkward at first, but it really *does* get lost in your hands. Suddenly, you look down after a couple of hours of reading, and realize you’ve been holding it all along and forgotten all about it. I expected to read novels and blogs on it. I never expected to be able to download all the .pdf technical manuals that I constantly have to weed through on the computer. I work effortlessly now, looking at the computer, working through a segment, picking up the Kindle, searching for what I need in the manual, even highlighting it, or putting a note in the manual about how well it works.
Note taking is my big thing. When I’m looking at a book, I always find note-taking to be an instinct I have to avoid. I see it as a destructive process. I don’t want to ruin my books. Further, who can really concentrate on what they’re reading with a pen in their hand? It’s two different mindsets. Yet, with Kindle, I do just that. I read a segment, I find a passage, I underline it. I have an opinion, I drop in a note. A question equals another note. When I don’t understand something, the dictionary is right at the bottom of the screen to define the word or teach me how to pronounce it; or I can surf to the web and find exactly what I need.
It’s so much better than surfing the web on my phone -- and far more practical. For one thing, there’s no charge except battery power (no pun intended!). For another, all of my research is in one place. The book, notes, websites and highlights are all together -- as they should be.
I know a lot of people complain that it should have a bright screen so that you can read it at night, or that it should have color. I say -- nay! The main *strength* of Kindle is that it reads *exactly* like a book. No eye strain. No having to turn away every few minutes to relax your eyes; or ending a session of reading with a headache. No “hot lap” or mousing around to find the right page. It’s just like a book. You hold it, you turn the page, it’s effortless, you forget it’s there. Only what you’re reading matters, and that’s exactly how it should be.
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