How to choose an e-book

We are lucky to live in a time of technology where we don’t have to hoard hundreds of books at home to read once and then dust off. We don't need to carry paper publications with us and be afraid of getting them dirty or torn. You don’t need to turn on a flashlight under the blanket secretly from your parents to read a couple of pages of an exciting novel before bed. And don’t worry about how many people have a book from the library in their possession.

Now it’s enough to buy one device and not collect dust on bookshelves. There is no need to be afraid of tearing the book and using a flashlight or lamp to see the letters.

The e-book has come to our aid and has become an integral attribute of a person who loves to read. It is also an excellent assistant for business people - you can read business or developmental literature anywhere. Only, you need to choose it correctly so that the battery doesn’t let you down and your vision doesn’t go bad. We will tell you how to do this here.

Criterias of choice

Like any other technology, an e-book also has criteria for selection. Each manufacturer makes models that are different in functionality and quality. And since the e-book has come to replace PDF books on tablets and smartphones, the quality of the screen plays an important role. Unlike a smartphone, there is no flicker in an e-reader, which negatively affects vision. But still, the screen of all models is different, and you need to be able to choose a good one.

IMPORTANT! E-books are equipped with built-in memory up to 8GB. This is enough for a small library.But if you need more, buy a memory card.

Criteria by which you need to choose an e-book: format and size, screen quality and resolution, functionality and battery, price and manufacturer.

Size, format

For reading outside the home, a size of 5 inches is suitable. The book is considered a pocket book, but is not suitable for long-term reading. 6-7 inches are frequently purchased options. They are convenient for home and travel. But a 7-10 inch screen is considered a home book. It is inconvenient to move.

Pay attention to the format, the most common are EPUB, TXT, HTML, CHM, PDF, FB2, DOC, RTF. If you upload a file of a different format, you will need to download and configure a special program. If this does not suit you, look for an e-reader with advanced functionality.

Screen quality, resolution

There are 2 types of screens - electronic ink and LCD monitor. The first option is as close as possible to the paper version. It is safe for the eyes, as there is no flicker, and it is easy for the eyes to focus on the text without straining themselves. Good resolutions for electronic ink: from 800 x 600 to 1600 x 1200 pixels. Anything smaller will look more like a newspaper than a book.

ADVICE! Choose from the Pearl HD or Carta generation of e-ink readers.

An LCD monitor is a liquid crystal display that looks more like a smartphone screen. This screen does not have the effect of a paper edition, it is cheaper and more common than electronic ink.

IMPORTANT! LCD monitors produce flicker that can irritate your eyes. With constant long-term reading there is a risk of vision deterioration.

Although the screens of both models glow, they are different backlights:

• with electronic ink for highlighting text;
• On an LCD monitor, the backlight forms the image.

Feature set, battery

Less energy is wasted in models with electronic ink. As a rule, these models are more expensive, but they also hold a charge longer.

Keep in mind that not all e-books have the ability to download files from the Internet. Therefore, it is important to clarify this issue with the seller. For convenience, it is better to buy a model with Internet access and the ability to download material.

REFERENCE! The first e-books were equipped with buttons to turn on and turn pages. Today, touch options have appeared with the ability to customize the font.

Manufacturer, cost

Choose large, well-established manufacturers in the market. Their products won't be cheap, but they'll be worth it.

A good electronic ink model requires high-quality materials and a competent selection of the hardware platform. This is important because the models are quite slow and fragile. Therefore, we need durable materials and the ability to design the screen so that it does not get damaged under daily stress.

Top Brands:

• PocketBook – available for 6,990, 12,190 and 15,990 rubles;
• Amazon Kindle – 7,990 and 25,990 rubles;
• Digma – 7,350 rubles;
• ONYX BOOX – 10,190, 14,490 and 39,990 rubles;

ATTENTION! Prices are for different models of a particular brand and may change over time.

So, we found out that the best solution is to buy an e-book with electric ink. It is healthy, economical and comfortable, because you can read it even in direct sunlight.