|
|
eBook readers - the electronic way to read books - are gaining ground on their paper counterparts. Here are some of the best.
Amazon Kindle 3
Pros
The Kindle is fast becoming the iPod of the eBook world. Amazon may not have been the first, but each Kindle is slicker than the last and the third generation model is slimmer (8.5mm), lighter (241 g) and far cheaper than ever before. The 6in e-ink screen is still the best in its class, pages change extremely quickly, battery life is enhanced (9000 page turns) and integration with the Kindle eBook store is class leading. A further bonus is the ubiquitous Kindle app which works with every major mobile phone platform. This lets you wirelessly synchronize the progress of your reading between multiple devices on the move.
Cons
Extending the Apple analogy, the Kindle could be more open. The store may be well stocked, but the lack of ePUB support (the equivalent of the MP3 in eBook terms) means you are limited in where else you can buy eBooks.
http://kindle.amazon.com/
BeBook Club
Pros
Those looking for a simple, i eBook reader will find it is hard to beat the BeBook Club. It features a wide range of format support, including ePUB, and leads the way with an incredible battery life that lasts up to 12,000 page turns - enough to get you through War and Peace 10 times. A nice extra is that the Club also works as a simple MP3 player, capable of handling MP3 and WAV audio files. While internal memory is just 512MB, an SD card slot allows it to be expanded by 4GB.
Cons
The downside of Club's simplicity is that it's also rather basic. There is no WiFi or 3G, so all content must be transferred by USB cable, and budget cuts can be seen in a screen which only supports eight shades J of grey compared to the 16 of the Sony and Amazon readers. At 278g it also hasn't transferred its reduced functionality into weight savings.
http://mybebook.com
Sony PRS-650 : Touch Edition
Pros
For those with money to burn, the PRS-650 is the eBook reader to get. Build quality is outstanding and its tasteful mix of metal and plastics outclasses the Kindle while weighing less (215g). The 6in display is bright and sharp and, surprisingly for a touchscreen e-ink device, the screen is extremely responsive. Battery life is also excellent, lasting up to 10,000 page turns, and book selection is wide thanks to ePUB format support. For those who want to keep the touchscreen clean, a stylus is neatly fitted into the casing.
Cons
Price is the barrier here. Sony may have built a flashier eBook reader than the Kindle, but it is virtually twice the price. Worse still, it comes without both WiFi and 3G, meaning eBooks must be loaded by linking to a computer. The 2GB of native storage is also half that of the Kindle, though it does have an SD Card expansion slot.
http://sony.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Drop in Your Comments, Problems, Suggestions, Praise, Complains or just anything.
We are always excited to hear from you.
Don't post rude or nasty comments. Ethnic slurs, personal insults and abuses are rather uncool. Criticize, but know where to draw the line.