What are eReaders?

eReaders, also known as eBook Readers, are a type of tablet style device who's primary function is to display digital versions of books. (Click here if you are unfamiliar with eBooks.) the eReader market currently has three major competitors, and numerous smaller ones. The three big guys are the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook, and the Apple iPad, and I'll be focusing on these today.

Digital books allow you to carry dozens, if not hundreds of books with you on one device smaller and lighter than even most magazines. They display the book, and often have other features as well like Internet capabilities, music playing, etc. When people ask if they should get an eReader, I often ask one simple question, "Do you want to be able to carry books with you wherever you go on one device?" If so, I then go down the list of a few potential negatives: Your "book" has a battery that needs to be charged. If you drop your "book" it could break, and potentially be very expensive to fix or replace. You have to turn off your "book" when taking off or landing in an airplane. You'll have to learn how to use your "book".

If you're undeterred after that, then you're probably a good candidate for an eReader, and then the next thing to consider is which one? I fully admit that I have brand biases, so I'm not going to go into reviews and recommendations, but here's a list of things to consider and compare when shopping for an eReader:

• eInk or LCD
• Battery life
• More than just reading (aka "apps")
• Size of the screen
• Weight of the device
• Selection of books
• Price

For example, if you prefer eInk (where the screen looks like print on paper) to LCD (where the screen looks more like a typical electronic's screen) for reading, you're looking for an inexpensive way to get into eReaders, and you just want books, no Internet or anything else, you might consider the Amazon Kindle. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a tablet that does much more than just books, has an LCD screen, and has a large screen, you might prefer the Apple iPad. Like I always say, read reviews, ask your friends if they have any person experience, and never rush into a purchase.

Practical Tip of the Day:
Older books that have fallen into public domain are always free to download. Never read Dracula? Here's your chance- for free! Current books are sold at a much cheaper rate than their printed cousins, and you can even check digital books out from your local library! How cool is that? Consult your owner's manual and/or your local library for details on how to "check out" digital books, and if you find yourself using the library regularly for your eBooks, consider making a donation to them.

What Are eBooks?

We all (hopefully) know what books are. You know, those things with ink on paper all collected together? They used to be the bee's knees, but now it seems like you can hardly find them. Even when you can find a book store, they seem more interested in showing you their new eReaders for their eBooks. First of all what's with "e"? The beginning "e" simply means electronic. It's the same "e" as in "email".

Knowing that we can now establish that eBooks are electronic books. Why would someone want an electronic book? Well, have you ever tried to carry around a copy of War and Peace with you to read when you have some free time? On the other hand, you can have that and dozens of other books on one eReader (the thing that lets you read the eBooks) that weighs almost nothing and fits easily into a purse, backpack or breifcase. Waiting for your oil change? Read a few pages. Child FINALLY went down for a nap? Read a few pages. You catch my drift.

So why aren't people buying these things up? Well, they kind of are, but some people are die hard paper-books-only people. There's nothing wrong with physical books. I enjoy having them, and you can't beat that book smell! I'll go over some of the benefits of eBooks here, but by no means think that I'm saying eBooks are better the paper books. You already know (hopefully) the benefits of paper books.

My favorite thing about eBooks besides the size and ease of transportion is how easily you can interact with the book. Have you ever been reading and run into a word you don't know? Most eReaders allow you to select a word and look it up in the built-in dictionary. (You have to admit that's pretty cool!) I also like that you can usually highlight text you want to remember or set bookmarks to help you get back to important parts. I never mark up my real books (it's heresy to me), but throwing a fake highlight onto a line I want to tell a friend about makes me share my reading experience a lot more. I also love that you can increase the size of the text on the book. I wear glasses so if I'm reading a paper book I have to hold the book away from me, but if I have my glasses off I have to have the book three inches from my face. With an eBook, I can increase the text so I can hold it a comfortable distance away.

Now for the downsides. eBooks have batteries. Real books never need to be charged. Cost- eReaders are usually $100 or more. That'll buy you a lot of real books! Screens- Some people complain about reading on a screen. The majority of popular eReaders use eInk (I think you can figure out what that is) which simulates the look of real ink on real paper. Most people find that this doesn't bother their eyes, but some do. (I'm one of them that can't stand it for some reason.)

Before you go out and buy a Kindle or a Nook though, I do have to point something out first though. You may already have an eReader! There are programs you can put on your computer if you felt like reading a book on your computer screen, and most "smart phones" and tablets can also display eBooks. I personally read primarily on my iPhone for example. So, if you already have an electronic device, check and see if it has eReader capability first.

Practical Tip of the Day:
If you have a device that can read eBooks, check out classical books first. Most older books like Dracula are free, so you can catch up on those books-you-don't-want-to-admit-you've-never-actually-read without spending any extra money!