4 Popular eBook Readers That Aren't The Amazon Kindle
An eBook reader can make reading much more enjoyable, but there are a few things to know about these popular eBook readers.
Popular eBook readers like the Amazon Kindle have inspired a ton of knock-offs as well as a few great competitors. If you're interested in finding a great eBook reader but you don't want a product like the Kindle, you might have considered a few of these popular alternatives. However, there are a few things to know before you buy.
This seven inch eBook reader displays books in brilliant color. For only $99, it's giving eBook readers Nook Color a run for its money. However, if your main purpose in buying an eBook reader is to read text-only books (as opposed to children's books or magazines), there are a few problems to think about with this color screen. First of all, glare can be an issue, so you might have trouble reading in direct sunlight. Many book fans don't like eBook readers without e-ink or some comparable technology, either, as they don't really look as sharp. Still, it’s a great product if you feel that you need color, and it only costs about $100. This Fuji Labs model comes with 2GB of memory, enough for a lot of books but not really a ton of high-quality pictures.
The Next2 Tablet is a good representative of a growing number of tablet PCs that claim to be eBook readers. The iPad is probably the best example; these are devices that might have a ton of other functions, but they throw "eBook reader" onto the product's description to sell more. There’s nothing wrong with that if you can make a good eBook reader, but as the Next2 only has PDF support, it’s not the most capable eBook reader on the market. Still, it’s got an impressive 11 hour battery life, which is an area where Tablet PCs usually fall behind. Only consider the Next2 if you want a tablet computer rather than an eBook reader.
The Aluratek Libre isn't as flashy as the first two entries on our list, but that's just fine for an eBook reader. Its electronic ink technology looks great when you're holding it in your hands and it works very well as a plain text eBook reader. The built in mp3 player is also a nice touch, but there are a few quibbles. The Libre only offers 24 hours of battery life, which isn't particularly great for a black and white eBook reader. Also, it's only $20 less than a refurbished Barnes and Noble Nook or Kindle, both of which offer much better online options, better battery life, and a better selection than the Aluratek Libre. In other words, not bad, but it could be better.
This eBook reader from Sony has a few great things going for it. It’s small (though just a tad bulky), it has a great looking black and white screen, and most importantly, it supports a ton of different formats including ePub and PDF. That means that it stands up to a lot of the other eBook readers on the market. It also boasts a great battery life and extras. This is one of the best eBook readers on the market that doesn’t come from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and it’s a great first choice.
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