From Pages to Pixels

E-Books Are Changing the Way We Read

Readers today can find themselves facing a technological conundrum. While many book lovers treasure traditional books, electronic devices, designed to make reading more comfortable and accessible, are hard to ignore. For some, there’s nothing like the sensation of holding a book and feeling the paper as the pages turn. Printed books will always have emotional, if not monetary, value as collectibles. And they certainly aren’t going anywhere.

These days there are countless options of things to download and read on our phones and tablets, but dedicated, handheld electronic book readers, often called e-readers, offer text and lighting customizations and many other conveniences to enhance the reading experience. Nonreflective, electronic ink displays give them a paper-like look and make it easier to read outdoors compared with reading on a phone or tablet. And, dedicated e-readers present fewer distractions — you won’t be interrupted by notifications, calls, or texts.

Over the past few years, the price of e-readers has fallen while the hardware has improved. High-end features, such as backlit, high-resolution screens and waterproofing, are standard. If you don’t have an e-book reader, there’s never been a better time to invest in 1.

E-Readers Edge

• Portability: E-readers are lightweight and can store thousands of books.
• Customization: Most allow you to adjust the font and size, background lighting, etc. They can make reading accessible for individuals with visual impairment by providing text-to-speech and other customizations.
• Searchability: E-readers’ built-in search functions mean you can easily find a favorite quote or passage in the book.
• Built-in resources: Dictionaries and thesauruses allow for immediate definitions.
• Environmentally friendly and affordable: No trees are harmed in e-book production, and they usually cost much less than traditional books.

Which 1 Is Best?

Amazon Kindle is synonymous with e-reader for good reason. According to both Wired magazine and The New York Times Wirecutter, the Kindle is the most affordable, best, and easiest choice for reading electronic books.

• Amazon Kindle: With a 6-inch screen and a high pixel density for sharper text, the least expensive Kindle — around $100 on Amazon — offers just about all the advantages of the more expensive e-readers. If you’re planning on reading outdoors this summer, it’s worth the extra charge, roughly $50, to upgrade to the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite with its better lighting options.
• Rakuten Kobo: Japanese retailer Rakuten currently offers six Kindle comparable e-readers ranging from $110 to $400. The Libra 2 has a physical page-turn button and Bluetooth support, so you can connect headphones and listen to audiobooks.
• Barnes & Noble Nook: The book retailer’s e-reader features a touch screen and page-turning button, as well as the ability to annotate and highlight text. The devices start at around $100. As an added perk, Nook owners can read the complete contents of any book for free while in stores for 1 hour per day.