The e-book market began to develop actively after 2007, when the E-ink technology was introduced to the world. The first devices had minimal differences, which hardly affected the choice of the buyer. The technologies were gradually refined, which allowed manufacturers to periodically expand the range of their books. At the same time, the selection process became more complicated, because the buyer already had to take into account many parameters. Now, when purchasing an e-book, you need to pay even more attention to details.
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The matrix
The main advantage of e-books was originally a screen based on special E-ink. They minimized eye strain so that vision was maintained without sacrificing reading frequency and duration.
In total, 3 generations of E-ink screens were presented :
- 1st generation (Vizplex) – had a resolution of 800 × 600 pixels and a low contrast ratio of up to 7: 1;
- 2nd generation (Pearl, Pearl HD, Carta, Carta HD) – received a resolution of up to 1404 × 1872 and a contrast ratio of up to 15: 1;
- 3rd generation (Triton 1, Triton 2) – color screens with a resolution of up to 1600 × 1200 and displaying 4096 colors.
The most common screens in modern e-books are E-ink Carta HD. Also in the new models you can find improved color E-ink Kaleido, released in 2020. They have a resolution of 1448 x 1072 pixels and will be useful when reading technical literature, comics, or magazines. It is not recommended to consider models of books with a TFT matrix, as they lose their main advantage – the eyes get tired when using them.
It is also worth paying attention to the screen substrate material . Plastic is considered more impact-resistant when compared to glass. However, with careful use, they have the same durability.
Display dimensions and backlight
Most models of e-books are equipped with 6 ” displays , which is quite enough for reading fiction. In cases where you need to work with technical documentation or open comics and magazines, it is worth considering devices with a 10.3 ″ screen. They are expensive and not so convenient if you need to carry the book with you. A good compromise in this regard would be the 7.8 ″ models that have become popular in recent years. They are optimal for reading any literature and are convenient for use outside the home.
Backlighting is often present even on budget devices. It can be classic and adjustable. In the first case, the screen is always highlighted in white. In the second, the user can adjust the color temperature by adjusting the hue for the time of day. It is better to set light colors during the day, yellow at night. The backlight makes the book more comfortable to use.
Appearance and management
A wide range of models on the e-book market allows you to take into account when choosing their appearance. They can differ in the material of the case , which affects the strength, the thickness of the frames, which affects the ergonomics, and the coating, which improves the comfort of use. It is also worth paying attention to the protection against water . If you plan to use the book in the bathroom or take it to the sea, then it will become a necessity.
Almost all models, except the most budgetary ones, are equipped with a sensor . However, in some cases it makes sense to consider books equipped with physical keys . For example, when the device is purchased for a child or elderly person. Also, ordinary buttons on the touch device can make operation more convenient – they can be assigned to a quick call to individual functions.
Specifications
E-readers are not equipped with such powerful processors as tablets, but they still greatly affect the overall performance of the system. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to what frequency the CPU has, and give preference to models with 1000 MHz and higher. The situation is similar with the amount of RAM – it is advisable to choose a book where it is higher. It is recommended to consider models with 1024 MB or more. The battery capacity must be at least 1300 mAh for Linux models and 3000 mAh or more for Android.
The volume of built-in memory deserves special attention . Many are trying to purchase a model that will have 32 GB built in. However, there is no particular sense in having such amounts of memory, if the book is not planned to read “heavy” comics and documentation. Even 8 GB is quite enough for storing ordinary literature, because they will be enough to record about 15 thousand books. Therefore, most users should not chase volumes, as well as the ability to install capacious memory cards .
OS and supported formats
Books can be based on two operating systems : Android or Linux. You need to choose here based on your needs. Android allows you to install additional applications, but is much more battery-intensive. Linux, on the other hand, is simple, stable, and incredibly long. It’s worth noting that since 2019, Google has stripped eBooks from the Play Store, making app installation more difficult.
Supported formats should be considered if the book will be used for non-standard literature. All models on the market can open classic FB2, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT and others. Some books may not work with FB3, CBR and CBZ. It is especially important to check the format support on Linux devices, since on Android most often the problem is easily solved by installing the appropriate application.
Additional functions
Many models of e-books have additional functions that simplify the operation and expand the capabilities of the device. Therefore, before buying, it makes sense to see what exactly the manufacturer offers.
Useful additional features :
- Wi-Fi and 3G / 4G;
- RSS reader, browser;
- cloud services;
- games and applications;
- built-in dictionaries for translation;
- Bluetooth;
- listening to audio, TTS.
You should also pay attention to the package bundle . Some manufacturers supply devices with covers, which will be important if you often need to take the book with you. Models with the ability to listen to audio in the kit may have adapters for standard headphones.
When purchasing a book, you need to consider the manufacturer. The most popular are Pocketbook, ONYX BOOX and Amazon. They are of high quality and durability. And not to be mistaken with the purchase will help the rating of the best e-books, compiled taking into account all the main selection criteria: https://vyboroved.ru/reyting/luchshie-elektronnye-knigi The presented models will provide the owner with comfort in operation and will allow you to forget about the need to use bulky paper literature …
