The document provides guidance on choosing the best e-reader based on an individual's needs and budget. It outlines factors to consider like intended use, reading environment, and whether the device will be shared. Budgets range from $69 for basic e-ink readers to $499 for color tablets. Options are discussed for dedicated e-readers, color e-readers from booksellers, and color tablets. The document also provides details on several popular e-reader models and their key features to help readers determine the best fit.

1. Choosing the Best E-Reader
For your Reading Needs
Kathy Petlewski
Plymouth District Library
December, 2012

2.  Your Budget!
 What do you want to do with your e-reader?
 Will you be reading at night or during the day?
 Do you plan to only purchase e-books or do you
want to borrow from the Library?
 Will you be the only person to use this or will you be
sharing it?
 What is available on the market and things to
consider in making your selection.

3.  Dedicated e-readers can range from
$69 up to $300 for e-ink (black & white)
devices.
 Color e-readers associated with book
sellers (Kindles and Nooks) list from
$139 to $499.
 Color tablets (iPad, Nexus, Samsung
Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface) cost
between $199 and $849.

4.  Only read e-books, either purchased or borrowed
from a library.
 Read e-books and listen to some e-audiobooks.
 Read e-books but also be able to get e-mail and go
on social media sites like Facebook & play games.
 Read e-books, play games, use a full-blown web
browser, and also view movies & TV shows.
 Do all of the above, plus Skype, take photos and do
word processing tasks.

5.  Are you the only person that
will be using your device, or
are you planning to share it
with another adult or child?
 If so, the Kindle Paper White
has parental controls and
the Nook HD can have
several different accounts on
the same device.

6. Purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google
Books, or iBooks.
Download free or inexpensive books from Project
Gutenberg, Smashwords, or OpenLibrary.org.
Borrow OverDrive e-books free of charge from
your local library.

7.  PDL is part of a 25-member consortium for e-books
and audio e-books.
 These books are provided by OverDrive in several
formats: EPUB & PDF for e-readers and WMA & MP3
for iPods and MP3 players.
 E-books are single user licenses, so you must place a
hold on books that are “checked out” electronically.
 Titles are checked out for either 7 or 14 days. After
that time they will cease to work.

8.  Android tablets (Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy
Tablet and Droid smart phones ) have a free
OverDrive “app” at the Marketplace.
 iPads, iPhones & iPod Touch use an “app” from the
Apple App Store.
 Get the Nook Color and Nook HD Tablets “app” from
Barnes & Noble.
 Once the apps are installed, you can download your
ebooks directly to your device.

9.  Kindle Fire 2 and Kindle HDs have full browsers, so
you search the OverDrive site, check out your titles
and download them from the same device using wifi.
 Once you check out your title on OverDrive, you are
taken to the Amazon site where you log in and
complete your downloading from that screen.
 The entire process is done wirelessly.

10.  Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle 2012 and Kindle Keyboard
don’t have full browsers, so you must do your
OverDrive searching and check out process using a
desktop or laptop computer.
 After your title is checked out, you’re taken to the
Amazon site where you select your device and tell it
to download the title.
 Your e-book is downloaded wirelessly to your device
if you are connected to wifi.

11.  With the Nook Simple Touch and Simple Touch with
Glowlight, you must also use a laptop or desktop
computer to search, checkout and download e-books
from OverDrive.
 You must download first to your computer and then
transfer the titles using a USB cable to your device
 Adobe Digital Editions software must also be
installed on your computer.

12. Kindle 2012 - $69 Nook Simple Touch - $99
No audio No audio
Wi-Fi, 3G optional Wi-Fi only
2GB Memory 2GB Memory (1 GB storage)
3-8 week battery life micro SD card slot for 32 GB
Weighs 5.98 oz. 800 x 600 resolution
Supports parental controls 3-8 week battery life
“experimental” browser Weighs 7.48 oz.
No touch screen – controller No browser available
“special offers” on cheapest No landscape mode
model.

13. Kindle Paperwhite – $119 Nook Touch GlowLight - $119
No audio No audio
Wi-Fi, 3G optional Wi-Fi only
2GB Memory 2GB Memory - micro SD card slot
1024 x 758 resolution 800 x 600 resolution
3-8 week battery life 3-8 week battery life
Weighs 7.5 oz. Weighs 6.95 oz.
Front lit, high resolution Front lit screen
screen. No browser available
No support for EPUB format No landscape mode
Parental controls

14.  Fire 2- $159 & up  Fire HD - $199 & up
 7” display – 14.1 oz.  Either a 7” (13.9 oz) or
 Wifi 8.9” (20 oz) display.
 Supports 3rd party apps.  No SD slot, but Amazon
 2 speakers, audio jack Cloud Storage
and mic.  2 speakers, mic,
 8-9 hours battery life. Bluetooth, front camera
 Costs more to remove  16 GB memory minimum
ads.  Supports 3rd party apps.
 Great for movies!  9-11 hours battery life.

15.  Nook Color - $139  Nook Tablet - $159 & up
 1024 X 600 res.  1024 x 600 res.
 7” display, 15.8 oz.  7” display, 14.1 oz.
 8GB memory &  8 or 16 GB memory &
microSD card slot microSD card slot.
 1 speaker for audio  1 speaker for audio
 Wifi, full web browser  Wifi, full web browser
 8 hour battery life.  11 hour reading battery
 Parental controls life
 Parental controls

16.  Nook HD - $199 & up  Nook HD+ - $269 & up
 1440 x 900 res.  1920 x 1280 res.
 7” display, 11.1 oz.  9” display, 18.2 oz
 Dual-stereo speakers  Dual-stereo speakers
 8GB or 16GB memory  16GB or 32GB memory
 Parental controls  Up to 10 hrs. reading
 Email & Calendar  Create up to 6 profiles
Syncing  Email & Calendar
 Great kid’s learning Syncing
apps!  Stunning video display.

17.  Google Nexus - $199 & up  Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 - $249
 1280 x 800 res. (low as $179) or $400 ($299)
 7” display, 12 oz.  1042 X 600 res. or 1280 x800
 8 GB or 16 GB memory  7” display, 12.2 oz. or 10”, 1.25
lbs
 10 hours of e-reading
 8 - 16 GB but has slot
 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
 Android 4.0 OS
 Wifi & Bluetooth
 Front & Rear cameras
 Speaker & audio jack
 Dual speakers & jack
 Front-facing camera
 Wifi & bluetooth

18.  iPad 4th Gen. - $499 & up  iPad Mini - $329 & up
 2048 x 1536 res.  1,024 x 768 res.
 9.7” display, 1.4 lbs  7.9” display, 10.8 oz
 Front & rear cameras  16 GB & up
with video  Front & rear cameras
 10 hour battery life with video
 Dual core processor  10 hour battery life
 Speaker & audio jack  Speaker & audio jack
 Largest app selection  Wifi – 4G & LTE optional
 Wifi – 4G & LTE optional  Great app selection!

19.  Lots of others on the market, but these are currently
the most popular ones.
 Make a list of your priorities when looking for an e-
reader. Then narrow your choice down to those that
meet that criteria.
 It’s best to actually have a hands-on demonstration
of the device so you can see if you like the “feel” of it.
 Realize that something flashier will be released soon,
but the products out today are better than those from
last year.

20. Thanks for attending today!