The electronic reader community is getting larger by the minute. More and more people are starting to understand the power of eBooks and especially eReaders. The problem is that when most of us come to buy an eReader, we are unfamiliar with the things that need to be checked. This is a new gadget which we are unfamiliar with and may not know what we need to look for. Because of this, I decided to write this short beginner's guide to reviewing an eReader. Here are the seven most important things you need to know before making a decision.
* Look out for display size and readability. Make sure there are no glare issues. The standard display size today is six inches with some readers having a nine inch display as well.
* Compatible file types is an extremely important issue. Find out which eBooks can be read on you device. Are PDFs available? Are Microsoft Word documents available? and so on. Most manufacturers will list the types of files available or you can check our eBook reader comparison section to see for yourself.
* How many page turns can the battery sustain? In eReader terms, a battery is measured by page turns, since this is the main source for depleting the battery.
* How many books are available for your eBook reader? This availability is in conjunction with supported file formats. The Amazon Kindle store, for example, holds around 270,000 books. The Sony store holds around 100,000 books. Also, you can get more free books through Google, as well (legally, that is).
* Since this is new technology, it is bound to go wrong sometimes. Therefore, be sure that you have at least a one-year warranty on your machine.
* Pick the right eReader size and weight to suit your needs. Most eBook readers weigh around ten ounces and can fit inside a jacket pocket. If you travel a lot, like I do, this is extremely important.
* Check out customer reviews. Go right where others went wrong. There are a lot of reviews available online about eBook readers. Make sure that you know the pros and cons of each device to avoid being surprised. You can check out eReader Central's eBook reader reviews here.
That's it. If you went over these seven aspects, you're 95% covered. I wish you the best of luck in finding your perfect eReading device.
