Why We Love E-Readers

It should come as no surprise that we love e-readers. We use them every day. Now more than ever there are many options available when considering an e-reader to purchase. We will tell you some of our favorite e-readers, but first, let’s outline the pros and cons of buying one.

Pros

You can literally hold hundreds of books in your hand

Considerably more portable than hundreds of books

Build-in lights for night time reading

Access to all of your favorite books plus so many more

Cons

Less impressive than showing hundreds of books to your friends

Doesn’t smell as good as hundreds of books

To E-Read Or Not To E-Read

That is the question. When it comes down to it, we feel the decision shouldn’t be whether or not to get an e-reader, but which e-reader to get. E-readers have become so powerful and easy to use that there has never been a better time to get one. As well, they have become quite affordable, even more so around the holidays.

Before we go on, we know at least some of you have asked this question: Why not just get a tablet?

It is true that tablets have gone down in price, and they provide far more functionality than an e-reader. We find there are two significant reasons to get an e-reader. The first is if you love to read on the go. Tablets are great, but they don’t have the battery life of an e-reader. If you’re reading all day on your tablet, you’re going to need to charge it at least once, if not more. An e-reader, however, will last for days or even weeks on a single charge. If that’s not enough, the limited access of an e-reader means you can’t do much more than reading with it. This makes it an excellent gift for younger people who love reading but don’t necessarily need the entire internet at their finger-tips.

With that out of the way, here are some of our favorite e-readers.

Kindle 6″ E-Reader

Always a good choice, the basic kindle is both affordable and sleek. The compact design makes it portable, the screen is easy to read, and with a battery that lasts for weeks, you will find your reading time to be uninterrupted and pleasant. The only drawback to this model is that there is no built-in light which means that any reading you do at night will require a lamp. Still, at that price it is hard to complain. 4 gigabytes of storage is plenty for books, and with wifi access, you will never find yourself out of books to read.

While undoubtedly durable, and inexpensive, the Kindle 6″ won’t satisfy many book lovers in the way that other e-readers might. It is an excellent introduction to e-readers and would make an exceptional gift, but if you, or a loved-one, really love books, there are better choices ahead.

Kindle Paperwhite

We have more than one of these laying around the office. The Kindle Paperwhite is probably the best e-reader around if one factors in its cost compared to the features it offers. A 6″ backlit screen means you can read anywhere, anytime, day or night without disrupting anyone who may be around. On top of that, the increased resolution means it is easier to read, the text is smoother, and the images are clearer. Visually, it is nearly identical to the basic Kindle 6″, so it is still sleek and portable while packing more power under the proverbial hood.

The Kindle Paperwhite may be our go-to e-reader, but it is not our favorite. That being said, the affordable price and plethora of features will be enough to satisfy most bookworms.

Kindle Voyage

The Kindle Voyage is where things get serious. In addition to the features of the already impressive Kindle Paperwhite, the Voyage possesses sensors on either side of the screen to make turning pages a breeze. As well as a sensor that adapts the backlight to the lighting situation that you’re in, taking out the guesswork and giving you perfect reading conditions every time. On top of all of that, it is the lightest kindle available at 6.3 ounces, meaning that reading has never been more comfortable. Reading with the Kindle Voyage is a sublime experience, but no product is perfect.

Without a doubt, the Kindle Voyage is one of the best e-readers on the market, but the price is a bit steep for some. Still, when compared to the highest end model, the $199.99 Voyage seems downright reasonable.

Kindle Oasis

An exceedingly high-end e-reader, the Kindle Oasis is where our list ends. It improves upon its predecessors in nearly every way. The buttons make turning the pages even more natural. The 7″ display is easy to read, backlit by 12 LEDs along with an adaptive sensor to make sure you’re eyes are getting just the right amount of light. The weight is good while the product is exceedingly durable. It is even waterproof, in fresh water up to two meters, for those who love to read while floating their days away. Honestly, there probably isn’t a better e-reader on the market. We only have one concern about the Kindle Oasis: the cost.

At $249.99, the Kindle Oasis is a bit on the expensive side, but for those who love the finer things in life, or just love to read poolside, then the Kindle Oasis may just hit the spot.

And for those looking for the perfect gift…

There are few better gifts than the gift of books. The Kindle for Kids Bundle gives parents, or grandparents, the perfect worry-free gift for their little ones. Whether your child loves to read or is learning to love to read, this is a fantastic gift. All of the features of the kindle 6″ along with parental controls means that your children can read age-appropriate material safely, without you needing to micromanage every book they pick up.

Open new worlds for your young loved one. The Kindle for Kids Bundle is a great place to start!