ereader comparisons

The 12 Days of OverDrive: ereader comparisons

In preparation for the holidays and all those new OverDrive-compatible devices, we’ll be attempting a “12 days of OverDrive” series.

One question you may have already heard is, “what type of ereader should I get?”

Unfortunately, there is no single answer that’s right for everyone. Ereaders are personal choices, and different ereaders can be better or worse for different types of tasks. So where can you start…?

CNET – articles and reviews
This recent CNET article is a nice place to begin. It compares ereaders and reviews some of the main differences in features between ereaders (reader vs. tablet, size of screen and weight, e-ink or color LCD, wireless options, apps vs. hardware, and whether you can check out e-books from the library). It is an excellent way to become familiar with some of the features and choices available, and the article contains lots of links to product reviews (which contain not only the CNET Editors’ Rating, but in many cases also include User Ratings).

Comparison chart and reviews
Want a big chart that compares popular ereaders?  The 2012 Best eBook Reader Comparisons and Reviews lists 13 ereaders and compares their features… everything from ratings on design and memory/battery life to details on size, weight, screen type, document formats, and more! There is also an “ereader configurator” option when you first arrive at the site which asks you questions and recommends some popular ereaders based on your answers.

Wikipedia
When it comes to BIG charts, nothing tops the Wikipedia chart comparing ebook readers. What it lacks in readability, it makes up for in detail.  Look here only if you have a few models in mind that you want to compare.

OverDrive’s blog
OverDrive’s Digital Library Blog tags posts in categories.  One of these categories is “ebook readers“ and includes device reviews by OverDrive.

OverDrive’s Device Resource Center
There are tons of devices out there, but OverDrive tested many of the more popular models for compatibility. OverDrive’s list of compatible devices includes details about which file types are compatible or incompatible with each of the listed devices, and links to each device’s product page, support page, and price on Google search.

Reprinted with permission from Tech Bits