E-Reader Devices

Lately there has been pretty extensive coverage of e-readers and other handheld electronic reading devices. The Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader, and the upcoming Plastic Logic eReader are the three devices everyone is talking about. But what’s the noise all about? Why are so many people talking about e-reading devices?

The most important thing to know about e-reader technology is how an e-reader’s screen is different from a typical LCD screen. Instead of being a backlit Liquid Crystal Display, e-reader devices use e-ink, a screen made of tiny charged particles that swap colors when affected by electric current. Because the particles only require power when changing, the battery is only used when the page turns, giving e-readers a battery life around two weeks on a single charge. The way e-ink currently works also means that the technology only offers black and white, although companies are working on ways to add color.

E-reader devices aren’t backlit, so they are much easier on the eyes than a typical LCD display, which can cause eyestrain over long reading periods. E-reader displays are also easier to read in sunlight than LCD devices. But are those advantages enough to justify purchasing a dedicated device?

If you do a lot of onscreen reading, especially novels and reports, it may be worth it to purchase a dedicated device. However, for the occasional reader, paper is still a better solution. E-reading devices cost anywhere from $200 to $500 dollars, and that’s a sizable investment for a reading device.

However, e-reading devices do boast a substantially longer battery life over a laptop or a smartphone for onscreen reading. They’re also greener, since they don’t use paper. And of course, the biggest advantage of an e-reader is the ability to fit an entire library in your pocket. Say what you want about paper – paper can’t do that.