eReader decision aid: 7 things you should know before you buy
28.6.2016
Translation: machine translated
The summer holidays are just around the corner. For all those who don't want to break a book or are happy to pay for excess baggage, we recommend an eReader. Find out what you need to know about electronic books and which one suits you best.
eReaders are displacing traditional books more and more every year. And no wonder. These things are incredibly practical. Compact, lightweight, space for thousands of books and, with the right cover, you even get that real book feeling. But first things first. eReaders are a dime a dozen - which is where they will primarily be seen in the coming months. You should consider the following points before buying one
What they can all do
What all devices have in common is the ability to be easily readable even in the brightest sunlight. This is made possible by the so-called e-ink display. This is in contrast to tablets, whose LED or OLED displays reflect even the slightest rays of sunlight so strongly that they can only be used as mirrors at best. Furthermore, eReaders have an enormous battery life, which can amount to several months. Depending on the technology, the devices only require power when turning pages. This makes them extremely energy-efficient.
In addition, eReaders are significantly lighter and more compact than books. The benefits of this can be felt after just a few minutes, for example when you swap George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" tome for a 1 megabyte eBook.
Special features
If you like reading in bed, you'll be delighted - especially if your partner prefers to sleep and you have to switch off the light. Apart from the very affordable entry-level models, practically all models have integrated lighting so that you can also read in the dark. The largest light is the Kindle Voyage, which automatically adjusts the brightness.
While eReaders are less robust than books, some are equipped with practical water resistance. These include the Tolino Vision 3 HD and the Kobo Aura H2O, for example. Perfect if you want to read on the beach or in the bath.
Handling
eReaders are very easy to use. If you know how to use a smartphone, you can also get to grips with an electronic book. Simply connect to WiFi - this step is not necessary for a device with 3G - and you're ready to go. You can either buy books directly via the integrated store, in which case you can be sure that the books are compatible. Alternatively, you can also shop on sites such as Books.ch and then transfer the eBook to the eReader via a computer. It is important to ensure that you choose the right format. Kindle devices, for example, are only compatible with books from the Amazon store (AZW) and PDFs. Otherwise, the most common format is ePUB and, to a lesser extent, mubi. Virtually all eReaders are compatible with these.
If you purchase books online, you may need the free Adobe ID software to successfully transfer the books to the eReader due to the integrated copy protection (DRM).
Book selection
Nowadays, practically every book is also available as an eBook. However, you may have to wait a little longer for the electronic version. Amazon has the largest selection of books. This is good news for Kindle owners, as there are no other legal alternatives. But Weltbild, Orell Füessli and Co. also have a respectable inventory. What's more, as mentioned above, most eReaders can be used to make purchases in any shop, so you can always find the book you want somewhere.
Library
What many people don't realise is that various libraries such as the Digitale Bibliothek Ostschweiz or the Stadtbibliothek Baden also lend eBooks. This option is available to most eReaders - the exception once again being the Kindle, which is not compatible with the required format. They can only be used in a roundabout way. For everyone else, this offers a cost-effective rental option that is otherwise more familiar from physical media.
Cost point
eReaders are already available for less than 100 francs. However, you can also spend up to 360 francs on premium devices such as the new Kindle Oasis. However, the purchase costs are amortised relatively quickly with the cheaper book prices. However, these vary quite a lot. You often save 30 per cent compared to a real book, but sometimes the price is the same.
Disadvantages
While a book never runs out of breath, even the most enduring eReader has to be plugged in at some point. It's a shame if you're on a train or on the beach at that precise moment and don't have a power socket nearby and you're also in the middle of an exciting section.
With a few exceptions, the displays of eReaders are also black and white. This means that they are only moderately suitable for reading colourful magazines or comics. Tablets are more predestined for this.
But which one should it be?
Of course, it's always best to get an impression yourself and take the devices into your own hands. In addition to the appearance, the price is certainly a decisive factor.
The inexpensive and child-friendly: Kindle 2014
The Kindle (2014) is an affordable entry-level device that doesn't have to compromise on convenience. With the Kindle Free Time function, Amazon also offers practical parental controls. This allows access to the shop, browser and cloud to be restricted. The Kindle software also offers a reading progress log. As most eReaders have a glass display, additional device insurance is worthwhile for children.
The model you can find in our shop comes with adverts on the lock screen. If you don't like this, the could be an alternative.
The practical one: Tolino Vision 3 HD
The Tolino is the answer of various booksellers, including Thalia and Weltbild, to the market-dominating Amazon. With the third generation of the Tolino, an almost completely successful device has finally been released. The display is razor-sharp, the device is waterproof and the price is right too. Only on the software side can the Tolino not quite keep up with the reference eReader Kindle.
The elegant one: Kindle Oasis
If you're looking for something really stylish, treat yourself to the Kindle Oasis (Here's our test). Technically superior, extremely small and handy and it comes with a smart leather case. On top of that, there are a number of practical functions such as X-Ray and Word Wise, which refine the reading experience.
Summer and holiday-ready eReaders
And a few more book recommendations^^
You can find even more detailed information on eReaders, for example, on the website Allesebooks.de
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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