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Buying an EReader, Worth?

I am too fond of reading books in an electronic format. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Hermen Hesse’s Siddhartha, My Inventions by Nikola Tesla, and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking are some of the books I have managed to read on my smartphone using an ereader application this month. I have been in the habit of reading books on a smartphone since my teenage days and I find it quite portable and accessible at the same time. Major reason being I am carrying my phone almost everywhere and when I get time, I can sneak in a chapter or two anytime.

In recent days I have been thinking of buying an E-Reader, a proper one. The reason being is that, since I have started working, I have developed this habit of checking emails, getting notifications and checking them at the moment and these things usually leads to a distraction and many a times I lose my focus over the text. It is happening in a vigorous frequency in past six months such that I am unable to cope with my reading time. I have tried putting my phone on airplane mode, but since it is the only mean of communication I have, I have realised that I cannot do that for more than an hour a day. Anyone’s calling at any time and there is something to lose sometimes.

Thus, I have concluded to get my self a good EReader, one which offers good not-eye-straining-display, full of features like in-built dictionary. One thing I don’t like about reading a book on my current smartphone application is that there is no support for in-built dictionary and also reading PDF files is a big-headache. The options of taking notes, and highlighting text are must for me as I am used to highlighting words, lines, paragraphs, sometimes the whole page, whatever I find useful at the time.

Last night I was looking out for one, one that won’t leave big hole in my pocket and also satisfy my needs aforesaid. I got to know, these days, EReaders have become quite advanced. Not only they have built-in dictionary, there are many more offerings. I have set my eyes on Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 3 (or 2015 edition) but I want to hear from you guys first.

What EReader(s) do you use?

And, having a dedicated device just for reading, is it worth?

View Comments

Mike says: August 17, 2015 at 12:11 AM I've had nothing but good experience using the Kindle app on my iPhone. And the huge selection of free books continues to amaze me.
notyourmommasbookreviews says: August 17, 2015 at 12:12 AM I used to be totally against eBooks and eReaders. Then I started reviewing books for Netgalley and I would be reading them on my phone. And it worked. But it would drain my battery and I'd have to charge up twice a day. That's just not good for your phone. So for my birthday last month I got a Nook from Barnes and Noble and let me tell you. Its so nice. So nice. The books are formatted properly because the screens are the correct size, at least in my experience. I feel like it's so much easier on my eyes because of the fact that it's a larger screen, so even though the same amount of words are being shown, I don't have to strain my eyes just because the words are small. I'm also not killing my phone battery. And when I'm reading on my phone my husband would ask "What are you doing on there all day?" On my Nook he understands that I'm reading. Doesn't stop him from bothering me, but he knows that I'm not just on Facebook. And that's another thing. With having Facebook so easy to access on my phone I would think "What's going on on facebook?" And get distracted.
Carol Henshaw says: August 17, 2015 at 12:25 AM I am an Amazon-avoider but have had a Sony E-reader for a few years. I use it mainly for travelling as I still love to read real books. If you are on a long trip it is a great way of keeping all those guidebooks in one lightweight place. The screen is easier to read than reading ibooks on my phone which I do on my commute.
Heather M. says: August 17, 2015 at 1:01 AM I have one of the first edition Kindles as well as the Kindle Fire. I love them so much! I wouldn't trade mine for anything else. Not to mention there are a ton of free books you can read. I have never had a problem with either device and the battery life is amazing.
amusing2write says: August 17, 2015 at 1:48 AM Nook simple touch offers a close paper page read. You can read inside or outside and not monkey with it. That said my husband loves his nook hd+ which is a ten inch tablet. This is more like a tablet in using for other than book reading. You can also download apps kindle, pdf readers, etc. Simple touch costs about $100 and hd+ about $200. Nook has also launched a new nook samsung tablet.
mysm2000 says: August 17, 2015 at 1:54 AM My ipad has all the features you mentioned but can still do other things when needed: game, email, wordpress notifications. Also, I have a keyboard case for it which means I can be really productive on a screen that is compact but not too small. I have Kindle on it (which is free) and does everything you like: highlighting, bookmarks, etc. Holds quite a huge library. I'm not fond of things that only serve one purpose.
Metal and the Geek says: August 17, 2015 at 2:16 AM If you are looking for an reader that's exclusively for that purpose (reading and not apps and emails and such) then I recommend the paperwhite. I have the Kindle Paperwhite (possibly last years edition) and I love it. While there are books I still physically buy, the kindle is a great little e-reader. Dictionaries, highlighting, notes are all available on there. I have an iPad mini as well, and found it too hard on my eyes to use it as an ereader. On the paperwhite you can really control the strength of the light, and in a dark room the lowest settings are perfect. I sound like I work for Amazon ahaha but I honestly have just had a great experience with the Kindle.
Sarah says: August 17, 2015 at 3:32 AM I use a kindle paperwhite :) I just love that I read all day without eye strain!
Kim says: August 17, 2015 at 5:36 AM I have a Samsung tablet that I picked up at Barnes and Noble to replace my old (and dying) Nook Color. I've been quite happy with it, especially since my local library's app has been simplified, making it easier to find and download the ebooks in their collection. I have only one problem with it, and I'm sure it's just a setting I haven't found yet- I can't seem to turn the screen to night mode, which makes the background dark and the text white. I read everything on my old Nook that way, and it was a lot easier on my eyes. I have the same apps on it that I have on my phone, which is handy, since I can access my Google Docs anywhere there's a wireless connection. The typing area is a lot larger than my phone's, so I can work on my writing projects without having to have my computer with me.
Steph says: August 17, 2015 at 6:34 AM If you want a tablet the Samsung galaxy is cheaper than an iPad and you can switch out SD cards if you want to download movies and books not reliable on the cloud. I had a kindle and was very happy with it and do miss the appetite feature. That said I like having something I can use more like a computer but for much cheaper. I would go with the paperwhite - non cloud based with the AT&T service or go with a galaxy tablet.

I've had nothing but good experience using the Kindle app on my iPhone. And the huge selection of free books continues to amaze me.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 10:54 AM I am not worried about the collection of books provided by the application or the ereader. I have the kindle app to on my windows phone, but I use it rarely though it offers good and smooth reading experience.

I am not worried about the collection of books provided by the application or the ereader. I have the kindle app to on my windows phone, but I use it rarely though it offers good and smooth reading experience.

I used to be totally against eBooks and eReaders. Then I started reviewing books for Netgalley and I would be reading them on my phone. And it worked. But it would drain my battery and I'd have to charge up twice a day. That's just not good for your phone. So for my birthday last month I got a Nook from Barnes and Noble and let me tell you. Its so nice. So nice. The books are formatted properly because the screens are the correct size, at least in my experience. I feel like it's so much easier on my eyes because of the fact that it's a larger screen, so even though the same amount of words are being shown, I don't have to strain my eyes just because the words are small. I'm also not killing my phone battery. And when I'm reading on my phone my husband would ask "What are you doing on there all day?" On my Nook he understands that I'm reading. Doesn't stop him from bothering me, but he knows that I'm not just on Facebook. And that's another thing. With having Facebook so easy to access on my phone I would think "What's going on on facebook?" And get distracted.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 10:58 AM Good points mentioned. It is true phone screen however big it is, strain one's eyes. Distraction is another major issue I am feeling nowadays and it does eat up a lot of my reading time. The temptation to be on internet even for minutes ruin the reading. Nook, however is not available where I live, and there is no support, so I am worried, thus I looking forward to Kindle Paperwhite and hopefully I will get my hands on it by the end of this month. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Good points mentioned. It is true phone screen however big it is, strain one's eyes. Distraction is another major issue I am feeling nowadays and it does eat up a lot of my reading time. The temptation to be on internet even for minutes ruin the reading. Nook, however is not available where I live, and there is no support, so I am worried, thus I looking forward to Kindle Paperwhite and hopefully I will get my hands on it by the end of this month. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I am an Amazon-avoider but have had a Sony E-reader for a few years. I use it mainly for travelling as I still love to read real books. If you are on a long trip it is a great way of keeping all those guidebooks in one lightweight place. The screen is easier to read than reading ibooks on my phone which I do on my commute.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:00 AM Good to hear! While travelling I cannot read books on my phone, I have realised. I am worried about its battery, and the usual distraction. Thus, I have come to conclusion to buy an Ereader.

Good to hear! While travelling I cannot read books on my phone, I have realised. I am worried about its battery, and the usual distraction. Thus, I have come to conclusion to buy an Ereader.

I have one of the first edition Kindles as well as the Kindle Fire. I love them so much! I wouldn't trade mine for anything else. Not to mention there are a ton of free books you can read. I have never had a problem with either device and the battery life is amazing.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:01 AM Thanks for sharing your experience Heather. I am looking forward to Kindle Paperwhite. I'll update once I get my hands on it.

Thanks for sharing your experience Heather. I am looking forward to Kindle Paperwhite. I'll update once I get my hands on it.

Nook simple touch offers a close paper page read. You can read inside or outside and not monkey with it. That said my husband loves his nook hd+ which is a ten inch tablet. This is more like a tablet in using for other than book reading. You can also download apps kindle, pdf readers, etc. Simple touch costs about $100 and hd+ about $200. Nook has also launched a new nook samsung tablet.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:03 AM I am afraid Nook is not available in the city I am currently residing. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, I will re-check if it is available here or not.

I am afraid Nook is not available in the city I am currently residing. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, I will re-check if it is available here or not.

My ipad has all the features you mentioned but can still do other things when needed: game, email, wordpress notifications. Also, I have a keyboard case for it which means I can be really productive on a screen that is compact but not too small. I have Kindle on it (which is free) and does everything you like: highlighting, bookmarks, etc. Holds quite a huge library. I'm not fond of things that only serve one purpose.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:04 AM It is true, an reader will only focused on one thing that is reading. Having a proper tablet is good, but I have already got tools for the things you have mentioned. Nonetheless, thank you for sharing your experience. :)

It is true, an reader will only focused on one thing that is reading. Having a proper tablet is good, but I have already got tools for the things you have mentioned. Nonetheless, thank you for sharing your experience. :)

If you are looking for an reader that's exclusively for that purpose (reading and not apps and emails and such) then I recommend the paperwhite. I have the Kindle Paperwhite (possibly last years edition) and I love it. While there are books I still physically buy, the kindle is a great little e-reader. Dictionaries, highlighting, notes are all available on there. I have an iPad mini as well, and found it too hard on my eyes to use it as an ereader. On the paperwhite you can really control the strength of the light, and in a dark room the lowest settings are perfect. I sound like I work for Amazon ahaha but I honestly have just had a great experience with the Kindle.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:08 AM Thanks for sharing your view on Kindle Paperwhite. I am looking forward to Paperwhite, the new edition, since it suits my budget and Dictionary feature is just awesome. I will update you once I get my hands on it.

Thanks for sharing your view on Kindle Paperwhite. I am looking forward to Paperwhite, the new edition, since it suits my budget and Dictionary feature is just awesome. I will update you once I get my hands on it.

I use a kindle paperwhite :) I just love that I read all day without eye strain!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:11 AM Eyes strain is becoming a major problem these days especially for those who have a day job of sitting in front of a system, like me, reading becomes a strain at night. I think having an ereader will solve this problem for me :)

Eyes strain is becoming a major problem these days especially for those who have a day job of sitting in front of a system, like me, reading becomes a strain at night. I think having an ereader will solve this problem for me :)

I have a Samsung tablet that I picked up at Barnes and Noble to replace my old (and dying) Nook Color. I've been quite happy with it, especially since my local library's app has been simplified, making it easier to find and download the ebooks in their collection. I have only one problem with it, and I'm sure it's just a setting I haven't found yet- I can't seem to turn the screen to night mode, which makes the background dark and the text white. I read everything on my old Nook that way, and it was a lot easier on my eyes.

I have the same apps on it that I have on my phone, which is handy, since I can access my Google Docs anywhere there's a wireless connection. The typing area is a lot larger than my phone's, so I can work on my writing projects without having to have my computer with me.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:14 AM Thanks Kim. I am sure having a device which can do what a reader wants is awesome. I think the idea of having the same apps both on phone and tablet just adds extra accessibility.

Thanks Kim. I am sure having a device which can do what a reader wants is awesome. I think the idea of having the same apps both on phone and tablet just adds extra accessibility.

If you want a tablet the Samsung galaxy is cheaper than an iPad and you can switch out SD cards if you want to download movies and books not reliable on the cloud. I had a kindle and was very happy with it and do miss the appetite feature. That said I like having something I can use more like a computer but for much cheaper. I would go with the paperwhite - non cloud based with the AT&T service or go with a galaxy tablet.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: August 17, 2015 at 11:16 AM I am not fond of a tablet much regardless I know that kindle won't be offering an SD card support. I will look out for a non-cloud based paperwhite model, if it is available in this country.

I am not fond of a tablet much regardless I know that kindle won't be offering an SD card support. I will look out for a non-cloud based paperwhite model, if it is available in this country.

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