I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I enjoy reading with both physical books and e-readers. This week, I wanted to showcase the e-reader I use.
Who Uses E-Readers
E-readers are a great option for people without a lot of space, people who travel frequently, people who read a lot of e-pub articles or books, and just about anyone. They come in all types: electronic ink, color screens, black and white screens, WIFI only, data compatible, big, small. Some are restricted to books purchased through that specific company (think Kindle by Amazon or Nook by Barnes and Noble.
What I’ve Used in the Past
I started off with a Nook. I actually had the first generation that came out back in 2009. A few years later that died and I got another Nook. I loved them both. I got Barnes and Noble gift cards for birthdays and Christmas and it was easy to load the balances onto the Nook and buy my books. Often at a cheaper rate than in physical stores.
When my second Nook died, I decided I wanted to try something different. I have quite a few books on my Amazon account that I could only access on my phone. These were books that were only available through Kindle. I also found myself borrowing books from the library a lot, using an app on my phone called Libby, which you can check out here. They have e-books as well as audiobooks.
My nooks weren’t compatible with the app, as they were basic e-readers that could only access the internal library connected to my Barnes and Noble account. I could get a tablet, but I couldn’t find one through Nook or Kindle that was electronic ink. This was vital for me as I get migraines and can’t look at electronic screens for long stretches of time. I also wanted to access by Nook and Kindle accounts, as well as have access to e-pub documents.
Particularly books I purchased from Humble Bundle. The Kindle does have access to e-pub and Libby, or at least some devices do, but I wouldn’t have access to my Nook library. Then I found BOOX. Actually, my husband found it.
My E-Reader
I currently use the BOOX e-reader. It’s a couple of year old now and the closest to it on their website is this. It is actually an electronic ink tablet. It can support any app that supports e-ink, and I’ve been able to access my Kindle, Nook, and Libby accounts with ease. I can also now access e-books from the website bookshop.org, as they just added e-books as an option, which is a favorite of mine for physical books.
What are the downsides? Since it is a tablet and uses apps through the android store instead of connecting directly to Amazon or Barnes and Noble, I can’t make my book purchases through the app. When I want to purchase books, I have to log onto the respective website, purchase the books there and then download them to my e-reader. It’s inconvenient, but it does stop me from just buying books left and right, saving me money. It does have it’s own store, but the books it’s not extensive and I haven’t used it. There is a color e-ink version available that I may try in the future, which would be good for children’s books and magazines.
I enjoy my e-reader. I know there are a lot more out there that offer the same or similar functionalities. This is just the one I use.
Alicia Coast 