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An eReader for Your Teen? (Part 2)
In Part 1, we looked at a few factors when buying an ereader for your teens:
*Primary use for the device
*Display and navigation
*Quality
*Content sources
Let’s continue with the rest of the features to see why they are so important.
#5 Features for Studying
This is any parent’s dream…study features built right in. If your teen is going to be using this with e-textbooks for school, then make sure the device has study features such as highlighting, text-to-speech, or note-taking.
There is also a dictionary feature, which can help someone grow in their vocabulary. Quite often, if someone is reading and doesn’t know the definition of a particular word, they might just skim over it, rather break stride in their reading by dragging out the traditional dictionary. With this feature you simply click on the word and a screen pops up with the definition.
#6 Storage Capacity
If this is for a teen, then you will probably want to pay close attention to what the storage capacity is for the device. For reading only, it’s not much of an issue. However, most teens are going to want some game playing, movie watching, and possibly some Internet surfing. This all takes up extra storage. But, then again, you will need a device that allows for that as well.
There is the possibility of expansion, especially with devices such as the Nook, or Sony eReaders. They allow for a SD (Secure Digital) memory card to help give more storage space.
#7 Battery Life
Most quality eReaders have a decent battery life, which could last up to 2 months. This is based on average use of 30 minutes per day. Tablets, on the other hand, will have shorter battery life up to 10 hours or so. Average use won’t present a problem, but it’s good to know what it is, if you plan on traveling with it, or using it away from the home a significant amount of time.
#8 Content Sharing
An option that some devices have is the ability to share content. It’s an attractive feature, because it’s a way to save money. Just make sure the unit you are considering allows for it, if that interests you. Amazon has a lending library, as well as other sites that offer ‘renting’ content.
The rules can vary as to how long you can share, or even how often. So, take note of what the device’s guidelines are.
#9 The Cost
At one point, this would have been a more intimidating area to discuss. However, as with all technology…the prices become reasonable when it has been out for a while. While you will still see some higher-end models, such as the iPad, you can easily find a high quality eReader or tablet ranging from $100 to $200. The Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and even Nook Tablet are all under $200.
It’s all going to come down to preference and how many of the bells and whistles you want to have. You could easily run up to $500 or more for one of the iPads, but it can also replace some of the functionality of your computer and other entertainment devices.
Here is a list of the popular ereaders and tablets for your quick reference and good luck in getting the right one!
eReaders:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle Touch Free Wi-Fi + 3G (optional)
Amazon Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi + 3G (optional)
Amazon Kindle DX
Nook Simple Touch
Nook Color
Sony PRS-T1 Reader
Tablets:
Amazon Kindle Fire
Nook Tablet
Sony Tablet S
Sony Tablet P
Apple’s iPad 2 and iPad 3
