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"eReaders, also known as e-book readers, are portable electronic devices that allow you to read digital books, periodicals, magazines, and more. Many eReaders now offer a range of additional capabilities, such as the ability to surf the web or play multimedia files, like audio books. While many avid readers love the feel of a physical book, using an eReader may make sense for those who carry around multiple books. eReaders are cost- and time-effective (no need to run to the bookstore to make your next purchase), and they&amp;#039;re more portable than traditional books. Many eReaders offer text to speech and allow for much larger fonts \u2014 a benefit for those who have difficulty reading a small font. In addition, they offer a way to read without wasting paper, and they take up no space on the bookshelf. With the help of consumer testers, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested eReaders for ease of use, performance, and built-in features. What we learned: You can&amp;#039;t necessarily judge an eReader based on price (though the two most expensive at the time, the Kindle DX, and the iPad, did score highest). What the Engineers at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute Looked for in eReaders The Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluated the eReaders for:  Ease of reading Bright sunlight Dark room Screen size Portability Footprint Thickness Weight Turn-on time Performance Battery life Storage capacity Transfer speed Turn-on time Apparent quality Speed of page turn Fingerprint resistance Quality of manual Customer Service  A panel of 15 consumers helped evaluate the eReaders for:  Ease of reading Ease of using interface Ease of adjusting font Ease of changing location in book Ergonomics of device Quality of screen  Check out the top-rated eReaders in our video:       Consumers evaluated readability in regular room lighting. They were allowed to change fonts and sizes if they desired. GHRI engineers tested the ease of reading in bright sunlight and in a dark room. Engineers also measured the diagonal screen size of each eReader. In addition, consumers evaluated whether they believed the text was portrayed on the screen in an ideal manner. This was to take in to account how E-Ink is supposedly easier in the eyes due to the high-contrast display. Consumers were asked if they felt any eye strain after reading. A panel of consumers navigated each device and assessed the ease of the user interface. To test the ease of changing location in a book, consumers used Pride and Prejudice to navigate through different portions of the book (different chapter, different page, beginning, end, etc.) and then assessed the ease and intuitiveness of the process. Consumers tested the ease of adjusting the font by manually making it both larger and smaller and then assessing how easy and intuitive the process was. To assess portability, we measured the length, width, thickness, and weight of the devices. The thickness of each device was measured using calipers. The weight of each eReader was taken on the calibrated scale in the Consumer Electronics lab. Each device was measured with the battery in place, as this is how the consumer would be carrying it around.  Consumers evaluated the comfort of holding and using each device.  To test the turn-on time of the device, each eReader was completely powered down. We then recorded the time it took to power up the device until the main menu was functional. Three separate readings were taken, and the time was averaged based on these readings. To test the transfer speed, we copied the same book, Crime and Punishment, onto each device from the same computer and timed how long it took to transfer. Since some of the devices are only able to obtain books via Wi-Fi, these books were tested in succession using the same Internet connection. We recorded the speed of turning a page in Pride and Prejudice for each device. The time was recorded for turning from the first page to the second three times, and the speed of page turn was found by averaging these three times.  To test fingerprint resistance, we made an &amp;quot;S&amp;quot; shape on each device to mimic a fingerprint stain. The screens were then evaluated in the light room to see how much of the fingerprint remained on each device, when on and off. Because many of the eReaders are able to last well over a week on one charge, we based the battery life off of manufacturer specifications. We then used the time provided for each eReader with Wi-Fi capabilities turned off to level the playing field. We based the storage capacity for each device off of the manufacturers&amp;#039; specifications. The score was based off of the number of books each device could hold in its given form, without using external means. To test the quality of the manual, we reviewed each manual to assess how comprehensive and helpful it would be to a consumer. To evaluate customer service, we called each manufacturer&amp;#039;s toll-free customer service number with a standard troubleshooting question. We timed how long we waited before speaking with a representative and evaluated how helpful the response was.   To determine which eReader is best for you, consider the following: Size  Smaller devices are more portable, but it can be more difficult to read on a smaller screen. This is a preference, but something that should be taken into account. Display E-ink makes text look as it would on paper, and readers that use this technology are easier on the eyes. They are not backlit, however, so you would not be able to read while in bed at night without an external light source. LED is backlit and can display full-color images, but these screen can be hard to read in bright light, and some people may find that reading one for prolonged periods can cause eyestrain. Navigation Do you prefer touchscreen, buttons, or a combination of the two? Each eReader has its own unique button layout, so you can experiment with each combination to find which are the easiest for handling and ergonomics. Content Options Some readers have their own eBook stores, which allows for seemingly effortless transfers of books from the computer to the device. However, in some cases, you can&amp;#039;t get content from any other source. Most readers that don&amp;#039;t have their own dedicated store permit multiple file formats to be downloaded onto the device, which could provide you with more varied options. In addition to books, newspapers and magazines are also available for download. Memory Memory isn&amp;#039;t a significant factor because most of the eReaders can hold well over a thousand books. Battery Life This is not a significant issue, either, because the battery life in most eReaders can last several days with moderate usage. Features Most features relate to personal preference. Do you want to feel like you are interacting with a real book, where you can annotate, share books, highlight passages, etc.? Do you like listening to music in the background while reading? Other features include text to speech, web browsing, games, color displays, and more. Compatibility with other devices If you want to be able to read from the same catalog on your phone, computer and eReader, look for readers that have these capabilities. Downloading content If you want to be able to download directly onto your device without the hassle of offloading from a computer, choose an eReader with Wi-Fi or 3G capabilities. All of the books allow you to download on to your computer and then load on to your device. Cost The upfront cost of the eReader is not the only cost to consider. You will also have to pay for most or many of the books that you want on you device. While Google and others offer many free books or samplings, most books costs around $10 (however, this is typically cheaper than buying the same book in traditional hardcover form).  Reading or more?   If you plan to use your device for things other than eBooks, you may want to invest in one of the multimedia-enabled options. Where to buy Most readers are now available at retail stores. Consumers who buy their eReaders from retail stores may have more time to return the product. Retail stores also allow returns in person, which eliminates shipping costs. Tips for Using an eReader  Read the manual first, or you&amp;#039;ll be spending quite a bit of time trying to figure it out on your own.   If your reader doesn&amp;#039;t come with a protective cover, you may want to invest in one (prices start at around $10).  Find out which eReader is best for you "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/electronics/best-e-reader-reviews/a18596/e-reader-test-details/>