Handheld Ebook Reader

by: rtcruz Total views: 20 Word Count: 467
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Resolved Question: need a handheld to read PDF files (ebook). any best/latest palm handhelds that's not a phone.?
also have a memory card slot and fast pdf reader. read more...

Resolved Question: ebook readers - handheld?
I am in desperate need for a handheld device - a smartphone, PDA or any other which I can use to read ebooks . I want to read .pdf .pdb .lit .txt .doc .prc etc and I would like something which I can use to read comic pdfs hassle less. also pdfs with dual column text. even if the handheld doesn't come built in with these features a handheld for which softwares are readily available would be fine. read more...

It took me a long time to get used to reading electronic books instead of traditional print versions. I had trouble adjusting to the backlighting and font size, and often got headaches if I stared at my computer screen for too long. But now that I'm more accustomed to reading off a screen, I've grown to appreciate the convenience of ebooks, and I actually prefer them to paper books. In fact, I'm currently in the market for a good handheld ebook reader that will allow me to enjoy my electronic texts even more.

I've been doing some research for the last few days, and I've discovered that there are essentially three different kinds of handheld ebook readers on the market today. I'm not exactly sure which one I want yet because they all have their pros and cons.

The first type of handheld ebook reader I can buy is a PDA (or Pocket PC). While PDAs are most commonly used for keeping track of appointments, tasks, and contacts, they are also capable of displaying electronic texts. I like PDAs because they are easy to carry around, have relatively large screens, and can store a lot of books.

However, since PDAs come with a bunch of other features such as a web browser, word processing and spreadsheet software, and games, the prices are a bit inflated. I'd essentially be paying for a lot of things I'd probably never use, when all I really want is a handheld ebook reader.

Smartphones represent a second type of handheld ebook readers available today. Smartphones combine the functionality of a cell phone with a PDA, so they can generally do everything that PDAs can do -- plus make phone calls. The biggest benefit to using a smartphone is that I would only have to carry one device around instead of two.

But I think most smartphone screens are a bit small for reading books on a regular basis, so I'm not sure that this would be the right device for me. In addition, most smartphones are actually priced out of my budget, which means this is not really a viable option for me.

Finally, there are a couple of dedicated handheld ebook readers on the market, too. These devices are only used for reading books, so they typically have special features that smartphones and PDAs do not have, such as automatic scrolling, a comprehensive dictionary, adjustable backlighting, and a variety of font sizes. The Amazon Kindle is the hottest handheld ebook reader around, and looks like the best device for my purposes.

I have not completely made up my mind about which handheld ebook reader I will purchase, but I'm definitely going to get one soon. I can not wait to be able to read my favorite electronic texts even when I'm away from my computer!