Book stores are going out of business, people are flipping pages with the simple touch of a finger. Books are being downloaded rather than checked out from the library. E-readers and tablets have officially taken over.
     Nooks. Kindles. iPads. There’s a reader/tablet for everyone, whether you’re primarily looking to surf the internet, listen to music, add audio books or download your favorite novel.
     The Kindle Fire:
     The Kindle Fire and the Kindle Keyboard are two of the most popular Kindle e-readers.
The Kindle Fire receives positive critical acclaim for a reason. Even for the least tech savvy individual, the interface makes it easy to utilize and access the millions of books, movies and apps offered on the Amazon library.
     The internet is quick with easily connectable Wi-Fi, all which operates with the web browser Amazon Silk. In addition, it is compact, with a 7-inch touch screen that is said to be “flawless” due to its response time and easy scrolling.
     Negative criticisms include its 8-hour battery life, inconvenient placement of the power button and the small memory size. For the social person, you may also be surprised to find that clips from books or magazines cannot be shared directly via Facebook or Twitter. Nonetheless, overall, it may well be one of the most purchased e-readers. Cost $199.
     The Kindle Keyboard:
     If you simply desire to do some high-quality reading, the Kindle Keyboard may be what you’re looking for. The contrast on this one is higher than on its predecessors and the keyboard allows for comfortable note typing. Plus, its memory of 4GB is suitable for the simple bookworm. It’s able to hold about 3,500 books, as well as MP3 files.
     As an amateur device for uncomplicated reading, the highest concern of consumers is the fact that it has no expansion slot for additional memory storage. But, all in all, while it’s older and less advanced that the Kindle Fire, it does the job just right. Cost $139.
     The Nook Tablet:
     The Nook Tablet has many similar features to the Kindle Fire but is supported by the Barnes and Noble bookstore and does contain a few improvements. While it still has a 7-inch touch screen, it contains 16GB of built-in memory and even has a microSD slot. Although an 8GB version exists, as well as the comparable but slightly less advanced Nook Color, it is just as good as the Kindle Fire. Netflix and Hulu Plus are included, as well as Flash support.
     The downside is that there is much more content available on the Kindle. Yet, still, the Nook is lighter and more visually appealing- leaving the buyer with a choice of function or appearance. Cost $199.
     The iPad:
     To most, the iPad is hardly considered an e-reader. On the contrary, though, if you purchase the free iBooks app, you have an extensive world of choices. But, in all honestly, it is designed for the individual who is not inclined to make the purchase solely for reading.
     To this day, the iPad may have the best variety of apps, but it is still heavier than the competition, offers a smaller selection and emits a glare that is bothersome for reading. Although the virtual iBooks bookshelves are well-organized and attractive, it’s functionality leans toward that of social networking and alternative forms of entertainment. Cost $499.
     Each e-reader contains specific features that appeal to every individual for their every need. Whether it is just reading or browsing the web and running applications, the Nook, Kindle, iPad and other readers contain their own interface and are supported by different operating systems and stores.