The November issue of CHOICE also covers the results of the test on increasingly popular e-book readers.
The test conducted by the International Consumer Research and Testing covered 17 models of e-book readers, of which 9 are available in Hong Kong either from retail outlets or via the Internet. For those models available in Hong Kong, 8 use black-&-white e-ink technology while one of them is a tablet computer with colour LCD display. Prices ranged from HKD 1,400 to HKD 3,900.
The samples were evaluated on picture quality, convenience of use, battery performance, versatility and durability.
The e-ink display samples were found to have better screen readability under bright sunlight, while the tablet computer sample excelled in dim-light environment. For battery usage duration, the e-ink display samples had longer operating time after recharge. The tablet computer, though shorter in battery usage duration, could be fully recharged in less than 100 minutes. All samples are capable of storing and reading files in the commonly used pdf format.
CHOICE magazine offers the following tips for consumers contemplating to buy an e-book reader:
- Some e-bookshops only sell e-books in designated file formats. Consumers should make sure the e-book they purchase or download is in a format supported by their e-book reader.
- Readers of Chinese books should check if there are Chinese fonts in the e-book readers they wish to buy.
- Consider the need to purchase an e-book reader. E-books can also be read with computers or mobile phones via special applications.
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