Did you get a new e-reader as a gift? Are you thinking of making the switch from physical to electronic? Whenever I tell my friends that I “e-read,” they always get fascinated and tell me what it is like, how to get books, etc. This brings me to writing up this guide for those who are interested in or know someone who is interested in e-reading—but, at this point, let’s just call it reading.

What is “e-reading”? E-reading is the process of reading an electronic book on an electronic device. Basically, you’re reading a book in digital format.

Why do I love e-reading? Don’t get me wrong, I love to read physical books too! However, being a bookworm, I switched to e-reading because it’s lighter in my bag (seriously, it’s just the weight and size of your e-reader), I can carry my entire library everywhere I go, and it’s cheaper.

What is e-reading like? E-reading will be a different experience for everyone. For me, it’s just like reading any other book. However, many people will dislike e-reading due to the screen (if you’re reading on a tablet) or simply because people enjoy the feeling of a new book.

Getting Started

To start your journey into e-reading, a great place to start is to recognize the file format for these e-books. The three most common e-book files are: .epub, .mobi, and .pdf. I don’t know what they stand for, but they’re the most generic formats. There are many more, but trust me, you’ll probably only ever going to use these three.

And did you know you can read comic books on an e-reader too?! When I first discovered that, I downloaded a few Black Widow comics. Listed above are the appropriate file formats for comics.

Do they have a difference? Between .epub and .mobi, there are no differences. Your e-reader will recognize these two formats and will do its job (eg. bookmarking, picking off where you left off, etc.). From my experience, nearly all e-readers (and apps) support PDF files but don’t recognize them as an actual “e-book file” so you won’t get the benefits of defining a word, for example. My experience with reading PDF files on e-readers is minimal but enough for me to skip reading PDF files altogether. 

Keep in mind that although the electronic version of a book is the same as the printed version, the pages will not match up with the printed book due to the size of your e-reader, or the customization of font sizes. For example, Chapter 13 in a printed book will be on page 266, however, on the e-book version, Chapter 13 may be on page 345. If you’re my friend on Goodreads, you’ll notice that I update my reading progress as a percentage rather than pages.

Choosing an E-reader

I’m not going to go into an in-depth product review for each e-reader because I don’t want to sound biased toward a particular product in this guide.

E-reading offers you two platforms: a generic e-reader, OR a tablet.

“Generic” e-reader: 

What I consider a generic e-reader is an e-reader built solely for e-reading. You may recognize the Kobo e-reader or the Amazon Kindle, the two biggest e-readers on the market. These e-readers are built with “e-ink” which simulates paper-like reading when you’re using the device. E-ink allows you to read in direct sunlight (like a normal book) and will not strain your eyes (like a normal book). E-readers are built to give readers a similar experience to reading a printed book.

Pros: no eye-straining, ability to read under direct sunlight, generally smaller and weights less than a tablet.

Cons: no ‘entertainment’ (eg. no videos, music, and apps), no colours (if you choose a non-coloured e-reader), limited to supported e-book file formats.

E-readers are best suited for those who just want to read.

Tablet e-readers:

When I say “tablet e-readers”, these are no different from a regular tablet like the Apple iPad, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab!

Tablets, as you may know, are like flat portable laptops. Aside from Facebook and YouTube, you can also read on a tablet. Reading on tablets is like reading on a computer screen. Your eyes will get sore (for some readers), and sunlight will reflect on your screen, but you get to read with nice colours and a lot more options than an e-reader. If you’re wondering how to read on a tablet, you can use whatever default reading app that came with your tablet, or download an e-reader app such as Kindle, Kobo, Moonreader, etc. 

Pros: a lot of entertainment and multi-purpose usage, colours, ability to use different reading apps.

Cons: pricier, eye strains, unable to read under direct sunlight, slightly heavier/bigger than an e-reader.

Tablet e-readers are best for those who are used to LCD screens, read colour content materials (such as magazines, comics and cookbooks) and want additional entertainment.

(TIP: If you have an Android tablet, download ‘screen filter’ which darkens the screen PAST the system setting. This was my #1 app/method to read without eye strains or the annoying brightness in the dark.)

Does size matter? This depends on you. I chose a 7″ reader because I want something that can fit in one hand and doesn’t take up room. However, if you’re not one to customize the size of the fonts, a 7″ may require you to “flip” (aka tap) the pages more often. As compared to a 10″, the amount of space available for the texts will limit your tapping and make the chapter appear much shorter. Also, if you’re not a fan of looking at a big page full of words, this is where a smaller size will matter.

What do I use? Most recently, I upgraded to the Kobo Libra Colour; this is my sole e-reader. In the past, I’ve used a Kobo 6″ reader, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Apple iPad Mini. I ultimately gave up reading on a tablet when my eyes were being strained.

E-Book Management Programs

If you purchased a Kobo (or Kindle), you’ll be using their own e-book management program. While I did use the Kobo management for a while, it was quite limited.

Downloading an e-book management may be a bit technical for a few. Aside from keeping all your books organized, some programs allow you to edit the e-book file (eg. changing the cover, changing metadata, etc). The average reader most likely wouldn’t need any e-book management programs.

Popular management programs include: Calibre, Adobe Digital Editions (required if you’re borrowing books from the library), and the default Kobo/Kindle management.

I use Calibre to edit my e-books from time to time, and I use Adobe Digital Editions when I borrow e-books from my local library and/or when I read textbooks on my laptop.

Downloading E-books

You can purchase e-books from the Kobo/Kindle store, which is accessible via your reader or the app. You can also purchase books from the Apple store or  Google Bookstore if you have a tablet.

Prices tend to be similar to physical books, but both stores have daily specials and sales. Also, Kobo sends daily coupon codes which is why I tend to purchase from Kobo a lot.

To be honest, if you’re one to pirate e-books, be aware of a poorly formatted book. I have downloaded a few pirated e-books and there were missing words, randomly placed capitalized letters, and pictures that were missing or too small which frustrated me a lot. This is why I rent and purchase my books so I don’t have to deal with a poorly formatted book anymore.

That being said, some sites offer free legitimate e-books, but these are more academic-like books. A quick Google search will bring you to the top free e-book sites but I don’t pay much attention to those sites because you won’t find any of the New York Best Sellers books there.

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So… what now? Find books to read! I love using Goodreads to discover new books!

PS: Yes, you can also use your computer to read if you don’t want to invest in an e-reader. Just download Adobe Digital Editor or Libby to start borrowing e-books from your local library!