People keep asking me, "Should I buy a Kindle or a Nook or some other ebook reader?" The honest answer is: "I don't know, that's really your choice." Some points you may want to consider though:
1) If you are buying it for your Mom (or other family member): Does she really want one? Generally, as with any new technology, it takes a little excitement and desire to make it up the learning curve of how to download and read books comfortably. Your excitement as the giver is not enough to carry the day.
2) If you are thinking that the user will be able to download books from the library, check the compatible device list below to make sure of that:
(This list applies to both the Ohio e-book Catalog and the SEO e-book Catalog sites and you as Highland County patrons have access to both.)
http://www.overdrive.com/resou
This site also has good help pages with tutorials on how to checkout and download our books.
3) Look at the reviews sources below and when possible look at the devices themselves hands-on in a store.
http://reviews.cnet.com/holida
http://www.engadget.com/2011/1
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/
4) Additionally, Make sure you understand how the downloading works. If it requires you to connect to a computer, does the intended user have a computer? That sounds like an obvious question, but many times I've seen people come in to our with devices (usually received as gifts) that require them to be connected be connected to a computer that has their individualized software installed. If that is the case, then using a public computer won't work. If it just requires logging into a website and connecting their device with a USB cable, that should work on our PCs.
The second question to do with downloading is: can you connect and download through Wi-Fi? This could be quite handy for travelers and for those who don't have a home internet connection.
Have fun!
BTW, did you know you can download an FREE Overdrive app for your smartphone to download read our library books on your phone? Oh, but who would want to read a book on their phone?! Anyone waiting in a doctor's office, airport or long checkout line. (Our library collection is the SEO Library Consortium).
Happy Holidays!
