Button control
The presence of a touch screen allows you to configure and control the device using the display. However, for greater convenience, in many e-readers, regardless of the type of screen, the
buttons still act as the main controls. Firstly, they can be pressed with gloves or wet hands. Secondly, holding a book with two hands is much easier to press the button to turn the page than to swipe your finger across the screen.
E-book formats
File formats supported by the reader that contain text (and sometimes graphic information). The most popular in the CIS are, in particular,
FB2,
TXT,
HTML,
WORD (DOC),
RTF,
ePUB,
Djvu and
PDF.
Operating system
A software product that ensures the correct operation of the installed software and convenient management of e-book functions. Conventionally, the family of "readers" is divided into two large camps: some work under the Android OS (in various versions of
Android 6.0,
Android 9.0,
Android 10,
Android 11,
Android 12), others run Linux. The Android system is not always well adapted to the features of the e-book interface, but a significant trump card up its sleeve is support for installing applications from the Google store.
Linux -led readers stay afloat longer in offline mode, but most of them cannot be installed with third-party applications.
Data transfer
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Wi-Fi. A wireless communication module that allows you to connect the reader to wireless local (home or office) networks, as well as access the Internet through public access points (hot spots) installed in restaurants, hotels, railway stations, etc.
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Bluetooth. Direct wireless communication technology between various electronic devices. In e-readers, Bluetooth is primarily used for file transfer: with this function, you can connect the reader to another Bluetooth device, such as a laptop or tablet PC, and exchange files with it.
— microUSB. Connector for direct connection of the reader to the USB port of the computer using a special cable. In e-books, this connection is used primarily for file sharing. MicroUSB is a universal standard that allows you to connect various gadgets through it with one cable.
— miniUSB. Similar to the one described above, the connector, which differs only in the size and shape of the connector.
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USB-C. Symmetrical USB connector, which is gaining popularity and in the future is able to displace microUSB. At the same time, the connector has a high data transfer rate and is only a little larger in size.
Material
The main material used for the body of an e-book.
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Plastic. Plastic enclosures are inexpensive, light in weight, and provide enough strength for everyday use. It is also worth noting that there are many grades of this material, and the quality of the plastic used for the body usually directly depends on the price category of the book. Of the unequivocal disadvantages of this option, low scratch resistance can be called; in addition, if the plastic is glossy, prints and stains instantly appear on it.
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Metal. Most often in cases, metal refers to aluminium alloy. One of the key advantages of this material is durability. In addition, the metal resists scratches very well and gives the device solidity — both in appearance and in the feel in the hands. It weighs a little more than plastic, but often it is this moment that provides the mentioned solidity. The unequivocal disadvantage of metal cases is a rather high cost.
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Magnesium Alloy. Such alloys are superior in strength to metal, while they have a relatively small weight and excellent heat dissipation. However, this material is not cheap. Therefore, it is used quite rarely and mainly in combination with other, usually more accessible materials.
