The most adaptable choice is Apple's iPad. According to PCMag's David Pierce, as a portable gadget, the iPad has many features that make it ideal for college students. The built-in iBooks app reads books, PDF files and magazines, allows users to easily highlight text for quick reference (in multiple colors) and is easy on the system's battery life. Touch screen navigation makes this eBook reader ideal for college students looking to take notes, read their textbooks and access the Internet all in one place. Best of all, the app store allows users to download other reader apps, such as VitalSource Bookshelf, which may be required to read some textbooks.
A powerful, cost effective option is the Amazon Kindle. This eBook reader is available in a number of options. There is a Kindle available to suit the user's needs, regardless of one's budget. Nancy M. Foasberg's study of student eBook readers finds that the use of the Kindle eBook among college students is due to the Kindle's access to thousands of books via Amazon, allowing students to download thousands of free books and access eBook texts. Features include the ability to bookmark, highlight passages for future reference and take notes. Additionally, the Kindle Fire allows for a full color, cloud-browsing, tablet experience with all of the functionality of other tablets, including Amazon's notable eBook access and a comprehensive app store if students need another eBook program.
Students looking for the eBook experience without purchasing a new eBook reader can find many programs available for the desktop computer and laptop. Amazon offers a Kindle app, allowing users to access eBooks from their computers. Other options for students looking to download textbooks include Adobe Digital Publishing Solutions, VitalSource Bookshelf for PC or Mac used by such textbook publishers as McGraw-Hill and CourseSmart (an eBook service for students).
Not all eBook readers are ideal for college students looking for a way to access textbooks, which makes student response to e-textbooks lukewarm, according to Portland Community College librarian Roberta Roberts. Many textbook manufacturers require that students use their software, which may or may not be available as an app for the more popular tablets and eBook readers. Other eBooks may only be available via web-based programs like McGraw-Hill's Connect, in which case students looking for eBook readers will want to purchase a web-capable tablet for portability. Remember to research course requirements and professor expectations before purchasing an eBook reader to mitigate the cost of buying an ineffective product.