Unlike many gadgets, e-readers don't typically lead to an ongoing round of purchases in the form of accessories. There are no speaker docks or video docks, external battery units aren't really a factor with devices that run for weeks on a charge, while wireless handsets, hands free car mounts, external keyboards and wireless remotes wouldn't even work with most e-readers. However, the one accessory every e-reader owner should consider is a cover and here are ten reasons why one should be at the top of your list.
1. Protection From Impacts
Your e-reader may have no moving parts, but it does have a very large slab of thin glass. Dropping an e-reader can easily lead to a shattered screen, not to mention dings, dents, scratches or even fractured cases. Any protection is better than no protection, and putting even a cover designed more for looks than safekeeping improves the chances of your e-reader surviving a fall intact.
2. Protection From Moisture And Foreign Substances
Image from M-Edge Accessories
Moisture is one of the great enemies of electronics and foreign substances like dust and sand don't help either. While there are sealed, waterproof covers available for many e-readers (great for beach lovers), any cover provides a first line of defence. A few drops of rain or a splash from the sink are easy to wipe off a cover, but if they land directly on your e-reader and water finds its way inside the unit, that may not end so well.
3. Cuts Down On Fingerprints
Fingerprints are the bane of many handheld devices, especially those with shiny plastic or metal cases. If your e-reader starts to look like its been used as a fingerprinting ink pad after carrying it around for a few days, a cover made from an oil resistant material can put an end to that.
4. Personalization
Image from Amazon.com
Covers are a great way to make your e-readers yours. Disappointed that the model you wanted only came in silver? No problem, you can buy a cover in virtually any color and a wide rage of materials including leather, nylon and silicon to personalize your e-reader. If you have multiple covers, you can change the look of your e-reader on a whim.
5. Renewal
Gadgets get banged up, worn or even start looking old just because their design is "so two years ago." Slipping your e-reader into a cover can help to cover up many of those signs of wear and tear and can give it a new look. This may not be a perfect solution, but if your older e-reader is still functional, refreshing its appearance is with a cover is a lot cheaper than buying a new one.
6. Easier To Grip
While e-readers were designed to be hand held, that generally means that they're comfortable to hold in your hands. It doesn't necessarily mean that they won't accidentally slip out of your grasp when you're carrying them. A cover that adds some texture, a handle or a soft surface to grip can cut down on accidental drops.
7. Aids Transition From Paper Books
Having a difficult time adjusting from the traditional two handed book reading method to a single slab e-reader? A cover that replicates a book jacket lets you continue with the two handed grip if you wish, and brings reading using an e-reader closer to the traditional book reading experience.
8. Built-in Extras
Image from Sony
Some e-reader cover manufacturers include extras that make their product something of a Swiss Army knife for e-reader owners. For example, Sony and Amazon both offer covers that include a flexible LED night light that retracts unobtrusively into the spine, but is available for night reading sessions. Others offer pockets or pouches for extra memory cards and styluses, while some come with a handy screen wiping cloth.
9. Camouflage
There may be occasions where you're not comfortable openly carrying an expensive electronic device. A cover can help to disguise your e-reader and keep its true identity safe from prying eyes. With the right cover, you can even slip your e-eader on to a bookshelf without it looking out of place, if you're so inclined.
10. Inexpensive Gift Idea
Let's face it, e-eaders still aren't cheap. If you're a fan of e-books and people are bugging you for gift ideas, suggesting a cover is probably more realistic than asking them to give you a new e-reader and takes the guesswork out of buying you e-books. Just make sure they know what model of e-reader you own (or are intending to buy).