Choose and Purchase an eBook Reader in 2011

If you want to purchase an eBook reader in 2011 the first issue is choosing your ideal model. Not long ago there was only the original Kindle. Now there are several kinds of Kindle plus the Nook and the Sony Ebook reader that offer similar benefits.

There are also some new color eBook readers have additional services like surfing the web or playing movies and music. There is even the iPad and other tablet PCs to think about which offer eBooks and magazines..

E-Ink Technology- easy on the eyes

If you are solely interested in reading books, most people will tell you that readers using e-ink technology are best. E-ink uses very little battery power, It gives very crisp text and the screen can be read in bright sunlight- unlike an LCD screen. There is also a lot less eye strain involved- the screen never flickers and is as close to real printed paper as any display can be,

There are drawbacks though, The refresh rate when you turn a page can be slow. There is no color so magazines are less fun than they could be. You cannot use E-ink based readers for full web surfing though you can access certain sites like Google maps with a Kindle. Movie viewing is out of the question.

Color eReaders

These are appearing more and more, Some of the cheaper models are purely readers that you load with books, movies and music from your PC, The more expensive ones will surf the net as well as any tablet PC. You can play games or watch movies. Almost all of them will play MP3's.

If you think you might be interested in a color eReader you could try this page: http://hubpages.com/hub/color-ereader

The rest of this page is about eBook readers dedicated purely to reading books.

The Kindle- from Amazon

The Kindle is by far the most popular eBook reader on the planet and keeps going from strength to strength,

The First Generation Kindle was a decent machine. There were quibbles though. Some people hated the lack of contrast between the text and the page- just two shades of grey. It was also pretty thick and the refresh rate was slow.

The latest (third) generation is extraordinarily thin and light. At under nine ounces it weighs less than the average paperback but can hold 3500 books. The new high contrast e-ink screen is a huge improvement and very readable. Pages turn far more quickly.

If you ever want to hike across the Andes or any other remote place, this is the perfect companion. Used in a normal sort of way, for a few hours a day, the batteries will last a full month- time enough to conquer some peaks!

There is an experimental web browser in the new version which is useful for text based sites and also maps. There is a text to speech application- rather robotic but some people value it.

You can play music on the Kindle but, like the web browse,r this is an experimental feature which is not so easy to use.

A big development recently is that you can now read Amazon eBooks on Windows, Mac, Android, Blackberry, iPhone and iPod with a free Kindle App. Your kindle library is now a lot more accessible.

WiFi or WiFi with 3G?

Both the Kindle and the larger Kindle DX (described below) come with either WiFi alone or WiFi and 3G

Choose the WiFi only version and you can download books from Amazon at any Wifi hotspot in the world- including your own home, of course, if you have a wireless router.

Choose the WiFi with 3G and you you have the extra option of downloading from the net anywhere. You will need to have a 3G interent account of course. This is sometimes included free with a purchase at Amazon.

Kindle DX- with a big 9.7 inch Display

There are also older and newer generations of the Kindle DX available. The latest generation is almost as thin as the ordinary Kindle and, despite the big screen, the weight is only 18 ounces. It is roughly the same size as the iPad but only half the price.

This is a popular choice for anyone who reads publications where graphics are important- maps, charts and tables are easy to read.

The Nook- From Barnes and Noble

Barnes and Noble are the biggest booksellers in the world so it is no surprise that they have decided to challenge Amazon and the mighty Kindle. Their survival at the top of the tree could depend on it.

This competition is good news for booklovers. Not only is the Nook a wonderful machine. it has also forced Amazon to drop the price of the Kindle!

Early releases suffered from a slow page turn but recent updates have made it comparable to the Kindle. It has no physical keyboard and you interact with the device via a small color touch screen. The text itself is grey-scale e-ink.

There is a WiFi only version and a WiFi plus 3G,

Advantages of the Nook v the Kindle

• You can lend a book that you have purchased via your Nook to anyone for fortnight. They can be read on Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod Touch, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Mobile.
• You can read free for one hour using the WiFi in any Barnes and Noble store.
• Most people would say the Nook is a lot more attractive!
• The touchscreen offers a qwerty keyboard and lets you browse the reader for music (as well as books) a lot quicker than anything relying on E-ink.
• It uses the Android OS so it will go from strength to strength in future. Android means the Nook is a far better music player, already.

Sony Ebook Readers

Sony Digital Reader with 5" Screen

The Sony reader is an affordable alternative to the Kindle and Nook. The five inch model will slip easily into a pocket and it feels tougher than its rivals. One drawback is that it cannot download directly via either WIFI or 3G- you must download to PC then load books via USB. Another, is that the Sony eLibrary is smaller than Amazon's or Barnes and Noble's library.

The arrival of Google's Editions- offering books in a format that any eReader can process- gets you past that problem.

The neat ergonomics, very readable screen and build quality makes it a contender in 2011.

There is also a 6 inch version available.

The iPad as an eReader

There are plenty of reasons to buy an iPad that have nothing to do with reading books- I won't go into all the multimedia and game options here. The question is how does the iPad perform as an eBook reader?

The drawbacks are well known:

• It is heavy at one and a half pounds.
• It has a very shiny screen that doesn't work well for reading in bright light
• The battery life is only a day for an average use.
• It costs upwards of $600. That is pricey if your main aim is to read eBooks!

The Advantages of the iPad

• Bright light may be a problem but the iPad is great in low light with a wonderful display for color magazines and illustrated books. Photography books are a real pleasure on the iPad.
• The iBook application allows you to easily browse and download from the iTunes store. The Kindle for iPad application gives you complete access to Amazons eLibrary. This allows you to find the best price online,
• There are apps to read every kind of file format like PDF and EPUB,
• It is great way to read newspapers like the New York Times,
• Developers are going crazy to tailor products to the iPad. This includes new magazines from Virgin and News International specifically for the iPad. This trickle could turn into a flood over the next twelve months,

If you want a powerful multifunction tablet PC and you want an eBook reader, too, the iPad is certainly worth a thought.