Compare Ereaders - Who Are the 3 Leading Ereaders in the Market?

The Ebook readers industry is slowly evolving and every few months a newer and better ereader comes out on the market. My goal here is to introduce the three leading ereader vendors on the market. Stick to these ebook readers and you really can't go wrong.

Surly one might be better than the other but at the end of the day it's going to be personal preference and look and feel which is going to make the difference. With that said, you do want to stay away from the garbage products and stick to the really high quality ones. So let's begin (attention: the listing is not by order of quality or recommendation).

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Ereader number 1: Amazon Kindle 2
Although Amazon also has the Kindle DX I'm going to stick to the Kindle 2 which provides the needs of most readers and is in the same price range of the other two. The Kindle 2 is 6" screen with a keyboard and a battery life of 14 days. It supports wireless 3G technology which means anywhere in the USA (and now also abroad for an extra fee) you can download e-books to your device. The Amazon store currently offers 600,000 titles. It's fast, reliable and very user friendly.

Ereader number 2: Barnes & Noble Nook
The Nook also has a 6" screen but a battery life of only 10 days. Here too you will have the 3G wireless support with the addition of Wi-Fi for browsing while visiting Barnes & Noble book store. BN currently offer 1,000,000 titles in their ebook store. The Nook has a touch screen which many people like over the keyboard, but be warned the interface isn't so user friendly and the device is still pretty slow compared to other ereaders on the market.

Ereader number 3: Sony Digital Reader Daily Edition
The Sony reader has a 7" touch screen with a battery life of 18 days. It has a slick look and makes it very easy for the user to navigate around. Also uses the 3G technology for wireless download and browsing. The Sony ereader supports the ePub format for its ebooks, which means you have access to Google's 1,000,000 books and any other source which has the ePub Standard.

Compare Ereaders - Who Are the 3 Leading Ereaders in the Market?

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The Gift of Reading: The Best of the Best in eReaders

Reading is something that many people enjoy doing as a hobby. Having a multitude of books or making weekly trips to the bookstore is not uncommon for an avid reader. With technology rapidly changing and with digital books outselling hard copies of books, one can assume that eReaders has received a warm welcome from consumers. The ability to have a new book at the click of a button is becoming an increasingly favorable choice. As Christmas time is approaching looking for different gift ideas for Dad can be tiresome. Well if Dad enjoys reading than you have come to the right place.

If you are new to eReaders or have heard about them but are still unsure about what they are exactly,, how they work and which eReader is the best, I will answer all of your questions and once we are done you will be ready to purchase that perfect gift for Dad.

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eReaders also known as Ebook readers is a portable reading electronic device that has the ability to store over 100 books. The books that you choose are downloaded through a wireless connection or downloaded through your computer. Unlike the typical hardcover book, the eReaders are lightweight, weighing only a few ounces while a hardcover book will surely weigh more at times being several pounds.

So which do you choose since there are so many eReaders on the market? The top three eReaders out on the market right now are The Nook, by Barnes & Nobles, The Kindle, by Amazon and iPad, by Apple. There are few considerations that you should look at when deciding which one is right for Dad's needs.

The Nook - Price Range - 9 - 9.00

What We Like
Over 1 million titles available, which includes ebooks, newspapers and magazines Free 3G wireless data network without the need for a PC Wi-Fi connectivity 2GB of internal memory (stores up to 1,500 electronic books) Color touch screen with E-ink display Six fonts sizes to choose from

The Not so Great Stuff
Color LCD has significant impact on battery life no support for Word or text files; some bugs in software; Even with Wi-Fi, when traveling outside the U.S, there is no ability to download books

The Kindle - Price Range - 9

What We Like
Over 670,000 titles available including NY Times, best sellers Free 3G wireless data network Wi-Fi connectivity 4GB internal memory (stores up to 3,500 electronic books) Eight fonts sizes to choose from Excellent battery life High contrast e-ink screen

The Not so Great Stuff
Battery is not removable Protective carrying case not included No expansion slot to be able to add more memory

The iPad - starts at 9
eReader, gaming device, web surfer,and photo & video viewer LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music and up to 9 hours of surfing the web 3G data network Optional 3G wireless 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive Tens of thousands of books available through the iBookstore

What We Like
The ability to do lots more than reading on it

The Not so Great Stuff
The size is larger than the average eReader

In A Nutshell:

Cost:

Kindle

Screen size:

Largest (iPad)

Smallest (Nook)

Weight:

Lightest (Kindle)

Heaviest (iPad)

3G Wireless:

Free (Kindle & Nook)

Prepaid monthly (iPad)

And the winner is:

Drumroll... The winner is... well that truly depends on what you are looking for in an e-reader. Does Dad like to surf the net and read books? Is Dad an email kind of guy? Does Dad enjoy to play games? If yes, then your choice should be the iPad. But if Dad is just wants to read books and enjoys the functionality that the eReaders have to offer than I would say the Kindle is the one for him. Not to negate the Nook as it is a close runner up behind the Kindle. You can't go wrong with either of three. However, one will surely be the perfect gift for Dad this Christmas so go ahead and give him the gift of reading, he deserves it.

The Gift of Reading: The Best of the Best in eReaders

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Spotlight on EReaders - Which Brand Comes Out on Top?

There are lots of eReaders out there to choose from and the field is only getting more crowded. Below you'll find the main features of some of the most popular or hotly anticipated eReaders on the market to help you choose which device best suits your reading needs.

Amazon Kindle

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Kindle is an eReader device developed and sold by Amazon, one of the world's largest online retailers. Version 2.0 of the Kindle was released by Amazon in February 2009 costing 9. Later this same year on October 19, 2009, Amazon launched an international version of the Kindle to capture more of the growing world-wide market for eBooks. The device offers wireless connectivity in over 100 countries. In June of 2009, Amazon brought the Kindle DX to the market. This differs from the Kindle in that it has a larger screen, increased memory, and the capability to rotate between portrait and landscape displays automatically. The Kindle DX International costs 9.

Sony Reader Touch/Pocket/Daily

Sony offers three different versions of their eReader at separate price points. The Touch version costs 9.99, which places it in the same price category as the Kindle. It has a 5" display with E Ink technology. What sets the Touch apart from Sony's other eReaders is that navigation on this device is by touch screen. Both the Touch and the Pocket can hold up to 350 books, although you can greatly increase the capacity of both devices by buying Sony's Memory Stick PRO Duo. Although the Pocket can hold the same number of books as the Touch, it has a smaller screen and lacks some of the features of the Touch, including adjustable font size, highlighting and notetaking capabilities, and a built-in dictionary. The trade off is that the Pocket costs 0 less at 9.99. At this price, the Pocket is one of the most affordable eReaders on the market.

Another similarity between the Touch and the Pocket is that they both do not have wireless capability and require books to be transferred via USB cord. All versions of the Sony eReader accept the following file types: Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, BBeB Book and other text file formats, as well as EPUB/ACS4. Sony addressed the issue of more efficient delivery with it Sony Daily Edition. This eReader has free 3G wireless access. Content is available for wireless download through Sony's Reader store and Google books. Downloads through other provides must be transferred to the device via USB. The Daily costs 9.99, but holds up to 1,500 books and has a large 7" screen. The battery lasts two weeks on all of Sony's eReaders, provided the wireless is off on the Daily Edition.

Apple iPad

The iPad is a tablet computer, which offers users many more features than a dedicated eReader. However, the device has been singled out as a game-changer for the publishing industry in part because of Apple's history of revolutionizing the music industry with iTunes. The iPad has not yet been release but is available for pre-order for the price of 9, similar to the Kindle DX. The screen is an expansive 9.7" and is an LED-backlit IPS display. It does not use E Ink as most of the other eReaders on the market do. On the plus side, it has a massive amount of storage, with options starting at 16 GB and going up to 64 GB of flash storage. Customers can also choose between wireless and 3G capability. Apple has already developed the iBook app, which will allow readers to buy books through the Apple store and read them on their iPad. Books available through Apple are formatted as EPUB files, although third party applications will likely expand the range of file formats that can be read on the iPad. The battery charge for the iPad will last for about 10 hours of active use.

Barnes and Noble's Nook

Barnes & Noble, a physical and online book retailer, released the Nook at the end of 2009 to compete with Amazon's Kindle. The device is priced at 9 and has a 6" E Ink display. The display sets the Nook apart, in that there are two screens. The bottom screen is for navigation and the the top screen is for reading. The Nook can hold up to 1,500 books, although unlike the Kindle, the memory can be expanded, as there is a microSD slot in the device. Users of the Nook can loan any books they have downloaded to others. Loaned titles can be sent to another Nook, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, iPod Touch, or iPhone using Barnes & Noble's eReader software. Although the Nook does not support Word documents, it can accept the following file formats: EPUB, PDB, PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, and MP3. Barnes & Noble utilizes AT&T's network to deliver books wirelessly to the Nook. With wireless off, the battery can last for up to ten days.

Plastic Logic Que proReader

Plastic Logic's Que proReader has not yet hit the market but is expected to be available in the summer of 2010. According to the company website, pre-orders of the device are currently unavailable as they are sold out. There will be two versions of the device. The 4GB version will hold up to 3,000 and cost 9.00, while the 8 GB version will hold 6,000 books and cost 9.00. Like most other eReaders the display uses E Ink technology. Both devices will have a large screen at 10.5". Users will be able to navigate by touch and can use the virtual keyboard to enter search terms. File formats compatible with the Que include: PDF files, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, ePub, TXT, HTML, and RTF. Documents can be transferred wirelessly from PCs, Macs, and BlackBerries right to the Que. While both devices use wi-fi, the 8GB version also uses AT&T's 3G network to deliver content. Barnes & Noble powers the Que store, where users can find lots of content for the proReader.

Spring Design Alex

Another new entrant into the eReader field, Spring Design's Alex is not yet available but is set to launch in late 2010. The device will cost 9 and have memory capable of holding 1,500 books. More storage can also be added on for a price. Like Barnes & Noble's Nook, the Alex will have a dual screen. The 6" inch screen at the top will be used mostly for reading text, while the 3.5" bottom LCD screen will be best for navigation and browsing the web. The device is compatible with WiFi, 3G, EVDO/CDMA and GSM and supports the Adobe EPUB, PDF, and DRM file formats. Content will be available through a Borders-branded eBook store. The battery life on the Alex device typically lasts for two weeks with wireless turned off.

Spotlight on EReaders - Which Brand Comes Out on Top?

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The Best E-Readers for Students

There are many choices in terms of e-readers out there and there are many other devices that can double as e-readers, so you can rest assured that you'll have plenty of options to choose from. Narrowing down the choices really comes down to how much you're prepared to spend and the types of features you're looking to get into.

Now, the Amazon Kindle models are particularly popular and they may well be the best e-readers on the market. The Amazon Kindle 2 has a boatload of books with nearly two million available titles, so that's a good start. Plus it comes with a QWERTY keyboard and a Sprint-powered Whispernet connection to make it one of the fastest units anywhere. You can usually find an Amazon Kindle 2 at just under 0.

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The Amazon Kindle DX is another popular e-reader that packs in a whole whack of battery life and 50% better contrast than the previous incarnation. It also packs a QWERTY keyboard and will run you just under 0. Students can get a good amount of textbooks on it, but it's better to double-check before you go signing up for one.

The Barnes & Noble Nook will run you around the same amount as the Amazon Kindle 2 with its Wi-Fi-only version. There's a lot of content available with this baby, too, and the Barnes & Noble connection opens up the library considerably. There is no specified textbook section yet, though, but a good amount of them are available through the normal search methods.

These are just three options you have when looking for an e-reader. Other companies, like Sony, have e-readers for students as well and these are worth a look. The best way to check out any tech product is to get on down to your store of choice for a hands-on demonstration, of course. Don't be afraid to ask questions, either, and make sure you get what you want out of your new e-reader.

The Best E-Readers for Students

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Top 3 Operating Systems For E-Readers

During 2009, e-readers were operating at maximum efficiency with over 2.2 million devices being shipped to stores. In 2010, the demand for e-readers is expected to increase by more than 50%. Their operating systems create the necessary base for these popular devices. Many first-class eBook Readers run full operating systems and can function like a computer.

Google Android

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It is not surprising that Google Android tops the list of operating systems for e-readers. The Barnes and Noble 'Nook' was the first e-reader to use Google Android. Since that launch, Google Android has been used in various e-readers and that trend is expected to continue into the future.

Google Android gives users access to 1,000,000 free, public-domain books digitized by Google. All devices using the Android system can tap into Android apps and vice versa. In addition, Google understands that the real power of the open source Android lies with the Operating System Defaults. Google eBooks will serve as the default on every Android device.

The innovative eDGe e-reader, created by Entourage Systems, runs Google Android operating system. The eDGge is a netbook/e-reader combination which offers users the convenience of a Google toolbar on the right screen. Running on Wi-Fi and 3G networks, users can surf the internet, watch videos, or engage in video chat with this device.

Spring Design's 'Alex' will also support Android apps. Yet any applications which require internet access will work only with Wi-Fi. With this dual-display e-reader, the 6.5" e-ink screen for reading sits above a 3.5" color LCD. Users can display images and video, view notes, and even browse the web.

Expected to be released in 2010, the proposed Netronix, a collaboration between Texas Instruments and a Taiwanese networking specialist, is also an Android-based e-reader. Android e-readers allow portability of books (between Android e-readers) as well as access to Android apps.

Linux

The new Skiff reader is a Linux-based system. The Skiff reader is said to be the largest (11.5") and thinnest (0.25") with the highest-resolution (UXGA - 1200 x 1600). The Skiff reader is expected to be on sale later in the year. Interested buyers will be able to find it online and at over 1000 Sprint stores in the US.

Sony Reader runs the MontaVista Linux Professional Edition operating system. Sony ebook Library is not supported on Linux. Yet when this device is connected, it grants access to its flash memory and memory card slots (as if they were USB Mass Storage Devices).

Amazon's Kindle DX runs Linux-2.6.22.19. Operating system updates are received wirelessly and install automatically during a period in sleep mode in which the wireless is in operation. As it was noted in the article "Amazon Offer Kindle for Sale in Europe - Will they Succeed", the device is being offered globally on the 3G network with no charges for the wireless connectivity that is used to download eBooks. With its Wacom touchscreen, Illiad runs Linux 2.4 kernel.

Due to its open Linux operating system, Illiad can run third-party applications created for it. The Hanlin eReader v3, one of the first Open Source e-readers, is built on the Linux operating system. China's Hanvon uses Linux 2.6 and Cool-er, Pocketbook, and Bookeen also run Linux.

Windows

Although Windows is slipping in popularity, it will remain a major player in operating system market for many years into the future. Sony PRS-505/SC Digital eBook Reader, with its company software Sony ebook Library, is similar to iTunes and requires Windows. The software will not work on the 64-bit version of Windows XP but does support Windows Vista and Windows 7. Recent announcements point to the use of Windows 7 in new color 'slate' e-readers such as Archos or HP. The Taiwanese company, MSI, has also created an e-reader/computer combo which runs Windows 7.

E-readers with operational systems, such as the leading Google Android, encourage openness. These innovative devices are 'cracked' to allow users to run Android apps as well as download music and access social networks. Yet Fortify Software, the application vulnerability specialist, has issued a warning to corporations about possible security issues with modified e-readers. When a devise is 'cracked' or repurposed in this manner, there isn't any way to check the security of the operating system 'cracks' or newly installed programs.

For usage outside the corporate world, however, e-readers have few drawbacks. E-reader companies are always trying to improve on features, performance, and design. E-readers have made a tremendous impact on the reading experience - what we read, where we read, and how we read books and newspapers. More and more people are choosing e-readers and their state-of-the art operating systems are helping to drive that demand.

Top 3 Operating Systems For E-Readers

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