eReader Comparison
[Note: If you have comments or questions about this page, if we made a mistake, or if you want to relate an experience about any ereader on it (or not on it), please let us know. We'll be updating this page as much as possible, and we welcome your help and feedback.]
If you’re thinking of buying a dedicated ebook reader, or ereader, this comparison guide is intended to help you narrow the field of ereaders according to your specific needs, and help you find links to other resources. This guide is not an exhaustive hardware comparison, but you can find a great one of those here.
We also don’t have entries for every single ereader in the world—there are simply too many of them. Instead, we’ve listed our picks for the best ereader for several different genres of reading: books, newspapers, magazines, etc. After that, we’ve listed a number of other ereaders in ascending order of price, and we’ve got a comparison of iPhone ereading apps.
If you’re new to ereaders, you might also want to check out our quick guide to ebook formats.
OUR PICKS:
Best ereader for casual book reading: the Kobo ($130), or the Aluratek Libre ($100). If you read mostly books, and you don’t need to highlight or take notes inside those books, check out these two devices first. Both work with Adobe ePub and both can borrow library ebooks, which is a major plus for us. Based on specs, we’d lean toward the Kobo, but we have not personally used one. Go find a Borders and try them out in person first. Also in the ballpark are the Nook from Barnes & Noble ($150, with WiFi), the Astak Pocket Pro ($160, no WiFi), and the Sony Reader Pocket Edition ($150, no Wifi). All three can borrow library ebooks, but the Nook’s WiFi is the only compelling argument to pay the extra money. [Note: The wi-fi-only Kindle makes for a tempting target, too, at $140, but the Kindle can't do library ebooks, which makes it a non-contender for us.]
Best ereader for interactive book reading: Spring Design Alex ($400) or Bebook Neo ($250 + duties) or Sony Reader Touch Edition ($170) — If you need to highlight or take notes inside books, you will probably be disappointed by the interface of most ereaders. Honestly, it’s better to use paper books for now. But if you’re absolutely driven to try an ereader, look at these three options first. All three of these are compatible with Adobe ePub and work with library ebooks. Sony is in the lead here due to price.
Best ereader for newspapers: Amazon Kindle (wi-fi-only version) ($140) — The new Kindle’s wi-fi makes daily updating easy (assuming you have wi-fi in your house). That and its price tag give it the edge over the iPad, in newspapers, for now. The Kindle doesn’t work with library ebooks.
Best ereader for magazines and comic books: iPad ($500 – $830) — Color E-Ink is still years away, so the iPad (and its full-color screen) wins these two categories by default. The iPad cannot borrow library ebooks, but it can do a whole lot of other stuff.
Best ereader for iPhone: Stanza (free)
[Guide to a few other ereaders]
[A quick guide to formats for ebook beginners.]
[We have a guide to iPhone(/iPad/iPod Touch reader apps as well.]
[While you're here, check out our guide on how to get ebooks.]
Also: Check out our book reviews or our Great Reads to find books for your new ereader. Subscribe to Chamber Four and get books reviews and ereader news every day.
A note on formats for ebook beginners
If you’re just getting into ebooks and ereaders, some of the jargon might get a little confusing, but it’s not as complex as it sounds. Here’s a few quick definitions that should give you a handle on the major formats and jargon.
First, you’ve got DRM, which stands for Digital Rights Management. It’s basically a lock that publishers put on ebooks to prevent piracy. You buy the ebook, only your registered ereader can open it. Most major publishers release ebooks with DRM, and most formats we’re concerned with are DRM formats (ereaders all support most non-DRM formats). Generally, only one kind of DRM is allowed on any given device. DRM is annoying for customers, and if you buy DRMed books, you should know that you won’t be able to keep them forever, because sooner or later something like this will happen. In the meantime, however, you can borrow ebooks from the library. Check it out at your local library’s website, or find an elibrary near you on OverDrive’s website. And Calibre is a great, free program you can use to organize and load your non-DRM ebooks.
Adobe ePub and PDF: Recently, ePub has become the major non-Amazon DRM format. You can get library ebooks in ePub, and a wide variety of ereaders support it. Most ePub-compatible ereaders also support PDF. If you have a choice, get ePub; PDF is a visual format, not a text-based format, so it often has problems when you zoom in. Warning: Some ebookstores are now selling “ePubs” locked with their own proprietary DRM, which is not Adobe DRM. Notably, Apple’s iBookstore sells “ePubs,” but those books will not work with any device other than the iPad. Be aware that “ePub” no longer necessarily means an open format that will work across devices.
Mobipocket, or mobi, used to be a widely prevalent format, but has been overtaken by ePub, and now mobi’s on its way out. Get an ereader with ePub support instead.
Amazon Kindle format: This is a specialized brand of mobi that only Kindles and the Kindle iPhone app can read. Because this format locks you into a single device (and because you can’t get library books on a Kindle), we recommend getting an ePub-compatible ereader and not a Kindle. Hopefully, Amazon will wise up sooner or later, and make the Kindle compatible with ePub, but don’t hold your breath.
eReader is the format of choice at Fictionwise. It’s the evolution of the old Palm .pdb format, usually with DRM added on. The problem is that no standalone ereader is compatible with eReader, so your device options are limited to mobile devices like iPhones and BlackBerrys, and desktop (or laptop) PCs. Update: According to Ectaco, the jetBook is now compatible with eReader (but only eReader, which makes it a sacrifice).
Other: Non-DRM formats like .doc and .rtf and .txt are supported by most ereaders. If you need a more arcane format, check this ereader matrix to see which devices support it.
Good luck.
OUR PICKS — DESCRIPTIONS
Sony Reader PRS-300, Pocket Edition, $150 (shop around—don’t pay more than $150)
Best ereader for: Casual book readers—but it’s not the cheapest.
Upsides: Great interface and great hardware.
Downsides: It’s Sony, so support and software reliability are not great. You can’t take notes, or play mp3s. It’s not practical for reading newspapers or magazines.
DRM content supported: Adobe PDFs and ePubs. (Library books supported as PDFs and ePubs.)
Quick summary: The PRS-300 (Pocket Edition) is an update of the PRS-505. It’s slightly smaller (5″ instead of 6″), and $100 cheaper, and that second part makes the PRS-300 one of the best deal in ereaders.
The Pocket Edition doesn’t have wireless, and the Sony Reader Library software sucks. But it supports ePub, and ePub (while still encumbered with DRM) is a much more attractive format than Kindle or Apple proprietary—not least because ePub allows you to borrow library ebooks.
The build quality and interface of Sony Readers are fantastic. The 300 has a great screen, it’s reliable, and it’s easy to navigate and use. Hardware-wise, this is a great device at a great price. The software will give you trouble, but if you’re loading half a dozen books on it once a month, your headaches will be relatively contained.
One caveat is that Sony’s stripped out a lot of peripherals. There’s no SD card slot, so you’re stuck with 440 MB (around 300-400 books). There’s also no mp3 capability and no audio output. If you don’t need these things, the PRS-300 is a very solid option. The other major players in this category and price range are the Nook and the Kobo. You might also want to check out the Libre.
Links: BeBook v. 505 comparison on our site; BeBook v. 505 conversation at MobileRead; problems with Sony eBook Library; big problems with Sony’s new EBL 3.0 for Macs; problems with Sony tech support; a compilation of reviews of PRS-505 at ZDNET (despite what reviews might say, the PRS-505 no longer forces you to buy books from Sony); the PRS-300 page at Sony.
Borders Kobo, $130
Best ereader for: Casual book readers. One of our top picks.
Upsides: All the basic features we like, including, most importantly, compatibility with Adobe DRM. Books you buy from Borders will also work on most major smartphone platforms. Kobo can also sync with certain smartphones over Bluetooth.
Downsides: You can’t take notes, or play mp3s. It’s not practical for reading newspapers or magazines, because there’s no wireless or 3G connection. No formats supported other than PDF and ePub (at least not yet).
DRM content supported: Adobe PDFs and ePubs. (Library books supported as PDFs and ePubs.)
Quick summary: The Kobo is an intriguing choice for book readers. It has a 6″ E-Ink screen (compared to the Sony Pocket’s 5″).
The Kobo doesn’t have wireless, but it supports Adobe ePub, and that (while still encumbered with DRM) is a much more attractive format than Kindle or Apple proprietary formats—not least because Adobe ePub allows you to borrow library ebooks.
The Kobo has the same E-Ink screen as other E-Ink ereaders, and the interface and hardware design are purportedly quite good. The big downsides that this review noticed was that the interface is right-handed-centric, and the device feels slow. Give it a try at Borders before you buy, but after trying a number of different ereaders (though not this one), they all feel pretty much the same.
The Kobo doesn’t support many formats, only ePub and PDF, so be aware of that. There’s no real reason for this, so we’re guessing a future firmware will fix that up. But if you really want to read a bunch of .docs immediately, be aware.
Kobo also supports SD cards, which the Sony Pocket doesn’t. And while the Kobo desktop app isn’t anything special, it’s also not as horrible as Sony software.
All of this stacks up to a solid device. If you read primarily books, you can’t go wrong here. The other major players in this category and price range are the Sony Pocket Edition and the Nook. You might also want to check out the Libre.
Links: The most complete Kobo device review we’ve found; a review of the Kobo phone software; the Kobo page at Borders.com.
Aluratek Libre (Borders), $100
Best ereader for: Casual book readers. One of our top picks.
Upsides: Adobe DRM means you can buy from a wide selection of bookstores. LCD screen means it’ll be faster than E-Ink ereaders. The Libre can also play mp3s.
Downsides: LCD screen also means less contrast and less direct-sunlight readability. It does not appear that the Libre can sync with smartphones like the Kobo.
DRM content supported: Adobe PDFs and ePubs. (Library books supported as PDFs and ePubs.)
Quick summary: A few months ago, the Libre was $180, but Borders has plans to sell it, starting Sept. 1, for a flat hundred bucks. If this seems suspiciously cheap for an ereader, rest easy, it’s a fair price. E-Ink screens are much more expensive than LCD, and $30 off for LCD is just right. While $180 is too much, at $100, the Libre is an attractive option.
The Libre doesn’t have wireless, but like the Sony Pocket and the Kobo it supports Adobe ePub, which is a much more attractive format than Kindle or Apple proprietary—not least because ePub allows you to borrow library ebooks.
The interface is reportedly a bit clunky, and it “feels cheaper” than the Sony Pocket, according to the ZDNet review linked below. But, to be honest, it’ll probably be fine, just like almost all other ereaders we’ve tried. The Libre also syncs with Adobe Digital Editions, which means that you can buy ebooks anywhere with Adobe DRM (it also means you don’t need to worry about Borders going under). That’s a big plus, and we like the Digital Editions software.
So it mostly comes down to LCD vs. E-Ink. If you’re tempted by the Libre, we recommend you find a Borders when the Libre comes out, and compare it to the Kobo in person. If you can’t wait, the Kobo is a fine choice. Also take a look at the Sony Pocket Edition, and the Nook.
Links: A review of the Libre at ZDNet; the Libre page at Borders.com. You can also get the Libre at Sears for $150 right now, but there’s no reason to do that.
Astak 5-inch EZ Reader Pocket Pro, $160
Best ereader for: Casual book readers.
Upsides: Full featured. Offers searching within books, and text-to-speech.
Downsides: The Astak’s interface is clunkier than the Sony PRS-300′s.
DRM content supported: Adobe DRM PDF and ePub; library books supported as PDF and ePub.
Quick summary: When Astak first announced its EZ Reader in May (when it was called the Mentor), it looked like a line of all-new designs. Now that it’s here, it appears to be the same build as the 6-inch model (i.e. a Hanlin V3) with a smaller screen and a choice of colors (on the case, the screen is still black and white).
There are a couple of interesting features that Astak can brag about: most noticeably text-to-speech, a search function, SD card support up to 16 GB, and support for a wider range of non-DRM formats (such as .pdb, .lit, .prc, as well as the usual suspects). Also, they’re evidently working on support for the eReader format (popular at Fictionwise), which is currently only available for smartphones and the like.
In our side-by-side comparison of the Sony PRS-505 and the BeBook (also a Hanlin V3 build), the Sony had a better build quality and a better user interface. However, the comparison between the Pocket Pro and Sony’s new bargain ereader, the PRS-300 (also $199), is much closer. The PRS-300 has no extra features, including no SD card slot and no hard case, only a “sleeve.” The Pocket Pro has a slightly clunkier interface, however. Read more details at our review of the Pocket Pro.
If you want text-to-speech or mp3s (the PRS-300 has no audio output) or 16 GB of books (the PRS-300 has no SD card slot at all, so you’re stuck with 440 MB), the Astak is your best bet, especially if you read mostly ePubs. If you can get by without those things, the PRS-300 will have a slightly better interface.
Still, the Astak has been slow to react to the new $150 base-model price point used by the Sony Pocket and the Kobo. This device isn’t worth paying an extra $50, unless you really need an mp3 player or a search function.
Links: the Astak EZ Reader homepage; our review of the Pocket Pro.
Spring Design Alex, $400
Best ereader for: Interactive book readers (note-takers).
Upsides: The two-screen interface has tons of potential. Comes with WiFi and note-taking features.
Downsides: Price tag. If this were the same price as the Kindle, it’d be a no-brainer.
DRM content supported: Adobe DRMed ePub. Library books supported as ePubs.
Quick summary: Basically, the Alex has an E-Ink ereader in its top screen, and an Android phone in its bottom screen (and a weird name for a product). The idea is that you scroll through your books, or the web, on the smaller LCD screen, and then you read long-form with the top screen. It’s a much more refined version of the Nook.
Unfortunately, it’s also much more expensive. At $400, it’s very tempting to throw in an extra c-note and get an iPad. However, we’ll be keeping our eye on the Alex—if the price comes down by $200, this is a done deal. Reviewers have also complained about the lack of selection with the Alex’s store, but it supports Adobe ePub, so you can always get books from the library or one of the many other ePub stores (see our page, The Best Ways to Get eBooks, for specific stores and instructions on borrowing library ebooks).
Alex currently had WiFi, and there are rumors of a 3G version in the works. There have been some complaints about the Alex store’s book selection, but since the Alex supports Adobe ePub, it will be compatible with books from a wide range of ebookstores, and with library ebooks, so don’t let that stop you.
Links: Engadget review of the Alex; LAPTOP review of the Alex; the Alex’s homepage.
BeBook Neo, $250
Best ereader for: Interactive book readers (note-takers).
Upsides: The WACOM (stylus) touchscreen might be more comfortable for note-taking. Endless Ideas (the parent company) does great customer support. Also has WiFi.
Downsides: Endless Ideas is in the Netherlands, so it’ll cost a little extra to order a Neo. It’s a bit of a risk, as Endless Ideas offers no return policy.
DRM content supported: Adobe ePub. Library books supported as ePubs.
Quick summary: The original BeBook was a relatively well-executed clone of a cheap Hanlin ereader. This latest version looks miles better, and its price is right in line with other ereaders with comparable features.
WiFi might be nice, and we’d prefer a stylus touchscreen to the Sony’s dubious finger-push input.
The problem is that little is known about the Neo. It hasn’t gotten many reviews, and there aren’t even any videos, other than a few quick promos (one of which is linked below).
Another wrench in the works is the fact that—as we know from experience—you can’t return a BeBook, which makes buying one a substantial risk. This new Neo has a lot of promise, but you’ve got to take a big plunge.
Links: A short Neo promo video; a video review of the Neo; the Neo website.
Sony Reader PRS-600 (Touch Edition), $170
Best ereader for: Interactive book readers (note-takers).
Upsides: Touchscreen, library ebooks.
Downsides: Suspect Sony software. Suspect Sony touchscreen.
DRM content supported: Adobe PDF and ePub. (Library books supported as PDFs and ePubs.)
Quick summary: The PRS-600 is an update of Sony’s touchscreen ereader. It’s the cheapest touchscreen ereader out there, but you might be better off waiting for the technology to advance for a few years.
The screen on the 700 was low-contrast and highly reflective, and this video shows Sony hasn’t improved it all that much for the 600.
Additionally, I had a PRS-700 whose touchscreen broke from touching it. Not confidence inspiring.
If you’re really interested in interacting with your ebooks, your options are pretty limited. Basically you’ve got this, the Alex and the Bebook Neo. None of them is ideal, because touchscreen ereaders simply aren’t very good yet.
Links: Our review of the PRS-700; the trouble with Sony’s eBook Library; the trouble with Sony’s new EBL 3.0 for Macs; the headache you’ll have if you get a lemon; a comparison of the Kindle and the PRS-700; our complete archive of Sony Reader-related posts; the PRS-600 on Sony’s website; and a video review at Mobiletechreview―they say the screen isn’t as bad as the 700′s and isn’t as good as the 505′s.
Amazon Kindle 3 (wi-fi-only edition), $140
Best ereader for: Newspaper readers.
Upsides: The new wi-fi-only Kindle is the cheapest E-Ink ereader out there, and its wi-fi makes it tops for newspaper readers. Battery life and price also don’t hurt compared to the iPad, its immediate competition.
Downsides: A proprietary Kindle format makes this device a bad one for book readers, especially now that Amazon has no book-price advantage.
DRM content supported: Amazon-proprietary only. (Library books not supported.)
Quick summary: Here’s the bottom line (at the top of the description): we’ve been opponents of the Kindle for its entire existence. It doesn’t support library books, and Bezos is not very likable. That said, this is the best Kindle to date, and it’s a very tempting device, even to us. If you were on the fence before, take another look.
This edition is identical to the regular Kindle 3, except this version has wi-fi instead of 3G and costs $50 less. Wi-fi still works great for newspapers (and plenty fine for ebooks), and at $140, it’s tough to go wrong here. As for books that you might want to keep, however, you can only download them DRM-crippled and proprietary from Amazon’s store. It’s a closed system: you can’t buy books for the Kindle on any site besides Amazon, and you can’t read Amazon ebooks on any device but a Kindle, or one of Amazon’s mobile apps—and there’s now going to be a Kindle iPad app. These Kindle apps are getting ubiquitous enough to make this device quite tempting.
On the negative side, there’s still no word on folders or a better organizational system, and Amazon’s been a real jerk to publishers recently.
Still, this is undoubtedly the most useful Kindle yet. We still recommend other ereaders if you read books exclusively, but if you’re a newspaper nut, the Kindle’s your huckleberry.
[Note: spec-wise, the Kindle 3 is nearly identical to the Kindle 2, so we're going to leave up our Kindle 2 links.]
Links: A comparison of the Kindle and the Sony Reader; how the Kindle 2.0 advanced from the original Kindle; our entire archive of Kindle-related posts; the Kindle wi-fi-only page on Amazon.
Apple iPad, $500 – $830
Best ereader for: Magazine or comic book readers. People who want an entertainment multiplex.
Upsides: Great hardware and interface, no doubt. Full-color screen means fantastic magazine, comic book, and newspaper reading.
Downsides: No library ebooks. No multitasking. Proprietary everything. And a backlit screen means eye strain. If you’re look for a device solely for reading books, this is not it. And it will be expensive.
Quick summary: The iPad is certainly an attractive toy, what with Netflix and maybe Hulu apps on the horizon. As an ereader, it’s far and away the best magazine and comic book reader, simply because of its color touchscreen.
However, we’re not convinced the iPad can take over all your ereading needs. It’s got its own DRM scheme, it can’t work with library ebooks, and its backlit screen will cause eye strain. Also, it will expensive. The books will be expensive, the apps will be expensive, the 3G will be expensive. (Note: the iBooks ereader software does not come preloaded on an iPad. You must download it–for free–from the App Store.)
Personally, we’re waiting for later generations (and for price cuts). But if you’ve got other ideas for this current version, count on it being a beautiful magazine and multimedia reader.
Links: Stephen Fry’s fanboy review of the iPad; David Pogue’s two ways to take the phrase “it’s a big iPhone”; Cory Doctorow with a counterargument; the iPad website.
OTHER EREADERS
Sony Reader PRS-900, Daily Edition
Ectaco jetBook and jetBook Lite
BeBook, Astak 6-inch EZ Reader, and other rebranded Hanlins
iPHONE/iPOD TOUCH EREADER APPS
Appbooks (such as TouchBooks Reader and Iceberg Reader)
OTHER EREADERS — DESCRIPTIONS
Amazon Kindle 3 (3G edition), $190
Best ereader for: People who need a book NOW.
Upsides: Wireless-everywhere means you can get books everywhere.
Downsides: Constant free wireless comes at a premium: $50 extra. If you’re not absolutely sure you need it, get the wi-fi-only edition. A proprietary Kindle format makes this device a bad one for book readers, especially now that Amazon has no book-price advantage. Clunky interface.
DRM content supported: Amazon-proprietary only. (Library books not supported.)
Quick summary: The Kindle’s big selling point has always been its wireless-everywhere, but with the Kindle 3, they’ve put a price tag on it: $50 extra. The wi-fi-only Kindle is $140, and you should have a pretty good reason to spend the extra money. As with all Kindles, you buy books DRM-crippled and proprietary from Amazon’s store. It’s a closed system: you can’t buy books for the Kindle on any site besides Amazon, and you can’t read Amazon ebooks on any device but a Kindle (or one of Amazon’s mobile apps — and there’s now going to be a Kindle iPad app). Bottom line: The Kindle is not for you if you plan to build a library of ebooks to keep, and even if you’ve still gotta have one, get the cheaper version.
Also, Amazon’s been a real jerk to publishers recently. And this thing still doesn’t seem to have folders. Drag.
[Note: the Kindle 3 is nearly identical to the Kindle 2, so we're leaving up our Kindle 2 links.]
Links: A comparison of the Kindle and the Sony Reader; how the Kindle 2.0 advanced from the original Kindle; our entire archive of Kindle-related posts; the Kindle 3G page on Amazon.
Plastic Logic QUE, $649 – $800
After years of development and hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of funding, Plastic Logic realized that nobody wanted to pay $800 for a device with less functionality than many cheaper devices, like the iPad. So they canceled the whole thing. Sell your Plastic Logic stock now.
The rest of this is our original entry on the QUE.
Quick summary: The QUE seemed like the best ereader in the world when it was first shown off…. two years ago. Since then, smart phones have become ubiquitous and ereaders have become cheap(er). So when the QUE finally debuted, its calendar wasn’t all that impressive. To make matters worse, the iPad is more functional and cheaper.
The only things the QUE has going for it are its ability to hand-write notes, and its E-Ink screen. Those don’t add up to $800 worth of value.
Until the price comes down by half, there’s no reason to get a QUE.
Links: A video in which a QUE salesperson says a page takes a second to load; Gizmodo likes it, kind of; the QUE’s website.
Amazon Kindle DX, $380
Best ereader for: Wealthy textbook or PDF readers.
Not good for: Casual book readers.
DRM content supported: Amazon-proprietary only. (Library books not supported.)
Quick summary: The Kindle DX is the big brother of the Kindle 2.0. With a 9.7″ screen and native PDF support, it’s designed to be used by students and businesspeople for etextbooks and PDFs. However, it still doesn’t have a touchscreen, which makes the highlighting process kludgy at best. In fact, other than the screen, the DX’s specs are very similar to the Kindle 2.0′s, and its downsides are very similar as well.
DX still doesn’t have folders, still can’t read any DRMed file you don’t get from Amazon, and is even more expensive than most casual ereaders. Amazon’s Whispersyncing annotation feature, called “Clippings,” is promising (although, it might have a secret limit), and, indeed, the DX is the first step toward a revolution in textbooks. However, it’s hard to recommend in its current state.
Links: A thorough review of the DX at TeleRead; a video of the kludgy highlighting process; a comparison of the DX and the iRex; an explanation of the mediocre Clippings feature, and its limits; the DX page at Amazon.
Sony Reader PRS-900 (Daily Edition), $300
Best ereader for: Wealthy newspaper aficionados.
Not good for: The budget-conscious; book readers.
Quick summary: Sony’s Daily Edition ereader has a 7.1″ touchscreen that seems designed for “two-page view” (pictured).
The Daily also features 3G wireless, hooks to lesser-known content sources, and a monster price tag at 400 bucks. That’s $140 more than either of the major wireless ereaders, the Kindle or the Nook, and I haven’t seen anything that justifies the bump.
Sony’s touchscreens have been notoriously disliked because of low-contrast glare problems, and fragility. They seem to have improved from the heady days of the 700, but they’re still far from perfect.
Sony’s hyped the Daily Edition’s tie-ins to the New York Public Library and ebookstores like Powells.com, but those aren’t enough to justify the price tag, or the lack of a plain browser feature (something the Nook and Kindle both have).
The bottom line: if you need newspapers, try a Kindle or an iPad. If you read books, get a PRS-300. The 300′s more than $200 cheaper than the 900 and you can still get to Powells.com and any library you’ve got a card to, at your regular computer.
Links: a thorough review, including video; a slightly less thorough review; the PRS-900 page at Sony.
iRex 1000S, $860
Best ereader for: The foolishly wealthy.
Not good for: Normal people.
DRM content supported: Mobipocket. (Mobi library books supported.)
Quick summary: This device has a pretty slick-looking interface, tablet-like note-taking abilities, and a 10.2-inch screen. However, iRex products are far overpriced. Unless you’re an exec who spends all day reading full-size PDFS, only consider buying an iRex if you can afford to throw away $900 on a toy that will be obsolete in a year or two.
(iRex also makes a slightly cheaper ($699) ereader called the iLiad, but it’s difficult to tell from the iLiad’s webpage what exactly justifies the price tag.) There’s news of a $400 version, too. But honestly, this company’s products don’t seem designed for anybody without buckets of money to burn.
Links: iRex 1000s reviews from USA Today, CNET, and Gizmodo; the 1000s product page at iRex’s website.
Barnes & Noble nook, $150-200
Best ereader for: Book readers.
Not good for: Magazine readers.
DRM content supported: PDF, ePub (B&N and Adobe? Evidently Library ebooks are supported. Check here for more.)
Quick summary: The nook looks pretty cool with its sleek white design and dual screens. The two screens are a welcome innovation (though B&N doesn’t necessarily deserve the credit just becuase they rushed to production first). The larger screen is a 6 inch e-ink display, and below it is a 3.5 inch color, touchscreen, LCD interface. It’s had a shaky launch at best, and there are still a lot of questions about the device and the service. The nook has a lot of potential, but savvy shoppers might do well to wait for the Spring Design Alex to drop in price, as the Alex is unquestionably the better device.
Barnes & Noble has dropped the price of the nook to $200, and announced a new WiFi-only nook selling for $150. We’ve tried it out in-store, and it feels awkward and kludgy. Give it a try if you like, and it does support Adobe DRM (FAQ here). Which means that it comes down to interface, and the nook’s is not good. The other ereaders in this category and price range are the Kobo and the Sony Pocket Edition. Also check out the Libre.
Links: nook reviews from Engadget, Gizmodo, and The Huffington Post; a spec list at CNET; the Barnes & Noble info page.
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Bookeen CyBook, $300-350 plus shipping
Verdict: It’s overpriced.
DRM content supported: Mobipocket. (Library books supported as Mobis.)
Quick summary: The CyBook can support DRM Mobipocket, as can the BeBook. But the BeBook has support for a wide range of other formats (including RTF, which CyBook doesn’t support). The CyBook also can’t do page numbers with Mobis, which BeBook can. The CyBook has more interface options in certain areas, including more font sizes, and more layout customizability, but the BeBook has numbers buttons so that you don’t need to scroll everywhere to select options. BeBook also has more frequent firmware upgrades, and seems to have more robust support.
If you buy from the Bookeen website, the CyBook is $70 more, not including shipping, which is twice as much to the U.S. However, BooksOnBoard sells the CyBook in the U.S. for $299 (currently), and $14 shipping, making the price difference only $19. The CyBook price, however, doesn’t come with a cover, which is standard with both the PRS-505 and the BeBook.
Links: BeBook v. 505 comparison (including why CyBook was out of the running); CyBook reviews at the Future of Things and Trusted Reviews; BeBook v. CyBook at MobileRead; the CyBook webpage; the CyBook at BooksOnBoard.
Bookeen Cybook Opus, $200
Verdict: The Opus is a Europe-based clone of the Sony Pocket Edition. However, if you read in languages other than English, this is one of your only options.
DRM content supported: Adobe ePub and PDF (library books supported as ePub and PDF).
Quick summary: Reader Alan tells us that the Opus has multi-language capabilities that other ereaders don’t.
We haven’t tried out the language capabilities of many ereaders, but if that’s something you need, start here.
(Alan also said, “Most of the readers sold in America are frustratingly monolingual, like most Americans, I suppose.” So that was pretty funny.)
Other than the language thing, there’s not a lot to get excited about here. The Opus is Bookeen’s latest ereader. It’s got all the usual suspects, feature-wise: DRMed ePub/PDF support. E-Ink. An interface.
Bookeen hasn’t done much of anything new since the Cybook Gen3 (which you can still buy, somehow, for $350. There’s no touchscreen, no wireless, and they’re still boasting about battery life.
This is basically a European version of the Sony Pocket Edition, or the Astak Pocket Pro. If you live in Europe or speak languages other than English, give it a look. If you live in America, go for the Sony or Astak. The other major ereader that supports multiple languages is the jetBook.
Links: the Opus homepage; an Opus unboxing (in French).
Cool-er eReader, $249
Verdict: At $50 more than the PRS-300, the Cool-er is only worth it if you really want a green ereader, or really want a 6″ screen.
DRM content supported: Adobe ePub and PDF (library ebooks supported as ePubs and PDFs).
Quick summary: The Cool-er’s big selling point is that it’s colorful (on the outside, that is; the screen is still monochrome). Other than that, it’s underlying specs are very similar to the PRS-300′s, and it’s interface seems to be a lot worse.
Like the Sony Readers, Cool-er supports Adobe Digital Editions, and DRMed ePub and PDF through Adobe. It has the regular E-Ink screen, the regular battery, etc., etc. But its build quality and user interface don’t compare. There are also complaints about the font and the mp3 execution.
If this device was $50 cheaper than the Sony Reader, we might have a race; as it is, no contest.
When Cool-er was first announced, they claimed to be the iPod of ereaders. Evidently they didn’t understand that it was the iPod’s user interface, and not its form factor, that made it a game-changer.
Links: the Cool-er homepage; a harsh review at Gizmodo; a kinder but still unconvincing video review by TechCrunch.
Ectaco JetBook ($179) and jetBook Lite ($149)
Verdict: These LCD devices were once the cheapest ereaders available, but not anymore. However, they are the cheapest ereaders that support multiple languages and alphabets, if you need that feature.
DRM content supported: Adobe DRM. Library books supported as ePubs and PDFs.
Quick summary: The jetBook is an interesting device, because it uses a non-backlit LCD screen instead of the usual E-Ink. That’s good because it’s faster, but it’s bad because the contrast is not as good.
The jetBook Lite differs from the plain version in that it uses 4 AA batteries instead of an internal battery you recharge by plugging in. This evidently makes it $30 cheaper, and the AAs will last for “23 hours of reading.” 23 hours doesn’t sound like a lot to me, but by Ectaco’s calculations, that means just over 13,000 page-turns (well above industry standard).
Until recently, the jetBooks could not support DRM, but now they evidently support Adobe DRM, which is the kind we hate the least. But now almost every other basic ereader is cheaper, and jetBook is no longer worth $180.
jetBook also supports text input through T9 predictive typing, and boasts built-in translation dictionaries—which makes sense, since that’s parent company Ectaco’s bread and butter.
If it were me, I’d get one of these casual book reading ereaders, all of which are cheaper. But if you want a translator, too, or you read in languages other than English give jetBook a look. The other main ereader that supports multiple languages is the Cybook Opus.
Links: here’s a detailed user review; another helpful review (since it’s old, price and DRM info aren’t accurate); video of the jetBook in action; and the newly revamped and much better jetBook homepage.
Foxit eSlick, $259
Best ereader for: ???
Not good for: ???
DRM content supported: eReader. (Library books not supported.)
Quick summary: The Foxit eSlick recently upgraded and added the ability to read eReader DRM books. That’s better than nothing, but at this price point the eSlick still isn’t a viable option. If you’re an eReader fan, you’re better off with a jetBook (see above) for $80 less.
If you’re interested in newspapers and RSS feeds or the like, the eSlick’s asking price will buy you a Kindle or a Nook, both of which have 3G.
Links: Articles on the eSlick at PC World, and Gadgets Review; the eSlick webpage.
BeBook, Astak, and other rebranded Hanlins, various prices
Verdict: These are usually overpriced.
Quick summary: It’s a popular way to jump into the ereader marketplace: you start with a Hanlin V3, which is an established (and cheap) ereader. Then you design your own firmware for it, and sell it under your own name. The original BeBook is a rebranded Hanlin, as is the Astak 6-inch EZReader. They look like the picture at right (plus or minus a logo).
Rebranded Hanlins are generally overpriced because there’s an extra middleman (whoever’s making a new firmware and pasting on their logo). So unless you find one for cheap, don’t bother. I’d say $200 is the most I’d pay for a 6-inch Hanlin these days. The going rate is closer to $300, like this one at Wal-Mart.
Keep an eye out for it, and realize what you’re getting before you buy.
The exception to the Hanlin rule is the Pocket Pro, which offers all the features of a six-inch Hanlin, except for a five-inch screen, and is priced at $199. If you’re in the market for a casual, cheap ereader, your decision is between the Pocket Pro and Sony’s PRS-300. The jetBook also comes into play, but only offers eReader DRM support (which isn’t as desirable as Sony and Astak’s ePub support).
iPHONE/iPOD(/iPAD) TOUCH EREADER APPS
Stanza, free
Best app for: Most everyone with an iPhone or iPod Touch who wants to read with any sort of seriousness (at least in the realm allowable by the device). Those who don’t have a very good reason for choosing one of the other programs below. It is also supported by the iPad, so will be a nice open-format accompaniment to iBooks for users who go that Route.
Formats supported: DRM-free: anything. DRM: eReader format.
Quick summary: Stanza is hands-down the easiest and most open and user-friendly reader app available through iTunes. Using Calibre or their free Stanza Desktop, you can easily sync files from you computer to your device in seconds. It handles most every file format (with some DRM exceptions), and the interface and accessibility are hard to beat. Stanza is better than the competition, and it’s free of charge and free from advertising.
Links: Lexcycle’s Stanza Homepage, our review.
eReader, free
Best app for: Anyone who already has an eReader/Fictionwise account, or a library of eReader PDB files. Palm holdouts.
Not good for: Anyone else
Formats supported: eReader PDB only. You can convert files via their website if you really want to bother.
Quick summary: eReader does most everything right and is a competent reader app. But the file organization is not as intuitive as Stanza, and you must use the PDB format. Ultimately, the choice between Stanza and eReader boils down to you whether you already have a collection with eReader/Fictionwise or wish to start one, or whether want to manage your own files as you wish, as Stanza allows. The latter option is not for everyone, and if it’s not for you, eReader is likely to be your app of choice. There is no word yet whether this will become available to iPad users.
Links: eReader’s iPhone FAQ, our review.
Eucalyptus, $9.99
Best app for: Serious public domain readers.
Not good for: Penny pinchers; those who want read books outside the public domain
Formats supported: connects exclusively to Project Gutenberg.
Quick summary: High quality presentation and organization. Lots of visual touches that make it really easy to use and easy on the eyes. It’s a bit pricey and limited to public domain works, so not for everyone. (Unlike Classics and Classics2Go, however, the entire Project Gutenberg library is available in the improved format.) It is now supported by iPad, and the stylization and library are of the quality that users who would find this worthwhile on the iPhone should also on the iPad, despite iBooks.
Links: Our review, a bunch of silliness surrounding the app’s launch.
Classics, $2.99
Best app for: Readers who only want a few casual choices in their pocket. Those who prefer form to function.
Not good for: People who take mobile device reading seriously.
Formats supported: None. You get what they give you.
Quick summary: Classics is actually a nice little app. Just don’t expect it to be anything more than it is. The books look nice, and the text flows well, even if it is a bit too large. There are nice graphics and animations, and the app regularly updates with new books every month or so (at no additional charge)–when I first got it there were 7 books, now it’s at 20. There are no customization options besides organizing your books on the virtual shelf, and no way to add or remove content. (Note: the shelving presentation is very similar to what Apple has done with iBooks. At this point, Classics is pretty much obsolete.)
Links: Classics homepage, Ars Technica review, our review.
Classics2Go, $.99
Best app for: Readers who want a few more public domain books than Classics offers, and a lot less than Eucalyptus does.
Not good for: People who take mobile device reading seriously.
Formats supported: None. You get what they give you.
Quick summary: Classics2Go is essentially the same app as Classics. It has a similar presentation (though not quite as pretty), and a slightly larger library. If you want a quick preset library of public domain books, flip a coin and pick up one of these apps. Otherwise go for Stanza or Eucalyptus.
Links: Our review.
Amazon Kindle app, free
Best app for: Kindle owners.
Not good for: Anyone else.
Formats supported: Kindle format only.
Quick summary: Though anyone can download to and read straight from this from Amazon, it’s much less a standalone reader app than it is a supplement to the Kindle. For Kindlers it provides a nice way to quickly pick up a page or two on the fly without breaking out your Kindle, and while retaining your place in whatever text you’re reading. For everyone else its an inferior reader app hamstrung by DRM. (Note: Kindle will be releasing an iPad compatible app that is purported to be a bit more feature rich. Even if this turns out to be the case, the decision to use it should still boil down to whether or not you want a Kindle library exclusively for your ebooks–and buying and using both a Kindle and an iPad is a tad insane.)
Links: Our review, CNET puts it to the test.
Barnes & Noble eReader, free
Best app for: Frequent Barnes & Noble customers, users looking for a low-hassle Kindle alternative on the iPhone.
Not good for: Getting books from somewhere other than Barnes & Noble.
Formats supported: ePub (I think).
Quick summary: This app is actually pretty feature rich and is one of the better iPhone reader apps. It does a lot right, and if you’re willing to filter your library through a Barnes & Noble account you’ll find a lot to like about this app. (Note: B&N is releasing a iPad enhanced app much like Amazon-sse above. The same reasoning there applies here.)
Links: Our review, B&N’s download page.
Bookz, $4.99
Best app for: Masochistic crazy people who prefer TXT files exclusively.
Not good for: Anybody.
Formats supported: TXT only. (There are sites that will convert non-DRM PDFs to TXT for you if you want).
Quick summary: Bookz is the lame horse that ran out of the gate first then tumbled over its own feet, crippling its left knee and leaving the jockey a tiny quadraplegic. It’s currently grazing on a sunny ranch right know, seemingly unaware it’s about to get a calming shot and a free trip to the Elmer’s factory.
Links: Our review, convert to TXT here.
BookShelf, $5.99 (or free and ad-supported as BookShelfLT)
Best app for: Dupes. Mid-nineties era Mac freaks nostalgic for the way things were.
Not good for: People who value their time and money.
Formats supported: TXT, HTML, FB2, Plucker, PalmDoc, Mobi, and some (non-ereader) PDB.
Quick summary: BookShelf isn’t terrible, it’s just worse than Stanza in every single department. The $6 price tag is ridiculous for the lack of format support and the hassle that syncing is. And the free version has ads that the better, freer, programs do not.
Links: BookShelf’s tour, their support (you might need it) and FAQ pages, a six-part video tutorial about how to use it, our review.
Appbooks using engines such as TouchBooks Reader and Iceberg Reader, price varies
Best app for: People who don’t want to deal with managing a digital library. Impulsive, non-serious mobile readers.
Not good for: People who hate cluttered devices, or those who like organizing digital libraries.
Formats Supported: None.
Quick summary: TouchBooks is just one example (and I think a nice one) of the types of software available in the single books apps (known unofficially as Appbooks) available through iTunes. Iceberg too is very user-friendly. None of these tried have hindered our reading, but having a single file attached to an app feels like sneaky DRM to us and I don’t like it. If that’s what you’re looking for, download away and enjoy. Ultimately it’s the book and not the conveyance that matters.
Links: Our review of Benjamin Button on TouchBooks Reader, Scrollmotion’s Iceberg page, speculative TeleRead post about appbooks v. ePUB libraries.
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Note on Other Mobile Reading Options
We know there are plenty more reading apps across more platforms than just Apple’s. While a lot of these seem to be throw away shovelware, there are bound to be many that are worthwhile. We don’t have the means to be as comprehensive on mobile phone reader programs as we’d like to. If you know of a program that really ought to be included, please let us know, and we will do our best to add it with a fair analysis.
