eReader Comparison

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.

–OUR PICKS: Best ereader for [books] [newspapers/magazines] [iPhone] –

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[We have a guide to iPhone reader apps as well. Skip to it here.]

[While you're here, check out our guide on how to get ebooks.]

Introduction

Currently (and sadly), there’s no perfect ereader. There isn’t even one that stands head and shoulders above the others. However, certain ereaders are better suited to certain needs.

This list is divided between interactive ereaders and casual ereaders, with a third section listing the ereader apps on non-dedicated iPhone and iPod Touch devices. We’ve listed only devices currently available, so no Plastic Logic or BeBook 2 until they actually come out and give firm specs and price points. Also, we’ve listed primarily devices available in the U.S. so no FLEPia or Brother.

Interactive ereaders have the ability to search within books, highlight and take notes. However, they’re all more expensive than almost all casual ereaders, and all have tradeoffs. And none of them satisfactorily interacts with ebooks the way you can with paper books and a pen (though the iRex is the closest).

Casual ereaders have no keyboard, and so cannot search within books (except the Astak 5-inch Pocket Pro, or take notes. If you don’t need to do those things, a casual ereader is most likely best for you.

iPhone/iPod Touch ereader apps are exactly that. Some people enjoy reading on mobile devices regularly, for others it is a handy way to have quick access to ebooks in short bursts, say while commuting or in a waiting room. We recommend you try a dedicated ereader, as you will love the electronic paper display. But if you’ve got an iPhone or iPod touch, you might as well download one of these so you always have reading in your pocket.

Note: We’re still refining this page. If you have comments or questions about this page, 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.

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.

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, Barnes & Noble and Apple’s iBookstore sell “ePubs,” but those books will not work with any device other than the Nook and the iPad, respectively. Be aware that “ePub” no longer 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.

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. The ereader guide is just below.

Appbooks (such as TouchBooks Reader and Iceberg Reader)

INTERACTIVE EREADERS

Amazon Kindle 2, $299

Best ereader for: Those who primarily read blogs, newspapers, and magazines (and don’t mind paying for ease-of-use and thoroughness).

Not good for: Those who primarily read books.

DRM content supported: Amazon-proprietary only. (Library books not supported.)

Quick summary: The Kindle is the only current ereader with wireless everywhere. This works very well for magazines and newspapers (disposable content). 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). Bottom line: The Kindle is not for you if you plan to build a library of ebooks to keep.

Also, most other ereaders support RSS downloads of blogs and newspapers with either Calibre or Mobipocket Reader. It requires you to plug your reader in every morning (and it’s not as thorough as Kindle’s RSS), but it’s almost entirely free.

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 page on Amazon.

Amazon Kindle DX, $489

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), $399

Best ereader for: Wealthy newspaper aficionados.

Not good for: The budget-conscious; book readers.

Quick summary: Sony’s new 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, wait for an Alex or a Plastic Logic. 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.

Sony Reader PRS-600 (Touch Edition), $299

Best ereader for: Book readers who must take notes.

Not good for: Those who don’t trust Sony. Readers with bad eyesight.

DRM content supported: Sony proprietary (LRF/BBeB); 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 Plastic Logic.

The screen on the 700 was low-contrast and highly reflective, and this video shows Sony hasn’t improved that 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, at least wait a month or so, until actual customers have a chance to try and review the new Reader. Or, wait until the Plastic Logic comes out early next year.

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; (We’ll update these links with PRS-600 equivalents as they become available.)

iRex 1000S, $859

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.)

Links: iRex 1000s reviews from USA Today, CNET, and Gizmodo; the 1000s product page at iRex’s website.

Barnes & Noble nook, $259

Best ereader for: Those looking for a multi-functional ereader alternative to the Kindle and others; those who want an ereader with e-ink tech but need LCD touchscreens in their gadgetry.

Not good for: Those who already have an ereader they enjoy; those willing to wait for the Alex.

DRM content supported: PDF, ePub (whether it is proprietarily locked is still in unclear)

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 their are still a lot of questions about the device and the service. The nook has a lot of potential, but saavy shoppers might to well to wait for the Spring Design Alex to release and compare the two before making a purchase.

Links: nook reviews from Engadget, Gizmodo, and The Huffington Post; a spec list at CNET; the Barnes & Noble info page.

CASUAL EREADERS

Sony Reader PRS-300, $199

The PRS-300 also comes in black and white.

Best ereader for: Casual book readers.

Not good for: Those who don’t trust Sony. Those who want to subscribe to newspapers. Those who want to take notes on their books.

DRM content supported: Sony proprietary (LRF/BBeB); Adobe PDFs and ePubs. (Library books supported as PDFs and ePubs.)

Quick summary: The PRS-300 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 the best deal in ereaders.

Sony Readers don’t have wireless, and the included software sucks. But they support ePub, and ePub books are quickly becoming just as cheap as Kindle books.

The build quality and interface of Sony Readers are fantastic. The 505 had a great screen, and was reliable and easy to use, and there’s no reason to think the 300 will lose ground in any of those areas. Add library ebook support and this is a great device at a great price.

The downside 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 your best bet.

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. (These links will be updated as new PRS-300 resources become available.)

Bookeen CyBook, $299-350 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

bookeen-cybook-opus-pocket-e-book-reader

Verdict: The Opus is behind the curve. No new features and an oversized price tag make it an unattractive option.

DRM content supported: Adobe ePub and PDF (library books supported as ePub and PDF).

Quick summary: The Opus is Bookeen’s latest ereader. It’s got all the usual suspects, feature-wise: DRMed ePub/PDF support. E-Ink. An interface.

This is another ereader that would be tempting at a much lower price point, but for $280, what are you buying? 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.

In fact, the major difference between the Gen3 and the Opus is that the Opus has a 5″ screen. Which means that it doesn’t even have that over the PRS-300.

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: Often the cheapest ereader available. Evidently, they now support DRM through Barnes & Noble, which makes this a viable option.

DRM content supported: Barnes & Noble—apparently that means eReader format. No library books supported

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 DRM through Barnes & Noble. According to this SlashGear piece, that means eReader format, which is unfortunate because it means no library ebooks—and eReader is an old format that I wouldn’t quite feel comfortable buying new books in. But it’s a huge step forward for jetBook and could mean bigger things if they make the switch to ePub when B & N does in a few months.

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 spend the extra $20 on a Sony or Astak that can do ePub. But if you read mostly public domain books, or you’re comfortable buying books exclusively from B & N and Fictionwise, or you have a backlog of old .pdb files, or you want a translator, too, give jetBook a look.

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.

Astak 5-inch EZ Reader Pocket Pro, $199

Verdict: If you want mp3s on your ereader, or an SD card slot or text-to-speech or the ability to search within books, this is the cheapest fully featured ereader out there. If you don’t want any of that stuff but still want DRM support, the Sony Readers have a slightly better interface.

DRM content supported: Adobe DRM PDF andePub; library books supported as PDF and ePub. They’re also working on eReader support, but that’s not a go just yet.

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.

Links: the Astak EZ Reader homepage; our review of the Pocket Pro (link live Sept. 21).

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 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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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. I’ve yet to download something with Iceberg’s architecture, but it is supposedly very user-friendly. None of those I have tried have hindered my reading, but having a single file attached to an app feels like sneaky DRM to me 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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