eBook Readers Reviews: Best eBook Readers

Best ebook reader

*Est. $260 Compare Prices

Experts prefer Amazon's Kindle 2 over any other ebook reader on the market. The 6-inch display is crisp and easy on the eyes, while 3G wireless connectivity makes it simple to download ebooks on the go. The Amazon Kindle… 2 is compatible with both Macs and PCs, and it can store 1,500 books on its 2 GB of onboard storage. Unlike some e-readers, the Amazon Kindle 2 lacks a memory card slot and it has relatively limited file format support. Fortunately, Amazon's proprietary format is backed by a huge ebook store, where many bestsellers sell for $9.99. The latest version of the Amazon Kindle 2 is available both internationally and in the U.S.; it also swaps the Sprint network for 3G coverage with AT&T. Otherwise, the latest generation of the Amazon Kindle 2 is the same as the previous version. Notable features include a basic web browser, music player, text-to-speech functionality and an integrated dictionary.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

PC Pro: Reviewer Stuart Turton is impressed with the Kindle's hardware and crisp display, but he can't overlook the limited file support, ...

Gizmodo: The new version of the Kindle receives praise for free 3G connectivity and fast book downloads, but Nick Broughall doesn't think ...

TopTenReviews.com: TopTenReviews.com compares the Amazon Kindle 2 to both its predecessor and competing models, granting it the site's Gold award ...

CNET: Following CNET's review formula, David Carnoy runs down the Amazon Kindle 2's design, features, display technology, ...

MobileTechReview.com: Lisa Gade compares the Amazon Kindle 2 to its predecessor and to competing models from Sony before delving into an analysis of ...

PCMag.com: Editor Dan Costa compares the Amazon Kindle 2 to the original Kindle and to the Sony Reader PRS-700, which is now discontinued. ...

Amazon.com: More than 7,000 users review the Kindle on Amazon.com, giving the e-reader an overall rating of four stars (out of five). While ...

Brighthand.com: BrightHand.com has a nicely detailed explanation of e-reader technology that will be boring to those in the know, but interesting ...

CNET: Few reviewers bother to retest the latest, international version of the Amazon Kindle 2 because it is nearly identical to the ...

PC World: This is one of the most detailed and lavishly illustrated virtual tours of the Amazon Kindle 2 available, but PC World's ...

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Best touch-screen ebook reader

Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600

*Est. $300 Compare Prices

Few ebook readers can compete with the Amazon Kindle 2, but Sony earns a number of recommendations for the new Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600. It boasts a 6-inch touch-screen display, allowing readers to intuitively… turn pages with a swipe of their finger. The Sony gets high marks for its impressive file support, as the e-reader can view ePub, PDF and text files in their native versions. Sony's Library Finder application allows readers to borrow ebooks from participating local libraries, and experts like the e-reader's note-taking and highlighting features. Although the touch screen is innovative, it has some serious downsides. Most notably, multiple reviewers report glare and poor contrast, since Sony had to layer the touch screen over the E Ink Vizplex display; it also uses fewer shades of gray than the Amazon Kindle 2. Another notable downside is the lack of Wi-Fi, which means the Sony Reader Touch Edition must be connected to a PC or Mac with a USB cable for downloading books. These complaints aside, most reviewers say the Sony is a worthy alternative to the Amazon Kindle 2, especially if you want an e-reader that supports a wide range of file types.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: The Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600 gets a good overall rating from David Carnoy at CNET. Although he think it's an improvement ...

PC World: Yardena Arar at PC World calls the Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600 a "sturdier and more elegant reader" than the Amazon Kindle, ...

Laptop Magazine: K.T. Bradford at Laptop Magazine reviews and compares the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 and the Sony Reader Touch Edition ...

PC Advisor: Mark Hattersley has a more negative view of the Sony's touch screen than other reviewers. Due to glare and low contrast, ...

MobileTechReview.com: Lisa Gade at MobileTechReview.com has a lot of praise for the Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600, which earns 4.5 stars (out of ...

TechRadar.com: James Rivington appreciates the lightweight design and responsive touch-screen interface on the Sony Reader Touch Edition ...

Pocket-lint.com: Stuart Miles doesn't rate the Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600, but his initial impressions are highly favorable. Lack of ...

ZDNet.com: Unlike other reviews, Matthew Miller has few problems with glare or low contrast on the new Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600, ...

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Large-screen ebook reader

Amazon Kindle DX

*Est. $490 Compare Prices

The Amazon Kindle DX is large and expensive, but it earns almost as many recommendations as the Amazon Kindle 2. It boasts a number of upgrades from the smaller Kindle, including a 9.7-inch display, 4 GB of memory, an… auto-rotating screen and a built-in PDF reader. The display on the Amazon Kindle DX has a higher resolution than the Amazon Kindle 2, and the e-reader gets very high marks for readability. These features are impressive, but a tiny, hard-to-use keyboard and poor file organization are often mentioned as downsides. If you already have a Kindle, experts say the Amazon Kindle DX is not an essential upgrade unless you regularly read PDF files. While it's a considerable investment, reviews indicate the Amazon Kindle DX is a great choice if you want a large screen that reads more like a regular book.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

PC World: Melissa J. Perenson at PC World thinks the Amazon Kindle DX is a compelling ebook reader, with the biggest downside being its ...

CNET: David Carnoy recommends the Amazon Kindle DX if you read lots of PDF files, but otherwise he thinks the Kindle 2 is a better ...

PCMag.com: The Amazon Kindle DX gets high marks from Dan Costa for its excellent display and huge selection of downloadable ebooks. However, ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org doesn't thoroughly test and rate ebook readers, but Paul Reynolds has a detailed overview of the Amazon ...

MobileTechReview.com: The Amazon Kindle DX earns a perfect score from Lisa Gade at MobileTechReview.com. Overall, she thinks the larger screen makes ...

Wired.com: Steven Levy at Wired says the Amazon Kindle DX is an improvement over the excellent Kindle 2, but at its current price, the DX is ...

Engadget.com: Nilay Patel has mixed reactions to the Amazon Kindle DX -- the keyboard is awful, but Patel thinks the larger screen improves ...

Amazon.com: More than 800 users review the Kindle DX on Amazon.com, giving it an average rating of 3.5 stars out of five. Owners love the ...

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Budget ebook reader

Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300

*Est. $200 Compare Prices

Most budget ebook readers cost between $200 and $250, which isn't that great a deal when you consider that the Amazon Kindle 2 is much cheaper than it was last year. Still, the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 gets… great reviews for its crystal-clear 5-inch display -- one tester says the e-reader has even better contrast than the Amazon Kindle 2. The Sony ebook reader has fewer features than pricier e-readers; there's no music player, built-in dictionary or memory card slot like the Sony Reader Touch Edition. Even so, a number of experts pick the Pocket Edition as a good entry-level ebook reader. They like the rich file support (including both ePub and PDF) and the slim, ultraportable design.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: The Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 earns a very good rating from David Carnoy at CNET. While he acknowledges that the ...

MobileTechReview.com: While she prefers the Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600 overall, Lisa Gade at MobileTechReview.com thinks the Sony Reader Pocket ...

Laptop Magazine: This nicely comparative review looks at both the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 and Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600. K.T. ...

Which? magazine: The Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 is one of several ebook readers tested by Britain's Which? magazine. The e-reader isn't ...

PC World: The Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 gets very good scores at PC World, where Yardena Arar recommends it for anyone on a budget ...

TechRadar.com: Dave Stevenson at TechRadar.com recommends the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 for those who travel often and need ultimate ...

Amazon.com: The Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 has only accumulated a few user reviews so far at Amazon.com. Most owners are happy with ...

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eBook Readers: Reviews

Best ebook reader

Best touch-screen ebook reader

Large-screen ebook reader

Budget ebook reader

eBook Readers by Price Range