eBook Readers: Reviews

Experts overwhelmingly select Amazon's Kindle 2 as the best ebook reader on the market. A crisp, detailed display and ergonomic navigation controls mean the Kindle 2 is comfortable to use, and 3G wireless connectivity… makes it simple to download eBooks on the go; it's simply the most convenient, easy-to-use eBook device available. The Amazon reader is compatible with both Macs and PCs and can store 1,500 books on its 2 GB of onboard storage. It does not have a memory card slot, like the original Kindle does. The Kindle 2's only drawback of note is limited file format support and even this limitation is considered by some to be negligible, as Amazon's proprietary format is backed by the largest ebook store on the Internet. The Kindle 2 comes with a plethora of extra features, including a music player, support for audio books, text size adjustment, integrated dictionary and a basic web browser.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Sony's budget eReader doesn't offer the extra features of some of its competitors, but reviewers say that's okay for its low price. When it comes to doing what it's supposed to do -- display text -- experts report that… the PRS-505 performs brilliantly. It has a crisp display, which some say is better than those on more expensive Sony models, intuitive navigation controls, and while it's USB-dependent for downloads, the drag-and-drop interface is simple to use. Support for a wide array of file formats is praised by experts; it doesn't support Amazon's ebook format, but the Sony ebook store has a selection of 60,000 books, plus access to 500,000 public-domain books (Amazon has a million books and magazines available). The Sony PRS-505 has a music player but does not support audiobooks from Audible.com. Memory card slots allow for storage expansion. Sony's e-readers, including the PRS-505, are PC-compatible only.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Apple's iPhone is clearly not a dedicated eReader and falls short of dedicated ebook readers in some ways, particularly with regard to screen design and size. However, iPhone enthusiasts point out that their smartphone… offers unbeatable convenience as an eReader. When paired with the free Kindle for iPhone app, bibliophiles can access all of their favorite titles from Amazon.com. Even better, those who opt to purchase a Kindle can sync it with their iPhone, for the ultimate on-the-go reading convenience.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse