Which eBook Reader is Best for You?

June 15, 2010, By Phil Dotree 6 comments

In recent years, a few major companies have introduced e-book readers designed to eliminate humanity's need for books made from dead trees. The leading contenders are Amazon's Kindle (probably the best known) and the Sony Reader. And though technically it's much more than an e-book reader, the Apple iPad remains your best bet for reading full-color books on a conveniently portable electronic device. (The Reader and the Kindle are black-and-white only.)

Here's a look at the advantages and disadvantages of these three major devices to help you decide what to buy if you're sick of old-fashioned paper and ink.

Ease of Reading

You probably want an e-book reader that looks and handles somewhat like a real book. You also want something that looks and feels cool, because hey, you're a guy, and half the point of buying an e-book reader is that you're picking up an awesome new gadget.

Sony's Reader. This one features a high-resolution, black-and-white screen, perfect for reading books anywhere. This includes in direct sunlight, which gives the Reader a big advantage over the iPad, although it is pretty comparable to the Kindle's screen. Sony claims that the Reader looks just like black ink on white paper, and truth be told, they've come pretty close. Note, though, that neither the Reader nor the Kindle are backlit. Large buttons allow you to turn pages easily.

iPad. The iPad looks beautiful. Unfortunately, in direct sunlight, even the best reading app is illegible. Out of direct sunlight, I didn't have any problems, though. I guess every e-book user should ask whether they'll be doing a lot of reading outdoors. If you mainly read in bed, in planes and in cars, don't worry too much. If you regularly read outside, you'll want either the Kindle or the Sony Reader. Most iPad apps require you to do a little swipe motion on the screen to change pages. In my testing, this led to a few minor problems, such as accidental page turns.

Kindle. Like the Sony Reader, the Kindle features big buttons that allow you to switch pages effortlessly, bookmark pages and more. You can even use the Kindle app on the iPad.

Battery Life and Technology

One good thing about paper books is that they don't need batteries. Any electronic device is going to suffer this limitation, but battery technology's come a long way since you shoved hordes of AAs into your Walkman.

iPad. The Apple device, which starts at $499, will get you a little more than 10 hours of reading between charges. You can download e-books from major online book retailers via 3G, but you'll have to pay for the bandwidth.

Sony's Reader. This one, which goes for about $279, will give you about two weeks of reading between charges with its wireless functions turned off; about a week with wireless on. You also get seamless access to Sony's online store to acquire e-books practically anywhere you go.

Kindle. Like the Reader, the Kindle, which retails for $259, gives you about two weeks of use with wireless switched off; a week with wireless on. And like the Reader, the Kindle offers you the ability to download e-books no matter where you are. You even get access to Wikipedia. Kindle does offer the best selection and the most intuitive interface.

The Bottom Line

This comparison has been largely based on the e-book functions of each device. However, it's worth noting that the iPad costs so much more because it does quite a bit more. You have access to e-mail, the web, and a full computer at your disposal. That's actually a good and a bad point for the iPad. If you're looking for a good e-book reader, the Sony Reader and Kindle beat the iPad soundly. If you're looking for a full computer, then, of course, the iPad comes out ahead. The simple fact is that most guys looking for an e-book reader would be better served with a device designed for that task, especially those of us who already own a laptop or smartphone.

If you're not exactly sold on e-books, holding a good e-book reader in your hands may make the difference. These are serious tools and do a great job of bringing books to the digital age.