Best Ebook Reader

There are a lot of similarities between the Sony Reader and the Amazon Kindle 2. That's why it's so hard to choose between them. Here are some of the things you'll get with either of them.

1. E-Ink. Both of these ebook readers use a technology called e-ink. Electronic ink doesn't use a lot of power and it doesn't strain the eyes like a computer screen can. It's just like looking at a book.

2. Size. The size of both of these is comparable. The Kindle 2 is a bit larger than the Sony Reader, but their thickness and weight don't differ much. The Kindle 2 is 8 x 5.3 x .36 inches compared to Sony's 5.1 x 6.7 x .4 inches. The weight of each is around 10 ounces.

3. Price. There's little difference between the price of these two ebook readers. Currently the Amazon Kindle 2 is $359 and the Sony Reader PRS-700 is $349.

With its wireless connectivity, basic web browser, and simple interface that lets you get new releases, blogs, and newspapers, it's easy to see why many consider the Kindle 2 the best ebook reader.

Pros:

Whispernet Connectivity
This is where I think the Kindle 2 truly shines. You don't need to be connected to your PC to be able to buy and download books. Instead, you use a free service called Whispernet that offers free wireless connectivity from Sprint's data network.

Basic Web Browsing
The Kindle isn't meant to be a mini computer, but it does offer some basic web browsing. You can access Wikipedia, Google, and other sites that are text-centric.

2 GB Memory
With 2 GB memory you can take long vacations and not worry about running out of things to read. That's the equivalent to 1,500 books.

Cons:

Unattractive Design
The Kindle 2 isn't the most attractive ebook reader. It's angular and some of the button placement seems weird.

Need to Convert Formats like PDFs
Perhaps my biggest problem with the Kindle is that it doesn't automatically read PDF. I'm not a huge fan of proprietary formats. Fortunately you can convert PDFs to be read, but I would rather it had this function automatically as I have many PDFs on my computer.

Prices of the Books
There are plenty of deals to be found on the Kindle, but a lot of the prices will make you pause. You'll find a lot of new releases priced around $10. Some books, however, are priced higher than their print edition. Also, you have to pay to read some blogs that you can read online for free. Most books, however, are priced reasonably.

Buy the Amazon Kindle 2

If wireless connectivity isn't a must, you might want to check out the Sony PRS-700 ebook reader instead of the Kindle.

Pros:

Free Classics
Sony and Google books have made a deal that makes over 500,000 books written before 1923 free to download. If you love classics, this is quite a deal and a definite advantage over the Kindle, where you'll have to pay money to buy these classics or take the time to convert them to a format you can read.

Touch Screen Display
The touch screen display is nice and convenient, and it's something that the Kindle currently lacks. The design of the Reader seems much more intuitive than its counterpart.

Has PDF reader
So many things come in PDF format, it's amazing that the Kindle doesn't include it. Whether you have ebooks on your computer or manuals that you want to take with you, the PDF reader is one thing that makes the Sony PRS-700 the best ebook reader in my opinion.

Cons:

No Wireless Connectivity
This is definitely the number one con of the Sony Reader at this time. If you don't want to plug your reader into your computer to download books, you'll want to get the Kindle instead. You can store about 350 books on the reader at a time, so this isn't a huge inconvenience.

Buy the Sony Reader