Review: Roundup: E-Reader Gift Guide

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If you're a book lover, the notion of toting a few hundred books around in a device that weighs no more than a single paperback is alluring, indeed. That's why bibliophiles and gadget lovers have made e-readers into one of the year's fastest-growing gadget categories, with an estimated 3 million sold so far.

With more than 15 different models available, and new ones launching every month, choosing an e-reader isn't easy. Complicating the matter is that several new products are expected within the next few months that could make current models seem clunky and obsolete. New products in the works include a large notepad-size e-reader from Plastic Logic, e-readers with color screens, custom e-readers from major publishing houses and even a possible Apple tablet.

But if you're ready to make the plunge into digital books, here's Wired's quick guide for selecting the right e-reader for you.

Almost all e-readers today use black-and-white E Ink displays that consume very little power. These screens use reflected light so they're much more readable than backlit LCD screens — a difference that doesn't come across in photographs.

The first step is to decide how big you want your display to be.

Most standard e-readers, such as the Kindle 2, Sony Reader PRS-500, Cool-er and eSlick, use a 5- or 6-inch screen display. These readers are compact, relatively inexpensive, easy to slip into your jacket and about as comfortable as carrying a paperback.

A larger screen — 8 inches or more — offers more room to display text and images, which means fewer pages to turn. But a bigger reader means you can't just slip it into your jacket or that little hobo bag. Larger readers include the 9.7-inch Kindle DX, the 10.2-inch iRex iLiad (available in Europe) and the soon-to-be-released 8.5-inch Plastic Logic reader, expected early in 2010.

If you want to step up the game, consider an e-reader that packs in more than one screen, typically a color LCD screen next to a black-and-white E Ink display. Barnes & Noble's Nook, which goes on sale in December 2009, is the leading example: It has a 6-inch E Ink display with a 3.5-inch color LCD touchscreen below it. The touchscreen lets users browse and select books, whose contents are displayed on the black-and-white screen above.

There are extreme hybrids, too, such as the Entourage eDGe, which is trying to marry an E Ink screen and an LCD display in a fold-up netbook-like form factor. But it's not expected to arrive until early 2010.

The e-book battle of formats is largely between Amazon's proprietary AZW format and the open source EPUB. Amazon's Kindle does not support EPUB, but almost all other e-book readers do.

The distinction matters if you care about Google's classic books archive. Nearly half a million titles that are part of Google Books are available only in EPUB format. That means Kindle users won't have access to them. By the same token, Amazon's AZW books are only readable on a Kindle (or on Kindle software running on your computer or phone).

Also, EPUB documents aren't tied to a single commercial entity. While they can still have copy protection, the format itself is open, which means you aren't tied to one particular company once you've amassed a small library of e-books.

All e-book readers also support the basic formats of PDF, HTML, text, MP3 and JPEG. But there are small nuances that you need to consider, especially around PDF files. The Kindle 2, for instance, does not natively support PDF files — to view them on the device, you need to convert them. It costs 10 cents a document if you want them delivered wirelessly to your device, or it's free if you send them to your Kindle.com account by e-mail.

Better support for PDF is available in the Foxit eSlick, which comes with special PDF software that allows users not just to view files but also convert HTML files and other documents into PDFs.

Fundamentally, e-readers are split into two categories: those with wireless 3G connectivity and those without.

Wireless 3G connectivity is more convenient: It lets you browse and download books anywhere you want, whether you are at the airport or on the subway platform. For USB-based readers, you have to be hooked to a PC to download books.

But if you travel a lot internationally or live in countries (such as Argentina, Israel or Egypt) where e-reader makers don't have their 3G connectivity deals in place yet, then USB-based readers may be a better choice for you. Some e-readers also offer access to Wi-Fi networks.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble have lots of deals with book publishers — and that means cheap, plentiful e-books. For consume

rs, that translates into savings: A Kindle edition of a book can cost less than half of what it does at smaller stores. For instance, the Kindle version of the latest Dan Brown bestseller, The Lost Symbol, costs $10 at Amazon. An Adobe digital edition of the same book will set you back by $24 at the Cool-er book store.

Selection can also vary widely. Currently, Amazon's e-book store is among the largest, with more than 285,000 books. Sony's store is just a tad smaller, although it's bolstered by the addition of 500,000 free, public-domain books.

Other e-book readers, such as the iRex iLiad or the Hanlin eReader, don't have that kind of muscle. Owners of these e-readers can buy books from other online bookstores and then download them to their readers — but it's not a smooth, integrated experience.

Access to the internet: With a digital device in your hands, it's tempting to use it to search on Google or check Wikipedia. But while your e-reader may support wireless downloads over 3G, it may not allow for internet access. The Kindle 2 is an exception. It comes with a basic browser that works okay with text-centric sites, but struggles with sites of any complexity.

Touchscreen: One of the best aspects of a book is that you can make notes in the margins and use highlighters to mark important information. E-readers fall short of delivering a similar experience. A touchscreen and a stylus, as the iRex iLiad and the Sony PRS-700 offer, can make it easier. Kindle 2 also supports annotations, but you have to use the keyboard to do it, which can be little tricky.

Illuminated screen: The advantage of most e-book readers is that their reflective, E Ink screens don't have backlights, which actually reduces eyestrain for long reading sessions. But what if you want to read in the dark? The Sony PRS-700 supplements its screen with LED backlighting. But it's just not bright enough and worse, it can cause additional eye strain. Our advice: Get a book light.

MP3 player and storage: Most e-readers also have the ability to play MP3 files, which is nice for listening to background music or audiobooks. If you plan to use this feature, check if the e-reader also has an SD-card slot that will allow you to add extra storage.

Text-to-speech: The Kindle 2 and Kindle DX have a text-to-speech feature, which means they can read aloud to you. But it's rather limited, and not all books will work with the feature.

Getting an e-reader is a lot more expensive than buying a bunch of used paperbacks. But e-books are usually cheaper than their printed equivalents, particularly if you have a habit of buying lots of new hardcovers. At an average price of $25 for a hardcover and $8 for an e-book, your $260 e-reader will pay off after about 15 books. If your e-reader is replacing a cheaper paperback or used-book habit, you'll need to buy even more e-books to break even.

But the good news is prices for these devices are falling as companies offer discounts. This year, the cheapest e-reader is the basic Sony Reader at $200. Others such as Cool-er, Kindle 2 and eSlick are available for $260. But if you want the works — including a touchscreen, wireless downloads and larger display — prices can go up to $500.

On a budget? Worried about your purchase being made obsolete by the rapidly changing e-reader market? Relax: There are e-reader alternatives that are here and now. If you've already got an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can use e-book reader apps like Stanza, Eucalyptus or even Amazon's Kindle app. Amazon is even planning a PC-based version of its Kindle reader that you can run on a notebook or netbook.

Granted, notebooks and smartphones don't offer the super-readable screens and optimized interfaces of dedicated e-book readers, but they might be a good choice if you're on a budget or don't want yet another gadget to lug around.

Kindle 2
Amazon's Kindle e-book reader got a spanking makeover earlier this year. In its second coming, a stylish design, slim 0.36-inch profile, fast page flips and easy book downloads make it better than anything else in its class.
$260

Sony PRS-700
Sony's PRS-700 e-reader has a slick touchscreen display that makes it easier to turn pages and scroll through the user interface. While the device handles PDFs like a pro, it does have some major glare that can be harsh on the eyes.
$350

Barnes & Noble Nook Reader
The newly announced Nook Reader has yet to hit retail shelves but it's already created quite a stir. Dual screens, the ability to lend some digital books to friends, access to 3G and Wi-Fi, and support for open book formats makes it the hottest new kid on the block.
$260