Ebook Device Line-Up
The following is a list of eBook readers that are currently available, or will be soon. I’m mainly putting this together for my own reference as I search for the perfect reader. The inspiration came from MobileRead Wiki, which provides a more comprehensive comparison matrix of these readers, though I wanted to maintain my own list for personal reference.
Because some of these readers are actually re-branded versions of the same device hardware (though may have different firmware), I’ve grouped them together by the hardware manufacturer. I will be adding to this list over time, so it is a work in progress.
Amazon Hardware |
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| KINDLE 2 : $359.00 | |
 Amazon Kindle 2 |
Display: E-Ink / 6″ diagonal Dimensions: 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36″. Weight: 10.2 ounces. Storage: 2GB internal (no expansion) Wireless: Yes Audio: Yes Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, AAX, MP3, MOBI, PRC natively and PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion. |
| ORIGINAL KINDLE : $240.00 | |
 Original Amazon Kindle |
Display: E-Ink / 6″ diagonal Dimensions: 7.5″ x 5.3″ x 0.7″. Weight: 10.3 ounces. Storage: 185MB internal / SD up to 4GB Wireless: Yes Audio: Yes Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), MS Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI and PDF through conversion. |
Netronix Hardware |
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| BOOKEEN CYBOOK GEN 3 : $350 – $450 | |
 Bookeen Cybook Gen 3 |
Display:E-Ink Vizplex / 6″ diagonal Dimensions: 4.7″ x 7.4″ x 0.3″ Weight: 6.13 ounces Storage: 512MB internal / SD expansion Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: Mobi, PalmDoc, HTML, TXT, PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, MP3 |
| FOXIT ESLICK READER : $259.99 (pre-order) | |
 Foxit eSlick Reader |
Display:E-Ink Vizplex / 6″ diagonal Dimensions: 4.7″ x 7.4″ x 0.3″ Weight: 6.13 ounces Storage: 128MB internal / SD expansion Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: PDF, TXT (and anything else with conversion to pdf) |
Sony Hardware |
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| PRS-505 : $299 | |
 Sony Reader PRS-505 |
Display:E-Ink / 6″ diagonal Dimensions: 6.9″ x 4.8″ x 0.3″ Weight: 9 ounces Storage: 192MB internal / Expansion: SD, MemoryStick/Pro Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: BBeB Book, Adobe PDF, JPEG, MP3, AAC |
| PRS-700 : $399 | |
 Sony Reader PRS-700 |
Display:6″ diagonal, E-Ink, 170 dpi, 8-Grayscale Dimensions: 5.1″ x 6.8″ x .41″ Weight: 10 ounces Storage: 420MB internal / SD, MemoryStick/Pro Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: BBeB Book, ePub, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, MP3, AAC7, TXT, RTF, PDF and (with conversion) MS Word |
Jinke Hardware |
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| BEBOOK READER : $279 | |
 BeBook Reader |
Display:E-Ink / 6″ diagonal Dimensions: 4.2″ x 7.2″ x 0.4″ Weight: 7.76 ounces Storage: 512MB internal / SD expansion Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: pdf, mobi, prc, epub, lit, txt, fb2, doc, html, rtf, djvu, wol, ppt, mbp, chm, bmp, jpg, png, gif, tif, rar, zip, mp3 |
| HANLIN EREADER V3 : $299 | |
 Jinke Hanlin eReader V3 |
Display:6″ diagonal, E-Ink, 170 dpi, 8-Grayscale Dimensions: 4.7″ x 7.2″ x .4″ Weight: 7.4 ounces Storage: 32MB internal / SD (up to 4GB) Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: PDF, DOC, WOLF, MP3, HTML, TXT, CHM, FB2, Djvu, PNG, TIF, GIF, BMP, JPG, PPT, EPUB, LIT, PRC, MOBI |
| EZ Reader : $329 | |
 EZ Reader |
Display:6″ diagonal, E-Ink, 170 dpi, 8-Grayscale Dimensions: 4.7″ x 7.2″ x .4″ Weight: 7.4 ounces Storage: 32MB internal / SD (up to 4GB) Wireless: No Audio: Yes Formats Supported: PDF, DOC, RTF, HTML, TXT, MP3, WOL, CHM, RAR/ZIP, FB2, Djvu, Epub, BMP, JPG, LIT, PRC EZ Reader Notes: The MobileRead Wiki says this is just a rebranded version of the Hanlin V3 reader with more color options and (possibly) different firmware-based features in the future. |
March 26th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Hello. impressive job. I did not expect this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
January 29th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Great post, thanks. I’ve enjoyed your blog for quite awhile and I should comment more.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:30 am
This device has appealed to me for a long time — until a few days ago what I thought was a steep price kept me from taking the plunge. Now I’m so glad I did! I’ve had my Kindle almost a week, and have devoured three to four books. Here are my first impressions.
1) The size is perfect. I was seriously considering the Kindle DX, but then chose not to go that direction because it was just too big. I don’t need another 8″ x 11″ notepad to carry — I have enough of them as is. I want something small and streamlined that will hold a LOT of books.
2) The readability is very good. While there may be a bit of glare at times from a nearby light inside, or the sun outside, tilting the screen just a little will remove it. The adjustable font sizes are wonderful, and easy to change.
3) Downloading books is easy. I live in an area where the Whispernet coverage is spotty, but there is always the option of downloading to my computer hard drive then transferring to the Kindle. The download speed is also very fast — in less than a minute a full book is available for reading. The books can also be kept on archive at Amazon if the Kindle becomes too cluttered. I’d recommend keeping a copy of the book on one’s hard drive as well if space is needed on the Kindle.
4) The “feel” is right. I was wondering how I would react to having a Kindle in my hands compared to a regular book. Would I miss the turning of pages and the sensation of a bound volume at my fingertips? I actually don’t miss them — I enjoy the Kindle being so easy to use. I am glad the page turning buttons are on both sides, for they give my hands a bit more flexibility while reading.
5) It is worth the money for a heavy reader. When you read as many books as I do, what to do with the books already read becomes a huge problem. As a pastor who has been in the ministry almost 30 years, my library is very large. I’ve converted my reference titles to a digital format with Libronix Bible software (also reviewed here) but there is still the problem of what to do with everything else. Now I’m able to streamline my library even further by reading digital versions of books I purchase regularly. Once the book is read, I keep it on the Kindle, transfer it to my hard drive, or leave it on Amazon. The reduction in hassle of handling and storing paper books is WELL worth the small price paid for the device. If you don’t read much, then you’d probably be better off not having a Kindle and just sticking with the traditional paper versions.
6) The battery life is superb. The battery will last about four days with the download function enabled. If the download function is disabled, it will last much longer. Charging can be done via an AC outlet or through the USB connection.
The only shortcoming I see with this device is that the titles can’t be transferred from one Kindle to another. With my wife being a librarian, it is only a matter of time until she will have one as well. Under the present arrangement with Amazon, books must be purchased and downloaded for each individual account.
If you’re considering a Kindle and read fairly often, I’d recommend taking the plunge. You’ve always got the 30-day return period to try it. I do believe however, you’ll be very pleased!
March 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Hi Joseph –
It’s funny you mention the hidden complication of having a reduced pricing logic for ebooks. I originally had a couple of extra paragraphs in the post about just that issue, but then stripped them out after realizing I was going on too long of a tangent. I agree that the author should still be given the same royalty as they would on a printed book, though still think the publisher should take a smaller cut since they didn’t have the same printing costs. As for DRM, mp3s went through the same problem. There’s a lot of info available online, but eventually many popular providers started selling DRM-free music due to lack of device compatibility with DRM-enabled music. This also increased their sales significantly. Granted, eBooks are nowhere near as popular as MP3s – but hopefully that will change in the next few years.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Nice review of the e-book reader technology out there Tara. Also a good start for logicalinsanity.net, version 2.
Reading this and the previous post I had to ask myself why I did not buy one of the Jinke Hardware based devices. I recall looking at it online, and was struck by the number of compatible formats for documents. I think it was that at the time it was still very new and also complicated to purchase with having to send a money order in Yen.
Actually I’m still quite pleased with my Sony, but unlike you I prefer the non-backlit screen. Ha, BTW I can tell you still have some attachment to traditional books or why else would that two screen device interest you so?
The only complaint I have about the Sony is the limitation on formats that can be loaded. The other problem of course is the limited number of books in e-book format. The issues of DRM and e-book cost I think it is more complicated than is apparent from what you say, and even more so than what is said in the link you provide. Yes e-books could be cheaper than the bound counterparts, but not in a cents on the dollar sense. The author still must be paid, then the editor, and finally there are still costs associated with marketing (What good is it if the next Dostoevsky comes along and writes the next Crime and Punishment if no one knows about it?) and distribution. The problem is that a significant part of the public, especially those most likely to use e-books, has the idea that content should be free. This attitude is already killing the newspaper and magazine industry (see this interesting link: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1877161,00.html). E-book technology is still so new that it may have more time to sort out the correct business model. Still DRM even if not 100% effective may still at least make it enough trouble to just freely copy and distribute content to support some adequate price point?