Kindle Vs. Sony Reader Vs. Nook
Advances in electronics have totally transformed our lifestyle. You no longer need to heave the burden of your books when traveling around. A small device, slightly larger than the palm of your hand can hold your whole book library and let you read any book on the go. Welcome to the age of electronic book readers. Many people prefer buying an ebook reader today as they are the most convenient compared to books (hard copies) to carry and read. There are many choices available in the market today, when it comes to buying ebook readers. It is tough to single out one product as the best ebook reader, as most of them have similar overlapping features. Apple iPad is in a different league of its own, as it's more than just an ebook reader.
Kindle Vs. Sony Reader Vs. Nook Comparison
There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing an ebook reader. Besides display size and storage capacity, what matters most is the battery life of the device. Compatibility to multiple file formats is another feature to look out for. Here is a brief introduction to the devices we compare in the table below.
Kindle
The premier choice of most ebook readers, online store Amazon's Kindle is one of the best ebook readers to hit the market in recent years. The latest model, dubbed Kindle 3, has been launched in two versions. One is with Wi-Fi + 3G while the other one only has Wi-Fi connectivity. The former has a price tag of $189, while the latter will cost you only $139.
Sony Reader
The electronics giant Sony entered the ebook reader market a few years ago and offers a range of models that vary in their features and screen size. The one that I found to be the best was Sony Reader Daily Edition (PRS-900) which has a 7.1 inch screen and extended battery life. It is priced at $250 with discounts.
Nook
A close competitor of Sony Reader and Kindle is Nook, which is the flagship product of Barnes and Noble in the ebook reader market. Unarguably, one of the top rated ebook readers in the market today, Nook has been launched in two versions, which include a model with only Wi-Fi connectivity (priced at $149) and a 3G+Wi-Fi version which costs $199. The Kindle versus Nook war has been raging for quite some time now with both parties slashing prices to gain the edge.
| Specifications | Kindle 3 | Sony Reader Daily Edition (PRS-900) | Nook |
| Screen Size (in inches) | 6 inches | 7.1 inches | 6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 600 x 800 pixels | 600 1024 pixels | 600 x 800 pixels |
| Screen Type/Color | E Ink/16 Shades Gray | E Ink, Touch Screen/16-levels gray scale | E Ink/16 Shades Gray |
| Storage Capacity | 4 GB | 2 GB (Extendable to 32GB with SDHC) | 2 GB |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi + 3G | Wi-Fi + 3G | Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi + 3G |
| Battery Life | 3 Weeks (With Wi-fi)/10 Days (3G+Wi-fi) | Up to 2 Weeks (Without Wi-Fi) | 10 Days (Without Wi-Fi) |
| Supported Formats | PDF, MOBI, Kindle | ePub, HTML, PDF, TXT | PDF, PDB, ePUB, eReader |
| Weight | 0.54 Pounds | 0.794 Pounds | 0.75 Pounds |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 8" x 5.3" x 0.36" | 8.1" x 5" x 0.6" | 7.7" x 4.9" x 0.50" |
| Multimedia | Audio | Audio | Audio & Images |
Besides budget, the factor that you should be looking out for is convenience and comfort of usage. Get a feel of all three readers before choosing one, as it will make it easier for you to make a choice. Check out the specifications above and opt for one that gives you the best trade off between price and features.
