Wireless Reading Device Comparison
The digital revolution, that began a few decades ago, has swept across every field of technology. One of the latest digital electronics innovations of the decade is the development of wireless reading devices or e-book readers. While the introduction of e-book readers received a skeptical response at the start, sales eventually picked, as people discovered the convenience offered by these devices. The aim of the wireless reading device comparison presented below is to help you make an informed choice when buying an e-book reader. I have selected the four best electronic book readers to be compared here according to their features.
Choosing the Best Wireless Reading Device
What features mark out the best wireless reading devices? The first factor which must be taken into consideration is screen size and its resolution as that's going to affect the clarity of the reading font and overall reading comfort. Go for a large screen and high resolution device. Secondly, what matters is the storage capacity of the device, which will determine the number of books you could store in your digital library. Look for extra features like image and audio capability which may allow for audio books to be used. Instead of just presenting a Kindle 3 vs iPad, Kindle vs Sony Reader comparison, I decided that a complete Kindle vs Nook vs iPad vs Sony reader comparison would do justice to all the top e-book reader brands. While the prime debate of which is better - Kindle or Nook rages on, Apple iPad and Sony Daily have emerged as strong alternatives. Take a look for yourself, how these e-book readers compare against each other, in the next section.
Feature-Wise Wireless Reading Device Comparison
Here is the promised comparison which points out the different features of Kindle 3, Nook, iPad and Sony reader Daily edition. These four have the best reviews among the more than 50 e-book readers available in the market today.
| Specifications | Kindle 3 | Nook | Apple iPad | Sony Reader Daily Edition |
| Screen Size (in inches) | 6 inches | 6 inches | 9.7 inches | 7.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution (in pixels) | 600 x 800 pixels | 600 x 800 pixels | 1024 x 768 pixels | 600 x 1024 pixels |
| Screen Type/Color | E Ink/16 Shades Gray | E Ink/16 Shades Gray | Color LCD | 16 Level Gray Scale |
| Storage Capacity | 4GB | 2 GB | 16 GB to 64 GB | 1.6 GB (Expandable to 32 GB using Sony SDHC Card) |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi + 3G | Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi + 3G | Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi + 3G | Free AT&T 3G wireless |
| Battery Life | 3 Weeks (With Wi-fi)/10 Days (3G+Wi-fi) | 10 Days (Without Wi-Fi) | 10 to 15 Hours (depending on usage) | 2 Weeks |
| Supported Formats | PDF, MOBI, Kindle | PDF, PDB, ePUB, eReader | ePub, PDF | ePub, TXT, PDF, RTF, Microsoft Word |
| Weight | 0.54 Pounds | 0.75 Pounds | 1.5 Pounds | 0.79 Pounds |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 8" x 5.3" x 0.36" | 7.7" x 4.9" x 0.50" | 9.56" x 7.47" x 0.5" | 8.1" x 5" x 0.6" |
| Multimedia Offered | Audio | Audio & Images | Audio & Video | Audio & Images |
| Price | $189 (Wi-Fi + 3G) / $139 (Wi-Fi) | $199 (Wi-Fi + 3G / $149 (Wi-Fi) | $499 to $829 | $249.99 |
The comparison of features saves you from the rigmarole of going through all wireless reading device reviews. I am personally biased towards the Kindle 3, having personally used it for long. The Apple iPad is too costly an investment if you are looking for just an ebook reader. Nook is a close competitor to Kindle 3 and both these ebook readers are front runners. The Sony ebook reader is a tad overpriced but a good product overall, with a larger screen. Choose whichever wireless reading device suits your requirement and more importantly your budget.
