Due to popular request, we’ve put together this comparison of four (4) of the most popular portable ebook readers on the market today.

Interead Cool-er

Price – $250

Quick Specs

• 6″ screen
• Lightweight
• Storage – 1 GB internal, 4 GB SD expansion slot
• File formats – JPEG, PDF, EPUB, TXT, and MP3

Pros

• Lightweight
• Removable / replaceable battery
• Good battery life
• 8 color choices

Cons

• Buttons are hard to press
• Navigation isn’t very intuitive
• Interface leaves something to be desired
• Screen refresh is a tad on the slow side

Conclusion

The Cool-er is a good deal for the money, but it does lack in certain hardware and software features and functionality, like the interface and navigation.   We’re hoping that the next version is much improved, as this was Interead‘s first shot at an electronic reading device.

Read the full Interead Cool-er review here…

Amazon Kindle 2

Price – $359

Quick Specs

• 6″ screen
• Medium weight
• Storage – 2 GB internal, no expansion slot
• File formats – Kindle (AZW), TXT, AAX, MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC, HTML, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP

Pros

• Built-in free wireless with Amazon’s “Whispernet”
• Built in keyboard for navigation and notes
• Text-to-Speech feature
• Adjustable font size

Cons

• No native support for PDF files
• No expansion slot for additional memory
• Battery is not removable
• Ebooks must be purchased from Amazon

Conclusion

The Kindle 2 was a big improvement over the original Kindle, and it even has some benefits over the newer Kindle DX. Unfortunately it’s not much of a value at the current price, but Amazon does a great job marketing so perhaps they don’t care.  Maybe the coming stream of new budget ereaders will change that

Read the full Amazon Kindle 2 review here…

Amazon Kindle DX

Price – $489

Quick Specs

• 9.7″ screen
• Heavy weight (compared to smaller devices)
• Storage – 4 GB internal, no expansion slot
• File formats – Kindle (AZW and TOPAZ), PRC/MOBI, TXT, PDF, Audible (format 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3

Pros

• Huge screen!
• Native PDF support (finally, Amazon)
• Built-in free wireless with Amazon’s “Whispernet”
• Adjustable font size
• Built in keyboard
• Can switch between portrait and landscape by simply turning it

Cons

• Weight
• No expansion slot
• Battery is not removable
• Expensive!

Conclusion

The Kindle DX definitely broke some ground with its large size.  Now people can read newspapers and magazines with ease and much less page turning.  Unfortunately it

Read the full Amazon Kindle DX review here…

Read the Kindle DX vs Kindle 2 comparison here…

Sony Reader PRS-700

Price – $350

Quick Specs

• 6″ screen size
• Medium weight
• Storage – 512 MB internal, 36 GB SD expansion slot
• File formats – BBeB (LRF/LRX), PDF, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG, MP3, AAC

Pros

• Touch screen!
• Sleeker than the Kindle 2
• Can display and zoom both PDF and Word files
• Built-in LED for reading in the dark

Cons

• Touch screen is more prone to glare and has worse contrast
• No software for Mac users
• No built-in wireless
• No support for Audible audio books

Conclusion

The Sony Reader PRS-700 was the first portable ebook reader with a touch screen.  And for taking that initiative, we commend them…as it makes the device more intuitive and easier-to-use.  Unfortunately the touch screen blessing is also a curse.  It creates more glare and the screen has a worse contrast than without the technology.  We also think it’s priced too high considering all the recent entries into the ereader market.

Read the full Sony Reader PRS-700 review here…