Comparison Table of eReading Devices
Other recommended reading includes:
- eBook Buyer’s Guide (Wait or Buy)
- What eReader Do I Buy?
- An eReader Comparison Chart
- eBook Format and Device Table
- Tips on Reading ePubs and PDFs (Kindle is not compatible with ePubs)
- Other ebook related posts
- Email jane at dearauthor.com if you have any questions.
| Device | Secure Formats | Unsecure Formats | Screen Size | Price | Memory Slot | Availability | Sync | Library Access | Wireless | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers | Amazon Proprietary: AZW, TPZ | Microsoft Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI, PDF | 6" Pearl eInk | $79 | No | Best Buy, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and other authorized retailers nationwide. | Yes | Yes | WiFi | Special offers appear on the home page and as screensavers but not in the text of the book. Character input is via a rocker. |
| Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers | Amazon Proprietary: AZW, TPZ | Microsoft Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI, PDF | 6" diagonal most advanced E Ink multi-touch display | $99/$139 or $149/$189 for 3G version | No | Best Buy, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and other authorized retailers nationwide. | Yes | Yes | WiFi or International 3G | Special offers appear on the home page and as screensavers but not in the text of the book. On screen keyboard. |
| Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi | Amazon Proprietary: AZW, TPZ | Microsoft Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI, PDF | 7" multi-touch display with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and anti-reflective treatment, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi, 16 million colors. | $199 | No | Best Buy, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and other authorized retailers nationwide. | Yes | Yes | WiFi | Based on Android Honeycomb 2.3. Free cloud storage for any content purchased from Amazon. |
Kindle | Amazon Proprietary: AZW, TPZ | Microsoft Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI, PDF | 6" Pearl eInk | $99/$139 or $139/$189 for 3G | No | Best Buy, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and other authorized retailers nationwide. | Yes | Yes | WiFi | keyboard, international versions available |
Kindle DX | Amazon Proprietary: AZW, TPZ | Microsoft Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI, PDF | 9.7" Pearl eInk | $379 | No | Best Buy, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart and other authorized retailers nationwide. | Yes | Yes | 3G, included | keyboard, international versions available |
| Sony Touch WiFi | BBeB, ePub, PDF (but not BN ePub) | Image : JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP Unsecured Audio : Unsecured Audio: MP3 (Non encrypted), AAC (Non encrypted) Unsecured Text : ePub, PDF, TXT | 6" Pearl eInk | $149 | MicroSD | Best Buy and other authorized retailers nationwide. | Yes | Yes | WiFi | write on screen |
| Kobo wifi | ePub/PDF (but not BN ePub) | ePub and PDF | 6" eink | $99 | SD | Borders | Yes | Yes | wifi | none, international versions available |
| Kobo Touch | ePub/PDF (but not BN ePub) | ePub and PDF | 6" Pearl eInk | $129 | SD card | Borders | Yes | Yes | wifi | touchscreen annotations and touchscreen keyboard, international versions available |
| Kobo Vox | Books: ePUB, including fixed layout and enhanced ePUB. Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP Audio: MP3, AAC, .3gp, mp4, m4a, flac, ogg, wav, mid. Video Formats: 3gp, mp4, webm | ePub | 7" AFFS+ multimedia display; 1024 x 600 resolution, Multi-touch screen with Anti-glare and exceptional +/- 89 viewing angle | $199 | SD Card | Kobo | Yes with Kobo apps | Yes | wifi | touchscreen, open access to Android marketplace |
| nook Touch | ePub and Barnes & Noble ePub | ePub, PDF, Graphic: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP | 6" Pearl eInk | $139 | MicroSD | Barnes and Noble online, Best Buy online, and in Best Buy and BN stores | Yes | Yes | wifi | touchscreen annotations |
| Nook Color | eReader, ePub and Barnes & Noble ePub | eReader, ePub, PDF | 7" LCD | $249 | Micro SD | BN, Books a Million | Yes | Yes | wifi | touchscreen annotations and touchscreen keyboard |
| iPad | ePub encrypted with FairPlay, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, Google eBookstore | All unencrypted formats. Word can be read in GoodReader, iAnnotate or Pages. | 10" | $499-$829 | no | order online and in Apple stores, AT&T, Verizon | Yes, with the right apps | Yes, with the right apps | wifi, bluetooth, 3G optional | touchscreen, international versions available |
| iPhone/iTouch | ePub encrypted with FairPlay, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, Google eBookstore | All unencrypted formats. Word can be read in GoodReader or using Google Docs and Docs to Go. | 3.5" | $199-$299 | no | Apple, AT&T, Verizon, Spring | Yes, with the right apps | Yes, with the right apps | wifi, bluetooth, 3G included with data plan | touchscreen, international versions available |
| Blackberry | Kobo, Mobipocket, Kindle (note that Mobipocket and Kindle format is the same, but DRM is different and not interchangeable). BN has dropped their support of Blackberry. | Various cell phone retailers | unknown | |||||||
| Netbook | All protected formats | All formats, Windows XP based | 7"-11.5" | $299-$399 | Retail places where computers are sold | wifi, bluetooth, 3G optional | keyboard | |||
| Android | Aldiko, Kindle, nook, Kobo, Sony, Google eBookstore | ePub via Aldiko& Word-Player, eob, epub, fb2 via FBReader | 18 various models | $199- | Various cell phone retailers and computer stores | wifi, bluetooth, 3G included with data plan | unknown | |||
| Windows 7 | Unknown at this time. |
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