Comparing the E Ink EBRs (E-Book Readers)
There have been a lot of changes recently in E Ink EBRs (E-Book Readers), and I thought doing an overview of the popular ones might be useful.
A few ground rules…
I’m only going to talk about E Ink devices. That’s a reflective screen technology…it has no lighting behind the screen. E Ink is a brand name, but that is what everybody uses.
A reflective screen tends to have a long battery life, because no energy needs to be expended to keep an image on the screen.
That cuts out backlit tablets, like the iPad or the NOOK Color. It appears that many people own both, and they aren’t really the same kind of device.
Second, I’m projecting this ahead a bit, going with the just announced NOOK Simple Touch (which has a June 10th release date), and not the NOOK Classic (wi-fi or 3G), which have now been announced as being discontinued (once they sell out)…or the Spring Design Alex, which is now discontinued.
Prices could change any time, of course, and it’s possible models will be discontinued or new ones added…even by tomorrow. 
Amazon has reacted to some moves by Barnes & Noble before.
Update: I started writing this on Tuesday…and the Kindle 3G with special offers has been added since then. I’ve updated the post.
I’m also only counting ones that are available to be ordered new…no refurbs and such, so even though the Kindle 2 can be found, I’m not counting it.
There are also many more than I’ve listed here, but I would consider these to be the high-profile models. If you champion something else, like the Cybook or the FLEPia, feel free to comment.
I’m going to start out with a few objective measures, then do a quick profile.
The Contenders
Kindle DX, Kindle wi-fi, Kindle with Special Offers, Kindle 3G, Kindle 3G wth Special Offers, NOOK Simple Touch, Sony Pocket, Sony Touch, Sony Daily, Kobo, Kobo Touch
Price
| Model | Price |
| Kobo wireless | $ 99.99 |
| Kindle with Special Offers | $ 114.00 |
| Kobo Touch | $ 129.99 |
| Kindle wi-fi | $ 139.00 |
| NOOK Simple Touch | $ 139.00 |
| Kindle with Special Offers 3G | $ 164.00 |
| Sony Pocket | $ 179.99 |
| Kindle 3G & wi-fi | $ 189.00 |
| Sony Touch | $ 229.99 |
| Sony Daily | $ 299.99 |
| Kindle DX | $ 379.00 |
Screen Size
Device Size
| Size | Height | Width | Depth | Weight |
| Sony Pocket | 5.71 | 4.11 | 0.33 | 5.47 |
| Kobo Touch | 6.50 | 4.50 | 0.40 | 7.05 |
| NOOK Simple Touch | 6.50 | 5.00 | 0.47 | 7.48 |
| Sony Touch | 6.61 | 4.68 | 0.38 | 7.58 |
| Kobo Wireless | 7.24 | 4.72 | 0.39 | 7.80 |
| Kindle with Special Offers | 7.50 | 4.80 | 0.34 | 8.50 |
| Kindle wi-fi | 7.50 | 4.80 | 0.34 | 8.50 |
| Kindle with Special Offers 3G | 7.50 | 4.80 | 0.34 | 8.70 |
| Kindle 3G & wi-fi | 7.50 | 4.80 | 0.34 | 8.70 |
| Sony Daily | 7.87 | 5.04 | 0.38 | 9.60 |
| Kindle DX | 10.4 | 7.20 | 0.38 | 18.90 |
Memory
| Memory | Onboard | Expansion | Books |
| Kindle with Special Offers 3G | 4GB | 0 | 3500 |
| Kindle with Special Offers | 4GB | 0 | 3500 |
| Kindle wi-fi | 4GB | 0 | 3500 |
| Kindle DX | 4GB | 0 | 3500 |
| Kindle 3G & wi-fi | 4GB | 0 | 3500 |
| Sony Touch | 2GB | 32GB | 1200 |
| Sony Pocket | 2GB | 0 | 1200 |
| Sony Daily | 2GB | 32GB | 1200 |
| NOOK Simple Touch | 2GB | 32GB | 1000 |
| Kobo Wireless | N/A | 32GB | 1000 |
| Kobo Touch | 1GB | 32GB | 1000 |
Companies
Kobo
Sony, Amazon, Barnes & Noble…and Kobo? That’s Kobo’s biggest challenge, in my opinion. They partnered with Borders, but that’s not a good PR (Public Relations) thing right now. They were a solid e-book company, but playing in the hardware world is a change. Their positioning? They are the cheap one. They have the only sub-$100 model, and for those who prefer a touchscreen, you can’t beat theirs for price. I don’t know if they’ll decide to stay in the hardware game if they can’t get good distribution, though…at least in the US.
Sony
EBRs are a small part of what they do. No question, they are a giant home entertainment company, and they have innovated in the past (Sony Walkman, anyone?). However, it doesn’t feel to me like they are trying very hard…it’s “In for a dime, in for a dime.” 
Their prices are relatively high to me. It helped when EBRs were strange…going with a well-known name was reassuring. Now that they seem more normal, that’s less important. No reason for them to drop the line, but I’d be surprised if they lead development on this.
Barnes & Noble
They are making a serious effort. They’ve put a lot of money into rebranding (I like their new commercial), and they are unquestionably trying to lead the field. They have the reputation as a bookstore, and the relationships they’ve built over the decades with publisher, authors, and readers. They may be about to get a big infusion of cash (when they are bought). I think the bookstores are a liability going forward, unless they innovate in some big way. They talk about them as a plus, but I see them as a burden for now. In my opinion, they have to reinvent their Customer Service. I’ve had bad experiences with them (online, never in a store), and their policies are not friendly (you can’t return e-books, and if you send your nook to the regular return address, they just keep it…even though they should know it is yours, they don’t credit you for it). If they fixed that part (and their rebranders should push that), and got more in-copyright books, they’d be a force with which to be reckoned.
Amazon
Service, Selection, and Price…those Amazon’s three core principles, and they live up to them. They take the long view, but they are always innovating. They are taking a gamble in my opinion by becoming a traditional publisher, but they may be willing to risk a loss to hurt the Big Six. Customers are loyal…and for me, think that’s with good reason. The Kindle is a small part of their business, as is the case with Sony, but it’s a big part of their public image, and they seem to really care about it. If they release a tablet (or two), as seems likely, that will help their EBR sales, by extending their reach as a hardware maker. Buttons may feel a bit old-fashioned (as opposed to a touchscreen), but they are…solid. Amazon can’t fall behind, and that’s a risk with B&N’s big push. I have no doubt they’ll surprise me with innovations, but they need to set up something that allows for device-specific archives…that will give them parental controls, for one thing. B&N has been figuring out how to go after the kid market…you can’t just cede the next generation to the competitor.
Device Profiles
Kindle DX
If you lined up these EBRs on a table, the Kindle DX would clearly be the odd one. It’s the only really larger model, and is eighty dollars more and about twice the weight of most of them. It’s from Amazon, which I consider a plus (partially due to superior Customer Service), but it has a challenge it didn’t have when it was introduced: tablets. Tablets tend to have a larger screen like this (the iPad has the same 9.7″ size, so there is a more direct comparison. E Ink has its advantages over backlighting, though, so if you want a large E Ink device, this is it. It doesn’t have the latest software (no page numbers, for example).
Sony Pocket
This is the other one that’s a different size…it’s a five inch screen, rather that the standard six inch. You would think that might make it one of the cheapest (smaller electronics may be more expensive in some cases, but smaller screens are often cheaper…and that’s the case with E Ink, generally), but it’s on the high end nowadays. Sony has never been known as the cheap brand. Here’s a key point, though: it’s the only one on this list that doesn’t have a wireless connection. Most people find that a big advantage, and it’s part of what helped the Kindle re-invent the e-book reader market.
Sony Daily
This one is also an inch off the six inch standard at seven inches. Again, you pay for that.
Kobo wireless
Right now, this is the cheap one. It’s the only one under $100, although I think that will change before the end of the year (with the Kindle wi-fi with special offers hitting that price, at least for some groups). Personally, I’d pay the extra $15 if you can stand advertising and get the Kindle.
Kobo Touch
They brought this out the day before the NOOK Simple Touch, but they aren’t abandoning their original Kobo for now. It’s at the low end on prices, and if people really want a touchscreen, this is the lowest price. The one doesn’t need the “clown nose” navigation hardware of the Kobo Wireless, and it looks pretty good. It has a quilted back, and comes in different color cases (as do some of the others). It’s the latest E Ink screen, and again, infrared touch like the NOOK Simple Touch (but it’s cheaper). The issue is perceiving it as having the company power behind it as the others.
NOOK Simple Touch
This one was just announced, and will soon be the only E Ink device from Barnes & Noble. No question, it looks sleek. It has an E Ink touchscreen (so does the Sony Touch and the Kobo Touch). The memory is relatively small…especially the available memory. Even though it has two gigs, it only says it holds 1000 books (and they apparently make you reserve quite a bit of the available memory for Barnes & Noble books). The Kobos are cheaper, and so are two of the Kindles. So, why would you pay more for this? Honestly, it looks next gen is part of it…”Look, Ma, no buttons!” It actually has more than one button, but that’s probably all you notice. They claimed two months of battery charge…so Amazon claimed it as well. That’s based on reading half an hour a day and no wireless. Barnes & Noble is also a brand with a storied (pun intended) reputation.
Sony Touch
This is Sony’s six inch model. You can freehand notes with a stylus, which is a nice “touch”. However, like the other Sonys it only gets two weeks on a battery charge…Amazon and B&N are now both saying they get two months. They are $100 more than the Kobo Touch, $90 more than the NOOK Simple Touch. I don’t see what makes it worth that much more money.
The Six Inch Kindles
While this represents four models on the list, there are really two variables: with 3G (in addition to wi-fi) or not; with ads or not. 3G costs you more initially, but I like having it. We’re finding, though, that my SO (Significant Other) is okay without it so far. I probably do more sophisticated things…my SO pretty much just reads on it and plays Scrabble. The question of ads is a matter of taste…if they give you a sour taste, you won’t get it. However, the wi-fi only ad-supported Kindle is the most popular Kindle of all right now. When you agree to see the ads, Amazon lowers the initial price. That gets the wi-f only model down to $114. What do you get for $15 over the lower priced Kobo? Text-to-speech, for one thing, but there is a lot more than that.
If it was a horse race…
We’re not coming around the turn yet, but Amazon opened a big lead. Barnes & Noble is pounding the turf in second, pushing the leader. Sony is a comfortable third, but doesn’t seem to have the fire. Kobo’s a long shot with an unknown jockey, but is showing spunk.
Hope that helps…it’s just an overview, and things will change.
What do you think? Did I leave out your favorite? Should I have included backlit tablets? Was I unfair to anybody? Feel free to let me know.
This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.
May 26, 2011 at 4:28 am |
Great post. Congratulation Calvin.
This week has been super fantastic!
May 26, 2011 at 4:34 am |
Thanks for writing, Emanuel!
And this year is far from over…
One little thing: my first name is Bufo, my last name is Calvin…don’t worry about it, that happens a lot.
May 26, 2011 at 4:52 am |
I noticed on Wal-Mart they have the Sony pocket Reader with a cover and light bundled for $99.98. Not sure if just Walmart, says “special buy,” but maybe Sony is starting to join the price wars.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Reader-Digital-Book-PRS300-Value-Bundle/12425705
May 26, 2011 at 12:54 pm |
Thanks for writing, Bob!
The list price on that page still says $198 (and that’s EBR and cover), so that’s not a result of Sony lowering that price. I took the prices from the brand websites (Sony, Kobo, Amazon, BN).
It’s possible Sony has lowered the wholesale price. I just checked it on Pricegrabber.com…retail prices range from about $109 to about $148.
It’s also possible it isn’t selling well…
May 26, 2011 at 10:36 am |
For me the main adavantage of Kindles is their ability to receive texts through email protocol. Using that really simple option people can build really handy online apps, making Kindle even more useful. Instapaper, Kindlebility, SENDtoREADER – I’m sure the number of such web apps will grow over time and I really hope B&N, Sony and others will add similar functionality in their eReaders.
May 26, 2011 at 1:01 pm |
Thanks for writing, Sergey!
I need to identify you as being the person behind SendToReader (which I think is a great utiity) for disclosure. It’s possible you aren’t unprejudiced in this case.
Before that could be useful for the Sonys and Kobos, they’d have to add web-browsing…I don’t think any of them let you go to websites beyond their own.
It could be useful for personal documents, though.
May 26, 2011 at 12:58 pm |
Bufo,
Thanks for yet another excellent summary! I ALWAYS enjoy reading your blog. In particular, you’ve got this down-to-earth sensibility that makes these comparison pieces very enlightening.
From a usability perspective, Kobo and nook’s coming touch screen is HUGE. Without it, an EBR, no matter the technology, seems behind the curve in the world of mobile devices.
I, for one, would no longer consider buying an EBR without the capability. All things considered. I agree with your final analogy. But, from a pure hardware perspective, we’re at the quarter turn and BN has just pulled ahead by a nose.
May 26, 2011 at 1:26 pm |
Thanks for writing, Ron!
Thanks for the kind words!
I think having a touchscreen on my SmartPhone is cool, but I don’t quite get it for “turning pages”. Right now, with my Kindle, I can keep my hand in the same place…to go to the next page, I don’t have to change my grip at all. I do have to shift around to select the book, and move my thumb position to do previous page, but not during regular reading. To use a touchscreen, I presume I’d have to move my hand to the screen…I wouldn’t hold and advance the page in the same position.
I wonder if that has anything to do with me being ambidextrous? Does a right-handed person hold it in the left hand and change pages with the right hand (or vice versa)? For me, it’s truly possible to read one-handed…and it seems to me like having a touchscreen would interfere with that. I haven’t really tried it, though.
If you read on a touchscreen now, I’d appreciate a description of the actual mechanics of changing pages.
May 26, 2011 at 2:21 pm
In terms of page turning, holding the device with one hand while swiping the screen with another approximates a physical book. I would think because of the size and weight of the device you’d be typically holding it in one hand anyhow. But I also see your point of the ergonomics of keeping your hand in one place (and keeping your other hand free to hold that tall glass of lemonade). Perhaps it’s better to keep the page turn buttons as well as the hand swipe.
But I’m thinking of much more than turning pages when I see the usefulness of a touchscreen on an EBR. Zooming text, selecting text for clipping and lookup, scrolling, and typing (though it’s debatable that a virtual keyboard offers a better experience than a hardware keyboard – people are getting more and more used to the virtual ones). And then the usefulness extends to the “bookshelf”. Dragging and dropping to organize your library, gestures to open a book, and perhaps dragging a book from Amazon on to your Kindle to make the purchase. It all seems very intuitive.
May 26, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Thanks for writing, Ron!
You make excellent points!
I was only thinking of “turning pages”, and I like buttons much better than a touchscreen for that.
However, other functions, such as you list, would be easier with the touchscreen than with menus. Touchscreens are becoming more common, and a lot of the gestures seem pretty universal (such as the two finger spread to zoom).
May 26, 2011 at 1:13 pm |
you are right Bufo I’m affraid, I don’t expect much from Sony and others in this area.
May 26, 2011 at 8:03 pm |
Bufo, great summary of eink EBR’s in the US. Note that Sony’s 5″ screen has the same number of pixels as the 6″ screens (600×800), thus higher DPI. Some people like the additional ‘sharpness’. Keep your eyes open for US availability of iRiver Story HD, which has a 6″ (768×1024) screen and has been submitted for FCC approval. iRiver is promoting its ‘faster page turns’. It’s got a keyboard like Kindle, not touchscreen. Maybe Amazon can put these elements together and offer an ‘HD’ touchscreen Kindle?
Touch does not imply multi touch gesture support (e.g. pinch to zoom). Nook is Android based, so probably does, but not sure about Sony or Kobo (maybe not, beyond ‘swipe’?). I’m feeling too busy/lazy not able to check this right now, sorry.
It would be fun if any of these reading systems supported ‘shake’ – to open a random book.
My ideal in terms of a touch screen is not to have to touch the screen to advance reading position. Hard to do one-handed, especially if it requires ‘swiping’. Nook has buttons, so that would work for me, and I assume Amazon is not stupid enough to take page advance buttons off of any Kindle touch screen device they may come out with. Kobo might not fit the bill especially if it requires a swipe for every page (what’s wrong with just a gentle touch somewhere).
But with or without without buttons, I would like auto-scroll option, controlled by tilt angle of the device. Only one reading system I’ve seen supports that (iFlow Reader on iOS), they claim to have a patent, and Apple killed off their business recently, and even though I still have the app, it rendered useless because the web site it worked with is no more. So I might have to wait quite a while before I get my wish, unless someone challenges the patent or licenses it from the iFlow people. Not sure e-ink is up to scrolling anyway, and even if it were, it would drain the battery faster no doubt.
Voice control would be great to have also. But only Kindle has a microphone in this group, right? Come on, Amazon turn it on already! Show us you still got a few tricks up your sleeve!
May 27, 2011 at 12:46 pm |
Thanks for writing, Tom!
I like the idea of shake…you sure you don’t want it to rearrange the words on a page in a random manner?
Ooh, and you could play Boggle!
The scrolling thing sounds kind of interesting….I think I’d have to try it to see how it worked for me. I think you could do flick or lean to “change pages”. Flick might be annoying, though
I think the microphone has two real possibilities: voice navigation, which would be a big improvement for accessibility; and voice notes, whether speech to text or not.
May 27, 2011 at 5:20 am |
Bufo,
Just a couple of factual comments about the KDX, and an answer to whether tablets should be included.
In addition to not having the latest software, the KDX does not have WIFI! Not having the latest SW means a lot more than no page numbers (a feature I’m indifferent about) — the biggest lack is no webkit browser. I was recently up at Cape Canaveral to watch the shuttle launch. The KDX was completely unable to load the nasa.gov/shuttle page (ran out of memory — not the 4GB used for book storage, rather the local operating memory (128MB I think)) — I’m guessing the webkit browser would do a better job. Also WIFI is so much faster — loading web pages via 3G is an exercise in frustration (I don’t have much patience
).
Given all that, and looking at the pricing premium one pays for the KDX only to get a back-level feature set, one has to ask what’s the use of the KDX? If what you’re using it for is mass-market content, then the answer is: not much. However, if you want to deal with academic, professional, or technical publications targeted at the usual textbook physical sizes, then a PDF version of same is the only way to go (for some of these mobi and/or ePub versions are available, but for anything with complex page layout requirements, neither of these formats have the requisite oompf to handle them appropriately). PDF is a great format as long as the PDF’s physical target size is less than or equal to the physical size of the reading device. Scaling PDFs to a size smaller than the target size leads to unfortunate results. Only the KDX has the requisite physical screen size to do a reasonable job with academic and technical PDFs.
Which leads to you question about tablets. My answer is that it depends on what you want to read. If your focus is on the mass market, then devices like the KDX, iPad2, etc are overkill and pricey. However, if you are a researcher or student looking for the ideal device to carry into classrooms, meetings, etc, then an evaluation of tablets, the KDX, and other larger screen devices is in order. While reading is a big part of study and research, there are many other needed features that are perhaps better suited to tablets. The KDX was originally targeted at the educational space — in that role it was better than all the other ereaders, but nevertheless several studies have shown that more is needed than what the KDX (or any current tablet) can offer — perhaps the Amazon tablet will do a better job here.