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Some of the posters in the Kobo forum have the Kobo Touch now and there are a few pleasant surprises: a web browser, if you want that sort of thing, and apparently it has the same refresh-after-6-pages setup the Nook Touch has. The Kobo is also quite plush on the back, so it's really nice to hold, and it's lighter and slimmer than the Nook Touch, with 4 color options. It also apparently has 15 font sizes, which is an advantage over the Sony, where some people complain about no ideal middle ground between font sizes. I was going to choose the Nook Touch over the Kobo because of the physical buttons, but after I tested it in person, I found them difficult to press down, so I think I'd prefer a simple tap with a finger, especially if it works with the thumb I'm holding it in.
As for the Kindle, the thinness was a drawback for me, because the device sort of digs into your hand, and in order to press the buttons, you can't really hold the device flat against your hand. Then the weight is slightly too much, especially compared to the new devices--it was sleek and light 6 months ago, but now it feels like a heavy slab compared to the competition. If you go that route, I'd hold out a few months, because Amazon usually announces a new Kindle in August and ships in September, and you have to imagine they're working hard to develop a good answer to the touch devices of BN and Kobo. If Sony comes out with something new it would probably be during that time frame too, although I can't imagine them trying to compete on price.
If you live near the US, Best Buy stores are selling the PRS-950 for $199, which has a wifi browser, 3G for book shopping (only in the US), and a 7" screen that allows horizontal 2-page reading. I nearly bought one, but I think the Kobo or the Nook are better options for my needs.
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