I think it ultimately depends on what factors are most important. I find that I really enjoy reading on an ebook reader-like many people today,I spend alot of time looking at a computer screen. I have long since stopped being tethered to a desk chair,no longer having a desktop computer at home.
Over the summer I bought an Asus Aspire One-and while I love the portability (not having to carry my "real" laptops etc)-I wouldn't really want to use it for reading an ebook,granted I am already used to using a dedicated device.Another issue,is that I think at best,my battery life for the netbook is two and a half or three hours (the battery life on my main laptop is about 6 hours,sans wifi)-I still wouldn't want to read on it-its simply not as easy for my to tote around. My ereader fits in just about every bag I own-I can easily pull it out to read a bit while I'm just about anywhere,from subways to bars while waiting for someone to arrive for a drink.
I can see in these times a netbook winning out over a reader,but with more people being aware of readers,and some cheaper alternatives out there-I also think alot of people may consider readers as well.
I recently bought an ipod touch-and am finding that I use my netboook less.I can do alot of the basic reading/browsing stuff from it,and unless I plan to do alot of typing,I often don't even open up the netbook anymore.If I'm reading and find I need to look something up,I usually do it from the touch or my blackberry.....My netbook rarely makes it to bed with me,as it used to.Now I do alot of that stuff from the touch-including reading ebooks with the kindle for iphone app (especially while I was sans my sony reader)....
As for travel,when I travel I am likely to take a laptop with me (these days as soon as I get the MiFi or an external broadband card replacement)-I will start taking the netbook (especially since I discovered I can read from memory sticks as well from it,one less reason to take my sony laptop everywhere)-and yes in that case I would have my ac adapter etc-but I'd still opt to read from the reader...much easier to read from that on a beach-than a laptop...
If someone has never had a reader before,I can see them weighing alot more pros and cons,but for those who have had a reader,I think many people I know would still opt for a reader over a netbook.But then again,most people I know these days have a reader or have had one-and are generally tired of long hours with computers....
To each their own.I look forward to seeing more options come available,noting is perfect but I sure do enjoy getting new gadgets and trying to figure out what I like best
