Quote:
Originally Posted by Xtt
Basically, I'm looking for the best eBook reader you can buy or the one that most closely approximates reading an actual book.
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Hi Xtt,
As others have said, there is no overall "best" reader because people are all different, the circumstances under which we like to read are also different, and even books themselves vary in style and format. Here’s some options:
Firstly, there is not really any uniform standard for what ‘an actual book’ is. Printed books can range from tiny pocket versions to huge densely illustrated ‘coffee table’ style books or reference volumes. Some have nothing but text, yet others may be mostly illustrations. They can vary enormously in size, weight, layout, format, content and so on. Many ereaders have reduced capability once you get away from straight text. If you extend the formats out to include all the online reading that most of us do now - forums, blogs, zines, news urls, research sites, and so on - then the notion of finding something that’s “like a book” starts to become a lot less relevant.
What may be more important is not whether it looks or feels like a particular type of paper book, but simply whether it can deliver the desired content in a clear and comfortable manner. And all of those factors are variable. For instance, a small reader might do a fine job on text yet be almost useless for a heavily illustrated book or technical manual. A big unit might display all the diagrams, columns, tables and colours perfectly and be ideal for reading online magazines and news sites, yet be awkward to carry around, and so on. Much of my reading doesn’t need to be especially ‘book-like’ so I cheerfully accept a wide range of options and experiences.
These are the methods that I use, and my reasons for using them. Others will have completely opposite yet equally valid views.
1. Pbooks.
The closest approximation to a “real book” is ---- another real book. Fortunately they still make them. So for some situations I’ll still buy a printed book in preference to an ebook.
2. iTouch
For its small size, the iTouch does an amazing job of delivering readable content. Before I bought one (mostly intending it for music) I would not have believed that I would be able to read on it for more than a few seconds. Since then I've read several complete books on it with surprising ease and comfort. For the occasions when portability is the main requirement then my iTouch is a clear winner. It fits with ease into my trouser pocket, and I find it fine to read on, even with my old eyes.
3. iRiver Story
E-ink 'Kindle clone'. Same size as the Kindle but runs epub files which is my currently preferred format. Light and portable, although too big to fit in my pockets. It might fit into some jacket pockets or a handbag, but I don't wear jackets or carry bags. Easy to hold and read from. It’s a good reader but not especially versatile. It’s now mostly used by my wife to read novels. It comes top of her list because it’s light and a comfortable size, and it isn’t too computer-like. She spends a good chunk of her work ing day with computers so enjoys a change of view at home. It’s bottom of my list because it doesn’t handle colour, complex layouts or a variety of formats. Neither view is right or wrong overall, we just have different requirements.
4. Acer 10” netbook
A roughly similar size and weight to a solid hardback book. The text can be rotated to portrait mode if that seems more comfortable. A good all round compromise that isn’t too heavy (for me anyway) and is very versatile. It allows me to surf the net using wifi, get all the original colour and layout of whatever I’m looking at, plus giving me great freedom to catalogue my collections any way I want. A wide range of software can be installed, allowing me to read books in any format I choose, bought from whatever store I like. It’s also convenient for writing as well as reading. If a book has DRM that disables direct printing then I could print screenshots of selected passages instead.
5. HP 12” Tablet
This one has a 12” touch screen that can be used upright like a regular laptop or swiveled through 180 degrees and folded back across the keyboard to make a tablet. It’s heavier than most pbooks (although I do have some books that are considerably heavier) but that doesn’t bother me. Weight isn’t a problem for me until it gets well past the usual weight of small laptops. I can lie on the couch, prop it against a leg and read hands free, or hold it on my lap if I’m sitting in a chair. It would be bottom of my wife’s preferred list of our readers, but it’s top of mine.
So that’s just a few options. Only you can decide which one of the many on offer suits you. Whichever you choose, keep saving for the next one, because these are still early days and the next few years will see many more gadgets coming to the market. Good luck.
EDIT:
The pic below is really only good for size comparison. E-ink and regular screen are hard to photograph together, because they each respond differently to both flash and ambient light. And I didn't do much of a job at overcoming that. 
In reality, the e-ink reader (white plastic, top right) looks dark grey on light grey rather than black on white, and the other screen have much starker and brighter white backgrounds than the photo suggests. Apologies for my poor photography.
Cheers,
Chris