Wiley launches new e-reader comparison site

[Nate the great]

cross posted from The Digital Reader

From the press release:

Today, eReaders can carry thousands of titles, providing convenience and opportunities for reading never before available. To help make the eReader leap, eReaderResource.com has been developed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The site examines what an eReader is, what can be done with it, and which of the available devices is best on an individual basis.

eReaderResource.com has gathered information about the various eReaders out there to help consumers figure out which one is best for them. Wiley, a global publisher and valued source of information for more than 200 years, has developed this tool to help consumers tap into the power of an eReader to change the way they receive knowledge and entertainment no matter what the source.

eReaderResource.com examines and compares the following eReaders interactively: Amazon Kindle 2, Amazon Kindle DX, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iPad, Cybook Gen 3, Cybook Opus, IREX DR 1000s, IREX Dr 800, IREX Iliad 2 Standard, Skiff Reader, Sony Daily Edition, Sony Pocket, & Sony Touch.

I like the site. True, it’s missing Pocketbook and Hanvon, but it has one detail that makes it better than almost any other comparison site:

It doesn’t cover devices that don’t exist.

Most so called comparison sites will include reviews of devices like the Polymer Vision Readius (which was never released to market). Or, take the Astri MyID. I am one of 2 people in the world who have actually held the device and written about it. You’d be surprised at the number of sites who have posted a “review” based on my short piece.

Wiley Ereader Resource

[Elfwreck]

Looks like the Astak readers aren't covered? Nor are the Jetbook & Libre. iPad + big-name e-ink only. And the iPad is included, but not the iPhone or various PDAs that have been used as ebook readers for years.

Its "what are you looking for in a reader?" feature is... troublesome. I checked 5" screen & under $350, and got 5 results, only 1 of which (Sony Pocket) has a 5" screen. When I removed under $350, I got another handful of results.

Maybe they're sorting it as 5"-or-more screen. But I don't want "or more;" I tolerate, rather than prefer, my current 6" screen and wouldn't want anything larger. I'd love a smaller than 5" screen if it came with long battery life.

[SensualPoet]

One (critical) feature not selectable: integrated dictionary.

[GeneS]

Too many missing readers to be considered anywhere near to being comprehensive.

[Xanthe]

Nice idea, but relatively useless if they don't include the full gamut of ereaders out there.

With Amazon, B&N, and Sony owning 6 of the readers in their list already, any choice is going to emphasize them.

Just like when antivirus software is reviewed and they only include the 5 "best" brands, Norton and McAfee automatically get two of them, whether or not in that particular year their product is any good.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

One (critical) feature not selectable: integrated dictionary.

I agree strongly - this is a crucial factor in my decision-making.

[Jellby]

It says the Opus has a 6'' screen: http://ereaderresource.com/overview/?device=16

The description of the Gen3 is the Opus's instead: http://ereaderresource.com/overview/?device=15

[Logseman]

I've learnt curious things about my Pocketbook 360 in a certain review site, very well positioned in Google. The PB360 doesn't read ePub(!), it doesn't have a dictionary (!!) and it's too bulky for its screen (!!!!!!!), also 3 stars out of five for it. Meanwhile, the Kindle got 5 stars. Don't get me wrong, I'm not denying the quality of Kindle, but review sites ALWAYS have a bias for a big company in particular and for big players in general.

Gradually from here on!

It reminds me a lot of Spanish videogame magazines. I remember one which never gave a Playstation game less than 80 out of 100, even if the text review bashed it like hell: it came as no surprise that the same publishers won the deal for the official Playstation 2 magazine.

The biggest magazine, called Hobby Consolas, is dubbed Sony Consolas, for the reasons you can guess. And their sister PC game magazine, the biggest of its kind in Spain as well, had a passionate love story with Electronic Arts games, to the point of giving completely crappy games a sweet punctuation. Does anyone remember Command & Conquer: Renegade?, a run-of-the-mill shooter loosely based in the futuristic Command and Conquer universe? Well, it got a 98.

Meanwhile, a quite independent start-up magazine that my brother and I bought loyally every month did fail. While it was cheap, it was mainly a PC game magazine which didn't have a demo CD to play the reviewed games... Of course, if you're giving serious but stern criticism every month, companies take notice.

Ah, the good old times

[Kris777]

NewEgg has e-book reader comparison page. You can compare up to 5 ebook readers here:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...E-Book-Readers

[thinkpad]

Flawed comparison. Skiff is there but where's Plastic Logics Que Reader and Notion Inks Adam tablet? Wiley's done a poor job.

[GeoffC]

Interesting, there seems to be no option on format...

[banjobama]

Meh. It says the Sony Touch is only chargeable via USB. And it says YES next to "wireless" on the chart even though in the text review it says wireless isn't available (which it isn't).