What do you get for the reader in your life this holiday season? You can always get them a gift card, like you’ve probably done for years. Or you can step it up and give them a gift of an e-reader. But what kind? Read on for Gear Diary’s official eBook Reader Gift Guide 2009!
We’ve broken these up into general types, and within them the readers that may fit. Keep in mind that some readers may fall into multiple categories, and we’re being very broad. All prices are listed in US dollars. Also, where possible we’ve noted the formats officially supported; there are ways to expand supported formats for some devices, but if these are in beta or not officially sanctioned they are not being used today. In addition, there are special comments where various team members had some thoughts. If you disagree with our suggestions, or we’ve missed something important, please share in the comments!
Devices
Type 1: “I just want to pick it up and start reading a book.”
Amazon Kindle 2 ($259, wireless through AT&T, supports proprietary Amazon format, can read PDFs converted to Amazon format, some newspaper/magazine content available) [Gear Diary's Review]
Amazon Kindle DX ($489, wireless through AT&T, supports proprietary Amazon format, can natively read PDFs*, some newspaper/magazine content available)
Barnes and Noble nook ($259, wireless through wifi and AT&T, supports B&N proprietary format, eReader/Fictionwise format*, ePUB*, some newspaper/magazine content available) [NOTE: limited quantities during the holidays.]
Sony Reader Daily Editon ($399, wireless through AT&T, supports Sony proprietary format, ePUB, some newspaper/magazine content available) [NOTE: limited quantities during the holidays.]
*some content will need to be delivered via computer transfer instead of wirelessly.
Type 2: “I want to just jump into reading, but I don’t want to be tied to one store.”
Sony Reader Pocket Edition ($199, supports Sony proprietary format, ePUB, no wireless available)
Sony Reader Touch Edition ($299, supports Sony proprietary format, ePUB, no wireless available) [Amy- I had the chance to use the Touch Edition recently. The screen is clear and easy to read. But, I had issues using the touch capability. It did want to respond to what I was doing half of the time, including just trying to flip a page.]
Type 3: “I want to add books from my own sources, like Project Gutenberg. DRM’d books and access to the big ebookstores aren’t that important to me.” OR “I live outside the United States, and my country does not offer a large selection of copyrighted eBooks, so any sanctioned store is not important to me.”
Jetbook ($179.99, Mac/PC/Linux supported, unprotected ePUB, Mobi, PRC, multiple plain text formats)
pocketbook 360 ($240, Mac/PC/Linux supported, unprotected ePUB, Mobi, PRC, multiple plain text formats)
Astek EZReader ($249, ePUB-protected and unprotected, multiple plain text formats)
iRex Iliad ($859, ePUB-protected and unprotected, multiple plain text formats, touchscreen with note taking support)
Sony Readers-All editions (ePUB, proprietary Sony format)
Cool-er ($249, ePUB-protected and unprotected, multiple plain text formats)
Cybook/Cybook OPUS ($250 [Opus], $350 [Cybook], ePUB-protected and unprotected, Mobi, multiple plain text formats)
BeBook ($249, unprotected ePUB, Mobi, multiple plain text formats)
[NOTE: Confirmation of support for protected ePUB comes from Adobe's website; if they have not confirmed digital rights management support we are not assuming it is there.]
Type 4: “I don’t just want a dedicated reading device. If it doesn’t surf the web, play music and offer apps in addition to book reading, I don’t want it.”
iPod Touch ($199-399, eReader, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Stanza [multiformat reader], download all through iTunes)
[Amy- I love reading books on my iPod Touch. Most people would think the screen is too small, but its really not. I can blow up the type if I need to, easy to turn pages, and very easy to add books (via Classics app, B&N app or Kindle app).]
[Mike – I also love reading on the Touch, because I come from an ‘ebook on PDA’ history of ~20 years, so for me the Touch has a large screen and is very clear for reading. But for those who really love paper books the Touch screen might be an issue.]
iPhone ($199-299 subsidized, requires monthly AT&T/local carrier contract, eReader, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Stanza [multiformat reader], download all through iTunes)
[Jess – I have to say, I love Stanza on my iPhone. I am able to load up my eReader books and read them on the go, purchase in-app, download free books from lots of different sources…it’s great.]
Android smartphone (Prices vary by carrier and region, may require a monthly carrier contract, eReader, FBReader [multiformat]-in beta)
Windows Mobile smartphone (Prices vary by carrier and region, may require a monthly carrier contract, eReader, Mobipocket)
Blackberry (Prices vary by carrier and region, may require a monthly carrier contract, eReader, Barnes and Noble, Mobipocket)
Viliv s5/s7 UMPCs ($599, eReader for desktop, B&N for desktop, Kindle for PC, Adobe Digital Editions Reader)
Windows/Mac (Prices vary,eReader for desktop, B&N for desktop, Kindle for PC, Adobe Digital Editions Reader)
[Amy- My boyfriend has the B&N reader app loaded on his Acer Aspire One. It's easy to use. Clear text to read. He is able to make quick notes, etc. And, as he says, “Why do I need a dedicated device when I have this?”]
Common eBook stores
Protected-format stores:
Amazon: (All versions of Kindle, Kindle for iPhone and Kindle for PC)
[Amy- Amazon probably has the best selection of ebooks you are able to find (that you have to pay for).]
Barnes and Noble (nook, B&N for iPhone, B&N for Mac/PC)
Cool-er Store (Cool-er device, any ePUB compliant device)
Sony (all Sony devices, any ePUB compliant device [Note: Sony is changing to all-ePUB in mid-December, not all books are ePUB compliant yet)
eReader (iPhone, nook, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Mac/PC)
[Amy- It has a decent selection and price range. And, I like using the application software.]
Fictionwise (iPhone, nook, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Mac/PC)
Mobipocket (Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Mac/PC, Kindle [unprotected books only]
Unprotected-format stores:
Project Gutenberg (mostly public domain [classics, books out of copyright], multiformat offerings)
Manybooks.net (mostly public domain, no digital rights management, multiformat)
Smashwords (independent authors, self published works)
Feedbooks (self-published, public domain)
Accessory ideas
Waterfield (Kindle accessories) [Gear Diary showcased a few Waterfield Kindle cases here]
M-Edge (Sony and Kindle accessories) [Gear Diary has reviewed a few M-Edge Kindle cases here and here.]
Amazon (Sony and Kindle accessories) [Gear Diary's review of Amazon's Kindle 2 case here)
Case-Mate (Kindle accessories)
Sony (Readers and accessories)
Barnes and Noble (nook device and accessories)
EReader Outfitters (devices, cases, accessories)
Javoedge (iPhone, Kindle, and Sony accessories) [Gear Diary has covered several of their cases here and here]
Oberon Designs (Leather Sony and Kindle covers) [Gear Diary reviewed one of their cases here]
Decal girl (Kindle and iPhone decals) [Gear Diary covered their Kindle DX cover here]
Trendy Digital (Nook, Kindle and Sony Reader cases) [Gear Diary has covered their cases here and here.]
Related posts:
Gear Diary eReaders Guide
State of the eBook: What Happens Next?
Falling eBook Reader Prices!
The Shattered eBook DRM Landscape
Kindle Is Headed To Best Buy, The New eBook Battleground
Oh eBook(stores), Where Art Thou?
Quick eBook Readers Christmas Roundup
Skimming through 2009 eBooks
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