Ebooks have undoubtedly taken the place of many hard bound books nowadays, and people are finding more room on their bookshelves. Pdf ebook readers are getting more popular every minute for book storage and reading publications on your very own. Book lovers everywhere are finding themselves wanting an ebook these days ~due to their convenience and easy to carry around. A portable ebook reader is very handy and can serve as your mini digital library without taking up much space. The best ebook reader is the ones which suit your needs and at the same time matches your distinct style. Here are a few “must know’s” if you are planning on buying an ebook reader.

• Your portable ebook reader should contain plenty of user friendly features for you to enjoy.

• The best ebook reader should be compatible with a variety of file formats.

• Check out the ebook’s connectivity properties. Some ebooks feature wireless connectivity and others require you to connect to a computer in order to download files. Choose an ebook that fits your desires.

• As a bookworm, you know you can’t resist the temptation to by a publication that interests you. Make sure that you will be able to purchase books from a variety of stores and sites.  Some brands are limited to only certain publications.  The Amazon Kindle DX is one of the most versitile. It will read many file formates.

• Don’t forget to research the display screen. Size is the first thing to consider. The smallest dedicated ebook reader is the Sony Reader PRS 350 that features a 5-inch touch screen and weighs only 5.5 ounces. However, if you want a wider screen, then go for an Amazon Kindle DX or Apple iPad.

  Also, do you want a screen that is Backlit LCD or e-ink. Kindle, Nook and Sony ebook readers use the e-ink screen with black & white pages only. The new Amazon Kindle DX boast about being able to read even in the brightest light…even in sun light.  On the other hand, iPad features a backlit full colored LCD display that allows you to read even in the dark, but the price tag definately reflects this feature.

Buying the best ebook reader can be as easy as 1-2-3! Make sure you get a deal that allows you to spend less and have more!

This time last year, the new market for e-book readers was really taking off – gold rush style. Following the stunning success which Amazon had achieved with its Kindle reader – firstly with the Kindle 2.0 in February of 2009 and then with the large format DX edition in the summer of the same year – a veritable host of personal electronics manufacturers were either developing, releasing or updating their own e-book readers so as to get their share of the nascent market.

Sony and Barnes and Noble were working feverishly to get their new readers to market in advance of the 2009 festive season and Plastic Logic, Asus and a number of others were rushing to get their readers released as quickly as they could manage. The Computer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas in early 2010, had a dedicated e-book reader section for the first time ever. E-book readers were a hot developing market.

Right now however, no more than a few months later, it’s an entirely different scenario. The price of e-book reader hardware has been in free fall. Amazon have now introduced an entry level, Wi-Fi only, Kindle priced at $ 139 – not much more than a third of the $ 359 price which the Kindle 2.0 launched. Barnes and Noble have also dropped the price of the Nook reader to S 149 – and this will probably be cut again before the festive season.

A number of e-book readers which were in development – including the Que from Plastic Logic – have been abandoned. The market seems to be entering a new stage in its development – and whether there is any place in it for pure electronics manufacturers or not is highly debatable. Amazon’s business model is very well suited to selling lower priced reader hardware and making a profit on the through life sales of Kindle books. A similar strategy would be available to Barnes and Noble of course, but it’s debatable as to whether or not they can benefit from the same types of economies of scale as Amazon.

Of course, it would be lunacy to suggest that the launch of the Apple iPad had not played a major part in this. It’s certain that the price of e-book readers would have trended downwards anyway – but the iPad’s launch certainly speeded things up a bit. However, based on the fact that the third generation Kindles sold out shortly after launch – even today customers are facing a three to four week wait before their Kindles will ship – it doesn’t look as if the iPad is the long awaited Kindle Killer that it was widely predicted to be.

Even disregarding the debate about e-ink displays being better for reading on than backlit screens, there is – currently at any rate – more than enough daylight between the Kindle price and the price of even the entry model of iPad to make the Kindle a very attractive option for prospective customers whose chief interest is reading books. The monthly connection fees for the iPad will also not be to everyone’s taste.

It does appear that there is ample room in the market for both the Amazon Kindle and the iPad to co-exist – for the short term future at least. Other manufacturers of e-book readers, including big players such as Barnes and Noble and Sony, may well find things tough as hardware prices keep dropping.

Since it was first released way back in November of 2007, the Amazon Kindle reader has consistently been the best e-book reader on the market. That is the secret behind its considerable success to date. Back in 2009, when almost all the electronics manufacturers was rushing to get an e-book reader of their own to market, any new reader which showed the slightest promise was instantly dubbed the “Kindle Killer”. The simple reason for this is that the Kindle was, and still is, the industry benchmark.

The recent release of the enhanced third generation Kindle reader has widened the gap between Amazon’s reader and the following pack even further. It’s worthy of note that the latest Kindle killer isn’t even an e-book reader at all, but Apple’s iPad. This is a very different device with a much higher price tag and, when looked at as an e-book reader, one which suffers in a number of areas in comparison with the Kindle.

The new enhancements include extended battery life, a doubling of memory capacity, quicker page turns, an enhanced PDF reader and a higher contrast display. The same 6″ display is now housed in a smaller, lighter case – which is now offered in a choice of graphite or white. Amazon has also unveiled a Wi-Fi only entry level Kindle for customers who don’t anticipate the need for a 3G connection. This is priced at just $ 139 – getting close to the $ 99 impulse buy threshold for personal electronic devices. The Wi-Fi plus 3G model is available for $ 189.

As well as these various technical improvements, and almost unnoticed by many, Amazon opened a separate Kindle store for the UK market. UK residents will now be able to purchase their readers locally instead of having an international version shipped from the States. This only took a few days to do – but some customers may have been put off by exchange rates and having to use a credit card (debit cards are more common in the UK). Amazon has just launched a major TV advertising campaign in the UK and it may be that this, combined with the “local” UK Kindle store could lead to a lot of sales for them. If the venture proves to be successful, further local stores could open for France, Germany and the other countries with local Amazon websites.

Shortly after the release of the third generation Kindle Amazon had, for the umpteenth time, sold out of the devices. Customers are waiting for three to four weeks before their Kindles can be shipped and readers are being despatched on a first come first served basis. All things considered, there’s absolutely no sign that demand for the Kindle is falling off – which is hardly surprising given the quality of the product.

Reports of the Kindle’s demise have proven to be premature in the past, and that is still the case. The Kindle and the iPad are completely different devices and there’s very little point in trying to compare them with each other. The Kindle is, by a long way, the best e-book reader available on the market. That’s why it will not only survive, but continue to sell very well – and it’s also why Amazon will remain an influential player in the future of the digital publishing market. some people who prefer to keep reading traditional printed books – both hardback and paperback editions}. Some people will transfer to an e-book reader, in which case the Amazon Kindle will be the most popular choice (as will Kindle books). Others will be primarily interested in surfing the net, watching videos and playing games when they’re out and about, reading only the occasional e-book from time to time – and they will most likely choose an iPad. You will be able to get your reading material from Amazon, whatever your personal preference is.

Amazon is having a busy time of it just at the moment. They have recently announced the upgrade of their tremendously successful Kindle 2.0 and Kindle DX readers and pre-order rates are very high at the moment. Stock levels of the third generation 6” Kindle are depleted and consumers are now pre-ordering to get their Kindle shipped, on a first-come-first-served basis, within four to five weeks.

This latest upgrade includes a higher contrast display, more memory, quicker page turns and color choice of graphite or white . The 6” display version also has 21% smaller body and is 15% lighter, at 8.7 oz. Amazon has also released an entry level Wi-Fi only model of the 6″ display Kindle for customers who do not have need of a 3G connection.

All of this is accompanied by a price drop. The 6” Kindle version Wi-Fi only model retails at $ 139, with the 3G plus Wi-Fi model on sale for $ 189. You can now get your hands on the large format Kindle DX for just $ 379. These represent significant price cuts when compared with the Kindle 2.0 launch $ 359 price and the previous DX price of $ 489.

A lot has been made of the potential impact of the Apple iPad on Kindle reader sales figures. In all probability the release of Apple’s iPad has prompted, or at least hastened, this latest round of e-book reader price cuts. However, the above prices are well below even the entry level iPad price and, for many customers, the fact that 3G is available with no monthly fee will be an attractive aspect of the Kindle pricing plan.

As well as the upgrades to the hardware and the price reductions, a dedicated UK Kindle store will be launched for the first time. Consumers in the UK will no longer require to have their Kindles shipped across the Atlantic. The UK Kindle store launches in August 2010 and will, in the first instance, have around 400,000 Kindle books to choose from. It seems reasonable to assume that other Amazon websites will soon have their own Kindle stores and that customers will be able to have their Kindles supplied locally.

The recent price drop in the e-book reader market may be an indication that the market, although still relatively young, is maturing. Reduced hardware prices will change the emphasis from hardware sales towards the sale of the e-books themselves. Amazon, who have an interest in both hardware and book sales may be better placed than companies who are chiefly concerned with hardware manufacture and sales. Whatever the future brings, and it seems likely that the future of reading will have a strong digital element, Amazon seem likely to remain a very influential player in the development of the market.

The Amazon Kindle reader has been instrumental in the development of the e-book reader and e-book market. The original Kindle was released in November, 2007. The Kindle 2.0 was released in February of 2009 and the large format Kindle DX followed in the summer of the same year.

The Kindle readers dominated the market and took a 60% share of all e-book reader sales in the USA. Sony’s PRS reader, which was released in 2006 in advance of the Kindle reader, was in second place with a smaller, but still respectable, 35% share. Other companies saw the potential of the e-book reader market and launched or updated their own readers to get a slice of the pie.

Companies such as Plastic Logic, Sony, Barnes and Noble, Bookeen and iRex fought to secure their share of the new and fast developing e-book market, but the Kindle’s dominant market position seemed to be impregnable. It wasn’t until the launch of the Apple iPad that the Kindle had any credible competition – even although the two devices were very different and would appeal, you would imagine, to different audiences.

Since the unveiling of the iPad, e-book reader prices have dropped quite some way. The Kindle 2.0 is currently selling for just $ 189, a huge reduction over the $ 359 launch price of February 2009. The large format Kindle DX has been upgraded, being fitted with a new improved screen, and has had a price reduction from $ 489 to just $ 379. The price of Barnes and Noble’s Nook reader also fell from $ 259 to $ 199.

Although the iPad seems to have provoked a round of price cuts among the manufacturers of e-book readers, the same cannot be said about the price of the e-books to read on these devices. Prior to the launch of the iPad, Apple had negotiated a deal with the major publishing houses which let them set the price of their e-book editions at pretty much whatever they wanted – as long as they did not allow the same e-book to be offered at a lower price on any other platform. This was seen as good news by the publishers, who had been unhappy with Amazon’s policy of selling all e-books for $ 9.99 or less.

Although Amazon may have had to rethink their e-book pricing policy, it’s not a major setback for them. Amazon has always appeared to be more interested in selling books – and e-books – rather than hardware. It’s difficult to see any other explanation for the fact that they have made Kindle books available on such a wide variety of different devices. Currently, you can read Kindle books on the PC, the Mac, your Blackberry, the iPod Touch, the iPad and any mobile device which runs Android. So companies like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and now Apple, who have a stake in the future sale of e-books over the life of a reader, can take the opportunity to sell the hardware for less and still make their profit over the lifetime of the device.

It may be that the future pricing of e-book readers and e-books will tend to favour such companies over manufacturers who are involved only in hardware production. Looking at the number of different devices which Kindle books can be read on, you would have to suspect that, whether or not the iPad becomes the reader of choice for many users, Amazon will continue to have a huge say in the future of books and e-books for the foreseeable future.

Presenting a side-by-side Kindle vs iPad review, which gadget will likely win hands down? No doubt about it, the Apple iPad, with its recent much talked about launch, is the “in” thing today. Hardcore Apple patrons can hardly wait to get their hands on one as the WiFi versions are expected to ship in late March, while the 3G units are to be delivered starting April. When that time comes, we will expect to see long lines in front of every Apple store just like what happened with the sale of the iPhone.

But what of the ereaders like the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader?  The ereader is fast becoming a mainstream consumer device, with the Kindle getting the lion’s share of the market. Seeing the promise of such a device however, many such ebook readers have also cropped up, with most of them having practically the same features as that of the Kindle. Now with the entry of tablet PCs like the iPad which can also ably perform as an ebook reader, the gadget demand may perhaps shift  to multi-functional devices. Can the iPad really make a significant dent on the ebook reader industry? Let’s weigh the significant factors.

First off, the negatives. The iPad will only be connected to Apple’s own ebook store. While this makes is sensible for those who are still thinking of buying an ebook reading gadget, if you already own a lot of digital books, you won’t be able to dump them in the iPad. Actual ebook prices are still to be confirmed, but there’s talk that purchasing iBooks in the Apple ebook store is going to cost you around 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars. This can be slightly steep if you have to start from scratch. Plus, Amazon’s ebooks continue to retail at 9.99 dollars apiece.

Nonetheless, buying an iPad has its own set of advantages, being a device that can perform many functions. You will be able to use this oversized iPhone lookalike, sans the “phone”, to view high-def movies, watch your favorite TV shows, browse the web, and play games on a 9.7 inch IPS touch screen. Sticking with Apple standards, the clarity and color is amazing, and it comes with your choice of 16-GB, 32-GB or 64-GB internal memory. With such storage capability, the Library can hold tons of books, which are ingeniously displayed on a “book shelf” design. With one simple tap, you may pick out your ebook, and read it on the high-resolution, LED back-lit screen. Depending on your memory and connectivity preferences, prices start out at 499 dollars and end at 829 dollars. It does have special apps developed specifically for the iPad, and you’ll have access to many of the 140,000 other apps at the App Store.

On the other hand, the Amazon Kindle is a device designed for the user’s most comfortable and convenient reading experience in mind. Unlike the LCD monitor of the iPad, the Kindle, like the current batch of ebook readers, utilizes e-ink display, which many say, is unarguably best for reading for longer periods of time. The Kindle’s battery can last as long as two weeks without recharging, so it could also make the ideal traveling companion. The 6-inch model is priced at 259 dollars, while the 9.7-inch Kindle DX costs 489 dollars.

So which gadget gets our nod in this Kindle vs iPad matchup? Certainly for the gadget geek, the iPad will fit perfectly alongside his MacBook Pro, AirPort Express, Magic Mouse and its smaller counterpart in looks, the iPhone. Jobs and his staff have created yet another brilliant product for the dedicated Apple user. But for the booklover just aiming to read in the most conjucive “environment” and have little need for all of the other extra features, the Kindle ebook reader is still your best option on the market today.

Participants were impressed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with the Plastic Logic Que (pronounced “Q”) digital ebook reader. In partnership with AT & T 3G network as the broadband provider, the Que has WiFi connectivity. With manufacturers claiming that it is a truly exceptional device, the Que is the first of its kind that is is said to be the perfect companion for the active professional. With its portability, users will certainly find it convenient to carry about

Some may have second thoughts about getting the Que due to its steep price tag. The WiFi 4GB model will dent the pocket by 650 bucks, while the WiFi 3G 8GB model will have you paying 150 bucks more. Why is it so dear? Following suit with other digital ereaders, the Que enables the users to read their preferred books, magazines, and newspapers, but in addition to these traditional features, they also can also use Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The 4GB model can hold up to 35,000 documents and the 8GB model holds as many as 75,000. Finding reports, files and presentations is easy, and only calls for a few taps. With this technology, it’s possible bid goodbye to a briefcase bursting with documents. This function is truly the reason why it’s most effective for the traveling professional or businessman. It may even be appealing to students as well.

The Que is a sleek and fine gadget, equipped with a 10.7 monochrome screen built into a thin body. It measures 8.5 x 11 inches, similar in size as an ordinary piece of paper, and is light in weight. It is easy to bring anywhere, tucked in one’s briefcase or purse.

Stress-free on the eyes, the plastic display is very enticing and the e-ink provides pleasurable reading. The Plastic Logic Que doesn’t come with a stylus, but a sensitive virtual keyboard. The user can take notes and highlight crucial passage in any document for future reference. The Que has a built-in a USB port, SD card slot and speaker, and isn’t cluttered with excessive hardware. The sole button located on the front is the power button located at the bottom of the reader. In short, it looks good!

The reading enthusiast will have access to their favorite books, magazines and newspapers with the wide selection in the QUE Store. Users can enjoy as well their daily newspaper over breakfast, steal a quick glance at their presentation even in the middle of a meeting, and enjoy accessible information at all times. Consumers can get their hands on the Plastic Logic Que from local retailers in mid-March, or pre-order it at the Que site.

Are ebook readers about to be discarded in favor of the iPad? After the big launch of the Apple iPad, tech geeks are frantically pacing the floor, anxiously looking to the day when they can finally get their hands on this device. The iPad versions built with WiFi are expected to be shipped by late March and the 3G models are to be shipped starting April. It's no shocker actually; a person who uses Apple products are a different kind, loyal and have stayed devout to Apple.

It seems like Steve Jobs still got his touch, creating a product which will be flying off the shelves, no doubt. Perhaps hordes of Apple followers will meander in long lines at the nearby Apple Store, standing by for when the iPad will finally go on sale, harking back to the iPhone launch. But with all of the buildup surrounding the iPad, will it overshadow the popularity of other ereaders like the Kindle and Sony Readers? So we can come to a verdict, let's take a look at the iPad closely.

It's not cheap with prices starting at 499 dollars and topping out at 829 dollars, and why wouldn't it be more than a bit pricey? True, the iPad is an ebook reader but it does a lot more than that It looks like a huge version of the iPhone, minus the call capabilities. You'll be able to view high-def movies, stream TV shows, browse the web, and play games on it. The large 9.7-inch IPS touch screen is up to Apple's high resolution standards. It comes with a storage capacity of 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB flash drive.

With such storage capability, this gadget will obviously hold a library much larger than your typical ereader. Books are coolly arranged on a “book shelf”. You can just tap the book you would like, and enjoy reading it on a high-resolution, LED backlit screen. While most existing iPhone and iPod Touch apps will also run on the iPad, special apps purposely created for the iPad are expected to come out too.

Here's a problem, however. The iPad will only be associated to Apple's own ebook store, and these books are not compatible with the Kindle and other ebook reader market dominators. If you've got a wide collection of ebooks already on another ereader, you'll have trouble reading them on the iPad. While it is still not confirmed as yet, word has it that iBooks will sell for 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars.

The Apple iPad is portable, lightweight, and most likely really fun to tinker around with. But if you don't need all of the “other stuff”, the ereaders available now will suit you just as well. But if you are a hardcore Apple fanatic, then Jobs and his team have manufactured yet another brilliant product for consumers. With fantastic clarity and capabilities, you're going to “iLove” this multi-tasking gadget. The Apple iPad will match perfectly with your MacBook Pro, AirPort Express, Magic Mouse and iPhone.

Towards the end of the year, when the Amazon management team get together to review the company’s performance in 2009, they will have some reason to feel content – but not smug. It’s been a great year for the internet retail giant – and a lot of the credit must go to the Amazon Kindle reader.

The Kindle 2 launched in February of 2009. It was widely regarded as a big step in the right direction. Amazon had clearly paid close attention to customer feedback concerning the original Kindle, launched in 2007. Wireless connectivity and the vast choice of Kindle books were retained and more rapid page changes, prolonged battery life and increased storage capacity were among the improvements which were introduced.

Best selling author, Stephen King wrote a special novella to mark the launch and the Kindle 2 rapidly became the “must have” gadget among a blaze of publicity.

Just a few months later, in June of 2009, Amazon launched the Kindle DX. This had a large display and was targeted at readers of newspapers, magazines and academic textbooks. Somewhat surprisingly perhaps, it was the conservative world of academic publishing that helped to gain the DX a lot of publicity.

The academic community was quick to realise the potential opportunities which the Kindle offered. Not only would it be very much faster to keep textbooks updated but interactive education – pop quizzes and tests for example – would be possible. Academic bodies would not only save money as a result of using electronic books, but they would be more environmentally friendly also – an important factor for such institutions who have both budgets and environmental targets to meet these days.

As well as cementing partnerships with a number of universities and colleges, Amazon benefited from a lot of publicity produced by political bodies such as the New Democratic Leadership Council and Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – both of whom held forth on the educational potential of e-book readers in general and the Amazon Kindle in particular.

However, as bright as things were looking for Amazon, there were signs that trouble was looming. Other manufacturers, having seen Amazon develop the e-book reader market, were now becoming aware of the massive potential of this nascent sector. An impressive list of competitors, including companies like Microsoft, Apple, Sony and Barnes and Noble, wanted their share – and they all had their own readers in development.

In a way, it’s a huge compliment to Amazon that almost every ebook reader in development which shows the slightest promise is immediately given the title of the “Kindle Killer”. The trouble is that, at the moment, in spite of all the development work by the competition, Amazon is still the only game in town. Sony’s Daily Edition reader and the Nook from Barnes and Noble have both had their release dates postponed. In fact, it looks ever more likely that the most probable source of the long awaited Kindle Killer could be Amazon itself. The Kindle 4 looks like the most likely contender. Could we expect to see it in the next twelve months?

UK based company Plastic Logic has finally revealed its Que e-book reader which will now compete with the Amazon Kindle reader. The lightweight device, with touch screen controls incorporated was displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The Que is the result of over ten years of research and development at the UK’s Cambridge University. It’s estimated that the R&D program cost well over $ 200m.

The reader incorporates 3G wireless connectivity and has a large format black and white screen. It is considerably more expensive than Amazon’s Kindle and is targeted at “mobile professionals”.

Two different models are available. The 4GB model has a price tag of $ 649 and the 8 GB has sells for $ 799. The Kindle 2.0 and the larger Kindle DX (which is probably more comparable with the Que) sell for $ 259 and $ 489 respectively. The 4GB model has sufficient memory for around 35,000 documents. The 8GB model will hold 75,000 documents – which is equivalent to the contents of 75 filing cabinets.

According to Plastic Logic, the Que is “more than an eReader”. It features a massive 10.7 inch shatterproof display – currently the biggest of any e-book reader in the world. Apart from the sheer size, the display is noteworthy due to the fact that it is made of plastic rather than glass. It is therefore more durable, surprisingly flexible and lighter.

The overall dimensions of the device are 8.5 X 11 X 0.33 inches and it weighs in at less than a typical periodical – around about one pound. It will be a bit like carrying a pad of letter sized paper around with you.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Que is more than an e-book reader, Plastic Logic have entered into partnership with Barnes and Noble who will supply books for the device. Agreements with newspapers, for example USA Today, have also been put in place.

Barnes and Noble will make 700,000 books available for Que users. Amazon currently have around 400,000 Kindle books available for their Kindle reader – but they are adding, on average, a further 500 titles every day.

The Que will begin shipping in mid-April 2010. Customers can buy it from either the Que website or from the Barnes and Noble website.