After using my Netbook as an ereader I’ve discovered I need a dedicated device, I can be easily distracted and its hard to lay on your back and read from the Netbook. I’ve decided on the Kindle . Here is why.

• Dedicated device
• Limited-time promotional free selections – right now I have 44 books, I paid for 4 of them.
• Highlights and notes: Amazon keeps your highlights online at kindle.amazon.com. I can copy and paste these to Google docs or Evernote, which makes them searchable.
• Easy to use
• Syncing across devices. I have an app on my Evo and love it!
• Full keyboard for notes
• Use when I’m speaking (read this post Why speakers should take a second look at the new Kindle)
• I can still use my netbook for library books.

Please note these are the things that are important to me, based on how I will use the device. You may have different priorities than me.

If I had one wish it would be that the Kindle would handle pdf files better and allow highlighting of them.  I read so many reports I’d really love to be able to read them on the device.

Read more:

• How I Got Over My Issues and Learned to Love eBooks
• Why I Love Kindle Desktop for eBooks
• Choosing a Reader for eBooks

Similar Posts:

• How I Got Over My Issues and Learned to Love eBooks
• Why I Love Kindle Desktop for eBooks
• Choosing a Reader for eBooks

I am hesitant to write this post, its so loaded with the issues surrounding ebooks.  At the same time I get asked this question at least once a week so the time has come to put fingers to keys and share my 2 cents.

The question – What ebook reader should I buy?  My answer – that depends.

First skip over the issue of dropping prices and improvements, issues with DRM and any other issues you have with ebooks and assume you want an ereader right now. These are the people who are asking me.  I’ve come to realize that choosing an ereader is a little like buying a vehicle, which one you get depends in part on how you want to use it. There is no one right answer for everyone.

Nook

My sister and a friend of mine both have a Nook.  The Nook is a great choice for them. They both love Barnes and Noble. They live in cities with B&N stores and visit often so they get to take advantage of the reading in store options. They could lend titles to friends, though neither of them has found a title they can actually loan. They could use them for library books, but despite my frequent urges (and emailing of links) neither of them has bothered to use it to check out books from their local public library *sigh*

Kindle

My sister and I are getting my Dad an ereader for Christmas (I hope this is not the one time he decides to read this blog). He reads a lot and is an hour from the closest book store and often complains of having read most of what the local public library has. (Unfortunately this is probably true). The library doesn’t offer ebooks and most likely wont any time soon so that isn’t an issue in the decision. We want the process of adding books to be as easy as possible for him, no connecting to a computer, that ruled out a Sony. We decided against the Nook because we we think he might find the touch screen frustrating.  That leaves the Kindle. Nice buttons, easy to download content to and a decent selection of limited time promotional free titles that he can browse in addition to classics and fee titles.

Sony eReaders

I know a lot of library patrons who are very happy with their Sony devices. I’ve seen them with all of them at this point.  The Sony devices handle pdf files far better than the Kindle or the Nook.  They work with library ebooks, if your primary use will be library books get a Sony device. The catalog of purchased titles works great and the Sony allow different formats of ebooks to be loaded, it has the most flexibility.

iPad -

Not only does it have the iBook store but apps for Kindle and others. You can read PDFs. No library ebooks.  Color screen, great for picture books and comics.  Great if you don’t want a dedicated device.

There are plenty of charts out there comparing them. But in a nutshell this the best aspect of each:

• Kindle - note-taking options, across device syncing, keypad, free promotional titles
• Nook – free reading in B&N, loaning possibility, OverDrive ebooks
• Sony – PDFs and OverDrive ebooks in addition to Sony’s catalog of ebooks
• iPad – color, larger screen, more stores for purchasing.

Without knowing how you want to use the ereader I don’t know which to recommend. You need to figure out how YOU will use it.

Have an ereader? leave a comment and let me know why you love it (or hate it).

PS Why I Chose KindleSimilar Posts:

• How I Got Over My Issues and Learned to Love eBooks
• Why I Chose Kindle
• The Nook from Barnes & Noble – I Want One, Here’s Why

My hand selected best links I shared on Twitter from 1/8/2010 through 1/14/2010 in no particular oder:

1. Just call me Tenzing Norbook, I guess. Toby Greenwalt’s response to Seth Godin’s post about libraries and the discussion that takes place in the comments.
2. 2010: The Only Year of the E-Reader great article from Fast Company on why, despite the awesomeness of many of the new ereaders, they wont be sticking around long.
3. Top Innovators Practice 5 Skills the Rest of Us Don’t if you can stand yet another article about innovation the 5 skills are something we should all be doing, innovator or not.
4. To Know the Library Is To Love the Library — But Who Knows the Library? Toby’s article on the Huffington Post
5. A Taxonomy of Reflection: Critical Thinking For Students, Teachers, and Principals (Part I)
6. How to remove yourself from a Twitter List – lets face it, check what twitter lists you’re on is just one more part of being aware of your online identity, if you show up on one you don’t like you have some options
7. Perpetual Beta – a new blog from Jason Griffey and American Libraries, about technology of course.
8. Protecting Reputations Online in Plain English – another fine video from the guys at CommonCraft
9. The Alexander Graham Bell Guide to Changing the World – ideas are good, action is better.
10. All the ones from ALA Learning – blog authors introduction & interviews, and two new bloggers! Buffy Hamilton and Lauren Pressley!

Similar Posts:

• 10 Best Links from Twitter – Week in Review
• Top Ten Links Week 15
• Top Ten Links Week 23

A vook blends the text of a book with video into one story.  I’m fascinated by this new this new multimedia approach to books.  I have no idea if it will be successful, I can’t really see the appeal for fiction, but for something like a fitness or other how-to books I can see having a video as an advantage for demonstration.  Think of all the how-to videos on YouTube. You get the advantages of text and video in one.

Part of my fascination is due to the great example of transliteracy this provides. It is providing information through multiple media formats. We often see text in videos or on images.  We are used to seeing videos embedded on websites and blogs. This does seem like the next logical step. But I wonder if it will really take off, maybe for a small market

I’d like to see this affect ereaders, they can display text and images, and we are all waiting for color, why not video too?

• Curling Up With Hybrid Books, Videos Included
• What is a Vook and will it change how you read?
• Books + Online Video = Vooks: Watchable, Readable, & Very Cool
• Apple Tablet Books Need to Be Better than Vooks

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I’m more excited about the Nook than I have been about any other ebook reader. This might be the one that finally gets me to buy one. Why?

8 Reasons You Can Finally Love Ebook Readers (Thanks to Nook) from Gizmodo

1. It’s cost-effective even with Wi-Fi, native PDF support, an SD slot and that crazy second screen makes it seem out of the Kindle’s league.
2. Lending and Sharing – 2 week loans to you can lend to tons of different devices: Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod Touch, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Mobile (soon).
3. Free in-store reading - take the Nook to any of Barnes & Noble’s stores and read one ebook, for free, each time—the same way you might wander into the store, pick up a book and read it for an hour or two. (I do this!)
4. Head-turning looks
5. Android – two things to be excited about when it comes to Android. First is the legit apps, which B&N seems open to. Second the more illicit possibilities: The Nook both runs Android (which we already know is easily and enthusiastically modified) and has a microUSB jack, which should make for easy hacking
6. The second screen - a keyboard and Cover-Flow-esque browsing in color without the awkwardness and lethargy of e-ink, allows for multitasking. You’ll be able to read a book and control your music at the same time, and because the music browser will be on the LCD screen, it won’t look like e-inked crap.
7. Battery Life – 10-days and it’s replaceable!
8. Both 3G and Wi-Fi

From the New York Times Live Blog: Barnes & Noble Unveils E-Reader

The digital books in Barnes & Noble’s e-bookstore are available in either epub or Adobe Pdf format. Customers who want to buy books in those formats from other digital bookstores may do so and transfer them onto the Nook, but those who want to buy e-books directly from the device will be connected to Barnes & Noble’s own bookstore.

From the Wall Street Journal Live From the Nook Launch (Don’t Call It a Kindle)

Digits commenter provides useful info: Derek writes, “Just bought 2 online – Per invoice ‘Expected Ship Date: November 30, 2009′.”

I have just one question – Will they play ball with libraries?

See more:

• Watch a video demo Barnes & Noble Nook Up Close: Yep, It’s Real Nice
• Compare to the Kindle
• Barnes & Noble Compares Nook to Kindle 2: Biased But Fair
• Barnes & Noble Unveils Kindle-Killing, Dual-Screen ‘Nook’ E-Reader (Updated)
• Pre order one
• Nook is Coming: Barnes & Noble’s Kindle Killer

Similar Posts:

• Will Libraries be Able to Loan the Nook and eBooks from Barnes & Noble?
• Wired Magazine Reviews 10 eReaders
• Choosing a Reader for eBooks