EReaders - Do You Really Need One?

Foxit announces the eSlick reader, can it challenge the Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader? - Gadgetell. I admit that reading EBooks on the tiny Palm Centro screen drove me nuts. I was very attracted to the Amazon Kindle and the Sony EReader, but was turned off by the size and price. I couldn't justify another few hundred dollars to read ebooks in a larger format, and having to carry around a device almost as large as a netbook to do it. Now, I am certain that Ereaders are unnecessary, now that I am carrying an IPod Touch. The Touch screen is big enough to view a whole page in a format that is easily readable, and fits in a shirt pocket. In fact, I carry it along with the Palm Centro. It also does full color video and photographs, and keeps my Outlook calendar and contacts. It does many other things well; as can be seen from my recent posts on the topic. Before you spend a couple of hundred dollars on an Ereader, check out the IPod Touch. You will be surprised how much easy reading can fit in the palm of your hand.

Comments

[Russ Gray]

I'm not sure I agree about the Kindle being endangered. For just reading, it's better than a PDA/phone or ipod - bigger screen, much much easier to look at, and little to no glare on the screen. I tried reading ebooks on my Dell Axim a few years ago, and it just didn't work. Too much eyestrain. With a kindle, the problem goes away.

[Finis Price]

As an owner of an iPhone, Kindle and Sony e-Reader, I'll have to say the e-ink technology is far superior to cellphone readers. The backlight really strains the eyes when reading do the the contrast as opposed to the e-ink readers like the Kindle which are no more difficult on the eyes than paper.