Lynn D Carlisle DDS, June 10, 2011

Here is a quick summary and ISOC rating of the 4 e-readers.

The process of publishing In a Spirit of Caring Revisited on an e-reader has given me an accelerated course in the advantages and disadvantages of e-readers.

(I think e-readers are the greatest development in delivering books since the invention of the printing press around 1450 A.D. by Johannes Gutenburg, a German inventor. They have many advantages over print books and some disadvantages. You have probably discovered these or seen them on TV.)

My book is available on all four of the e-readers. In a Spirit of Caring Revisited is ready!

Here is a quick summary and rating of the 4 e-readers:

1. Kindle: lowest price for an e-reader ($79.00 - $114.99), second lightest and smallest, most applications to other e-readers, lower cost for ISOC Revisited book ($21.99), most books available (appx. 1 million and growing), no back-lighting, can read in the sun, average formatting and search function, black and white print, excellent service for a writer. (I have a Kindle) (See end of article for the new Kindle Fire - Full Color Kindle with 7" Multi-Touch Display, Wi-Fi.)

Kindle with Special Offers, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

2. iPad: most expensive e-reader ($500.00 & up), heaviest and largest, no applications to other e-readers, highest cost for ISOC Revisited book ($39.99), middle number of books available, color print, excellent formatting and search functions, lighted display, difficult to read in the sun. Much more than just an e-reader with almost infinite apps. (My wife has an iPad)

Apple iPad 2 - Buy iPad 2 Wi-Fi & iPad Wi-Fi + 3G - Black or White, Two Cameras, HD Recording, A5 Chip - Apple Store (U.S.)

3. NOOK: Have not tested. Color or B&W screen, can read in the sun, moderate cost of reader ($139.99) and ISOC Revisited book ($31.99), moderate everything else. Claims to have over 2 million titles including books, magazines & newspapers.

NOOK - More than 2 million books, download wirelessly in seconds - Barnes & Noble

4: Sony Reader: Have not tested. Don't recommend because of difficulty publishing my book on their reader, lateness to the market, smaller number of books and higher cost than a NOOK and Kindle ($179.99). Color screen and lowest cost ($21.99) for the Revisited book are the only advantages over a Kindle.

Reader Digital Books | Sony | Sony Store USA

Bottom Line: If you already have an e-reader, I would not switch to another. If you don't, I suggest a Kindle if you are just going to use it to read books. If you want a world of different functions and apps and are OK with spending $500.00 and up, I recommend an iPad.

I think the Sony Reader and NOOK will go the way of BetaMax and will disappear from the e-reader market.

New versions of each reader regularly come on the market.

Don't want to buy one now, but still want to read my book? You can download apps for PC's and Mac's:

Don't have an e-reader? Go to Amazon.com: Free Kindle for PC or Amazon.com: Free Kindle for Mac, Amazon.com: Kindle for iPad - Read Kindle eBooks on your iPad, Free NOOK apps, Reader™ Apps Follow the directions to download the app. You will be able to read it on your PC or Mac.

To order the book, follow the directions in this article: In a Spirit of Caring Revisited is ready!

Kindle announced in September, 2011 that they are introducing the Kindle Fire (available November 15, 2011) and they have lowered the price on their Kindles.

Its available features look impressive.

In a Spirit of Caring Revisited will be available on the new Kindle Fire and "old" Kindles through the Kindle Store.

Kindle Fire - Full Color Kindle with 7" Multi-Touch Display, Wi-Fi

I am sure there will be more new e-readers and iPad type devices introduced in the next year.

Join the Conversation