Technology turns the page: A guide to e-readers

For individuals searching for the ideal Christmas gift for all ages, an e-reader may be the perfect solution. The new generation of reading with e-books has swept retail stores by storm in recent years and downloads have outnumbered sales of traditional books on numerous occasions.

Before going for the holiday shopping, here is some information about the different devices in the booming e-reader market. Many devices share similarities, ultimately separated by price, compatibility and brand preference.

-- Rebecca Rolwing

Kindle

The Kindle remains on the top of lists for e-readers as the No. 1 bestselling item for two straight years and the item with the most 5-star reviews on Amazon.com. There are three Kindle e-readers on the market: the Kindle Wi-Fi, the Kindle 3G plus Wi-Fi and the Kindle DX. The Kindle Wi-Fi and Kindle 3G plus Wi-Fi are the small versions of the device. Their display screens are 6 inches diagonal, and they weigh less than half of a pound. At 8.7 ounces, it weighs less than many paperback books. The only major difference between the two is the Kindle 3G plus Wi-Fi is capable of receiving global wireless coverage in 100 countries and territories, making it a perfect companion for a traveler.

A customer looks at a nook electronic reader at a Barnes & Noble book store in Hackensack, N.J., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. The nook will be available again in most stores by midweek after quickly selling out over the holidays, the company said Monday. Barnes & Noble is hoping its foray into the eBook market, where it competes with Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle and now Apple's iPad, will help draw customers back through its doors. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The Kindle DX is slightly larger than the other models, with a 9.7 inch diagonal display screen and a weight of 18.9 ounces. The size may appeal to those who prefer a larger screen to read. Many of the e-readers have a no-glare screen so they can be read in bright sunlight, but makers of the Kindle claim theirs is the best. The Kindle also includes the ability to shop and download books in less than 60 seconds and an enhanced PDF reader that allows readers to lookup dictionary definitions, take notes and make highlights, a function students may find helpful. All three models may hold up to 3,500 e-books.

Prices (amazon.com): Kindle Wi-Fi: $139, Kindle 3G plus Wi-Fi: $189, Kindle DX: $379

iPad

Among its other features, the iPad has an iBook application and serves as an e-reader. With tens of thousands of book titles to choose from, variety should not pose an issue. The iPad's Enhanced Books feature brings the use of words, pictures, audio and video together on a single page. For example, with the touch of a photo, video combined with audio can describe what is happening in the photo and how it relates to the story. Another feature iPad users can enjoy is a choice of how to view the book while reading. Users can read the book horizontally, showing two pages at a time, or vertically, showing only one page at a time.

Price (apple.com): iPad Wi-Fi: $499-$699, iPad 3G plus Wi-Fi: $629-$829.

BeBook

With claims to be the fastest of all e-readers on the market, BeBooks offer consumers a choice between a 5-inch and 6-inch screen. The BeBook Neo, BeBook Club and BeBook One are all offered as 6-inch screens and the BeBook Mini is offered with the 5-inch screen. The BeBook Neo is the most popular of the BeBook brand with 16GB of storage, a long-life battery that lasts up to 7,000 page turns, the ability to add annotations and capability to listen to MP3 files.

Prices (mybebook.com): BeBook Club: $199, BeBook One: $179, BeBook Neo: $249, BeBook Mini: $199

NOOK

Chosen as the No. 1 e-reader by Money Magazine, the NOOK is Barnes & Noble's entry in the e-reader market. With the NOOK, users can browse through a collection of more than two million titles, more than half of which are free. It holds 2GB of storage space -- up to 1,500 books -- with the capability to use a memory card to create more available space. The NOOK also allows users to sample a section of an e-book for free before purchasing it. Another special feature is the LendMe Technology, which allows users to lend their e-books to their friends from one NOOK to another, free of charge. The new NOOKcolor offers a VividView Color Touchscreen that uses more than 16 million colors and has an extra wide viewing angle.

Price (barnesandnoble.com): NOOK Wi-Fi: $149, NOOK Wi-Fi plus 3G: $199, NOOKcolor Wi-Fi: $249

Sony Reader

Sony Readers are another chart-topping brand in the e-reader market. The Sony Readers take pride in the E Ink Pearl Technology it uses for Digital Books. This new technology has improved the contrast ratio of their e-readers up to 50 percent. The Digital Books include the Sony Reader Touch Edition, the Sony Reader Daily Edition and the Sony Reader Pocket Edition. The most popular this holiday season is the Sony Reader Touch Edition. Its 6-inch touch screen with adjustable font sizes helps to personalize the user's reading experience. Users can also choose e-books from multiple places including the Reader Store, Google Books or checkout e-books from local libraries.

Price (sonystyle.com): Sony Reader Touch Edition: $229.99, Sony Reader Daily Edition: $299.99, Sony Reader Pocket Edition: $179.99