This document compares different e-book reading devices, including Apple, Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices as well as dedicated e-readers. It outlines each device's compatibility with overdrive audiobooks and ebooks, e-reader apps, highlight and note taking abilities, readability in sunlight, internet access options, price, and text-to-speech capabilities. The comparison shows variations in capabilities across platforms for digital reading.

1. Reading Gadgets
Parmly Billings Library
Apple iPad iPod Touch iPhone Android OS Blackberry Windows Phone 7
OMC 2.0 Y 3.1.3 & newer 3.1.3 & newer Y Earlier version N
Overdrive Audiobooks Most Most Most MP3 only MP3 only ?
Overdrive ebooks Y Y Y Y N N
Kindle Reader App Y Y Y Y Y Coming
Nook Reader App Y Y Y Y Y N
iBook Y Y Y N N N
Google E-books Y Y Y Y ? ?
E-reader technology LED LED LED LED LED LED
Highlighting and notes iBook iBook iBook N N N
Readable in sunlight Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor ?
Monthly charges 3G charges N voice & data voice & data voice & data voice & data
Internet access 3G or WiFi WiFi 3G/WiFi 3G/WiFi 3G/WiFi 3G/WiFi
Service provider AT&T/Verizon n/a AT&T/Verizon multiple multiple AT&T/T-Mobile
Lowest price $499 $229 $199 w/contract <$199 w/contract Some models free w/contract ?
Syncs Kindle Kindle Kindle Kindle Kindle N
Text to speech N N N some apps N N
Comparison of E-book readers on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_e-book_readers
Suzanne Reymer Montana State Library December 2010

2. Reading Gadgets
Parmly Billings Library
Kindle Nook Nookcolor Kobo Reader Sony Reader iPods Creative/SanDisk Zunes
OMC 2.0 N N N N N N N N
Overdrive Audiobooks N MP3 limited MP3 limited N MP3 limited Most All Most?
Overdrive ebooks N Y Y Y Y N N ?
Kindle Reader App n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a N N N
Nook Reader App n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a N N N
iBook N N N N N N N N
Google E-books N Y Y Y Y N N N
E-reader technology E-ink E-ink LED E-ink E-ink n/a n/a n/a
Highlighting and notes V. good Y Y N Y n/a n/a n/a
Readable in sunlight Good Good ? Good Good n/a n/a n/a
Monthly charges N N N N N N N N
Internet access 3G or WiFi 3G or WiFi WiFi WiFi Daily Edition 3G N N WiFi?
Service provider AT&T AT&T n/a n/a AT&T n/a n/a n/a
Lowest price $139 $149 $249 $99 $179 $49 $39/$69 $127
Syncs Y Y Y Y N n/a n/a n/a
Text to speech Y N Limited N N n/a n/a n/a
Suzanne Reymer Montana State Library December 2010