Portable eBook readers aren't the most popular digital media devices - yet. They are intended for a specific audience where convenience is desired for reading books, newspapers and magazines.
As many of the bestselling books are making their way to the digital world, portable eBook readers are starting to become even more popular and are even making an impact to the paperback market.
This is because avid readers see the advantages of getting their favorite titles onto their eBooks where they can easily choose the book that they wish to read and easily control their flow of reading by interacting with the interface instead of turning the pages physically.
The only problem is that there are lots of different types of eBook readers coming from different makers that each has their own unique advantages and support for certain formats.
Amazon eBook Readers
The first Amazon eBook reader called Kindle was introduced back in 2007 and was aimed towards simplicity when it comes to reading eBooks.
The original model's display measures 6 inches diagonally making them considerably smaller than laptops which means added portability. It also uses a keyboard for utilizing the other functions including word document support and Wikipedia browsing.
To make the wireless features completely free, the Kindle is equipped with a 3G capability which can be used to use wireless to retrieve purchased eBooks from Amazon in its proprietary format - the AZW format or receive e-mail.
The interesting fact about the Kindle is that it weighs less than a paperback and the readability is similar to reading an actual book thanks to electronic paper technology. It also supports other extras including an adjustable text size feature and support for other file formats including HTML, TXT, MOBI, partial PDF support, and the common image formats even though the display is 4-color monochrome.
The success of the Kindle gave birth to its successor the Kindle 2 which features a redesigned keyboard, thinner design, text-to-speech features, and better gray-scale display. The most recent model is the Kindle DX which features a much higher capacity at 4 GB, larger 9.7 inch display, and a built-in accelerometer for smooth transition between portrait and landscape modes.