We are seeing a huge trend toward e-readers these days, just last week Amazon announced that for every 100 print books they sell they sell 105 Kindle books. I think a big part of the Kindle growth is that you can get it on so many platforms; you can get the Kindle app for Android, iOS, and share between all of your platforms.
E-readers in general are going in popularity too, and it’s because of this that the competition is also heating up. Just this week we have seen new versions of both the Nook and the Kobo eReader. On May 3rd, 2011 Amazon announced that they would sell the Wi-Fi only Kindle at a discounted price with ad support, then today they announced the same discount for the 3G model which seems to be to keep up with the Kobo and Nook announcements made yesterday.
The new Nook will start shipping on June 10th at $139 a piece; the current models are running at a cheaper rate right now, and even being sold on eBay new for $99. The new Nooks got rid of the dual screen format that the current model has and cut down the size quite a bit. They are also going for a more stream lined back to basics look. They are also letting 
you read any book they have in their store for free if you are in a Barnes and Nobel store, however with an hour limit a day on that. Something that stuck out about this new Nook is there is no 3G version as of yet. The new Kobo eReader Touch is also available for pre-order now and will be in stores in early June, they say it will be available for Father’s Day. It is toting a price just under the Nook at $129.99. The Kobo Touch is sporting a new touch screen and eliminating as many buttons as it can. This version also comes only with Wi-Fi. While both the Nook and Kobo use EPUB format, the Kindle doesn’t share as well, running its own formats. They all have very long lasting batteries and can all hold over 1000 books. The Nook and Kobo can also have more memory added via microSD and SD respectively. They are also all three running 6” screens with E-ink now.
While all three are becoming very similar devices, they still are trying to overcome one another and stake it self as king of the eReaders.
Do you use an eReader regularly? What do you think of it? Let us know.
Sources: www.amazon.com, www.bn.com, www.kobobooks.com
I love my Kindle simply for the fact that there is no glare on the screen and it is small enough to go anywhere and I can use it with one hand. The downside is books are only available with amazon. If you have a nook or sony e-reader I know you can check out books at some libraries (Hennepin Co. for sure)
nook has access on just as many platforms and has grown to 25% of the e-reader market in just under 2 years. I work for B&N so I admit slight bias but also admit I’ve studied a bit more to feel more knowledgeable because of it.
Nook color and now the new nook simple reader offer features kindle doesn’t right now and read on a more available format (kindle locked themselves into a corner using their own media much like I feel sony did with their own media cards for their digital cameras)
It will be interesting to see how this new device effects the market as it will be great in schools as well as a simple reader for those not looking for the bells and whistles of nook color, and I’ll be eager to see the new device when it gets into the store, but I feel this device may get nook up to a 50/50 share of the market with kindle and perhaps lead it all the way to the top.