As you have read earlier, I am studying to pass some Microsoft exams. For that purpose, I use the Microsoft Training Kits, which are big and heavy books, that I carry back and forth on the train since I am using the time to and from work for reading. So, I got the idea that an e-reader would make my backpack weigh less, which my back would appreciate. But which e-reader should I choose? That was not an easy choice for me. A lot of people swear by the products from Apple and would probably yell and scream that I should choose the iPad. The problem is that the iPad has some disadvantages as an e-reader. If we ignore the fact that the iPad is not yet available in Denmark - then the price, size, and weight are big cons - you will get tired of holding 800 g when reading. Apple is moreover fund of glossy screens, the problem is, that it is not practical when reading something in sunny weather - you would want to read the text and not see the surrounding around you! Last but not least, there is the discussion about whether or not your eyes get tired when reading from something emitting light. Believe me, when reading for several hours, it makes a difference - you get tired faster. I have listened to the people stating that I am sitting all day in front of a computer screen and ‘that is not a problem’ - they are just forgetting that working at a computer screen is different from concentrated reading for a prolonged time.

The next popular e-reader is Kindle from Amazon. It is produced in two sizes. First, it gets expensive when it gets through customs. Second, the number of books in the Danish version of Amazon's bookstore is limited. Another thing to look for when buying e-readers is the formats of the books. It would be practical if you would be able to read the books you bought on a different e-reader if the e-reader breaks down. The problem with books bought from Amazon is, that they are in their own proprietary format. So, the next e-reader also has to be a Kindle, but what if you, when the time comes, would rather have an iPad, 3rd generation?

So, which one did I choose? Well, I was surprised to learn that Sony has been producing e-readers for a lot of years. They are also having the problem like Apple - their e-readers are not publicly available in Denmark. In return, books bought at the Sony bookstore are bought in a standard format, so it is also no problem buying books at www.ebooks.com and read them on a Sony e-reader. Therefore, I ended up choosing a Sony PRS-600. It has a touch screen, and I am very pleased with it. Direct sunlight is no problem. The picture shows the reader when powered off and on. www.ebooks.com og læse dem på Sony’s e-bogslæsere. Jeg endte derfor op med en Sony PRS-600, som kan købes hos Pixmania. Den har touch skærm, og jeg er meget tilfreds med den. Sollys er ikke noget problem. Billedet viser e-bogslæseren dels i slukket og dels i tændt tilstand.