The document compares four popular e-reader devices: the Amazon Kindle Touch, Sony Reader Touch PRS-T1, Kobo eReader Touch, and Apple New iPad. It summarizes the key specifications of each device including screen size, memory capacity, battery life, supported file formats, and price. While e-readers have advantages for reading, the iPad has additional functionality but shorter battery life as it is a multifunction tablet device. The best device depends on individual reading needs and preferences.

1. 7060QCA Digital Design Object
Master of Digital Design
Queensland College of Art
Griffith University
Lecturer: Ying
Nastiti Mayawulan
S2822152

2. E-Reader in
Australia: Product
Comparison
Amazon Kindle Touch | Sony Reader Touch (PRS-T1) |
Kobo eReader Touch |Apple New iPad

3. E-book, or electronic book, is becoming more and more common in
the daily modern life. People are buying e-reader to store
hundreds, or may be thousands, of books. Although majority of the
people are still prefer to buy paper book, e-book continues to grow
because it is portable and cheaper. With the development of e-
book, e-reader is sought as a device for reading e-books. There are
various types of e-reader in the market that comes from various
manufacturers, but this paper will look into four devices that are
considered new in Australian market: Amazon Kindle Touch, Sony
Reader Touch PRS-T1, Kobo e-Reader Touch, and Apple New iPad.
They all come from respectable manufacturers and can be found in
Australian retails. It may not seem fair to compare iPad with the
other e-readers, but it turns out that iPad has its own disadvantages.
In the end, it goes to what is really needed, whether it is a pure e-
reader or a multifunction device.

4. E-book, e-reader, e-ink technology, e-
PUB, AZW, infrared touchscreen
Tablet PC, Kindle, iPad

5. • An e-reader (electronic reader) is a device
for reading content, such as e-books,
newspapers and documents (Whatis.com,
2008)
• An e-book is a book composed in or
converted to digital format for display on a
computer screen or handheld device
(Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2012).

6. • Portability; paper books can be heavy, e-
reader is much lighter.
• One e-reader can store hundreds or even
thousands of books, depending on the
memory capacity.
• Easy access to buy new books compared to
paper books.
• The font in e-reader can be changed, both
font type and the size. It is beneficial for
seniors or visually impaired person.

7. • Most e-readers are using e-ink (electronic ink) technology. E-ink
technology uses microcapsules that contain both positively
charged white particles and negatively charged black particles
suspended in liquid placed within a film-like layer.
• Applying a negative electrical field will make the white particles to
come to the surface, while applying a positive electrical field
causes the black ones to come. By applying different fields at
various parts of a screen, e-ink can produce a text display.
• E-ink displays are popular because it gives a resemblance to
printed paper. Compared to LCD screen that often causes strain
in the eyes, e-ink is more acceptable since it does not glare.
Hidalgo, J. (2012). What is E Ink? Retrieved March 29, 2012, from About.com website:
http://portables.about.com/od/newsandviews/f/E-Ink-FAQ.htm

8. • Four products:
Amazon Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
Kindle Touch PRS-T1

9. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
172 mm tall 173 mm tall 165 mm tall 241 mm tall
120 mm wide 110 mm wide 114 mm wide 185 mm wide
10.1 mm thickness 8.9 mm thickness 10 mm thickness 9.4 mm thickness
213g 168g 185g 662g

10. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
6-inch touch screen 6-inch infrared touch 6-inch touch Touch screen
E-ink technology screen screen LCD
E-ink technology E-ink technology

11. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
4 GB internal 1GB 2GB internal 16GB memory
(approximately 3 GB memory, expandable memory,
available for user up to 32GB with SD expandable up to
content) card external 32GB microSD
card external

12. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
Wi-fi/3G Wi-fi Wi-fi Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Next
Kindle store Kobo store G, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA
Various apps to major e-
book retailers

13. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, ePub, PDF, TXT, JPG, ePub, PDF, MOBI, AAC, MP3, MPEG-
Audible (Audible GIF, PNG, BMP, AAC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, 4, H.264, ePub, PDF
Enhanced(AA,AAX)), MP3, MP3 BMP, TIFF, TXT, , MOBI, JPEG, GIF,
unprotected MOBI, PRC
natively; HTML, DOC,
HTML, RTF, CBZ, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TX
DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, CBR T, HTML, RTF, CBZ,
BMP through conversion CBR

14. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
2 months 3 weeks 3.5 weeks to 10 hours
one month

15. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
Available Available Not available Available

16. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
Bookmarking, anno Highlights, bookma PDF Apps for education,
tations, highlighting rks and notes reflow, annotatio track assignment,
and passage ns & marking/ highlights, notes,
sharing highlighting bookmarks

17. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
Eight different font sizes Infrared touch screen
Free cloud storage for Multiple of colours
Choice dictionaries Tablet functionality
andAmazon content
all three font styles 12 dictionaries Experimental
Fast Screen reader for
Dictionary, Wikipedia
X-ray functionality Eight different font sketchbook and
Automatic bookmark visually-impaired
and Google search sizes highlighting
when battery is low people

18. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
No expandable NoComplicated the Touchscreen is not
place to put
Cannot delete books No multiple Apps and movies
Ports for
The
memory directly from the device
stylus when not in
interface used to its full
bookmarks heaviest,USB and
optimised for the
HDMI, compare
Starting price Cannot perform software Nocapability
use
No built-in Google case included screen require
d to the other
SD might take
includes ads updates over Wi-Fi
Some software bugs
Books store up adapters
more space
three

19. Amazon Kindle Touch Sony Reader Touch Kobo eReader Touch Apple New iPad
PRS-T1
AU$185 AU$179 AU$179 AU$539
Dick Smith, Big W JB Hi-fi JB Hi-fi Harvey
Norman, Apple store

20. • E-reader becomes more popular in relation to
the growing preference of e-book.
• Different machine has its own advantages
and disadvantage. Consider
accessibility, supported file type, battery
life, good retail environment, and functions
included in the e-reader before buying one.
• A good e-reader does not have to be
expensive. Whether or not we have to buy a
tablet depends on what we need.

21. • How e-ink works, the technology behind it
• The use of e-book and e-reader in
education
• The effect of e-book in higher education

22. • Q: Do students need e-reader?
A : Might be beneficial for them.They do not have
to bring plenty of textbooks to school and they can
do bookmarking and annotations on their e-books
just like they would do in paper books.
• Q: Which one is better for reading, a pure e-
reader or a tablet PC?
A: For reading purpose, E-ink is better on the
eyes. Although, a tablet will be much better if we
read colourful book with a lot of images in it.

23. • Q: Can I bring the e-reader for travelling ?
A : Sure. It is easier than bringing paper books
because you can bring plenty of e-books with you
without having a bulky and heavy bag. With Wi-fi, you
can always find a spot to connect to the online store
and buy new books. E-readers have long battery life
as well, except for iPad.
• Q: Why is iPad’s battery considerably shorter than
the other devices?
A: Bear in mind that iPad is a multifunctioned tablet
PC, not just a pure e-reader. With various softwares
and applications in it, no wonder that it would take
much power for the device to run.

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http://www.iclarified.com/images/news/17098/59256/59256.jpg
(2011). Sony PRS-T1 [Image]. Ala Test. Retrieved on March, 29 2012 from Ala Test website:
http://ii.alatest.com/product/full/f/8/Sony-PRS-T1-0.jpg
(2011). Kobo E-Reader Touch [Image].McMaster University. Retrieved on March, 29 2012 from McMaster University
website: http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/med/photo/zoom/kobo-ereader-touch-1-.jpg
(2012). Apple new iPad [Image]. The iPhone 5 News Blog. Retrieved on March, 29 2012 from The iPhone 5 News Blog
website: http://iphone5newsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iPad_PFV_PFVLF_Springboard_PRINT1.jpg
Alexander, B. (2011, October 14). Fiber Texture 5 [Image]. Stock.XCHNG. Retrieved on March, 29 2012 from
Stock.XCHNG website: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1367738
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http://www.cnet.com.au/apple-ipad-2012-339333300.htm
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http://www.cnet.com.au/who-should-buy-the-new-ipad-339333818.htm
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ttp://www.harveynorman.com.au/computers/tablets-readers/buying-guides/ebook-readers-buying-guide.html
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http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-touch-review/
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http://portables.about.com/od/newsandviews/f/E-Ink-FAQ.htm

25. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2012). e-Book. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/e-book
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http://www.cnet.com.au/amazon-kindle-touch_specs-339323424.htm
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http://www.cnet.com.au/best-e-readers-in-australia-339304247.htm#image0
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http://www.cnet.com.au/kobo-ereader-touch-339325572.htm
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http://www.cnet.com.au/sony-reader-wifi-touch-prs-t1-339326650.htm
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http://www.cnet.com.au/what-to-look-for-in-an-e-reader-339316831.htm
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and-why-might-you-want-one/
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