Electronic book readers may just be the perfect gift. They are handheld electronic devices that are equipped to digitally download your next good read. There are a variety of them on the market, but they all function basically the same way. My teenager was describing the advantages of a reader to me and I will admit, I loved the idea of slowing down the invasion of paperback novels, hard covered classics, educational books, newspapers and magazines that infiltrate my home, so I thought I would do a little research.

Astounded by so many versions of electronic book readers on the market, my timing to learn more led me into a hot bed of electronic articles and conversations speculating the new one that Apple was about to come out with, making this one of the most popular new product announcements so far this year.

The most popular one for now is Amazon’s Kindle that has a display that reads just like a paper page. It is lightweight and has the ability to store hundreds of books, newspapers or magazines. As popular as the Kindle has been, it was announced recently that the Amazon has opened the device to outside developers to create applications for the Kindle. Many feel the move is in anticipation of Apple’s electronic book reader expected to be announced on the 27th of January.

Developers will receive 70% of the generated revenues by their applications that will be available later this year through Amazon’s Kindle Store. The company is looking to distribute content in one of three ways: Free applications that are smaller than 1MB, one time purchases with less than 100KB per user per month and the third will be a monthly subscription for active content.

To say there are many rumors surrounding electronic book readers is an understatement. Like the one I heard this morning that Amazon will not be upgrading the Kindle because they would rather promote the Apple i-Tablet, i-Slate, i-book, i-Guide, Apple i-Pad, MacTablet or whatever it is going to be named, than to compete with it. Which?, who will be covering Steve Jobs anticipated announcement, has been tracking the top ten rumors surrounding Apple’s version of the Kindle – including one that Apple has scooped up the rights to the website address, islate.com.

No matter what you call your favorite electronic book reader, these handy little devices are sure to gain in popularity. They are a perfect alternative to lugging around a heavy briefcase or backpack just to satisfy your reading addiction.

Even though I would like to have one, there are just too many on the market to decide which one I like best even with this convenient comparison. Maybe I’ll just wait for Mother’s Day and let the kids decide which one is right for me.

Top Ten Apple iSlate iTablet Rumors = http://www.which.co.uk/news/2010/01/top-ten-apple-islate-tablet-pc-rumours-195981

Convenient comparison of electronic book readers – http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

Judie Mackie is a writer, reporter and editor for SearchAmelia. http://www.SearchAmelia.com/

An Electronic Book Reader can be a virtual library at your beck and call. These Portable Reader devices have caused a revolution in the way we think about books, magazines, blogging and newspapers and continue to make innovative progress in size and power. If you’re looking for an Electronic Book Reader for yourself or someone else, do some research to find the one that’s best for you.

Amazon’s Kindle Reader remains the most technologically sound investment you can make in a Portable Reader device. Its diminutive size belies the power it contains internally and out of view. But when you realize the capabilities of the Kindle Reader, you’ll be awestruck that something so tiny can so easily hold up to 1,500 books and deliver one at a moment’s notice. It sounds even more unbelievable that you can download a book from almost anywhere in the world – without having to hook up to a wireless connection – but it does.

Most people have a checklist of features they desire in an Electronic Book Reader. Included in the list are:

? Lightweight and portable

? Wide variety of downloadable books and other reading material

? Wireless capability and long battery life

? Easy to read

? Audio

Of all the available Electronic Book Readers, the Kindle Portable Reader fits all the above criteria – and more. At 10.2 ounces, Amazon’s Kindle is lighter than a paperback book and only 1/3 of an inch thick – making it extremely portable and easy to handle. Books and other reading material such as magazines, newspapers and blogs are readily available in a wide variety of titles and issues – and there’s no such thing has having to find a wifi connection in order to download with the Kindle Portable Reader.

The non-glare screen of the Kindle Reader makes it easy to read – and you can effortlessly turn on the text to speech feature for the audio versions of the reading material. Amazon’s 3G wireless feature means that you have coverage in the United States or overseas with no monthly charges. It’s all included in your purchase of the Kindle Portable Reader.

There’s also a dazzling collection of leather and vinyl covers book lights and other accessories for the Kindle Electronic Book Reader and with the incredible amount of books (now, over 420,000 titles) and other available reading material you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to have an entire library at your fingertips.

The Kindle Electronic Book Reader was the preeminent e-Reader. With the Portable Reader, Amazon has become king. Find out why.

Prepare to change the way you read forever! With your new electronic book reader, that will happen. Gone are the days of multiple trips to the library or bookstore. Gone are the days of having a library in your house. Now you can read as much as you want and not have books taking up all the space in your house. Not to mention access to newspaper and magazine subscriptions all in one spot. Just think about all the trees you could be saving right now.

So, what are electronic book readers? Well, along with being the coolest thing ever, they are specialized devices that utilize electronic paper displays to view electronic books. Electronic books, or ebooks, are the digital equivalent of a conventional printed book. Electronic books can also be read on most computers and some smart phones.

So why should you get one? Well, for starters, they are comfortable and easy to use. Most are about the size of a paperback book and as thick as a magazine so they are lightweight, portable, and are very ergonomic to hold in your hand even for long periods of time. Electronic book readers can hold over a thousand books, and some over three thousand. Books are easy to downloaded onto the ebook readers and usually cost less than their printed equivalent. The devices also come loaded with features such as dictionaries, full keyboards for taking notes, access to the internet, and some even have the ability to read your book aloud to you. Other cool features include access to newspaper and magazine subscriptions downloaded right to your ebook reader automatically. It’s easier than training the dog to get your newspaper each morning, for sure.

That’s all great, but I’ll be reading from a computer screen, who wants that? Not so fast. Electronic book readers aren’t just a computer screen. The displays they use are specially made to enhance the reading experience and make you feel like your reading an actual book. They do this by using an electronic paper display that has high resolution and 16-level gray scale to give the look of a printed book. They also don’t use back light like your computer screen does which can cause glare and eye strain. This allows you to read for hours, comfortably, and with no ill effects.

So, is an electronic book reader for me? You bet! If you’re even a causal reader, you’ll love your ebook reader because it is so much easier and convenient than regular books along with the access to newspapers and magazines. For the bookworms out there, you’ll have died and gone to heaven. Think about all you’ll save on the cost of books or trips to the library. Now you can easily download as many books as you want, without needing a separate room to store them, and always have them right there to read again whenever you want. Really, the question isn’t is an ebook reader for me, it’s which one is the right one for me!

If your looking for more information about electronic book readers such as the Amazon Kindle or Amazon Kindle DX or are ready to buy one, please visit my site at http://myelectronicbookreader.com