I use/like the Kindle Keyboard (no touch).

But the truth is, and I've thought a lot about this, they're all the same now.  Well, not all the same -- there's still plenty of difference between LCD and ePaper, more on that later -- but within each category, I personally feel that they've all copied each-other and homogenized to the point that it really doesn't matter which one you pick.  Honestly.  All the ePaper readers use the same pearl display, weigh more or less the same, and barring a millimeter or two, are the same thickness.  Sure there's a couple choices to make, like physical keyboard, touch, or 3g, but the BRAND WARS are over. Well, again, not over... just moot since, we're now able to strip DRM and convert between B&N's Nook books and Amazon's Kindle Books, etc. 

My advice is NOT to look at the specs or features -all the modern ePaper models are similar enough that the specs don't really matter.  Instead, get one you like HOLDING.  =) Go to your local electronics store and pick them up.  FEEL them.  I *personally* like the feel of the Kindle Keyboard, because the extra length at the bottom elevates it in my hand.  This feels right to me, and puts my thumb in the right place for turning pages.  Others may not agree, and that's perfectly fine. I hear some like the new Nook Touch with its thick rim, and others hate it. Some can't see the smudges, others can't stand them. It's entirely up to you, and the only way you'll know how it's going to work for you is to get your hands on 'em 

Oh, as for LCD vs ePaper, that's also personal and no stats or advice should sway your opinion, but don't get too caught up in the non-eReader features.  Everyone keeps saying, "why would you want a $150 kindle when you can get a $200 kindle fire that does so much more.  True, BUT it also weighs a ton more, has crappy battery life as readers go) and lcd screens bother *my* eyes when I stare at them for hours on end

Funny story: When I originally got into the eBook world, I got myself and my book-loving-girlfriend-at-the-time Franklin eBookman 911's.  They were basically large-screen Palm Pilots with the advantage of having a EL back-lit B&W screen.  I thought, "how awesome that I can run apps AND read books!" ... I was wrong.  The contrast was horrible, eBooks were hard to find and poorly formatted if did, the conversion tools (mainly provided by MobiPocket) were crap, the battery life was miserable, it took forever to transfer files to it, and when it died you lost everything!  I tried hard to love the thing, but it consistently let me down.  Looking back, well, we've come a looooong way. 

Well, that my 5 cents. All just opinion, please don't take any of it personally. :p

Owning an original 3G Nook (e-ink model) and the Nookcolor (LCD) I have to say that if it came down to having to choose between one, it would be an e-ink reader, no matter the manufacturer. Hands down it just feels more like reading an actual book. The battery life is so much better and there is no eye strain. You can also read easily in bright light. Sure having the Nookcolor for night reading is great, but usually even reading at night it's under lights. The only time it's a real advantage is in a dark car, or theatre. That doesn't occur often enough to make it worth it.

When I first got my ereader as a gift I really didn't know much about them, and hadn't seen any model but the Nook. Now I've seen a few models and have to say that the only thing I don't really care for are ereaders with all the buttons. That's just a personal preference. I agree that if someone is looking for one the best thing to do before making a decision is holding one and trying it out.

Now my biggest concern is the batteries. With my original Nook I can purchase a new battery if it's ever needed and replace it myself. With the Nookcolor I need to send it into Barnes and Noble to have it replaced. How stupid is that? If the consumer is unable to replace a battery, I think the stores should make sure there is someone there who can. I don't want to have to send my unit, which I take care of like nothing else in my possession, away to have the battery replaced. Maybe it only bugs me, but that's another reason why I'm not sure about purchasing a Nook Simple Touch. Am I the only one concerned about this?

I have a Nook 3G. Having an eReader hasn't squashed my love for paper books at all though. I still spend tons on books all the time. I actually just bought two today. Can't wait to read Ozzy's new book!

When I was first looking into eReaders I narrowed it down to the Nook and Kindle, leaning more towards Nook. At that time there weren't very many readers in stores and I couldn't actually hold them or test them out. I didn't like the Kindle's file types (emailing to convert, blah, blah) and I didn't like the keyboard. Plus there was the battery issue with Amazon saying it's not recommended that you change them yourself. That's what I was told by their CS anyway. That lead me to liking that I could drag my butt to B&N to talk to someone face to face if I had any issues with the Nook. Plus I could buy and replace the battery myself or have them do it for me right there in the store. Decision made. I love my Nook!

@ereaderuser, I hear you about the battery thing. I won't buy anything that needs to be sent somewhere to have the battery replaced. They actually send you a different unit. I read that some have gotten brand new ones while others got refurbished ones.

@ereaderuser, I hear you about the battery thing. I won't buy anything that needs to be sent somewhere to have the battery replaced. They actually send you a different unit. I read that some have gotten brand new ones while others got refurbished ones.

Heck, with all the refurbished units floating around everywhere, I'm not at all sure when we go in the store to buy a new unit that we're actually getting one. I know now I'm sounding even more paranoid. But seriously, how do we even know? I had that fear when I took my first 3G Nook back to have it replaced due to the cracked page forward keys. Another pet peeve of mine is that if you purchase an extended warranty on your device and it needs replacing they have the option of giving you a refurbished unit. Not cool. Sorry I'll stop complaining now.

Hi all:)

I really enjoyed reading all the comments on the various ebook readers.  I've been reading ebooks for more than 10 yrs now.  Started on a palm M515. Several palm versions later I finally had to change to the Iphone 4 since it was becoming harder and harder to synch my Palm's to a 64bit PC. 
Currently, I have a Aluratek ereader.  It uses epaper rather than the eink.  The primary differences between the two were the screen flash as eink turned pages and the battery life (eink is much longer)  Having read ebooks on my palm's and then my iphone, I didn't think I'd like the page flash.  I do find the epaper a much easier screen to read on than the back lit Iphone. Of course the back lit iphone can be read in bed with the lights out.
Now the reasons I purchased the Aluratek were quite simple.  I wanted a less expensive ereader to take along while travelling.  I did not want to risk my iphone on the beach or near water because my iphone has my life on it.   I also wanted an ereader that I could read outside in the sunlight. THe iphone sucks for that purpose. And I did NOT want a WiFi or internet capable ereader. We travel a lot out of country and I did not want to come home to find out my ereader had inadvertantly logged in through some resort wifi and just cost me the equivalent of another vacation:)  I keep my iphone in airplane mode when we travel for the same reason. The other reason for the Aluratek was its ability to read so many formats and store them on an SD card (up to 32gb)  I could easily take along a backup sd card with my library on it.
I like, I mean REALLY LIKE, gadgets, so at this point I have my trusty Aluratek, inexpensive, my IPhone, a MacBookAir laptop and a PC.  I would LOVE to have an ipad, and once it will take an sd card or some other form of external storage I will get one of those.  Of course having said that, I am still looking at a Nook or the new Sony just because.  One can never have too many gadgets:)
I read on all of my gadgets.  My Aluratek outside, my Iphone at night and my laptop or PC as the mood strikes.  I can have the same book on multiple gadgets and just scoot ahead to the spot I stopped reading on the last gadget - like reading in bed at night.  being able to move books between gadgets was a big factor in my decisions as well.
As one other person commented, I don't think you can go far wrong with any of today's ereaders, it boils down to how they feel in hand and what you plan on doing with it.  One person on another forum commented that he actually got rid of his 1st gen Ipad because he kept getting sidetracked from reading and he needed the focus of a single use type item. 
As I get older, I find that the back lit screens cause a lot more eye strain so I think that my next ereader will be another eink/ epaper type like the Nook simple or the Sony and an Ipad for other stuff:)

Cheers and what ever your ereader - Read ON!!!

Gryphonette

I have a kindle 3. I may get the kindle fire in the future but for now I am content with my kindle I also have a ipad but I don't use it for reading very often.

Thank goodness that there are so many options for us to choose from. 

Indeed And more to come in the future

I use what's now known as the Kindle Keyboard in the UK.  I absolutely love it - it's one of my most prized possessions.

I recently knocked it off a table onto a hardwood floor and was devastated when it completely froze up.  I tried rebooting but to no avail so I called Amazon who informed me that it was 12 days out of warranty but they offered me a replacement at the price of £56 which is approximately a third of the website price and it was with me within 48 hours and a courier organised to collect my broken Kindle.  I'm guessing this is a refurbished Kindle but you wouldn't know - it's as good as new.  I thought that was pretty good service.

While my Kindle was out of action I used the Kindle PC ap on my Vaio laptop (thankfully all my books were backed up in Calibre) but I found reading off the shiny screen really gave me eye strain so I don't think I would ever use something like the iPad to read.  The e-ink screens are definitely much easier on the eyes.

Anyway, this was my first post - nice to meet you all.