Ebook Reader vs iPad/Netbook?

You need to get yourself to a store that gives you a chance to do some hands-on with the various tablet options including the Kindle family and iPads. If all you want to do is read, the simplest Kindle would be fine ($79?). Keep in mind that reading is the LEAST of things that the iPad can do - though it does it very well. Go to an Apple store and have one of the techs give you a 10-minute tour of the functions. It may blow your mind and become your favorite media device no matter where you are. People have used their netbooks as e-readers, but given the options today, I certainly wouldn't. Just FYI; Apple is supposed to be introducing a smaller iPad next month that is lighter, cheaper and more friendly to one-hand e-reading - but would have all the same capabilities as the regular size iPad. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it comes out. If I like it, I'll be buying it.

On my last trip, I took a kindle. The kindle is great for reading books. It is very light weight. I keep mine in my purse all the time. In addition to books, the kindle is also handy for pdf files. You can email a pdf to your kindle address (provided when you buy the kindle) and it will show up in your list of books. I used this for some of the pdfs that I saved (e.g. London Walks, etc.) from websites. I have the cheapest kindle and it is now only $69 so it is hard to go wrong with it. However, the basic version is really not great for anything else. There is an "experimental" web browser, but it is pretty weak. I actually prefer reading on the kindle to reading paperback books. One comment on the travel ebooks. The kindle version of various travel guides seems to come out several months after the print version, so always check the publishing date. For example, I went to Berlin this year. The latest Rick Steves Berlin kindle version was the 2010 version. I ended up buying a print copy which was published in early 2012. I had been hoping to get all my travel guides on kindle but that didn't work out as the selection of recent editions was weak. The Ipad is certainly more flexible, but I don't like it as much for serious reading because it is heavier.

I agree with the commenter who said you need to try some options out. I've taken a laptop and then a netbook on my last several trips to France, but not to read books. I find computers hopeless for reading more than the news and email. I considered getting a Nook or Kindle etc. for a future trip, so I borrowed a Nook from our local library, and I just couldn't get used to it. But maybe it's because I've been reading paper books for 50+ years. So many people think they're great, so you need to try one out and see what you think.
Bob

One of the best thing about e-readers is that they have a very very long battery life, whereas tablets do not. sometimes this won't be an issue, but if yo'ure talking a lot of regional trains or plane rides, you're going to be without a way to recharge your tablet. some people find the screen of tablets unpleasant for reading for a long time. e-readers are just like reading a book, they're not backlit (well a new version of the kindle is, but only for reading in the dark). so if it's serious reading, the e-reader has strong advantages over tablets. but obviously it's better to carry fewer devices, so if you are going to be taking a tablet no matter what, it might be able to function as a reader for the duration of your trip

I had a Kindle, which I gave away when I got my iPad, mainly as I travel a lot and while I agree the Kindle is lighter, I would not travel with both devices. I love my iPad and while at home do very little book reading on it. I use it for reading e-mail, quick e-mail responses, reading magazines, newspapers, skype, playing sudoku, taking photos (though not a lot for that), Facebook etc. If reading is all you want to do I would go for an e-reader - they are also very cheap now. We have travelled with a netbook and will do so again, but only if I have to do some work on the road, otherwise it would be the ipad. I would never use the netbook to read anything other than newspapers. Kindles are very very easy to use - and I am a technophobe!

Sarah made some good points. I have a Kindle and a tablet, but I do all my Kindle reading on my phone. It is somewhat akin to reading a paperback. The Kindle does have good battery life, is easy to read, and is lightweight, but I have no complaints with the phone. If you have a smartphone, I'd check on the eReader apps available. You can buy a cheap book or download one of the free ones and see if you like reading on it. Best advantage: I always have several books with me wherever I go.

Matt, I have a Kindle and it's really easy to read and use. The battery lasts for a long, long time. I'm about to go away for 2 weeks and I'm not taking the charger, 'cos I won't need it.
I find it easier to read than my laprop.

I finally decided this spring to go the eReader/iPad route, and after testing out different versions in the stores, I decided the eReader would work best for me, so definitely try before you buy! I choose the Nook Simple Touch and I love it because it is small enough to keep in my purse so I always have it with me when traveling. Although I loved all the iPad can do, for me it was too big to constantly keep on me, and as I often stay in hostels I didn't want to leave it behind even in a locker. And as others have said, the long battery life is great! I've never taken the charger with me on my trips so far (the longest being two weeks) and I haven't yet needed it. When looking at the eReaders, check out the new ones with the built in lights - that might come in handy and you don't have to bring along a clip on light.

I bring both. I use the iPad for movies, games, surfing the net and keeping documents but never for reading. It's too heavy for me. My wrists hurt after a half hour of reading. If you read for long periods, I would suggest an e-book reader. I use a Kindle. As previous posters had said, the battery lasts incredibly long. The screen is much more eye-friendly and Kindle is very light. I haven't tried the other readers so I couldn't help you with that. For me, the added weight of carrying a Kindle is definitely worth it. An example, while waiting for my delayed flight's boarding announcement at JFK, I find my iPad (new at the time, wi-fi off and fully charged) drained of battery after watching an HD movie (90 minutes), an episode of Samantha Brown's Passport to Cruises (about 43 minutes) and a quick hidden object game (about 20 minutes). And Apple was advertising "up to 10 hours" of battery life! Good thing my Kindle is fully charged so I was able to read a couple of books during my long flight. But Randy is right, you should definitely head out to the Apple Store and test drive an iPad.

Don't discount having a look at a nexus 7 will provide you a much smaller footprint,great screen and android . Regarding iPads and using it for ebooks, get the kindle app. This provides background control options. The embedded links in some ebooks for looking up hotels etc eg from a .rs book is also a great feature. Regards

Matt, Which option to choose will probably depend on the primary functions you'll be using the device for. If you'll need it mainly for reading E-books, checking travel files or E-mail, an iPad, Kindle or Nook would probably be the best choice. Even if you buy an iPad, you may want to download the free Kindle App, as the Kindle versions of some Guidebooks may be more current or more available than the iBooks versions (that's what I've found). If you'll be doing a lot of typing (ie: replying to E-mails), be sure to try the virtual keyboard, as it's not for everyone. I prefer a "normal" keyboard as that's the method I'm most comfortable with. If you'll need room for lots of photo or video storage, a Netbook may be a better choice. I travel with a Camera that produces large files, and 128 GB of solid-state memory just doesn't work for me. Netbooks aren't the most ideal platform for doing lots of reading though, however the small Atom processors usually provide great battery life. I'm currently in Europe (almost at the end of my trip) and have noticed a LOT more iPads this year, with many people seemingly using them as their main Camera. For my trips, I pack along a Toshiba Netbook as my primary uses are E-mail, web browsing and photo storage. Good luck with your choice!

Thanks Everyone for all the great advice.. I do carry a camera, so I will be downloading pictures and surfing the web, and maybe even doing some photo editing, so I'm thinking I'll want a netbook or ipdad at least (and maybe a light laptop) for that, and the eReader will JUST be for reading books; both entertainment books, novels, fiction, magazines, short-stories, etc; but also for reading travel guide books...
How do the eReaders do with maps and charts? NOthing super detailed but like the free-hand maps in the RickSteves books? I've done a little research and it seems like Consumer Reports really likes the Nook Simple Touch Black-n-White version. I'm kind of leaning that way..