Consumers now have a wider choice of eBook devices and supporting ecosystems to consider, and the options are pretty compelling. Especially since it appears that 2011 is the year that eBooks have hit critical mass.

Online bookseller Amazon.com, which is behind the popular Kindle eBook reader, recently announced that its eBooks outsold print books for the first time. Since April of this year, 105 Kindle books have been downloaded for every 100 print books sold, which is impressive considering Amazon.com carries more than 950,000 titles, 175,000 of which have been added in the last five months.

But Amazon isn't the only player in this segment. Sony, long considered a pioneer, retains a presence while upstarts like Barnes & Noble, Toronto, ON's Kobo and even Apple with its iBookstore app, are all jockeying for position.

Why have dedicated eBook readers thrived despite the popularity of similarly shaped, yet more multifunctional, tablets?

It seems that while owning an expensive tablet computer may be daunting to many consumers, the idea of a dedicated eBook reader with screen technology suited to reading is justifiable. eBook readers are also easy to operate, are predictable, and do very few things really well.

Even public libraries are seeing the benefit of eBook readers, and are starting to allow people to borrow (or download) electronic versions of physical books.

A recent report from the American Library Association revealed that 72% of public U.S. libraries offer eBooks, and 5% of American adults own eBook readers. The ALA said that eBooks account for only a small percentage of borrowed items from most libraries, but they are the fastest-growing segment. The Chicago Public Library, it said, doubled its circulation of eBooks from 17,000 in 2009 to more than 36,000 in 2010.

The downside is that once consumers select an eBook reader, they are locked in to the supporting ecosystem. So consumers need to make sure the types of books and authors they like are readily available in their chosen marketplace.

This becomes even more of an issue for Canadians since services like Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader and Amazon don't always offer the same eBooks in Canada that one might be able to get in the U.S. and overseas.

Now, for avid readers who want access to multiple eBook services, the only solution is to get a tablet that runs most of the various services. On my Android-based Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" inch, for example, I installed the Sony Reader, Kobo, Amazon Kindle, and the Barnes & Noble Nook apps, all that allow access to books in each respective store. (Of course that means I also need accounts for each.) The Galaxy Tab's colour screen may not be ideal for reading, especially outdoors, but it is convenient to have my pick of eBook stores to compare and choose from.

That said, those who are willing to commit to one eBook store, and need a device solely for e-reading, will appreciate the cost effective e-reader options.

Let's check out the newest eBook readers and their supporting ecosystems.

Kobo eReader

Canada's own Kobo, which is an anagram of ‘book,' has continued to innovate in the space, and recently launched a new Kobo eReader Touch ($140) that features an improved E ink pearl screen, faster processor, and WiFi capability in a smaller enclosure. Touch control makes it easier for readers to highlight text, scroll through pages in a more natural way, and interact with the Kobo eReader more intuitively.

Kobo is also the only eBook reader to have its software available on RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, which was considered an important launch title by the BlackBerry maker.

A main strength, however, is its sheer volume of available titles. Kobo currently offers 2 million books, all of which are accessible to Canadian users.

Kobo is also majority owned by Chapters and Indigo, which gives Canadian customers an accessible storefront for any advice or support issues they may have. An actual retail presence is valuable since potential customers can be walked through demos and shown what the devices can do.

Kobo has also innovated by adding a social aspect to reading by offering badges and unlockable rewards to users who read, connect and share their books through Facebook and Twitter. This option is available through the new Touch reader.

Another appealing feature is that Kobo books are stored in the cloud, and accessible via apps on multiple devices; from iOS to Android and, as mentioned, BlackBerries. This means that a customer can begin reading on his eReader, the resume on a supported tablet, phone, or PC should the need or desire arise.

Sony Readers

Sony is one of the first companies to push eReaders, and now boast the largest selection of models in the market, including the tiny Pocket Edition ($180), the finger friendly Touch Edition ($230) and the 3G-enabled Reader Daily Edition ($300).

The issue with Sony's approach is that its models are expensive. Granted, most of them have a premium fit and finish with aluminum enclosures and a more durable look and feel.

With 2 million books available, Sony Reader is up there with Kobo in terms of scale of offerings. We also noticed that the company has a larger Sci-Fi collection than most other eBook systems, which will appeal to that particular fan base. Still, the perceived high price of admission is a deal killer these days when sub-$150 eBook readers are the norm.

Amazon Kindle

Amazon's latest eBook readers are advertising-supported versions of its popular Kindle 3 for $114. The idea is that the screensavers that appear when the device is sleeping or off (usually portraits of popular authors) will instead be full screen ads that disappear once you turn the device on. Users who want the ad-free version of the Kindle will pay $140 for the WiFi-only version or $190 for the WiFi with unlimited 3G connectivity.

With 1.8 million books (not all of which are accessible to Canadians), and Amazon's patented One-Click technology that makes it all too easy for users to impulse-buy interesting titles, Amazon has perfected the eReader and bookstore ecosystem. The company also seems to offer the cheapest eBooks with 610,000 books that are US$9.99 or less.

In terms of hardware, the latest Kindle 3 is thin and light enough for prolonged one-handed use (a fact that Amazon uses in its advertising to dismiss Apple's iPad as a viable eBook reading device). We like the onboard dictionary that automatically generates definitions once a word is highlighted. The built-in QWERTY keyboard is also one of the best we've used on a non-PC device.

Barnes & Noble Nook

A latecomer in the eBook reader market, Barnes & Noble more than made up with an unusual Android powered Nook Color ($ 249), which was hacked by enterprising users and converted from a novelty colour eBook reader to the cheapest Android tablet.

Going back to basics, Barnes & Noble's new Nook Touch ($139) has the same improved screen found on the Kobo touch, and has no underlying Android OS to distract users from the pleasure of reading. There's also a more social approach with friends being able to recommend titles, and a more intuitive user interface that's more focused on reading.

The Nook ecosystem in the U.S. claims to have 2 million books available for download.

The biggest problem for Canadians is that the Nook isn't sold in Canada, nor is it really supported unless you have a U.S. credit card and are willing to jump through hoops to get with the ecosystem. While the hardware is compelling, the insular nature of the Barnes & Noble eReader experience doesn't make it as desirable as the competition.

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