Libre eBook Reader and Kobo eReader coming July 2 to a Borders near you

I happened to stop by my local Borders store today while running some errands and saw their display for their upcoming selection of ebook readers. Borders already sells the Sony family of e-readers (although the display was quite small and they didn’t have any demo units out).

On July 2 Borders will begin selling 2 more ebook readers. I grabbed some information from the small display and decided to present it here to compare both readers and what they off to you.

Libre eBook Reader Pro

• Price: $119.99
• 5″ diagonal screen (using Monochrome Reflective Light LCD technology)
• 256MB built-in memory (expands to 32GB)
• Supports MP3 files
• Supports TXT, FB2, ePub, MOBI (non-DRM only), PRC, RTF
• Built-in Lithium ion battery (24 hours continuous reading, 2 weeks standby time)
• Syncs to your Mac or PC

Kobo eReader

• Price: $149.99
• 6″ display (e-ink technology)
• 1GB internal memory (expands to 4GB)
• Supports ePub, PDF, Adobe DRM
• Battery remains charged for 2 weeks (or 8,000 page turns)
• “Sync ‘N’ Read” using Borders Desktop App

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems you get more for less with the Libre eBook Reader Pro. The Libre supports more formats (including MP3), and can expand to a whopping 32GB memory. On the other hand, the Kobo has a slightly larger reading screen and uses e-ink technology, whereas the Libre uses and LCD-type screen.

My biggest gripe about most e-readers on the market is that they continue to use a built-in battery that is not user-replaceable. For those of us who read a lot and are continuously charging and draining our devices, this can become a serious issue when the battery eventually peters out. The only exception to this is the Barnes & Noble Nook, which does have a user-replaceable battery.

However, I’m thrilled to see 2 more ebook readers hitting the US market that will be easily accessible to the buying public. The competition among manufacturers only benefits the consumer with lower prices and better technology, which equals an improved reading experience.

UPDATE: Barnes & Noble is releasing a WiFi-only Nook for $149. They are also lowering the price of their WiFI + 3G Nook to $199 (down from $259). Check out their website for more details.

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Read More: eBooks, Technology