[masraum]

Barnes and Noble makes the Nook which is probably the closest competitor to the Kindle.

You can also read on any of the tablets, iPad, Samsung, etc...

If you only want to read in black and white (more like paper) then you probably want an e-ink reader. Their battery life is very good and they work well in bright light. Now some come with a built in light so you can read in low light too.

If you want magazine subscriptions, games, surfing the internet, then get an android or iPad or something.

My wife likes her Nook.

Most of the books will read multiple formats, but they are still limited. Most will read the "epub" format, some will work with pdf files. If you get a nook, then you can't buy books from Amazon.com. If you get a Kindle, then you can't buy books from BN.com. I think many libraries these days will loan to Kindle.