ebook device - total newbie question

[neeb]

Tried to post this on the ebooks forum but I seem not to have sufficient privileges.

Hi, I want to start reading ebooks and need to choose a technology and/or software platform to buy into. I’m currently a PC/laptop user, I use Skype a lot, still using an ancient Nokia 6100 mobile phone. I want to be able to read ebooks on my PC screen at home as well as on some sort of portable device. Don’t know whether to get a smartphone, pocket pc, ultra-compact laptop, blackberry, iPhone or whatever. Haven’t been keeping up-to-date with the technology and haven’t a clue how the capabilities of all of these things overlap/interact. Whatever I chose I want to have the flexibility with ebooks I buy to transfer them in the future to whatever device I happen to be using, i.e. I don’t want to find that I can’t read an ebook I buy on whatever device I happen to be using in 20 years time.

Thanks.

[unidentified]

Google is your friend

[neeb]

Not in this case it isn't. There's so much hype and marketing associated with these things it's nearly impossible to find any useful and objective comparisons. Seems that for most people, these devices are fashion/lifestyle accessories and the manufacturers, magazine sites etc are just cashing in on that.