New e-book reader Ratings include the low-rated Literati

Tempted to buy the Sharper Image Literati e-book reader for someone on your list this year? After all, the budget 7-inch-screen e-book reader is on sale for as little as $80—at least $60 less than you'll pay for one of the best-selling 6-inch models, the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook.

Think twice, based on our updated Ratings of e-book readers (available to subscribers), which now includes the Literati and several other models. Even aggressively discounted, we don't think the Literati is any bargain. While it boasts some welcome features, including the ability to borrow books from libraries, it was hampered by slow and glitch-ridden performance in our tests.

The two other new arrivals fared better. Our promising first impressions of the Barnes & Noble Nook Color, $249, and Sony Reader Daily Edition, $299, largely held up in the full tests we carry out for our Ratings. Those evaluations, covered in a recent video, include measuring the readibility of type, how rapidly the device refreshes pages, and a bevy of convenience factors, such as the ease by which you can order new content.

Subscribers can access the full Ratings for a detailed comparison of how the new arrivals stack up against other models on the market. And anyone can, for free, view our video buying guide to choosing an e-book reader this holiday season or our detailed buying advice on choosing a digital reading device.

—Paul Reynolds