Coming from a person who can spend an entire day (between work and recreation) looking at computer screens without any appreciable eye strain: E-ink is a LOT better for reading than an LED screen.
I don't really know why, maybe there is some "hidden" eye strain I just don't notice with normal laptop/led screen viewing that I'm not getting with my ereader. There's something about reading from normal light that backlit technology can't emulate. I just like it a lot better for reading.
On the flipside, while pdfs display pretty good (with zoom, landscaping, etc), ereaders still tend to not do well as a referencing reader. Having a mouse (or touch screen) to go to the embedded links, or having multiple open and easily switched like a laptop or ipad does (presumably, I don't have one), means all the difference.
But... I already have a laptop. I don't need to drop nearly a grand on something that does things "not quite as good" as my laptop. If I'm playing games, or referencing material, then I will be sitting at my laptop anyways, not on the toilet or whatever. I'm likely going to need a full keyboard for a LOT of typing, so the Ipad's "master of none" issue really doesn't fill the niche for me.
So, I spent 100$ on my Kobo ereader (the Canadian/Chapters/Indigo one... no ads by the way), strictly for reading, and it's been really, really good to me so far.
Also, I second the emphasis on how great Calibre is. Great library organizing tool.
