Kindle vs. Sony Reader

[Gate]

I recently received a Kindle for my birthday. Coals to Newcastle,
because I already have the Sony Reader (not the touch screen one, but
the one before; can't remember the nomenclature). Anyhow, I thought t
it might interest some of you to see what differences I found hands
on.
First, the ugly factor: Kindle is hideous! The Sony is sleek and
technolicious. But the Kindle is a plastic-y unwieldy thing. The
buttons on the Kindle look like (dare I say it?) lipstick on a pig.
Anyhow, it's really hard to hold without inadvertently turning a page,
and it's bulky, to say the least. All that aside, the derned thing
does so much! I wish the Sony could do as much. The dictionary is a
great feature, as is the web buying. I was shocked that I was able to
receive the Sprint signal here, since my friends can never get a
signal from their cells at my house. But the web access, although not
always available, is there enough to buy a book or check out what's on
the site. I don't find a lot of price difference in the books,
although there is some, and I've not had any more problems finding
books on the Sony site than on the Amazon site. Neither have
everything I want, but so far, they are about equal. The Kindle has a
neat sleep feature and displays all sorts of pictures onscreen when
it's sleeping, but I have to wonder how much memory all that junk
takes up inside. It's fairly useless, in my opinion. The Sony starts
up as quickly from a dead shutdown. The Sony's add on memory, of
course, is the memory stick, and the Kindle uses the easy to find sd
card. I had a bunch of memory sticks lying around from old devices,
but I can see how Sony's proprietary doo dads could be annoying in the
extreme.
Anyhow, if any of you want a comparison with this feature or that,
let me know.

[Kerry Lannert]

Thanks for the comparison. I like my Sony reader a lot, but every
timethey drop the price a little further on he kindle I get tempted.
It's good to know it really is as ugly in person as in pictures. My
sony uses SD as well as memory stick. It's the version that came out
last fall (prs-505). Using any card draws from the battery so I
stopped using expansion cards altogether. The 160mb (I think) internal
holds about 90 books, which is more than enough between sync sessions.

- Kerry

[Aaron F. Gonzalez]

I have the Sony 505 as well. I keep everything on the SD card. The
battery lasts so long I have never even thought about ways to try and
save power. I think I charge this thing once every 2 weeks or so.

I definitely prefer the look of the Sony over the Kindle, but the cell
connection on the Kindle is a killer feature. Perhaps the Kindle 2.0
won't look so hideous. If so, I'll most likely sell my 505 and pick one up.

[Gate]

I forgot about the sd card on my Sony. Yes, mine's a 505 as well. And
I have stuff on the card, but also on the memory stick. I also have no
problems with battery usage, and the books I like best are on the
Sony. But that cell connection really is nice. And yes, Kerry, it's
every bit as ugly as you thought. Not only the shape, but that ooky
plastic. The Sony looks so sleek and high tech next to the Kindle.
Even the cover is better on the Sony. Aaron, I'd think long and hard
about selling that Sony for the Kindle. I know you're visually gifted,
and you'd really hate that ugly thing! Even with cell connection!
Oh, I almost forgot: the Kindle would work with a Mac, and the Sony
won't, at this point. I haven't tried, since my Mac is only my surfing
toy, but that would be another thing in Kindle's favor.

On Nov 8, 2:33 pm, "Aaron F. Gonzalez" <aaron_w...@aaronfg.com> wrote:
> I have the Sony 505 as well.  I keep everything on the SD card. The
> battery lasts so long I have never even thought about ways to try and
> save power. I think I charge this thing once every 2 weeks or so.
>
> I definitely prefer the look of the Sony over the Kindle, but the cell
> connection on the Kindle is a killer feature.  Perhaps the Kindle 2.0
> won't look so hideous.  If so, I'll most likely sell my 505 and pick one up.
>
>
>
> Kerry Lannert wrote:
> > Thanks for the comparison. I like my Sony reader a lot, but every  
> > timethey drop the price a little further on he kindle I get tempted.  
> > It's good to know it really is as ugly in person as in pictures. My  
> > sony uses SD as well as memory stick. It's the version that came out  
> > last fall (prs-505). Using any card draws from the battery so I  
> > stopped using expansion cards altogether. The 160mb (I think) internal  
> > holds about 90 books, which is more than enough between sync sessions.
>
> > - Kerry
>

> >> let me know.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[PhilippeR]

I don't understand this "ugly" Kindle thing at all. I look at the text
on the e-ink page when I am reading, period. I could not care less how
it looks when I am not reading, thus comparing the looks of the two
readers side by side is to me a pointless exercise. Moreover, the
large buttons on either side make page turning when holding the Kindle
in one hand very easy. The only time I have turned pages accidentally
is when I have closed the reader without first reverting to the splash
screen. The book selection on Amazon is much greater (I am talking
about current and not so current drm'ed books, of course). The Kindle
will certainly not make it into the MOMA design catalogue, to which
all I can say is, "so what!"

[Bert Latamore]

I have a question concerning book availability. One of the things I really appreciate about eReader and similar services is that they carry large libraries of out-of-print books. Two examples from my personal experience:
- My wife is a big mystery reader, and one of her favorite authors is Lawrence Block, has been writing books since the 1960s. A couple of years ago she mentioned that she would love to read his early novels, but they are long out of print. Turns out eReader has his complete collection, and now so does she.
- The other week I heard an interview on Fresh Air with Robert Baer. He is a former CIA officer who is a recognized expert in the Near East. He has just published his fourth book. I checked him out on eReader and found his first three, including a very interesting autobiography, "See No Evil" about his 20+ years in the CIA, a novel based on that experience, and a book about US relations with Saudi-Arabia. I have now read the first two and am starting the third. I may end up buying his new book on paper if it doesn't show up on eReader, but I am getting a huge amount of knowledge from these first three.

So does either Amazon or Sony provide these kinds of electronic libraries of out-of-print books? Often authors and publishers look at ebooks specifically as a secondary market for books that are out of print. Since it costs virtually nothing to maintain those electronic libraries, epublishing becomes a perfect answer for maintaining residual sales of out-of-print books. And for readers, it is a huge potential boon. I seldom start reading a writer when when he publishes his forst book. Often, as with Baer, I hear about him only after he has published several books. Then I want to go back and read those books, but getting them from used book sources is often hit or miss. instead I can go to eReader and order them (or order one or two and put the rest on my wish list) and have them immediately.

Bert

--
Bert Latamore
Editorial Consultant

[PhilippeR]

I am not familiar with Lawrence Block, but there are a lot of books of
his on the Kindle for prices ranging from ca.$3 to ca. $6, and all
four of the Baer books are available (the most recent at $9.99, the
other three for $6.39).

[Bert Latamore]

Well, concerning Baer, let me recommend the books. Start with the autobio, which is an education in his particular approach and outlook, which is quite different from most experts, who are based in academia. His information all comes from primary research -- that is interviewing people in their native languages, often in secret, over 30 odd years.

Bert

[PhilippeR]

I know Baer, two of whose books I have read (though not on the Kindle)
along with some articles and reviews. Question: now that your wife
knows that Block is available on the Kindle (and, remember, she can
buy these books wirelessly as she pleases) is she at all tempted to
get one (or are you tempted to get one for her?)

On Nov 10, 12:58 pm, "Bert Latamore" <bert.latam...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, concerning Baer, let me recommend the books. Start with the autobio,
> which is an education in his particular approach and outlook, which is quite
> different from most experts, who are based in academia. His information all
> comes from primary research -- that is interviewing people in their native
> languages, often in secret, over 30 odd years.
>
> Bert
>

[Bert Latamore]

I haven't asked her, but she has not been interested in these devices in the past.

Bert

[Richard Cartwright]

Gate et al,

 

I hope you do not mind me jumping in here, but what of the Palm TX? That is what I have been using. It seems far more versitile than either the Kindle or the Sony product. No one has mentioned it and I just wondered why, especally as my wife wants some sort of e-reader and I have been debating buying another TX (as my first plan to pass on my Treo 680 for a Treo Pro [I feel the need to wash my hands just typing that but I am about tired of waiting for Nova] was shot down in flames as she does not like the keypad) Any imput would be appriciated

If Dante had known about daytime television the Ninth Circle of Hell would have TV sets.

[Kerry Lannert]

The short answer for why the TX and other PDAs haven't been mentioned
is that they're a different class of device entirely. The Sony and the
Kindle are both standalone reading devices, so it's comparing apples
and oranges.
The primary benefit to devices like the Sony and the Kindle is the
screen, something unlike any PDA screen available. It really is quite
amazingly similar to paper. If your wife just wants a device to read
books, a dedicated e-ink reader like the Sony, Kindle or CyBook reader
is a great choice. If she wants PDA-like functionality, well, then you
should get a PDA. As of right now, the TX is probably the best PDA for
the job out there.

- Kerry

[Richard Cartwright]

Thanks Kerry. I guess I am crazy but I actually think the TX is a better read than the Sony. I have to say that was based on a brief fondle of one at the airport, rather than a full on review.  All I know of the Kindle is the fact that it bears an uncanny resemblence to a Panasonic answering machine I had in 1979 and it has had some good reviews on use and selection.

On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 5:07 PM, Kerry Lannert <klan...@gmail.com> wrote:

The short answer for why the TX and other PDAs haven't been mentioned
is that they're a different class of device entirely. The Sony and the
Kindle are both standalone reading devices, so it's comparing apples

beief and oranges.

The primary benefit to devices like the Sony and the Kindle is the
screen, something unlike any PDA screen available. It really is quite
amazingly similar to paper. If your wife just wants a device to read
books, a dedicated e-ink reader like the Sony, Kindle or CyBook reader
is a great choice. If she wants PDA-like functionality, well, then you
should get a PDA. As of right now, the TX is probably the best PDA for
the job out there.

- Kerry

On Nov 10, 2008, at 17:02 , Richard Cartwright wrote:

> Gate et al,
>
> I hope you do not mind me jumping in here, but what of the Palm TX?
> That is what I have been using. It seems far more versitile than
> either the Kindle or the Sony product. No one has mentioned it and I
> just wondered why, especally as my wife wants some sort of e-reader
> and I have been debating buying another TX (as my first plan to pass
> on my Treo 680 for a Treo Pro [I feel the need to wash my hands just
> typing that but I am about tired of waiting for Nova] was shot down
> in flames as she does not like the keypad) Any imput would be
> appriciated

__________________________________

[Gate]

Richard, if you need a backlit reader, you'd do lots better with a
PDA. Both the Sony and the Kindle need light. No reading under the
covers without a flashlight.
Phillippe, it's a plus to me that the Sony is good looking and slim. I
find the Kindle awkward to hold without accidentally turning pages,
since it is rather bulky. I am small, so that might be an issue, but
those side buttons to me are overkill. Each to his own, but I do like
the looks of the Sony.

On Nov 10, 8:21 pm, "Richard Cartwright" <cartwrigh...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> --
> Richard D. Cartwright
> Attorney at Law
> P.O. Box 694
> Covington, TN 38019
> 901-475-6075

[Ryan Waldon]

I use a Palm TX for reading and my wife has become addicted to reading ebooks on her Zire71. The built-in backlight is invaluable and simplifies things greatly.

--ryan

[Aaron F. Gonzalez]

I use the Sony for reading the NYTimes or a book on the train ride in
the morning.

I use a T3 to read ebooks in bed at night (backlight).

I'd also take the sony on vacation any day since I can read it in direct
sunlight on the beach. Something I could never do with my PDAs/smartphones.

Ryan Waldon wrote:
> I use a Palm TX for reading and my wife has become addicted to reading
> ebooks on her Zire71. The built-in backlight is invaluable and
> simplifies things greatly.
>
> --ryan
>
> On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 10:14 PM, Gate <gat...@earthlink.net
> <mailto:gat...@earthlink.net>> wrote:
>
>
> Richard, if you need a backlit reader, you'd do lots better with a
> PDA. Both the Sony and the Kindle need light. No reading under the
> covers without a flashlight.
> Phillippe, it's a plus to me that the Sony is good looking and slim. I
> find the Kindle awkward to hold without accidentally turning pages,
> since it is rather bulky. I am small, so that might be an issue, but
> those side buttons to me are overkill. Each to his own, but I do like
> the looks of the Sony.
>
> On Nov 10, 8:21 pm, "Richard Cartwright" <cartwrigh...@gmail.com

> <mailto:cartwrigh...@gmail.com>>

[Bert Latamore]

I used my Palm T3 for reading books (with eReader) for years. I found it easy top read. What I didn't like was the severe limitation on organizing my library (now at 283 books and growing) due to the Palm OS limitation on the number of file folders you can have. I was totally unable to organize books the want I wanted to. And the eReader software online is not much better. There all I can do is organize by author, title, or date purchased. I want to do author, subject (espianage, naval, exploration, etc.), type (e.g., fantasy, historical fiction, biography, etc), whether I have read it or not, and in some cases whether it relates to a special project or interest I am involved in. In other words, I want to do a complete cross reference. That is impossible on the Palm.
     Then the Palm is somewhat unstable. every time I have a hard reset and have to reload, or move from a worn out unit to a replacement, I lose all the organization I have done and have to redo it all.
     Those are my gripes with the Palm. When gate sold me her UX she said it was a great reading device, and she is totally right. I am able to reconstruct all the organization I wanted (I am doing that gradually) and it keeps it. Actually I have my library on a memory card (saves a lot of room in the main unit) and back that up periodically to a SATA drive (I need to do that again soon). And the UX is readable in bright sunlight, another problem I haad with the Palm T3 as a book reader.

Bert

[PhilippeR]

Richard this discussion of e-ink screen versus pda screen has been
held on many different sites. If you are happy reading on a TX (which
I used for 2 years+), by all means do so. To me the choice is easy: an
e-ink screen is much closer to real print. The built-in backlight on
the TX, moreover, means that the battery life is poor. The TX print,
compared to the opaque e-ink print, is more pixielated. The TX screen
is also much smaller, and these days I think even the Sony/Kindle
screen is too small. To each his own.

Gate, I agree that the Sony placed next to the Kindle is sleeker and
better looking, but then there are some bindings that are better
looking than others. When it comes to reading, that doesn't mean much
to me: what does mean a lot is the print and there the two are equal.
I do not own a Sony, but I recall playing with one that belonged to a
member of my book club, and though it is lighter than the Kindle, I
found it harder to hold and manipulate with one hand (it was too thin
and the round buttons were not, to me at any rate, as accomodating).
Like you, BTW, I have small hands.

[Richard Cartwright]

Bert the latest rev of Mobipocket does organize by genre

[(*:*) Karey Shane]

I'm hoping I'm on track with this, but after reading all your posts about the Kindle vs. the Sony I'm not sure. I've started a group at Goodreads where I'm offering a Kindle. It seems that a lot of people in other places online still have questions.

If anyone wants to take a peek and give me input that would be great. Here's the link:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/10611.Secret_Speakers_Read_Rate_it

Cheers,
Karey

Rawle & Windsor Publishing LLC
Director
51 West Center St. Suite 620
Orem, Utah 84057

Phone: 801.735.1311
Email: karey...@gmail.com
Web:
http://www.SecretSpeakers.com
http://www.RawleWindsorPublishing.com

[Richard Cartwright]

I agree that the discussion has been raised many places. But I trust y'all more.<G>. Because of that I will tell you my super secret to long time reading with a TX in the bed. Keep it plugged in. Not much of a hassle and lets you read late with a small light.  I actually get @3 hours with the TX untethered if I shut off the Wifi and jack the screen down. But your points are well taken.

[Kerry Lannert]

I get about 2-3 weeks of daily reading on a single charge with my sony
reader. It was *great* when I spent a week on a boat in Galapagos this
summer.

- Kerry

[Bert Latamore]

Richard,

That is how I do it with the UX. I get about 75 minutes of battery when reading steadily, but the power converter and cord for the UX is tiny, easy to carry in a pocket, so I carry it around with me and plug it in.

Bert

[Robin Taylor]

Well, I’m in a money crunch right now … relatively new house, growing kids … ya know, life, lolol.

 

Yet, I’ve had a strong desire to check out my PDAs again. (When I used the BB, I just used that with my iPod.)  Eventually, :hanging head:, I will get my finances together and purchase a preferred smartphone. But, for now, I have a choice from the following:

 

My Tungsten C – requires a digitizer reset about a half dozen times a day

Dell Axim – surprisingly versatile in meeting all of my needs, but miss the thumboard I depended on so much with my “C” and/or BlackBerry

Tapwave Zodiac – looks too much like a PSP for me to take out and use seriously, lolol

LifeDrive – Ugh! What a waste of money! This brick resets constantly, even with the update

 

I have several others, but, from the above, the Dell is perfectly suitable. I just have to decide whether or not to give up the idea of the thumboard. I am pretty fast with it, but not on days when my arthritis or fibromyalgia is really bad. So, even if/when I end up with a BB or something similar, I might have long terms problems with my note-taking. I’m frustrated because my hands are troublesome lately.

 

Robin

[Robin Taylor]

I have neither ... but, then, my interests have changed, as has my reading
library. I almost bought the Kindle a few months ago, but, boy am I now glad
that I didn't. I will just wait and watch.

Robin T.

[Robin Taylor]

Basically, for me, with my older PDAs … I find with my sight (legally blind, and seemingly worse than ever) … AND … my headaches, which turn into migraines if reading at night … I have to shut screen light off to the lowest possible point, and take off my glasses while reading an inch from my face … If I use my PDA in the kitchen, the kids laugh at me, b/c reading requires me to look like I fell over in a drunken stupor since I have to get so close. I will try tonight with a book light to see if it helps; it just might reduce the nightly headaches I get … since I go through my BiPolar stages and I’m currently in a manic stage, meaning I barely sleep, so reading is critical for me. And, although my library has currently changed, I am still reading several hours per day.

 

Robin T.

[ryanwal...@gmail.com]

iSilo, both Palm and iPhone/iPod Touch versions, allow you to create custom colour schemes. I have a white on black one I frequently use for reading in dark rooms. eReader lets you invert the screen to similar effect.

--ryan

(Sent from my Samsung Instinct)

-----Original Message-----
Date: Sunday, November 16, 2008 9:10:36
To: <wo...@googlegroups.com>
From: "Robin Taylor" <robi...@comcast.net>
Subject: [woyp] Re: Kindle vs. Sony Reader

Basically, for me, with my older PDAs . I find with my sight (legally blind,
and seemingly worse than ever) . AND . my headaches, which turn into
migraines if reading at night . I have to shut screen light off to the

lowest possible point, and take off my glasses while reading an inch from my

face . If I use my PDA in the kitchen, the kids laugh at me, b/c reading

requires me to look like I fell over in a drunken stupor since I have to get
so close. I will try tonight with a book light to see if it helps; it just

might reduce the nightly headaches I get . since I go through my BiPolar

[Robin Taylor]

Hello. When we moved into our house, my books went into the basement and
have been there ever since. I had perhaps a few hundred up here, but we
recently remodeled our bedroom, and now ALL of my books are downstairs (in
boxes!). I want to figure out a way to catalog them and sell lots of them -
except for favorite author collections, biographies, reference and spiritual
literature. Any idea on how to begin this task? (There are THOUSANDS down
there.) I have a PCA (Personal Care Attendant) who works for me twenty hours
a week, and frankly, since this house is so big (five bedrooms, plus a full
basement), she lately has very little work to do, as we are far more
organized and neater than we were in our apartment. Having worked for me for
four years, our messy house was her paycheck. Now, I am thinking of ways to
keep her busy. Thing is, my hours recently got recertified, and the agency
continued her keeping the twenty hours weekly - so I am not in any way
misusing the system, or anything like that.

Anyway, I'd like her to help me, or basically, do the books herself. I am in
no physical condition to go up and down stairs or to sit or stand for any
length of time.

Any suggestions as to how to begin this magnanimous project would be greatly
appreciated.

Robin T.

[Robin Taylor]

I have been reading solely on iSilo, lolol. Good call. Thing is, I have
played with the color schemes, but I like the presentation of the documents
as is. I've been trying to decide if I want to go with one of the schemes
I've made. I didn't realize, however, that changing the screen colors is
more helpful than just preference. I'm setting my Dell right now and will
try it for the next day or so.

Thanks,

Robin T.

[Brenda Wallace]

On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 2:21 PM, Richard Cartwright
<cartwr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks Kerry. I guess I am crazy but I actually think the TX is a better
> read than the Sony. I have to say that was based on a brief fondle of one at
> the airport, rather than a full on review. All I know of the Kindle is the
> fact that it bears an uncanny resemblence to a Panasonic answering machine I
> had in 1979 and it has had some good reviews on use and selection.

I like the smaller, "palm" sized ebook readers -- expecially if they
have a page down button on the side.
i would happily still have my old Philips Nino, circa 1995, for
reading books, except it only stores 4MBytes and the battery is
stuffed.

[Brenda Wallace]

On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 3:23 AM, Robin Taylor <robi...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Any suggestions as to how to begin this magnanimous project would be greatly
> appreciated.

consider http://bookmooch.com :-)

[Bert Latamore]

Robin,

Three thoughts about the lack of a thupbboard for the Axium:

1. Can you get an attachable thumbboard. I remember something like that for the Palm PDAs (I never used one, so I can't say how it worked). Is there something like that for the Dell?

2. Fitaly. Not a thumbboard, you do need a stylus (you can get ballpoints with inserts to turn them into a stylus)  But much better than handwriting recognition. I am writing this using Fitaly with a Sensa stylus, for instance.

3. A fold-up Bluetooth keyboard for longer writing projects. I love mine.

All the best,

Bert

[Bert Latamore]

Robin,

With your vision problems I wonder if you would want Audible.com rather than print or electronic books.

Bert

[bignoseduglyguy]

I second that - BookMooch is fantastic and a great way to share books with folk.  BookCrossing is another alternative.

Buzz

-- 

http://no8wire.wordpress.com/

http://bigboysbrunch.wordpress.com/

http://bignoseduglyguy.tumblr.com

[Robin Taylor]

I should look for a thumboard. I have two keyboards – can’t get them to work. I have a thumboard, but for a different model. I have been playing with fitaly. I have been practicing it while watching TV. I figure note-taking is spoken at a much lower rate than television, so maybe I’ll get some proficiency.  Although I have a great laptop, I want to again make my PDAs worth something to me.

 

Thanks, Bert.

 

Robin T.

 

From: wo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:wo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Bert Latamore

Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 8:13 PM
To: wo...@googlegroups.com

[Robin Taylor]

Oh my! Looks much simpler than Fictionwise. Thanks, Brenda!

Robin T.

-----Original Message-----
From: wo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:wo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
Brenda Wallace
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 6:31 PM
To: wo...@googlegroups.com

[Robin Taylor]

Thanks, Buzz. I’m going to join both and see which I just might use.

 

Robin T.

 

From: wo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:wo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of bignoseduglyguy
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 11:33 PM
To: wo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [woyp] Re: OT: Paper Books

 

I second that - BookMooch is fantastic and a great way to share books with folk.  BookCrossing is another alternative.

[Robin Taylor]

Oh, I love Audible, Bert! I have a great supply of books from Audible. I also have the Bible, and my religious magazines and books on .mp3. Believe me, they are wonderful. As a matter of fact, my husband and kids love the .mp3 files, too.

 

Robin T.

 

From: wo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:wo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Bert Latamore

Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 10:20 PM
To: wo...@googlegroups.com

[Brenda Wallace]

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 2:59 AM, Robin Taylor <robi...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Thanks, Buzz. I'm going to join both and see which I just might use.
>

The only problem with bookmooch is, requests arrive while i'm
overseas, and i don't get to send them for a month or 2 -- result is
grumpy feedback.

WOYP Folks please request my books :-) i have waaaaay too many.
http://bookmooch.com/m/bio/br3nda

[bignoseduglyguy]

Depends on the moocher; I'm OK waiting for a global surfer to get back home in 6 month's time - it'll be like Christmas in June! 

-- 

http://no8wire.wordpress.com/

http://bigboysbrunch.wordpress.com/

http://bignoseduglyguy.tumblr.com