Sony PRS505 meets the Amazon Kindle 1.X in a no holds barred knock-down, drag-out Domestic Disturbance!

We've had several good comparison pieces on the differences between these two devices, but this one brings a new facet into the question: husband/wife divide. It's a well written piece, with spirited discussion on all sides, and gets extra points for both style and its detailed look at the points that people who use the devices care about.

Will it finally settle the question as to which is better? Probably not, but it might help you decide which would be better for your needs, which is even better.

Some passages I particularly enjoyed:

On the Kindle:One of the downsides of both the readers is that they are tied to the manufacturers’ stores (everyone wants to be like Apple’s iTunes). The difference here is that books on the Kindle cost less. When my wife and I compare prices for the same book, it is typically a couple dollars cheaper on my Kindle. I assume as competition increases, Sony will get their prices in line, although once you are locked into their platform all you can do is hope. Another cost saver is that Amazon will send you the first 20 or so pages of books in their store for free as a sample. The samples show up instantly and give me a chance to see if the book is going to be any good before I buy.

On the Reader:Amazon shows the Kindle on its website as being as thick as a pencil. I don’t think so! And once you put it in its humongous case, forget about it. You may as well be carrying a 600 pg novel around with you! In contrast, the Sony IS as slim as a pencil and the sleek leather case adds about only 1/3 of an inch.

Of course neither writer is without their blind spots. For example, one bashes Sony for DRM and format locking, but he doesn't comment on the fact that Amazon sure seems to be doing exactly the same things. While the other phrases things more in terms of what she doesn't like the Kindle as much as the Sony, rather than why she likes the Sony more (a subtle distinction, but there you go).

In any case, the discussion does an nice job of highlighting several relative merits of the two machines, making it a good reference piece for those trying to choose between them.



The full piece can be found here (http://gotmike.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/cagematch/).

Thanks to both Kingston (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21452) and Stacy (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21462) for pointing it out to us!

One of the downsides of both the readers is that they are tied to the manufacturers’ stores

Perhaps someday we will see a manufacture's store independent device...
Oh wait! I forgot about the Cybook and Iliad. Seems like both Bookeen/NAEB and iRex have to start doing commercials, if they ever want to be recognized by the blind masses :/

Actually, the Gen3 uses a proprietary format as well. So it's out given the tone of the article.

Perhaps someday we will see a manufacture's store independent device...
Oh wait! I forgot about the Cybook and Iliad. Seems like both Bookeen/NAEB and iRex have to start doing commercials, if they ever want to be recognized by the blind masses :/

Actually you are totally correct. Few people have heard of Cybook and Iliad. In our mass consumer society, shiny ads and commercials are what make the sale.

Not saying that is how things should be, but it's how things are. Except for us in geekdom, I wouldn't count on masses of people recognizing what an Iliad is. Heck, "ebook readers" are still pretty much unknown--even with ads. I think Amazon stepping into the fray will finally start to change that. The Kindle is on their front page and the it was on the cover of Newsweek. I think it's a good thing--I don't think Amazon is the devil like a lot of others. I think they have a great product and I'm glad they have the money to promote it.

But on the other hand, Bookeen does seem to be selling out of the Cybooks pretty regularly, so would they even be able to keep up with demand if droves of people started snapping them up?

What I find endlessly amusing is the number of folks we have here who found us by searching for info on the Kindle. Many of them seem to end up buying one of the other devices available (once they learn about them here) . :nice:

What I find endlessly amusing is the number of folks we have here who found us by searching for info on the Kindle. Many of them seem to end up buying one of the other devices available (once they learn about them here) . :nice:

Yeah, it does seem like we have taken on a lot more new members lately. This is a good thing! :)

A very good thing. :yes:

What I find endlessly amusing is the number of folks we have here who found us by searching for info on the Kindle. Many of them seem to end up buying one of the other devices available (once they learn about them here) . :nice:

Don't forget the other side of the coin. I found this website long before I registered and made my decision. This site provided me with an overview of all the different readers available in the marketplace. At first, I found the website by searching up PRS 505. However, my purchase, after browsing various readers, is Amazon Kindle. I had to say I hesitated because some readers (I think it's Hans), have the ability to view text aside from English. That is something I desire, and hopefully Kindle will eventually incorporate this function.

The article (specifically, the comments by the missus) allude to one of Kindle's greatest weaknesses: The fact that there's no place to see it before you buy. For me, seeing a $400 device, touching it, getting an idea of the quality of the manufacture, is key before I purchase it.

(Of course, given Kindle's looks, and the missus' comments, maybe keeping it out of stores was the idea all along... :rolleyes:)

But although I agree with many of her points about the Sony, I'm still waiting to see it come down in price!

I felt moved to leave a comment over there and finished by saying this:

I guess any E Ink reader is a great gadget to own. It’s nice that the debate has now reached the stage of “which one should I get?” rather than “should I get one at all?”

Between the Kindle, gen3, and 505, I'd buy the Kindle last and the Gen3 once most of the known bugs are fixed. But the 505 is nice.

Absolutely nothing new here: this has all been hashed and rehashed on this site. My sense is that there is no "winner" in such a "contest" since the owner of a device is going naturally to set out to justify its purchase. All these devices are too expensive, because the screens (the same, BTW, on both the Kindle and the 505) are tied to one manufacturer. I could live with either one, though the Sony killer for me is the lack of a search function (this is the one constant advantage of an ebook over a pbook). Wireless is a good feature but not essential (and for those of you so hung up on what Amazon charges, bear in mind that you can for free read mobile versions of the NYTimes and the WSJournal and other publications on the web as you can most of the blogs). Eventually there will be better readers too.

My sense is that there is no "winner" in such a "contest" since the owner of a device is going naturally to set out to justify its purchase.You're right of course. :yes: The only real "winner" I hope for at present is for those who read them to be able to tell in advance what will or won't work for them. :nice:

I also join you in looking for better reading devices in the future. :pray:

The article (specifically, the comments by the missus) allude to one of Kindle's greatest weaknesses: The fact that there's no place to see it before you buy. For me, seeing a $400 device, touching it, getting an idea of the quality of the manufacture, is key before I purchase it.
But the 30-day return policy can take care of that. After using my Kindle for about 2 weeks, I was in a Border's store this weekend and had a chance to handle the Sony PRS 505. There were some things I liked about it and my conclusion was that I could be happy if I owned one. But ... until the prices are equivalent across the various formats, I'm delighted with my Kindle.

But the 30-day return policy can take care of that.That certainly eases things some, but I didn't think it covered return shipping. If not, then it still costs some to try it no matter what. :sad:

Better than nothing, certainly, but still a bit less engaging than being able to walk into a store.

Of course, most places you can't walk into a store and see any of these readers before-hand, so for those who don't happen to be near them, they're all "buy before you try," so I guess the Kindle arrangement isn't all that awful after all, huh? :wink:

Thanks to both Kingston (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21452) and Stacy (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21462) for pointing it out to us!

Thanks for referring to my thread. The author of that page has posted in the thread I started.

Now that I've had my Kindle a while, I'm itchy to buy a different device, not because I'm dissatisfied, but just out of curiosity.

I'd love to buy and try out the 505 but I'm on a Mac.

3 out or 4 of the 'Big Four' devices are compatible with Mobi files. If I have a non-DRM book I can transfer it to the Kindle, Gen3 or Iliad, but not the Sony which uses LRF, unless I convert it.

That seems to sort of doom the Sony to a niche position. I know it's a great unit, but a non-techy user will lack the skills to transfer his documents into Sony-friendly format.

I agree, this stuff has been hashed and rehashed ad nauseum over here for months.

(Of course, given Kindle's looks, and the missus' comments, maybe keeping it out of stores was the idea all along... :rolleyes:)
waiting to see it come down in price!


That's what I hear a lot of people say as well, which made me hesitant about getting the kindle a month ago. To my surprise, it feels and looks pretty good in real life. Have a look at it if you ever get a chance. Kindle looks nice.

That seems to sort of doom the Sony to a niche position. I know it's a great unit, but a non-techy user will lack the skills to transfer his documents into Sony-friendly format.The Sony is real friendly-like with RTF files -- it reads them natively: no conversion needed. :nice:

Yeah, it's been talked to death :deadhorse: but there're always new folks who benefit from revisiting it. :pleased:

I'm really hoping the SoriBook is pretty much a Sony with an extra "draw on me" feature. I like my Sony. I want to draw, but not so much that I'll buy an iLiad instead.

I am envious of the Kindle "whispernet", and the access to wikipedia, and the dictionary (one of the things I love about my EB 1150), and the Amazon price point, but I am content with the PRS-505.

I think it will not take to long for all these features to be common amongst all the e-ink devices.

This is in the baby stages. But I am excited about what we have now: Choices!

I like the article, the "competition" is obviously friendly and they're having fun with it. I think it highlights my own contention that it's not so much that one reader is better than another, it's that each person has one reader that's right for them. (And some people are still waiting for their dream device, of course.) I think the Kindle and Sony Reader are great devices (and I was fortunate enough to be able to play with a co-worker's Kindle so I wouldn't have been buying it sight-unseen), but the Cybook was the right choice for me at this moment in time.

I totally agree. Very few things in life are "best" or even "better," only best available for a given person or purpose. It's an important thing to remember, not only does it keep the blood pressure down, it leads to a generally more content outlook on things. :D

Much of this discussion is centered on the wireless capabilities of the Kindle and the prices of ebooks at Amazon and Sony stores. These are not relevant issues for somebody here in Brazil. We can't buy ebooks in either store (they require a U.S.-issued credit card - mostly, I read free ebooks which I convert from .lit or .html. ). The wireless capabilities are useless here. So, these issues aside, which one should I trade my PRS500 for?

Outside the US I think the choice is Sony 505 or the iLiad. The Sony is cheaper.

Why do you want to trade your 500? Is it not working well any more or do you just want a new toy?

Outside the US I think the choice is Sony 505 or the iLiad. The Sony is cheaper.

Why do you want to trade your 500? Is it not working well any more or do you just want a new toy?

Mostly because of the new screen. After 1 and a half year, the contrast in my PRS500 is not what it once was, and I understand that the VizPlex technology improves things a bit. I am perfectly happy with my PRS500 otherwise. In fact, I probably will wait until the end of 2008 to see if a new model (PRS510?) is coming.

Hmm, I hope the display on my 505 lasts longer than that. I'm hoping to amortise the cost of the thing over quite a few years, not 18 months. Not having seen a 500, I am happy with the 505 - it's not as good as paper but it's certainly readable enough for me.

I've had mine for going on 18 months and I think the contrast has dropped some, but not enough to be getting excited about. :shrug:

Outside the US I think the choice is Sony 505 or the iLiad.

Really? Why not the CyBook?

Much of this discussion is centered on the wireless capabilities of the Kindle and the prices of ebooks at Amazon and Sony stores. These are not relevant issues for somebody here in Brazil. We can't buy ebooks in either store (they require a U.S.-issued credit card - mostly, I read free ebooks which I convert from .lit or .html. ). The wireless capabilities are useless here. So, these issues aside, which one should I trade my PRS500 for?

I'd suggest a device which can read the MobiPocket format. There are dozens of different MobiPocket bookstores, all of which sell books world-wide.

You can read MobiPocket books on dozens of different devices. In the area of eInk readers, there's the iLiad and the CyBook.

For Outside the US, Have to go With Either the Sony PRS-505 or the Cybook.
Sorry, But the Price of the Illiad is Ridicules in Europe, Especially the UK after factoring in all the costs (VAT, Shipping, Etc).

Just went thru a similar decision, when I passed on My PRS 500 On to my Mom (Actually originally got it with that in mind) and missed it so much that had to get a replacement. After E-Ink cant go back to reading ebooks full time on my PDA.

So decided to order a Cybook last week, and ordered it through NAEB, as the UK price for the Basic Package from Bookeen was more expensive then the NAEB package even after factoring in shiping and Customs duty. <shakes Head>

So Fingers crossed, I'll ave it in my hot little hands somtime next month.

Sorry, But the Price of the Illiad is Ridicules in Europe, Especially the UK after factoring in all the costs (VAT, Shipping, Etc).


Sorry, but I don't agree. The iLiad is a completely general-purpose Linux-based "tablet PC" type machine. Take a look around - what other tablets can you buy for the £450-ish that the iLiad costs?

Don't make the mistake of putting it into the same "class" as machines like the Sony Reader or CyBook Gen3 - it isn't like those machines at all!

Sorry, but I don't agree. The iLiad is a completely general-purpose Linux-based "tablet PC" type machine. Take a look around - what other tablets can you buy for the £450-ish that the iLiad costs?


Nokia N810? Asus EEE with touchscreen? Other similar machines with touchscreen?

That's very true, but both those machines have much smaller screens with lower resolution than the iLiad. As you know, it's the screen which is the majority of the cost of all these machines. The iLiad has over twice the screen "real estate" of the N800.

That's very true, but both those machines have much smaller screens with lower resolution than the iLiad. As you know, it's the screen which is the majority of the cost of all these machines. The iLiad has over twice the screen "real estate" of the N800.

Yes, but Asus EEE with touchscreen (which is probably not out yet) and similar machines have a big screen. The N8X0 has fast zoom so I use it now for pdf instead of my Cybook.

Isn't the iLiad to slow to really give you the feeling that you are using a general purpose computer?

Isn't the iLiad to slow to really give you the feeling that you are using a general purpose computer?

It's obviously not suited for all types of application - anything which requires extensive text input or fast screen refresh is not really suitable, for example - but applications whose primary purpose is to display reasonably static data, with small amounts of user interaction via dialog boxes, etc, work great on it. The CPU isn't all that slow - it's the screen refresh speed that's the main factor.

Approximately how many hours of usage can you get from a battery charge on your N800, as a matter of interest?

Sorry, but I don't agree. The iLiad is a completely general-purpose Linux-based "tablet PC" type machine. Take a look around - what other tablets can you buy for the £450-ish that the iLiad costs?

Don't make the mistake of putting it into the same "class" as machines like the Sony Reader or CyBook Gen3 - it isn't like those machines at all!

OK, Whole I can agree that it isent exatly in the same class as the Other 2, but it is a E-ink device, so can be considered an option.

And while I would really like to get somthing like it, I cant justify paying such a premium for a device with so many compromises.

For about a £100-£200 more (£ 500-650) You can get a full service tablet (new) like the HP TX1314 or TX2025) On which I can run pretty much everything.
So by paying a little bit more, I get a device that I can use for a lot of other things.
So while The E-Ink would be nice, Personally I can't justify it.YMMV

Also, Another point to keep in mind is that I like to use the Reader as a out an about device, somthing I can use when I have a few minutes free during the day, or when I'm on the Bus or Train or even the Tube when In London.

Fo such use the smaller devices seem a better option.

Also, Another point to keep in mind is that I like to use the Reader as a out an about device, somthing I can use when I have a few minutes free during the day, or when I'm on the Bus or Train or even the Tube when In London.

Fo such use the smaller devices seem a better option.

Oh yes, I completely agree with that. That is, in fact, precisely why I sold my iLiad and now use the CyBook Gen3 - the paperback book size and rapid start-up of the Gen3 is much more suitable for brief reading sessions. There's no doubt, though, that the iLiad is a much more flexible computer, whereas machines like the Sony and Gen3 are dedicated bookreaders.