Which Will Win Out, Sony Reader or Kindle?

dsuden · 07-31-2008, 11:15 AM

As a person who has a stake in this (I have a Sony PRS 505), I'm curious to hear people's opinions about which of the top two readers is the more likely to eventually capture/dominate the market. Will Amazon's "bookstore status" give it the upper hand? Will Sony win people over with its simplicity/elegance?

Also, which company do you think is more committed to its product?

igorsk · 07-31-2008, 11:18 AM

I'm sorry but this question is pretty useless, everyone will just pitch the reader he likes best...

daffy4u · 07-31-2008, 11:27 AM

Why must it be a competition? Competition is great in that it would make all ereader manufacturers develop better machines. Other than that, it's great that there's something for everyone's needs (well, almost everyone). Variety is good.

Nate the great · 07-31-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

I'm sorry but this question is pretty useless, everyone will just pitch the reader he likes best...

I disagree. I like the Kindle, but with the 505's new support for epub and DRMed PDFs I think it will win.

daffy4u · 07-31-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I disagree. I like the Kindle, but with the 505's new support for epub and DRMed PDFs I think it will win.

That would be "assuming" that the Kindle will *never* support ePub or fully develop it's pdf rendering capabilities.

Again competition is good for making manufacturers step up their game.

carld · 07-31-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I disagree. I like the Kindle, but with the 505's new support for epub and DRMed PDFs I think it will win.

The updates to the Sony are nice, but that's just software. There's no reason the Kindle can't match those features with something similar. Personally, I think that Amazon is in it to win over the long haul, but that both readers will be around for a while.

wallcraft · 07-31-2008, 11:46 AM

It is interesting that Sony has broken with the single-store model for e-book readers, since now anyone can sell Adobe ebooks for the PRS-505. Amazon could do this at any time, by allowing Secure MOBI ebooks on the Kindle, but I don't expect them to do so.

A related question is: Can Adobe DE compete with Mobipocket/Amazon for dedicated ebook reader market share?

Secure Adobe ePub is better than Secure MOBI/AZW for technical ebooks, and Secure Adobe actually is secure (which could be a positive or a negative).

I think Adobe DE can be a significant competitor, but only if Adobe makes it available on OEM devices (e.g. the Netronix line).

peterbbb · 07-31-2008, 11:48 AM

Amazon - content is what matters in the end and they can do deals that will leave the rest gasping.

carld · 07-31-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Secure Adobe ePub is better than Secure MOBI/AZW for technical ebooks, and Secure Adobe actually is secure (which could be a positive or a negative).

What make ePub better for technical ebooks?

DaleDe · 07-31-2008, 12:08 PM

Amazon has avoided supporting PDF at all so far (except for conversion when you send it in). The easiest way for them to compete would be to allow the Kindle to support DRM MobiPocket (while still keeping their AZW separate if they wish). They should allow the PC MobiPocket to manage files for the Kindle and permit it to read AZW files. This would allow easy conversion of ePUB and PDF files for the user and increase their offering and perceived openness a little. Without these changes they are increasingly limiting the offering for the user which can only help Sony.

Dale

daffy4u · 07-31-2008, 12:12 PM

With textbook publishers moving to the Kindle, I have a feeling much better pdf and image support is coming for the Kindle.

Nate the great · 07-31-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

That would be "assuming" that the Kindle will *never* support ePub or fully develop it's pdf rendering capabilities.

Again competition is good for making manufacturers step up their game.

I do not think the Kindle will support Epub or PDF directly.

The Kindle has inherited the Mobipocket software model. Mobipocket supports conversion from other formats on a PC, not reading the other formats on a portable device.

Plus, which reader is about to become available in Europe?

wallcraft · 07-31-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

What make ePub better for technical ebooks?

See First O'Reilly titles now available as e-book bundles. O'Reilly TOC discusses why only some of their ebooks are available for the Kindle.

Some advantages of ePub:

embedded fonts (MOBI has no monospaced font)
SVG graphics (e.g. for equations)
text flows around images
nested TOC
tables (I think, but I have not seen an example)

daffy4u · 07-31-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I do not think the Kindle will support Epub or PDF directly.

The Kindle has inherited the Mobipocket software model. Mobipocket supports conversion from other formats on a PC, not reading the other formats on a portable device.

Plus, which reader is about to become available in Europe?

I can't really guess when or how ePub will be supported. Could be available in Kindle 2.0 or if it takes a while for ePub to really take off it might be Kindle 10.0.

It's great that the 505 will officially be available in Europe but from what I gather, it hasn't been that difficult to get for anyone who wants one. Plus there are many other eReaders available in Europe already so it's not a given that the Sony with be *the* one.

I think only the more sophisticated readers of ebooks (as in more knowledgeable, like the folks who hang out here) care about all these formats. Most people just want to turn the machine on and read.

roa71@yahoo.com · 07-31-2008, 12:33 PM

i think the next version of each will play a major factor. Sony needs to add wireless capabilities and Amazon needs to improve the look and feel of the device.

i purchased the Kindle for the Amazon selection and wireless capability. though, i still prefer the hardware of the Sony.

rick..

07-31-2008, 11:15 AM	#1
dsuden Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 120 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader	Which Will Win Out, Sony Reader or Kindle? As a person who has a stake in this (I have a Sony PRS 505), I'm curious to hear people's opinions about which of the top two readers is the more likely to eventually capture/dominate the market. Will Amazon's "bookstore status" give it the upper hand? Will Sony win people over with its simplicity/elegance? Also, which company do you think is more committed to its product? Last edited by dsuden; 07-31-2008 at 11:16 AM. Reason: fix title

07-31-2008, 12:33 PM	#15
roa71@yahoo.com Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Kindle	next version i think the next version of each will play a major factor. Sony needs to add wireless capabilities and Amazon needs to improve the look and feel of the device. i purchased the Kindle for the Amazon selection and wireless capability. though, i still prefer the hardware of the Sony. rick..

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07-31-2008, 11:18 AM	#2
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	I'm sorry but this question is pretty useless, everyone will just pitch the reader he likes best...

07-31-2008, 11:27 AM	#3
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Why must it be a competition? Competition is great in that it would make all ereader manufacturers develop better machines. Other than that, it's great that there's something for everyone's needs (well, almost everyone). Variety is good.

07-31-2008, 11:46 AM	#7
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	It is interesting that Sony has broken with the single-store model for e-book readers, since now anyone can sell Adobe ebooks for the PRS-505. Amazon could do this at any time, by allowing Secure MOBI ebooks on the Kindle, but I don't expect them to do so. A related question is: Can Adobe DE compete with Mobipocket/Amazon for dedicated ebook reader market share? Secure Adobe ePub is better than Secure MOBI/AZW for technical ebooks, and Secure Adobe actually is secure (which could be a positive or a negative). I think Adobe DE can be a significant competitor, but only if Adobe makes it available on OEM devices (e.g. the Netronix line).

07-31-2008, 11:48 AM	#8
peterbbb BoyReader Posts: 151 Karma: 308 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Llangollen, North Wales, UK Device: Cybook Gen3 and now Kindle 3	Amazon - content is what matters in the end and they can do deals that will leave the rest gasping.

07-31-2008, 12:08 PM	#10
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Amazon has avoided supporting PDF at all so far (except for conversion when you send it in). The easiest way for them to compete would be to allow the Kindle to support DRM MobiPocket (while still keeping their AZW separate if they wish). They should allow the PC MobiPocket to manage files for the Kindle and permit it to read AZW files. This would allow easy conversion of ePUB and PDF files for the user and increase their offering and perceived openness a little. Without these changes they are increasingly limiting the offering for the user which can only help Sony. Dale

07-31-2008, 12:12 PM	#11
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	With textbook publishers moving to the Kindle, I have a feeling much better pdf and image support is coming for the Kindle.

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