Reasons I'm not getting a Kindle but the Sony 505 instead.

[Astropin]

1) Price......a hundred bucks (actually a little over) is a big difference. This coming from a guy who paid $700 for a PS3 .....and NO I am not a Sony fan boy. Yes I realize the Kindle has wireless tech built in....but I don't need that.

2) The Kindle is frigging ugly......the Sony looks nice.

3) I see no major issues with Sony Connect.....sure it's not as refined as Amazon.....but they have dropped their prices and I'm finding "most" of the books I would like. Not to mention the other sources for books online. I should be able to get virtually everything I want onto the Sony.

If you don't really want the wireless features why would anyone buy the Kindle over the Sony? I'm trying to imagine a scenario where I suddenly NEED to download a book onto my reader? These things hold hundreds of books. Load up a bunch I have not read yet and I'm good to go for a long, long time.

[Penforhire]

I'm wrestling with this question myself.

But you are forgetting another functionality - the keyboard. The ability to add bookmarked notes is useful, as is the dictionary/look-up function.

I'm probably still in agreement with you but it is a tough decision, having already bought a Sony 505 for my wife for Xmas. What will I get?

[crionox]

Hi Astropin,

All good reasons, and some of these were issues I went back on forth on decided on a device myself (I eventually went with the Kindle, although for some different reasons). I hope you enjoy the Reader, it looks like a really nice device. Have you already been using it, or is this something you'll be getting soon and just decided on a camp?

David

[Rocketime]

Keeping my 505 because:

1. The kindle doesn't have anything that I want. I read news on line, magazines are old news and I'll never pay to read a blog. I have access to a computer and internet 24/7 and thus no interest in EVDO downloading. I have a Franklin Dictionary I've had for years.

2. I much prefer the sony form factor.

3. I like metal over plastic.

4. I want the longest lasting battery.

5. Something all together new will be available sometime in late 08' or early 09'

Highjacked from another thread

[Alexander Turcic]

Here is my #1 item for staying with Sony:

1. Whispernet won't work for non-US folks. This makes all the addon functionality of the Kindle redundant for my person.

[Astropin]

Originally Posted by crionox

Hi Astropin,

All good reasons, and some of these were issues I went back on forth on decided on a device myself (I eventually went with the Kindle, although for some different reasons). I hope you enjoy the Reader, it looks like a really nice device. Have you already been using it, or is this something you'll be getting soon and just decided on a camp?

David

Just decided on a camp.....after a lot of reading on this site and checking out "all" of the ebook sites. I do like some of the features Amazon offers. Their site is easier to use being a big one.....but not big enough (for me) to make up the cost and appearance differences. The superior battery life on the Sony is nice. It's rare that I need to look up a word while reading although that would be handy when I do need one. I like that I can purchase any LIT ebook and easily convert it for the Sony.

[kpfeifle]

I too am going back and forth, but the replaceable battery and built in dictionary seem to have me leaning towards a Kindle!

[NatCh]

I always find it interesting how different folks see different aspects of a devise to be more compelling. For me, the battery life and handier form-factor are what's keeping me with Sony ... or you might say on the Dark-Blue Side.

[bingle]

I'm still going to keep my Sony Reader. And I'd buy another one, if I had to make the choice again.

However, I'm looking at the Kindle for my mother. I think the ease of buying books from Amazon, plus the availability of titles, makes it a very compelling platform for a person who doesn't want to spend time and effort to convert books to a specific format from free sources.

So... I see the Reader as being a better choice for geeks and people who don't mind fiddling a bit more with their gadgets. The Kindle is perhaps a better choice for people who want it to "just work".

Anyone else feel that divide?

[tsgreer]

Originally Posted by bingle

I'm still going to keep my Sony Reader. And I'd buy another one, if I had to make the choice again.

However, I'm looking at the Kindle for my mother. I think the ease of buying books from Amazon, plus the availability of titles, makes it a very compelling platform for a person who doesn't want to spend time and effort to convert books to a specific format from free sources.

So... I see the Reader as being a better choice for geeks and people who don't mind fiddling a bit more with their gadgets. The Kindle is perhaps a better choice for people who want it to "just work".

Anyone else feel that divide?

Yes! The Kindle is the America Online (AOL) of the readers! Remember how the techie people HATED America Online so much because of how all the people who didn't know anything could suddenly get online and say "me too!"

Actually that left a bad taste in my mouth because I love my Kindle. But I think it's the same comparison. The people who hate the Kindle seem to be the same ones that say "Come on, writing a little script code isn't hard ya moron!!"

Don't get me wrong tho, I love the techie people that have made life so much easier for us non-techie people....

[Alexander Turcic]

Wait 'till someone gets into the Kindle's firmware and starts writing custom hacks. THEN nobody is going to make the AOL analogy anymore

[slayda]

Originally Posted by kpfeifle

I too am going back and forth, but the replaceable battery and built in dictionary seem to have me leaning towards a Kindle!

I agree that these are good features. They were just not worth the extra cost to me & the other features were of no value to me.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Yes! The Kindle is the America Online (AOL) of the readers! Remember how the techie people HATED America Online so much because of how all the people who didn't know anything could suddenly get online and say "me too!"

Right!

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Actually that left a bad taste in my mouth because I love my Kindle. But I think it's the same comparison. The people who hate the Kindle seem to be the same ones that say "Come on, writing a little script code isn't hard ya moron!!"

Right, again!

[Astropin]

Originally Posted by kpfeifle

I too am going back and forth, but the replaceable battery and built in dictionary seem to have me leaning towards a Kindle!

I can count at least three electronic devices that did NOT have a user replaceable battery that I HAVE replaced the battery on. It voids the warranty but if the battery is dead who gives a $h!#.

[zartemis]

Originally Posted by bingle

So... I see the Reader as being a better choice for geeks and people who don't mind fiddling a bit more with their gadgets. The Kindle is perhaps a better choice for people who want it to "just work".

Anyone else feel that divide?

Hmm. I'm a unix/linux admin and these days, I mostly want my non-work stuff to "just work".

I would say that the Kindle is closer to the Sonos (music system) of mp3 playback than AOL. Sonos is expensive, and "just works". Before Sonos, I used a hacked xbox, a Roku Soundbridge, and a Slim Devices Squeezebox. But Sonos blows them all away with ease of use and drop dead gorgeous design (of the handheld). And combined with Rhapsody (and their newer partnerships) the instant gratification of browsing, searching and then playing almost any song on a whim anywhere in the house wirelessly is a dream.

If only Kindle was drop dead gorgeous.