[DrMoze]

Thanks for the comparison. I have a Sony 500, might get a second ebook device (for the gf), and I've started thinking about a Kindle, based on the buzz. But I dunno if it would be for me. Any comments on my concerns/criteria below are welcome.

I like the Sony 500. Because I like to read books, and I do it more now than before. I imagine I'd like the 505 screen better. But reasons why I like the 500 include: light weight, thin, decent cover, excellent battery life (rarely recharge!), comfortable, left and right page flip buttons (with joystick hack), fast on (almost instant and very important!), good bookmark function (I might switch between 2 or at most 3 books at once, and the Sony is just about right for bookmarking).

I also have no shortage of books--a zillion 'classics,' and a bunch of Baen books in the queue, along with several free/purchased novels from Connect and some misc dl's from the forums here. I tend to find stuff I want to read from what's available, rather than expecting a particular book to be available for my device.

Why I think I might not like the Kindle (note: I haven't seen one in person yet!):

I suspect the battery life is short. Unlike the Sony, which gives me a couple of weeks easily of spare-time reading between charges. I fear the wireless and other 'extra' Kindle features will eat up battery life. I do *not* want another device that has to be charged every day or 2.

The Kindle appears bulky/heavy/awkward compared to the Sony. Is it? I sometimes hold the Sony in one hand, using fingertips to turn pages. Is the Kindle a 2-hander?

I also don't need lookup capabilities (dictionary, word search), nor do I want to read online blogs. I just want to read the books on my device. Are these extras (and the apparent bulk associated with them) significant negatives for me?(Online access is not an issue. I am already carrying a full bookshelf with me, and swapping some files every 1-2 months is not an issue.)

Am I missing something that would tilt me toward the Kindle? Or am I better off with my no-frills Sony? (I'm still up in the air between the 500 and 505 if I get another Sony--the 505 screen is a plus, and I think hacking ability on the 505 would decide it for me over the 500.)

BTW, I don't understand the last line of the OP--saying the Kindle might b better if you travel frequently. My first thought is the Sony is better for travel, because you don't even have to bring a charger on any reasonable-length trip (or worry about charging it for my daily subway commute) --more like a 'real' book you just take along. Am I missing something?