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glazwegian · 12-21-2010, 03:53 AM

I'm just curious trackmom, why you're not considering one of the new Sony's(350, 650, 950) as your upgrade. Is there something(s) you really don't like about your Sony 300?

The reason I ask is because I'm looking for an eReader myself. My wife has a Nook w/wi-fi & 3G that I have used extensively. However, for myself, I'm considering a Sony PRS-650, or possibly a Nook Color. I've played with both the Sony 350 & 650 in stores and love the responsive touch screen and pearl E-ink. The comparable 650 is also significantly smaller, thinner and lighter than the Nook Classic. The note taking capability and double tapping on a word to pull up the dictionary are great features as well. Another feature that's important to me(but not most people I suspect) are the built in foreign language translation dictionaries. I like to read the occasional French language book and having almost real-time access to a translation dictionary would, I think, make my reading of French language books a much more pleasurable experience. All these features I find superior to(or they don't exist on) the Nook, but perhaps I'm missing something that just doesn't show up by playing with a reader for a few minues in a store.

One obvious "feature" the Nook has, that the Sony does not, is wi-fi or 3G. However, I don't want wi-fi. Frankly, with the large internal memory of the new Sony's and the expandable memory on the 650 and 950, I can't imagine ever needing wi-fi.....especially since I usually get all my eBooks from the public library. All library eBooks have to be side loaded from a computer onto the eReader anyway, regardless of brand.

I also want to control if and when I "upgrade" my readers operating system. With the Nook wi-fi or wi-fi & 3G, B&N decides for you. And, theoretically at least, B&N could decide to remove books you have bought from them, from your reader, without your permission(this has apparently happened to a book on the Kindle). These are a couple of reasons(among several) I'm shying away from the Nook Color.

As you may, or may not, know, many Nook Color owners have been rooting their Nook. They have done this, mostly, to have access to apps or features that B&N haven't allowed on the Nook Color. Well, B&N recently "upgraded" the Nook Colors operating system to try and prevent rooting. This "upgrade" happened automatically, when you turned on wi-fi on your Nook. You had no notification or choice in the matter. Now, believe me, I understand that many, maybe even most, people believe B&N has every right to try and prevent rooting of their product. On the other hand, many others think they have every right to try and "improve" a product, they have bought and paid for, as they see fit. It will be interesting to see where all this leads, as far as development of the Nook Color is concerned. Actually, I think increased competition from tablet manufacturers will be the biggest influence in determining how the Nook Color evolves, or even survives.

12-21-2010, 03:53 AM	#5
glazwegian Member Posts: 15 Karma: 52 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Nook Color, Sony PRS-350(silver)	I'm just curious trackmom, why you're not considering one of the new Sony's(350, 650, 950) as your upgrade. Is there something(s) you really don't like about your Sony 300? The reason I ask is because I'm looking for an eReader myself. My wife has a Nook w/wi-fi & 3G that I have used extensively. However, for myself, I'm considering a Sony PRS-650, or possibly a Nook Color. I've played with both the Sony 350 & 650 in stores and love the responsive touch screen and pearl E-ink. The comparable 650 is also significantly smaller, thinner and lighter than the Nook Classic. The note taking capability and double tapping on a word to pull up the dictionary are great features as well. Another feature that's important to me(but not most people I suspect) are the built in foreign language translation dictionaries. I like to read the occasional French language book and having almost real-time access to a translation dictionary would, I think, make my reading of French language books a much more pleasurable experience. All these features I find superior to(or they don't exist on) the Nook, but perhaps I'm missing something that just doesn't show up by playing with a reader for a few minues in a store. One obvious "feature" the Nook has, that the Sony does not, is wi-fi or 3G. However, I don't want wi-fi. Frankly, with the large internal memory of the new Sony's and the expandable memory on the 650 and 950, I can't imagine ever needing wi-fi.....especially since I usually get all my eBooks from the public library. All library eBooks have to be side loaded from a computer onto the eReader anyway, regardless of brand. I also want to control if and when I "upgrade" my readers operating system. With the Nook wi-fi or wi-fi & 3G, B&N decides for you. And, theoretically at least, B&N could decide to remove books you have bought from them, from your reader, without your permission(this has apparently happened to a book on the Kindle). These are a couple of reasons(among several) I'm shying away from the Nook Color. As you may, or may not, know, many Nook Color owners have been rooting their Nook. They have done this, mostly, to have access to apps or features that B&N haven't allowed on the Nook Color. Well, B&N recently "upgraded" the Nook Colors operating system to try and prevent rooting. This "upgrade" happened automatically, when you turned on wi-fi on your Nook. You had no notification or choice in the matter. Now, believe me, I understand that many, maybe even most, people believe B&N has every right to try and prevent rooting of their product. On the other hand, many others think they have every right to try and "improve" a product, they have bought and paid for, as they see fit. It will be interesting to see where all this leads, as far as development of the Nook Color is concerned. Actually, I think increased competition from tablet manufacturers will be the biggest influence in determining how the Nook Color evolves, or even survives.