MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Why should I get a SONY reader over a Kindle or nook?

delphin · 01-31-2011, 02:05 AM

Nook -

Liked the fact that the battery is replaceable.

Liked the support for generic Adobe DRM protected EPUB which allows checking out library books and purchasing books from Kobo, Borders, Google Books, etc. as well as B&N.

Did not like the twitchy slow software (though it is a little better after the second release)

Liked being able to browse covers in full color, but the tiny touch screen was just to limiting to make this a big selling point, and I couldn't help feeling that having a backlit LCD under the e-ink screen detracts from the 'just like paper' e-ink reading experience.

Definitely, NOT a plus that Nook is the heaviest and largest of the three.

Kindle 3 -

Liked the easy access to Amazons Kindle Store directly from the device (this is pretty much the ONLY thing that did impress me on the Kindle).

Did NOT like the fact that the Kindle locks you into Amazon and doesn't support Adobe EPUBs (So no checking out library books, or purchasing books from Kobo, Borders, Google Books, etc.)

Did NOT like the totally lame 20 years out of date 'MS-DOS' style interface (Alt-F to select the next MP3 track - COME ON! WHO ARE THEY KIDDING!)

Did NOT like the 'worst I have ever seen' Kindle manual (strange that a company that sells so many books obviously knows NOTHING about writing one).

Did NOT like the half-finished barely usable 'experimental' features (AGAIN - Alt-F to select the next MP3 track - WHO ARE THEY KIDDING!) This was supposed to be a sophisticated third generation Kindle, not some Amazon programmers 'science project'.

Sony PRS-650 -

Did NOT like the higher price (especially for a device lacking WiFi or 3G) or the typical greedy Sony lack of accessory items. No one includes a cover now, but the Kindle and Nook both at least DO include a AC USB charger, but not SONY.

LOVED the full screen IR touch interface which makes not only for a really nice point and touch GUI interface, but also allows absolutely seamless navigation of hyper-links in both PDF and EPUB documents. None of these devices is perfect for technical PDF's due the small screen size, but the Sony was the best by a HUGE MARGIN, mainly due to the flexible zooming, panning, and navigation that the touch screen offers.

Liked the support for generic Adobe DRM protected EPUB which allows checking out library books and purchasing books from Kobo, Borders, Google Books, etc. as well as the Sony Store.

Liked the fact that, although the PRS-650 doesn't offer games like the Nook, or 'text to speech' like the Kindle, the features that it does offer, like it's built in MP3 player DO WORK. (I locked a Nook up at the B&N store just playing around with the chess game, and the Kindle 3's built in "MP3 player" is the most useless piece of garbage I have ever seen)

Liked the fact that the PRS-650 was a bit lighter, and significantly more compact than either the Nook or the Kindle 3, and has nice solid metal construction.

Bottom line -

After actually trying all three devices, and making a fair side by side comparison, I went with the Sony.

Even if the Kindle's interface had been better, and the included features like the MP3 player had actually been worth something (they aren't), the Kindle would have still been a non-starter for me because of it's lack of Adobe EPUB support. I have already checked out free Library titles that would have cost more than $400 at Amazon.

After seeing B&N's improved second release software for the Nook, that would have been my second choice, but I just couldn't pass up that wonderful full sized IR touch screen interface on the Sony PRS-650 (Yes it IS that good)

Of course the Sony lacks a direct WiFi or 3G link, but I get most of my titles from the Library, or free sites like feedbooks, so I don't mind this.

Getting a book from the library using Overdrive is as simple as clicking on the download link (1 second), watching it download and open up automatically in Adobe Digital Editions (10 seconds) and then transferring it to my PRS-650 (another 5 or 10 seconds).

I think that I can live with that horrible delay (almost a half a minute!) to avoid having to pony up 10 bucks to Amazon for the same book.

01-31-2011, 02:05 AM	#71
delphin Evangelist Posts: 434 Karma: 346901 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: SONY PRS-650	Nook - Liked the fact that the battery is replaceable. Liked the support for generic Adobe DRM protected EPUB which allows checking out library books and purchasing books from Kobo, Borders, Google Books, etc. as well as B&N. Did not like the twitchy slow software (though it is a little better after the second release) Liked being able to browse covers in full color, but the tiny touch screen was just to limiting to make this a big selling point, and I couldn't help feeling that having a backlit LCD under the e-ink screen detracts from the 'just like paper' e-ink reading experience. Definitely, NOT a plus that Nook is the heaviest and largest of the three. Kindle 3 - Liked the easy access to Amazons Kindle Store directly from the device (this is pretty much the ONLY thing that did impress me on the Kindle). Did NOT like the fact that the Kindle locks you into Amazon and doesn't support Adobe EPUBs (So no checking out library books, or purchasing books from Kobo, Borders, Google Books, etc.) Did NOT like the totally lame 20 years out of date 'MS-DOS' style interface (Alt-F to select the next MP3 track - COME ON! WHO ARE THEY KIDDING!) Did NOT like the 'worst I have ever seen' Kindle manual (strange that a company that sells so many books obviously knows NOTHING about writing one). Did NOT like the half-finished barely usable 'experimental' features (AGAIN - Alt-F to select the next MP3 track - WHO ARE THEY KIDDING!) This was supposed to be a sophisticated third generation Kindle, not some Amazon programmers 'science project'. Sony PRS-650 - Did NOT like the higher price (especially for a device lacking WiFi or 3G) or the typical greedy Sony lack of accessory items. No one includes a cover now, but the Kindle and Nook both at least DO include a AC USB charger, but not SONY. LOVED the full screen IR touch interface which makes not only for a really nice point and touch GUI interface, but also allows absolutely seamless navigation of hyper-links in both PDF and EPUB documents. None of these devices is perfect for technical PDF's due the small screen size, but the Sony was the best by a HUGE MARGIN, mainly due to the flexible zooming, panning, and navigation that the touch screen offers. Liked the support for generic Adobe DRM protected EPUB which allows checking out library books and purchasing books from Kobo, Borders, Google Books, etc. as well as the Sony Store. Liked the fact that, although the PRS-650 doesn't offer games like the Nook, or 'text to speech' like the Kindle, the features that it does offer, like it's built in MP3 player DO WORK. (I locked a Nook up at the B&N store just playing around with the chess game, and the Kindle 3's built in "MP3 player" is the most useless piece of garbage I have ever seen) Liked the fact that the PRS-650 was a bit lighter, and significantly more compact than either the Nook or the Kindle 3, and has nice solid metal construction. Bottom line - After actually trying all three devices, and making a fair side by side comparison, I went with the Sony. Even if the Kindle's interface had been better, and the included features like the MP3 player had actually been worth something (they aren't), the Kindle would have still been a non-starter for me because of it's lack of Adobe EPUB support. I have already checked out free Library titles that would have cost more than $400 at Amazon. After seeing B&N's improved second release software for the Nook, that would have been my second choice, but I just couldn't pass up that wonderful full sized IR touch screen interface on the Sony PRS-650 (Yes it IS that good) Of course the Sony lacks a direct WiFi or 3G link, but I get most of my titles from the Library, or free sites like feedbooks, so I don't mind this. Getting a book from the library using Overdrive is as simple as clicking on the download link (1 second), watching it download and open up automatically in Adobe Digital Editions (10 seconds) and then transferring it to my PRS-650 (another 5 or 10 seconds). I think that I can live with that horrible delay (almost a half a minute!) to avoid having to pony up 10 bucks to Amazon for the same book.