[Prestidigitweeze]

I would never accuse the esteemed ProfCrash of stacking our deck o' eReaders in the Kindle's favor. However, certain conclusions about other readers' features need to be addressed (due, I think, entirely to the Professor's admitted unfamiliarity).

I own both a Kindle 3 and a PRS-950, and when it's time to read PDFs, you couldn't bribe me to use my K3. In fact, for everything other than (i) mobi and (ii) testing books and magazines as eBooks for the Kindle, I prefer the 950.

The Sony is leagues better at handling library PDFs and the size of the screen is part of it. The other part is the ability to resize text and still have it be readable. The 950's reflow isn't perfect, as it does result in odd page breaks, but it's infinitely more readable than the Kindle's version of that. I also seem to be one of the few people who can't stand the Kindle's pedestrian fonts after using the 950 (though I do much prefer the Kindle's flexibility in allowing you to change fonts). Yes, they're very readable, and that's good, but they're not aesthetic in the sense of a vintage edition of Edwardian poetry. The organization of collections is also far better on the Sony.

But while the sound quality and manipulation of audio files on the Sony is preferable, let's get something straight: Anyone who wants to play music on their reader is (1) cutting their battery life to a tenth and (2) slowing down other activities on their reader to the point of madness. I say use your smartphone for audio and keep your reader purposed for reading and occasional purchases. Nothing wrong with the Kindle vs. the Sony in that regard.

I don't hate the Kindle or its keyboard at all; I find it to be a fetching device. But after spending time with the 950, I have to admit it's always hard to return to my K3 (though I do -- for business reasons -- nearly every day).

I should also mention I have a later model of 950 than Delphin does his 650 and I haven't noticed any difference in screen quality between my 950 and my K3. If anything, the 950's screen seems slightly less beige and more crisp, but the difference is so infinitesimal that I suspect my subjectivity is creating shades of nuance that might not even be real.

One important perk in favor of the Kindle: Accessories. Unless you get in on the discontinued K2 Platform Jacket sale on M-Edge, you'll find it extremely difficult to buy a cheap and satisfactory cover for the 950 -- and even on M-Edge the choice is now limited to red leather (I myself own jackets in brown and jade).

Whereas with the Kindle, your options for cases, lights, screen protectors and even waterproof options are limitless. It's like owning an Apple product in that respect.