|
Dear Sony
This month I gave up. I have dearly loved my PRS-505. It was a joy long before the Kindle was even a glimmer in Jeffrey Bezos' eye. I loved the build quality and styling. You stuck with me and even replaced it the time when screen cracked. I stuck with you and worked through problems with the Reader Library software. Nothing else tempted me. I had the BMW of book readers. The first Kindle was a joke in comparison. I admit I was a bit jealous about the Amazon book selection, but you keep me supplied with best sellers. Last November I was given a Kindle Keyboard model with Whispernet (3G). I wasn't even tempted to take it out of the box for several months. Then I tried to buy a new book for my Sony and the latest version of the Reader Library software once again stopped working. I bought a book and can't sync it with my reader. I'm not dumb. I work in IT and I feel I could probably get it working with some effort - an hour or so on the phone with Sony support. They'll have me disable EVERY startup program and I bet it will work (the last time this happened it was Jungle Disk). This isn't how it's supposed to be. You should be adapting to my system not forcing me to adapt to yours. I simply can't understand why this is such a hard thing to do - sync some files with a USB storage device.
In a fit of pique I gave in and fired up the Kindle. I didn't even have to use wifi or plug it in to get it up and syncing. The Amazon bookstore is amazing. They have hundred of current books in every genre that are free. I got into all of the freebies because I wanted to read a new short story by Peter F. Hamilton - If At First. I had just looked it up on the Sony store - $15.99 (I just checked now and it is free). It's only a short story (very short) so I was going to pass it by, but Amazon had it for free. They have a great recommendation system that nudged me to download a dozen other free SciFi and Thrillers. The latest generation of E-ink screen on the Kindle is much better. The wifi and 3G radio are much better (no PC needed). Amazon now manages my book collection - it's simple and very fast.
I really feel bad about abandoning my Sony. It's a great device. The hardware is top notch, but the store is weak and the software is feeble. To be honest when people would see my Sony reader and ask about it, I told them to get a Kindle ever since the 3rd generation devices have been out. The Kindle is not without it's problems - the Amazon leather cover (even the one without the light) can literally kill your device electrically (Oberon makes beautiful Kindle covers). The Page buttons are still not thought out perfectly. They are way too easy to press if you are just carrying the device around.
Anyway - this is goodbye Sony,
PCH
|