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Leep · 06-11-2008, 05:30 PM

Just went through the same process. Found this site as I was researching e-book readers as well.

I just got the Kindle. Think that you're right on target with your analysis about the differences in the two. Here are some of my personal observations about the Kindle that may help you in your decision making.

Technology wise, the Kindle is excellent. I travel more than 100 days per year and an ebook reader saves me slupping 10 lbs of paper through airports and cities. I am 100% sold on the merits of owning a reader. As to which one - isn't that the question.

Unfortunately, neither Sony and Kindle allows books you purchase to be shared with friends and other users and as far as I can tell, neither allow you to checkout materials from either Netlibrary or Overdrive Library. A real turn-off since they have lots of current ebooks for checkout. (Although I will try again to register my Kindle's PID with overdrive using one of the utilities from this site)

There is a good selection of books from Amazon and the free ebooks from this site download easily and are great old classics. If the pricing remains the same on Amazon's ebooks it's tolerable. As you mention, the selection and pricing for ebooks for the Sony seems not as good. I have to believe that since books are Amazon's core business, they will remain price competitive.

The internet/whispernet feature with the Kindle works, but not as seamlessly as you might expect. Unless you have set up a "wish list" or previously download a sample chapter of a book, it is painful to try and buy a book from Amazon directly from the Kindle. Searching and paging is slower than snails. Going to Amazon via your computer is light-years faster. However, when you do purchase a book from the Amazon site, it does literally show up on your Kindle ready for reading in seconds.

The Kindle comes with experimental internet access and preloaded bookmarks for about 10 sites for news and sports info. The bookmarks work well, but keying in your own URL is slow. Another experimental feature is an online research link called "NowNow". You can get almost instant information from real people researching just about anything on the net except about the Kindle because they are contractually obligated to refer you to Kindle support. I got a great chuckle from that one! I was surprised, however, at how functional the typing keys were when I typed a message to NowNow. Even though they're so tiny, they work great.

The size of the Kindle is very comfortable and the case it comes with is clever and extremely functional. (it also comes with usb and power cords)

The most disturbing element of the Kindle for me is the placement of the buttons on the sides - one reviewer mentioned that he just couldn't find a way to pick the thing up. And it is, literally almost that bad. In an effort to make the Kindle functional for many users, developers put large pagination buttons on both sides. I am constantly bumping the wrong one (although admittedly I've only had the thing for three days). The only saving feature is that the Kindle moves back and forth between pages much faster than the Sony. I have also gotten used to the e-ink flash between pages. Choosing different type sizes on the Kindle is easy, although you have only one choice of font.

Added to the poor button placement is that the power and wireless on/off buttons are on the back of the device so that you have to take turn it over to use them, bumping those danged buttons. Again, the only saving feature is that you don't need to use the on/off buttons very often since you can put Kindle to sleep from the front and the battery stays charged through multiple books particularly if you turn off the wireless unless you're using it.

All in all, I love the availability of reading material using an e-book reader. Since Amazon has a 30day return policy, I have several more weeks to decide if I can live with those danged buttons. Other than the buttons (and the $350) the Kindle is a great little device for reading. Forget the mp3 function since it uses up the battery faster and randomizes tracks. Until they get a touch screen and stylus, it's really not great for accessing the net other than news, "NowNow" and receiving new books.

Please let us know what you purchase and your evaluation.

cheers

06-11-2008, 05:30 PM	#45
Leep Guru Posts: 739 Karma: 1018859 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Seattle Device: kindle1, K3, K3G (thanks MR), iTouch, Kindle Touch	E-book readers Just went through the same process. Found this site as I was researching e-book readers as well. I just got the Kindle. Think that you're right on target with your analysis about the differences in the two. Here are some of my personal observations about the Kindle that may help you in your decision making. Technology wise, the Kindle is excellent. I travel more than 100 days per year and an ebook reader saves me slupping 10 lbs of paper through airports and cities. I am 100% sold on the merits of owning a reader. As to which one - isn't that the question. Unfortunately, neither Sony and Kindle allows books you purchase to be shared with friends and other users and as far as I can tell, neither allow you to checkout materials from either Netlibrary or Overdrive Library. A real turn-off since they have lots of current ebooks for checkout. (Although I will try again to register my Kindle's PID with overdrive using one of the utilities from this site) There is a good selection of books from Amazon and the free ebooks from this site download easily and are great old classics. If the pricing remains the same on Amazon's ebooks it's tolerable. As you mention, the selection and pricing for ebooks for the Sony seems not as good. I have to believe that since books are Amazon's core business, they will remain price competitive. The internet/whispernet feature with the Kindle works, but not as seamlessly as you might expect. Unless you have set up a "wish list" or previously download a sample chapter of a book, it is painful to try and buy a book from Amazon directly from the Kindle. Searching and paging is slower than snails. Going to Amazon via your computer is light-years faster. However, when you do purchase a book from the Amazon site, it does literally show up on your Kindle ready for reading in seconds. The Kindle comes with experimental internet access and preloaded bookmarks for about 10 sites for news and sports info. The bookmarks work well, but keying in your own URL is slow. Another experimental feature is an online research link called "NowNow". You can get almost instant information from real people researching just about anything on the net except about the Kindle because they are contractually obligated to refer you to Kindle support. I got a great chuckle from that one! I was surprised, however, at how functional the typing keys were when I typed a message to NowNow. Even though they're so tiny, they work great. The size of the Kindle is very comfortable and the case it comes with is clever and extremely functional. (it also comes with usb and power cords) The most disturbing element of the Kindle for me is the placement of the buttons on the sides - one reviewer mentioned that he just couldn't find a way to pick the thing up. And it is, literally almost that bad. In an effort to make the Kindle functional for many users, developers put large pagination buttons on both sides. I am constantly bumping the wrong one (although admittedly I've only had the thing for three days). The only saving feature is that the Kindle moves back and forth between pages much faster than the Sony. I have also gotten used to the e-ink flash between pages. Choosing different type sizes on the Kindle is easy, although you have only one choice of font. Added to the poor button placement is that the power and wireless on/off buttons are on the back of the device so that you have to take turn it over to use them, bumping those danged buttons. Again, the only saving feature is that you don't need to use the on/off buttons very often since you can put Kindle to sleep from the front and the battery stays charged through multiple books particularly if you turn off the wireless unless you're using it. All in all, I love the availability of reading material using an e-book reader. Since Amazon has a 30day return policy, I have several more weeks to decide if I can live with those danged buttons. Other than the buttons (and the $350) the Kindle is a great little device for reading. Forget the mp3 function since it uses up the battery faster and randomizes tracks. Until they get a touch screen and stylus, it's really not great for accessing the net other than news, "NowNow" and receiving new books. Please let us know what you purchase and your evaluation. cheers