My Aura HD has just arrived. I have the 'onyx' version, which is satin-finish black - or maybe ever-so-slightly off-black. I've heard it said that the Aura looks cheap and plasticky - I don't agree. Yes, it's plastic, but it has a sort of elegant simplicity. The satin finish is nice - not quite matt, but definitely not the shiny black of the Sony. It feels nice in the hand.

First impressions: only a smidgen taller than my Sony PRS-T1, and about 3/4 of an inch wider. It's thicker and heavier, but definitely light enough to hold in one hand. The weird zigzag back is nice to hold in one hand - I have little hands, and my fingers rest quite naturally in the 'dip' in the middle, with the corner of the reader in my palm. The bezel around the screen is just wide enough to rest a thumb on.

Display is a major improvement. My Sony is pretty clear, and I've never had a problem with it, but the Aura is noticeably clearer. As you'd expect with the 'HD' tag, you can't see the pixels, which you can if you look close enough on the Sony.