I finally found my missing Kindle Keyboard, this was after I picked up a Sony PRS-600 through Craigslist (after I further broke the Kindle Keyboard a buddy loaned me). Now I have to decide which one to 'keep' and which to hand down to my almost 9 year old daughter.
She's currently on a Sony PRS-500. It works, but battery life isn't long, and contrast isn't great (needs good light to ready by, not just decent light).
I'm torn between the 2 devices. Let me share my needs, and I would like to hear responses.
I read on my e-reader. I don't notate. I don't web browse. I don't look up words (or when I do, I reach for my iPhone). Just read. I'm not reading text books, PDF's, word doc's from publications. I read novels. Primarily fantasy and sci-fi. When I want to read comics I get out the 1st Gen iPad.
I like the Kindle Keyboard for the buttons on the right hand side making it easy to turn pages. But Kindle uses .mobi and that format is almost always a larger book than the epubs I have.
Benefits - It has 3G and Wi-Fi, but I have used it maybe 3x in the last year. Can easily get new books or send books to device remotely (I can login to my server remotely and send ebooks if it's not already loaded on.). Case has it's own kickstand when reading on tabletop.
Drawbacks - Does not handle collections easily (IMO). I have to use a plugin to generate them after adding books from Calibre (tedious and annoying step). Uses .mobi format
The Sony PRS-600 is nice. Seems like it's built like the PRS-500 (IE, can take a licking and keep on ticking). It supports ePub (my preferred format). (Side note, I really don't like having to use multiple formats, but that's what I get for buying used instead of new.) It's a touch screen, but I haven't really messed that aspect.
Benefits - has slots for SD Card and Memory Stick (don't know max of either, and not utilizing either currently). Handles collections easily (I use Calibre to handle my ebook library). Case has a built in light (haven't used it yet, as it is not bright enough). Supports .epub
Drawbacks - the page turning is only on the bottom (some gesture does it, but I haven't figured it out yet. Done it by accident a few times. LOL) It feels heavier than the Kindle. There is reflection/glare.
Over all, they both have Pros/Cons and I am having a difficult time in deciding between the 2 devices. Keep in mind, I 'read books'.
Now, I occasionally read on my iPhone using Stanza. (REALLY hope it works in iOS 7. Didn't work in iOS 6 Beta's but continued to work in release). Stanza does not sync with either device. Neither device can download my books directly from my server (box.com) while my iPhone can. But the iPhone is hard on the eyes, and battery life for reading just isn't there.
So, thoughts? Ideas? Feedback? Tweaks to help me choose one over the other? (Kindle is hacked, Sony isn't yet but I'm willing too.) Thank you.
Chris
aka Naloomi