Quote:
Originally Posted by l_macd
Not going to dispute that the Sony T3 is a joy (I'm betting it is the best non-lighted reader available  ), but considering one of the OP's main priorities is "Proper front light", it's a poor choice compared to the other options available.
The Kobo Aura is smaller so a better fit for your pocket, but the search capabilities & dictionaries are (I *think*) better on the Kindle Paperwhite, while customer support certainly is. Both are suspect in terms of PDF, but that is true for all e-ink products. The rest is probably all pretty subjective.... |
* Would like to have it fit in my pocketThe Aura is thinner and lighter and is very slightly smaller over all it looked larger in the store (probably the aspect ratio).
Aura - 150 x 114 x 8.1 mm
T3 - 109 x 160 x 11.3 mm
As you say subjective but either will fit in my girly pants pockets.
* Readability is huge.
The Sony T3 is the most readable reader I have used and I have a Kobo Mini and an Aura HD. Perhaps the kindles are better, I couldn't say.
* A good dictionary is a must.
Sony dictionaries are very good, Kobo not so much in my experience. Maybe kindles are better?
* Aesthetics and Durability.
Subjective. I have had 4 Sony readers and they are still undamaged despite being dropped and carried around in pockets and backpacks etc. The Gorilla glass on my tablet cracked in 2 places by falling slowly off it's stand. It still works but I don't use it because it annoys me to look at it
* Release date
Pretty much the same
* Price.
Sony T3 is $99 in Canada but can't be bought everywhere.
* Customer support.
I've never needed it for Sony but when my mothers kindle keyboard broke Amazon's was pretty good on the 3rd try. Kobo I would be kind of scared, but I got mine from Indigo so if I need support theirs is pretty good. Most Sony readers AFAIK outlast the warrantee by a few years.
* Proper front light. I'm basically nocturnal but also like to read outside during the day at times. Would like a well-designed front light that clearly illuminates the entire screen evenly while also being able to turned to a very low intensity or even off for when the room is completely pitch black.
Both the Sony and Kobo readers I have are perfectly readable outside without the light in my experience. Probably the Aura and kindle are as well. (except when it is raining heavily on them
)
The T3 doesn't have a light, but as light was fairly far down the list, it didn't seem like the number one priority so I thought I would mention it anyway. Sorry for that.
* Responsive touch screen.
Works every time with no page skips or other weird behaviors. Again kindle is probably as reliable.
* Games.
No idea, I just read on mine.
* Search feature.
Pretty much okay on all although kindle may be best.
My subjective opinion is that Sony T3 is the best, but I have only used one kindle and only glimpsed one Nook briefly. For me Sony shines in ease of use, durability and reliability and general aesthetics. Still although it handles and sorts collections etc. with speed and ease using calibre (another strong point for me) it is not perfect. I would like a whiter screen and a smaller bezel. The Kobo Aura HD screen appears whiter with the light on, but the light hurts my eyes and you have to adjust it every time as it insists on going to 1% every time you open the options.
Helen
Edit: The Sony T3 refresh seems softer and less intrusive. The Aura HD often refreshes the page in 1/3ds with several harsh black flashes per refresh, and the Aura I tried in the store did the same. Sony seems to be more of a fade and I have to be watching to even notice.