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Since I own both Kindle and Sony readers, I can comment on those. Both will meet your criteria. The Sony reader directly supports PDF, while the Kindle will require that you convert the PDF file to a supported format. Neither one is going to do a good job with a PDF designed to be printed on A4- or letter-sized paper.
> One time Buying, no plans to buy/upgrade another in the
> near future ( say a year or two )
Of course. You won't get any new functions released in new versions, but either device will work just fine for a LONG time.
> I intend to use it daily(so usage is going to be high)
Battery life of both is good. When reading heavily, I charge once every 4-6 days. The Kindle battery seems to hold up a *bit* better than the Sony one, particularly when left in idle state.
> Avid reader ( But no technical documents to read) But collections
> include PDF (Do know a few means to convert them to doc or txt),
> doc, html, txt.
Sony supports PDF (including reflow and DRM), ePUB, TXT, RTF, and BBeB (LRF & LRX). Kindle supports MobiPocket (AZW, PRC, MOBI) and TXT. Both support MP3 and AA audio formats.
I'd recommend using Calibre to convert any other formats to LRF for the Sony. You can use MobiPocket Reader/Converter to convert all other formats for the Kindle. Amazon.com also offers a free conversion service for DOC, HTML, and PDF.
> USB connectivity and SD memory must
Absolutely
> I do read quite often outside ( travel often )
Do you mean "outside" as in "sitting in the sun"? Both are very good in the sunlight since they use the same E-Ink screen.
> Screen Size: 1st gen kindle screen size was good ( not too sure
> how it compares with sony )
Sony and Kindle use the same screen. Sony's software displays 8 shades of grey, while Kindle's only displays 4 shades. The dithering in the Sony appears to produce a better output when displaying a color picture or one created with more than 4/8 shades of grey.
> Would like it to be optimal for comfortable holding for few hours.
Both are comfortable to hold and read with for hours on end. I find the page-turning buttons on the Kindle easier to manage single-handed.
> Optional Featires ( Can do away with most of them )
> Bookmarking
> Dictionary
> Searching
I rarely use the bookmark feature of either device since the readers always remember my current place in a book. The bookmark feature is good if you want to be able to go back to a passage, even after you've finished reading the book. I also make very little use of the dictionary or search features in the Kindle, so I don't miss them when reading with the Sony.
BUT! I'm really a fan of the Kindle's ability to highlight and make notes right in the book. The Kindle snaps the highlighted-text and notes into a text file which can then be transferred to your PC. I find this very handy when gathering quotes for a book review. I also use the annotations for marking edits and needed corrections.
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