[Boston]

While I've been contemplating an eBook reader for awhile, I didn't know much about the market until purchasing my Kindle. The pricing of eBooks, need to connect to a PC and lack of built in light were my biggest reasons for not wanting to make the investment. Amazon's pricing/content and wireless eliminated 2/3 of my concerns and learning that backlighting wasn't possible with eInk, I jumped on the Kindle bandwagon and have loved it.

But having learned a lot since then, I wonder if I would've chosen differently had I known more (thanks to this site and my own usage).

So with that in mind, I walked into the Sony store where a salesperson was working with another customer looking at the PRS-700. (He left saying "I think I'm going to stick with my older Sony as its a perfectly fine reader and I don't need the latest things like a touchscreen for its cool factor".)

Meanwhile, I was looking at the PRS-505. Holding it in my hand, I could see why people knock the Kindle's form factor. The Sony reader is definitely trim and lighter. It took me awhile getting used to the smaller page turning keys and wondered if I would miss the ability to hold a reader in my left hand (which I do when eating or sometimes at night). But I loved the whiter background and contrast..not to mention that Sony supports secure PDFs (my biggest gripe about the Kindle).

The salesgirl turned to me and I asked about the PRS-700. Surprisingly, she had very little good to say about it while raving about the PRS-505. In fact she said "The 700 is really geared towards people, like students, who want to annotate their books. If you just want to read books, the 505 is a much better reader". I asked about the built-in light and she turned it on for me to see but said "For night reading, a clip on light is much better for your eyes". She ended by saying "I love my 505 and since I only use it to read, I prefer it over the 700".

If Sony's "new" store had improved content availability and pricing, I have to admit that I would've been very tempted to buy the 505 now that it has a cover with a built in lightwedge-type light. In fact, it did briefly cross my mind that I wanted one. However, with Amazon's content, pricing, whispernet convenience and the desire to share books again with my mom (who is getting a Kindle for Christmas), I'm happy with my Kindle decision and will just stick with that for now.