MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - The Kindle DX

jswinden · 06-14-2009, 12:16 PM

Thanks for the great hands-on review.

I really like most of the functionality of my Kindle 2 versus my Sony PRS-505, but the Sony is better built and designed.

K2 versus Sony PRS-505 breaks down like this, at least for me:

K2 wins hands down in bookmarking and annotation. However the K2's keyboard is nearly useless and the 5-way selector button is total junk.
Sony wins hands down on readability of text in general with its better fonts.
Sony wins hands down on readability/conversion of PDFs.
Sony wins hands down on available formats.
Sony wins hands down on battery life.
K2 has at least twice the available number of eBooks. I rarely read free books, so this is important to me.
K2 is much easier to hold and use, especially since I'm left-handed. The left side buttons are well located whereas they are near the bottom of the Sony.
Sony wins hands down on organizing books.
Sony wins hands down on construction. The K2 feels like a cheap plastic toy compared to the solid build of the Sony.
Sony wins hands down on viewing inline images. The K2 sucks at this.
K2 has Whispernet, but it apparently whispers so quietly that my K2 cannot hear it very well. A typical book takes 30+ minutes to download and uses at least half of the battery charge. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex where signal strength is NOT a problem. So as far as my experience with three K2s goes, Whispernet is a useless feature. I use PC connection to get books.

Before I even consider upgrading to a future Sony or Kindle, the following improvements will be a must:

Both need to have TRUE folder/file-management capabilty so we can organize our books as WE see fit.
Both need to have multiple, user selectable fonts.
Both need to have user controllable formatting like margins, text justifications, etc..
Both need to have more formats, especially the K2. Good grief, Amazon owns Mobipocket so why don't they allow Mobipocket purchased books on their K's?!?
Both need to have touch screen bookmarking, navigation, keyboard, etc., but with the same, or better, legibility of the K2 and Sony PRS-505 screens. No PRS-700 SNAFUs.

Oh, and one more thing: Amazon needs to forbid eBook publication in Topaz format for OCRed books. Actually, both Amazon and Sony should forbid publication of non-edited OCRed text. Either do a proper conversion, edit, and formatting, or don't CHARGE for the eBook!!!!!!!!!!!!

06-14-2009, 12:16 PM	#23
jswinden Nameless Being	Thanks for the great hands-on review. I really like most of the functionality of my Kindle 2 versus my Sony PRS-505, but the Sony is better built and designed. K2 versus Sony PRS-505 breaks down like this, at least for me: K2 wins hands down in bookmarking and annotation. However the K2's keyboard is nearly useless and the 5-way selector button is total junk. Sony wins hands down on readability of text in general with its better fonts. Sony wins hands down on readability/conversion of PDFs. Sony wins hands down on available formats. Sony wins hands down on battery life. K2 has at least twice the available number of eBooks. I rarely read free books, so this is important to me. K2 is much easier to hold and use, especially since I'm left-handed. The left side buttons are well located whereas they are near the bottom of the Sony. Sony wins hands down on organizing books. Sony wins hands down on construction. The K2 feels like a cheap plastic toy compared to the solid build of the Sony. Sony wins hands down on viewing inline images. The K2 sucks at this. K2 has Whispernet, but it apparently whispers so quietly that my K2 cannot hear it very well. A typical book takes 30+ minutes to download and uses at least half of the battery charge. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex where signal strength is NOT a problem. So as far as my experience with three K2s goes, Whispernet is a useless feature. I use PC connection to get books. Before I even consider upgrading to a future Sony or Kindle, the following improvements will be a must: Both need to have TRUE folder/file-management capabilty so we can organize our books as WE see fit. Both need to have multiple, user selectable fonts. Both need to have user controllable formatting like margins, text justifications, etc.. Both need to have more formats, especially the K2. Good grief, Amazon owns Mobipocket so why don't they allow Mobipocket purchased books on their K's?!? Both need to have touch screen bookmarking, navigation, keyboard, etc., but with the same, or better, legibility of the K2 and Sony PRS-505 screens. No PRS-700 SNAFUs. Oh, and one more thing: Amazon needs to forbid eBook publication in Topaz format for OCRed books. Actually, both Amazon and Sony should forbid publication of non-edited OCRed text. Either do a proper conversion, edit, and formatting, or don't CHARGE for the eBook!!!!!!!!!!!! Last edited by jswinden; 06-14-2009 at 12:33 PM.