Quote:
Originally Posted by crutnacker
I understand the idea that SONY uses more open formats, but let's assume I'm a guy who likes best sellers and new content. Given the price premium for SONY (at least for the readers that have a lot of features), why should I get a SONY over others?
I'm genuinely interested because I like the look of SONY readers, but think the Kindle and nook feature sets might be more important to me. Having never used any of them, I don't really know.
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As someone who has a Kindle and a recently purchased Sony (the 300, so some features might be different on other models), I can tell you if I had to choose between one and the other, the Kindle would win hands down.
The things I prefer about the Sony 300:
1. The size - love the smaller size, fits in all my purses nicely.
2. The "collections" feature - I do love being able to group books by author or series or whatever.
3. I like how the reader fits into the Sony covers, with a "hinge" at the top and bottom left corners.
4. It wakes up from sleep mode much faster than the Kindle.
5. IF you have access to a library that allows you to download ebooks, and IF they have a good number of books you're interested in reading, you can read them on the Sony. My library doesn't, but I knew that before I bought.
6. It's cute & pink. (Okay, I'm reaching now...)
Why I'd throw it under the bus if I had to choose:
1. Content trumps all - much more available from Amazon, and it's almost always cheaper. I've already noticed that Amazon also offers much more in the way of free books (not the classics that are public domain, but new books). I'd rather count on a device backed by a bookstore, rather than an electronics company dabbling in selling books. I didn't plan on buying a lot from the Sony store, and most of what I've put on there so far is from non-Sony sources. In the end, I want to read on my reader, and content trumps looks.
2. The Sony store - it's pretty awful. Amazon's Kindle store has its issues, but it's way better than Sony's as far as navigating around it. And more expensive on top?
3. The Sony software - you have to download their software to your computer to buy from the Sony bookstore and transfer books onto the device. It's already crashed on my computer once, apparently doesn't play well with Macs, so now I'm trying it on my netbook. The upside of that software is that you can create "Collections" (ie folders) of books to organize your home screen. But that's the only advantage, and Amazon has announced it's working to add that feature to the Kindle. The software issue leads me to...
4. Kindle's wireless capability. SO much nicer to be able to buy a book from the Kindle store via the computer (or on the Kindle itself), tell it to send it to my Kindle (or my iPhone, or my husband's Kindle if it's for him), and turn on Whispernet & watch it "magically" appear. It's pretty limited as a browser, but it's even great for downloading books wirelessly from other sites, like MobileRead
5. Many functions are a little easier on the Kindle, one that comes to mind is deleting a book once you've read it - but that might be one of those things that's different on models other than the 300.
6. Kindle has the built-in dictionary feature - I didn't think I'd use it often, but the more I read the more I find myself looking up words instead of guessing their meaning from the context - maybe because I've expanded the genres I read. I've been reading a book this week on my Sony and came across a couple of words I'd sure liked to have been able to look up instantly.
7. Twice as many choices of font sizes. Sometimes I want something "in between" sizes on the Sony. Again, that may be different on the 600.
There are other things I could mention - the library book function on the Sony is great - if you have access to a library with a lot of ebooks to lend. You definitely aren't limited to Amazon for content, despite what many people say. I love the Sony device - the 300 is a cute little package - it's factors beyond the device itself that makes Kindle my #1.