kindle3g vs. prs350 (vs. prs600?)

[batman52]

Hi everyone,

I originally started my quest to decide which reader is the best for me here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=106148

But... i realized that the kindle3g is in the same price range of the two above, while prs650 still looks overpriced for what is offering compared to kindle. Since I recognized that the most of my reading nowadays happens on the internet, I started thinking that maybe a "connected" device could actually "change" my reading habits: i can imagin myself reading the rss feeds on my bed with a kindle, instead of using my laptop, which really kills my eyes at the end of the day. Moreover, I am really concerned about that inch less that has the 350 compared to the others.

On the other side, I don't plan to buy many books from Amazon or other stores, and the most of the books I already have (and still want to read!) are in pdf (used to convert them to plain text to be read with my mobile with ZXreader). Moreover, I am in favour of open standards/systems/applications (linux user) so that I like the epub standard and it appears silly buying a new ereader which does not supports them (project gutenberg rulez!).

Still, for the price the kindle offers much more competitive hardware, whereas sony looks better in terms of sofware features.

I try to resume briefly...
kindle 3g pros:
- 6" screen
- 3g free wikipedia access everywhere
- wifi (mail check, RSS feed, google books?)
- possible (officially unsupported) free 3g internet browsing in Italy and UK (not working in France, from what I got).. [i am italian, living in france, travelling to uk]
- epub+(how much?)better pdfs with Duokan (future development?)

minor 3g pros:
- cheap accessories available (chinese cover)
- I don't really care about keyboard, do you?

BIG kindle cons:
- no epub
- no pdf reflow

minor kindle cons:
- less powerful pan/zoom compared to sonys

I really cannot decide! Please guys what do you think? Am I so silly?

[ProfCrash]

If you are going to be using the internet you probably will care about the keyboard.

No EPub is easily overcome so I would not count that as a major con.

I don't read PDF's so the reflow is something I cannot speak to.

[starrlamia]

if you have time to see them both in person I would. Even if you can go to a Sony store and comare the 5" and 6" screens. The general rule is if you want to use PDF to get the biggest screen you can, however if it is just normal novel type books you will be reading it isnt as big of a deal. I personally dont like the 5" screen so I went 650 (which i got on sale but still dont regret paying extra for the touch screen, expandable memory and ease of highlighting).
I wouldnt count too much on being able to surf the web all of the time, while 3g and wifi devices have internet access from what I heard it is pretty slow and not exactly something you should count on using all of the time. If you do want something to use on the net alot I would look into a reasonably priced android tablet/reader like the pocketbook IQ or other simliar models.
Personally not a fan of the kindle, I prefer epub formatting and also being able to borrow from the library

Good luck!

[Wordeater]

You can find BEAUTIFUL covers for both the K and the Sony. You aren't restricted to the cheap Amazon covers.

WE

[OtterBooks]

- I don't really care about keyboard, do you?

I don't care about the keyboard. Nobody really cares about the keyboard, but it's just necessary enough to require, and for people who refuse to rub their fingers all over their reading display it's the best option we got. The Sony is nice, but personally I would only ever consider the 650 because 6" is already smaller than a mass-market paperback, and I imagine the 5" would be even more of an issue with PDF viewing. I don't know how much of an advantage the PDF reflow is on the Sony, mostly because I don't know what PDF reflow is. Frankly I'm not even curious.

[sunlioness]

To be honest, I was concerned about the touch screen keyboard of the Sony Readers. I had decided to buy the PRS-650 but then I found a really good deal for the PRS-350 and bought that instead.

I can tell you, the touch screen is just amazingly responsive, no need for the pen. And although it might seem as lagging a bit, it registers everything, so for me it's perfect as I don't plan typing novels on it.

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by starrlamia

I wouldnt count too much on being able to surf the web all of the time, while 3g and wifi devices have internet access from what I heard it is pretty slow and not exactly something you should count on using all of the time.

In my personal experience, this is not the case with Kindle 3.

I live way off off the beaten path and cannot even get DSL internet. Everything here is via satellite. Kindle 3g is full signal and faster than our broadband. I have traveled to five countries and 7 states and haven't had any problem connecting yet. I suppose there are dead spots somewhere but I haven't found any yet.

Obviously, wifi speed would be determined by the network you are connected to at the time so is a non-issue with any wifi ereader.

[starrlamia]

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

In my personal experience, this is not the case with Kindle 3.

I live way off off the beaten path and cannot even get DSL internet. Everything here is via satellite. Kindle 3g is full signal and faster than our broadband. I have traveled to five countries and 7 states and haven't had any problem connecting yet. I suppose there are dead spots somewhere but I haven't found any yet.

Obviously, wifi speed would be determined by the network you are connected to at the time so is a non-issue with any wifi ereader.

I meant that it isnt great to use, say instead of a tablet or computer.

Keyboards arent really a neccessity, Ive used the one on my sony only a few times. Touching the screen barely leaves a mark, generally only when your hands are dirty or overly oily and even then you have to hold it at just the right angle to see the marks. I clean my screen maybe once a week and thats only because I like my electronics to be immaculate, I could probably clean it way less then that and never have an issue.

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by starrlamia

I meant that it isnt great to use, say instead of a tablet or computer.

That is absolutely true. The browser has an awkward zoom feature. It's only saving grace is that it can be viewed in landscape mode.

Connection, however, it quite reliable in a pinch.

[batman52]

ok guys... thank you eveyone, but I still have some doubts:

->The general rule is if you want to use PDF to get the biggest screen you can
thins means I should go for k3, anyway (I mean: is it impossible to use a 350 for let's say reading a paparback sized pdf?)

->I don't know how much of an advantage the PDF reflow is on the Sony, mostly because I don't know what PDF reflow is.

Well I am pretty geeky, so i suppose in the need I would be able to perform whatever file/format conversion is available out there, but I recognize the hassle of doing it. Indeed, For text-based pdfs, I think reflow IS saving you a big effort of conversion (which sometimes is a trial and error).

->The browser has an awkward zoom feature. It's only saving grace is that it can be viewed in landscape mode.

will I be able to browse decently the following?
- wikipedia
- gmail
- google read
- google books
- google docs
- forums (like MR)
- blogs (wordpress)

thank you everyone.

[brbubba]

Originally Posted by batman52

ok guys... thank you eveyone, but I still have some doubts:

->The general rule is if you want to use PDF to get the biggest screen you can
thins means I should go for k3, anyway (I mean: is it impossible to use a 350 for let's say reading a paparback sized pdf?)

->I don't know how much of an advantage the PDF reflow is on the Sony, mostly because I don't know what PDF reflow is.

Well I am pretty geeky, so i suppose in the need I would be able to perform whatever file/format conversion is available out there, but I recognize the hassle of doing it. Indeed, For text-based pdfs, I think reflow IS saving you a big effort of conversion (which sometimes is a trial and error).

->The browser has an awkward zoom feature. It's only saving grace is that it can be viewed in landscape mode.

will I be able to browse decently the following?
- wikipedia
- gmail
- google read
- google books
- google docs
- forums (like MR)
- blogs (wordpress)

thank you everyone.

Your first point is somewhat of a myth in this case because the 350 has a much higher PPI resolution than the Kindle. If you take into account the font rendering you can easily view smaller fonts clearly on the 350. Also I think someone did a comparison with a similar font size and it only amounted to 1 line of text difference. I suggest you go look at them at BB or something.

If you want an Internet browser, DO NOT get a kindle. I can't stress enough how badly the browsing experience is. Again go into BB and try to test it. The directional pad is horrible on the kindle making navigation cumbersome. Also it doesn't support multiple web pages so there were many times where I couldn't click on a link because it would want to open a new browser page. It was neat, but not practical at all.

Blogs are a bust as well. Kindle does have a blog feature where you can subscribe to many popular blogs, but guess what, they want to charge you for every single one. Yes, if you want to subscribe to Engadget or any major site that is normally FREE, you have to pay at least 99 cents a month. I'm not kidding here, even though I had a WiFi only kindle I had to PAY for a feed that is free everywhere else. I couldn't find a single blog that was totally free.

[OtterBooks]

will I be able to browse decently the following?
- wikipedia
- gmail
- google read
- google books
- google docs
- forums (like MR)
- blogs (wordpress)

I guess that depends on your standards. Sites that involve mostly opening up a web page and reading it, without much "surfing" or images are fine imo. Gmail is fine, but composing emails isn't fun on the keyboard. Forums read decently but typing posts is a similar experience to writing email. Wikipedia is not shabby, especially if the article is mostly text. Reading online newspapers is ok as well in landscape, once you adjust the font.

If the browsing experience is a make-or-break issue for you, approach with caution. Amazon's return policy is quite friendly, (could be different outside of U.S.) so it may be worth giving it a try.

[brbubba]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I guess that depends on your standards. Sites that involve mostly opening up a web page and reading it, without much "surfing" or images are fine imo. Gmail is fine, but composing emails isn't fun on the keyboard. Forums read decently but typing posts is a similar experience to writing email. Wikipedia is not shabby, especially if the article is mostly text. Reading online newspapers is ok as well in landscape, once you adjust the font.

If the browsing experience is a make-or-break issue for you, approach with caution. Amazon's return policy is quite friendly, (could be different outside of U.S.) so it may be worth giving it a try.

Agreed on the return policy, very very friendly. It was painless to return my kindle.