Kindle 1st or Sony Pocket?

seigezunt · 01-30-2011, 10:50 AM

I'm trying to decide between two used ereaders.

Both in good shape, little used.

Being asked $90 for a first generation kindle

and $80 for a Sony PRS300SC

I mostly read project gutenberg and other free/low price stuff. Don't really want or need wifi capable, just something I can load books into. I'm attracted by the SD-card ability of the old Kindle, but the Sony looks nicer and is cheaper, if smaller. I'm reading ebook on an Axim 50 now, so either would be an increase in size.

Any suggestions? I'm new to this.

Noah98 · 01-30-2011, 12:21 PM

I'd go with the Sony.

Kiwimick · 01-30-2011, 02:03 PM

Ditto

ProfCrash · 01-31-2011, 09:30 AM

I lpve my K1. Tavar is hanging around, working just fine. I don't think that the memory card holder or replaceable battery are all that important.

I would not buy an ereader without wireless connvectivity. I like the ease of buying books on the device and downloading them instantly. I would not want a 5 inch screen.

I think you will be fine with either device but I would go with the Kindle.

jj2me · 01-31-2011, 11:22 AM

Can you see them in person? And compare them to a Pearl screen? It may make you want to stretch your budget for a Pearl screen reader.

From lighter background/better contrast to darker background/worse contrast:
- Pearl screen of Kindle 3 and Sony PRS-350
- Kindle 1
- PRS-300

In the U.S. these new Pearl screen devices cost ~50% more ($140 K3 and $120 350 at buy.com now). Well worth it, IMHO, even if the K1 or 300 were new.

Lt. Brannigan · 01-31-2011, 03:02 PM

Personally I would go for the Sony. But if I could I would suggest you snag the 350.

Latinandgreek · 01-31-2011, 03:08 PM

Snag the Sony 350 if you can (it's on sale for $120, I believe). If not, go for the Sony PRS-300. They will fit in your pocket, and if you don't need or want internet access or the Amazon store, go for the Sony.

Poppaea · 01-31-2011, 03:39 PM

Sony, opt for the 350, if you can, there are worlds between the 350 and the 300.

Lilly · 01-31-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Sony, opt for the 350, if you can, there are worlds between the 350 and the 300.

that;s true, Don't buy the K1, it's bulky compare to today's sleek readers. I use to have 1 and sold it on this board the the day the K2 were announced. Like Poppaea said, if you can come up with the extra $30, the PRS-350 is way better than the PRs-300!

ProfCrash · 01-31-2011, 07:01 PM

Or buy a K3.

I must be one of the few who liked the design of the K1...

doreenjoy · 01-31-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

Snag the Sony 350 if you can (it's on sale for $120, I believe). If not, go for the Sony PRS-300. They will fit in your pocket, and if you don't need or want internet access or the Amazon store, go for the Sony.

Ditto.

BeccaPrice · 02-01-2011, 09:34 AM

the one thing about the kindle over the sony is the huge number of free and inexpensive books that are available for the kindle through amazon. And amazon has fantastic customer service.

Poppaea · 02-01-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

the one thing about the kindle over the sony is the huge number of free and inexpensive books that are available for the kindle through amazon. And amazon has fantastic customer service.

All these books are for free either at B&N or at Kobo or at Sony, too. Like this one here for example:

Free (Nook/Kobo) Lydia Bennet's Story: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice
Lydia Bennet's Story: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Odiwe is free at B&N and Kobo books and Amazon!

All you have to do is to go to inkmesh and check it out or if you are to lazy to do so have a look into the freebie section of this forums here

snipenekkid · 02-04-2011, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Or buy a K3.

I must be one of the few who liked the design of the K1...

Nope, I too felt the K1 had the best design of all the Kindles to date. The wedge shape, rubber back and user replaceable battery were two of the great features. Yeah, the contrast is not good but it does offer a very solid and rugged construction compared to todays devices. But the major weakness was the way the navigation buttons worked. The pressed to the outside so it is very easy to accidentally activate a few dozen page turns simply when shifting hands. Of everything this was the reason I eventually shelved my K1 though I did work around it until being able to afford a new k2US then a couple K2i's.

I chose a PB360 as my stuff in my pocket reader and have not regretted it one bit. My 2-week flirtation with the 4th Gen iPod Touch was likely enough to turn to it as my stuff in my pocket reader but the low power Eink screen on the PB360 made it the clear winner for me in terms of carrying a single device with all I had in mind was reading. And it's integrated cover is the crowning feature.

As to the OP's choices, I don't think either is a bad choice. Both will work but remember both are also no longer supported, at least I believe that is the case. There will be no firmware updates for the K1 unless there is a format change at Amazon and if Epub were added to the Kindle readers, I highly doubt it could be added to the K1's firmware which could well just not have the system memory to shoehorn in the needed code.

Personally I found the original Sony 300 a pretty weak device. I loved the size just not the build quality. I believe the build quality of the original K1 will far out live the original PRS-300.

But ultimately it also comes down to if the OP wants to use the Kindle Store or can get buy with whatever formats the original PRS-300 can read. does it support ADE and library books? If so then that alone might make it a lot more attractive at the price, which is very good.

Oh, back to the battery thing. Remember lithium batteries do not really die slowly. Sure their charge capacity does reduce over time but it is not unheard of for a battery to be 70% of original at night then to wake up and find it will no longer hold a charge. That means a new battery. This is no big deal on the K1 with it's 2-minute user battery swap. With the Sony one need to learn how to crack the case open to change the battery or pay someone to do the job. And the Sony might be near to it's time where the batter should be replaced. Just a hidden cost that might not seem an issue today but tomorrow morning it could be the only issue.

snipenekkid · 02-04-2011, 04:44 AM

interesting, you can buy a PRS-300SC NEW from Walmart for just $109 including shipping.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/FAST-TRACK...i_sku=15080522

I am sure similar deals can be had at many vendors with this dead stock device. So for the $30 difference if you have to do with the PRS-300SC then by new. The price on the used device is just not enough of a savings to justify no warranty as well as being pretty far from what the newer PRS-350 or even the Kindle 3 Wifi version bring to the table. for around $149 each.

01-30-2011, 10:50 AM	#1
seigezunt Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Dell Axim, Sony PRS-300, Slick	Kindle 1st or Sony Pocket? I'm trying to decide between two used ereaders. Both in good shape, little used. Being asked $90 for a first generation kindle and $80 for a Sony PRS300SC I mostly read project gutenberg and other free/low price stuff. Don't really want or need wifi capable, just something I can load books into. I'm attracted by the SD-card ability of the old Kindle, but the Sony looks nicer and is cheaper, if smaller. I'm reading ebook on an Axim 50 now, so either would be an increase in size. Any suggestions? I'm new to this.

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01-30-2011, 12:21 PM	#2
Noah98 Eccentric Posts: 510 Karma: 342150 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Device: The nook, ipad 3, Kindle Fire HD (8.9), Kindle Paperwhite	I'd go with the Sony.

01-30-2011, 02:03 PM	#3
Kiwimick Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 37308 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London UK Device: Sony PRS650	Ditto

01-31-2011, 09:30 AM	#4
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I lpve my K1. Tavar is hanging around, working just fine. I don't think that the memory card holder or replaceable battery are all that important. I would not buy an ereader without wireless connvectivity. I like the ease of buying books on the device and downloading them instantly. I would not want a 5 inch screen. I think you will be fine with either device but I would go with the Kindle.

01-31-2011, 11:22 AM	#5
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	Can you see them in person? And compare them to a Pearl screen? It may make you want to stretch your budget for a Pearl screen reader. From lighter background/better contrast to darker background/worse contrast: - Pearl screen of Kindle 3 and Sony PRS-350 - Kindle 1 - PRS-300 In the U.S. these new Pearl screen devices cost ~50% more ($140 K3 and $120 350 at buy.com now). Well worth it, IMHO, even if the K1 or 300 were new.

01-31-2011, 03:02 PM	#6
Lt. Brannigan Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 4502 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Device: Sony PRS350, Kindle Wi-Fi.	Personally I would go for the Sony. But if I could I would suggest you snag the 350.

01-31-2011, 03:08 PM	#7
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	Snag the Sony 350 if you can (it's on sale for $120, I believe). If not, go for the Sony PRS-300. They will fit in your pocket, and if you don't need or want internet access or the Amazon store, go for the Sony.

01-31-2011, 03:39 PM	#8
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,577 Karma: 20638583 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra Colour	Sony, opt for the 350, if you can, there are worlds between the 350 and the 300.

01-31-2011, 07:01 PM	#10
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Or buy a K3. I must be one of the few who liked the design of the K1...

02-01-2011, 09:34 AM	#12
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	the one thing about the kindle over the sony is the huge number of free and inexpensive books that are available for the kindle through amazon. And amazon has fantastic customer service.

02-04-2011, 04:44 AM	#15
snipenekkid Banned Posts: 760 Karma: 51034 Join Date: Feb 2009	interesting, you can buy a PRS-300SC NEW from Walmart for just $109 including shipping. http://www.walmart.com/ip/FAST-TRACK...i_sku=15080522 I am sure similar deals can be had at many vendors with this dead stock device. So for the $30 difference if you have to do with the PRS-300SC then by new. The price on the used device is just not enough of a savings to justify no warranty as well as being pretty far from what the newer PRS-350 or even the Kindle 3 Wifi version bring to the table. for around $149 each.

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