which one should i buy?

suelorio · 06-15-2009, 01:41 PM

my husbands wants one and i have been doing research looking at the kindle and the sony. not sure which one is better. he asked if he could download books from our local library onto either one of these. our library downloads to our computer. any thoughts? thanks, sue

desertgrandma · 06-15-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suelorio

my husbands wants one and i have been doing research looking at the kindle and the sony. not sure which one is better. he asked if he could download books from our local library onto either one of these. our library downloads to our computer. any thoughts? thanks, sue

Hello Sue, and welcome to MobileRead.

I would help to know where you are from, inside or outside the US.

Either one is a great device.........the Sony I think has an easier way to download books from you library.

The Kindle has access to more books thru the Amazon store, and their prices are less.

Be sure and download some of our books while you are here. They are formatted by our members, and will fit any device, or can be read on your computers.

Enjoy.

kelly1010 · 06-15-2009, 02:01 PM

The Sony can download library ebooks using Adobe Digital Editions, which is alot like the Sony library. You download the ebook, plug your sony reader in, and then drag the book onto the reader. It's very easy.

This was actually the deal breaker for me between the Sony and the Kindle (aside from the price).

Lemurion · 06-15-2009, 02:13 PM

The Sony is the better device for library books. Personally, I think both are good - but what really got me on the Sony was that it was much cheaper (and I was able to import my existing library so I wasn't as concerned about more books when I have a couple of hundred to read yet.)

evandy · 06-18-2009, 10:25 AM

Have you narrowed down your options at all? Most people seem to be considering Sony vs. Kindle, but there are others out there.

A couple of questions to think about for the Sony vs. Kindle option, at least:
Are you on a PC? If not, no Sony for you, unless you use 3rd party DL applications (e.g. Calibre)
Do you need access to PDFs? If so, Kindle 1/2 might not work (DX is ok)
Do you want to be able to load books by wireless? Kindle is for you
Do you want to load books via USB? Both are good.

(Yes, the Kindle 1/2 can load converted PDFs. Others have said that the conversion process is good on simple PDFs (no columns/formatting, text-based), but fails on "complex" pds).

jj2me · 06-18-2009, 11:56 AM

Nice summary, evandy. Maybe it can replace a lot of the K. vs. S. posts.

Adding a little to that list and the Sony-for-local library criterion:
- Aesthetics and size: most prefer the smaller, metal Sony.
- Dictionary: Kindle.
- Notes & Search: Kindle, unless you're considering the Sony PRS-700.
- Not in U.S.: no Kindle wireless advantage.
- Expandable via memory cards: Sony.

evandy · 06-18-2009, 12:51 PM

Has anyone made a feature comparison matrix on the Wiki yet? If not, we should add one. Easier than always repeating stuff.

Sweetpea · 06-19-2009, 02:49 AM

yes, there is a comparison page for all devices (at least those that have some specs available)

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

windy220 · 06-20-2009, 08:06 AM

My only experience with an e-book reader is the Cybook Gen 3. I got it a year ago and absolutely love it. I did quite a bit of research before purchasing it and decided it was the best option for me. It is quite easy to download books and I have hundreds. I can move them on and off the Cybook easily to keep just the books I want with me at all times.

I also have an IPod Touch and downloaded the free apps "IKindle" and "Stanza". I'm not always in a wireless area and you have to be in order to download a book. I read books on both and consider them both to be good. Depending on the book I want to read, I look at all the formats and choose the cheapest!

The Cybook Gen 3 does allow you to download books from the library, providing they are in a supported format (mobi). This is also easy and the books just disappear when the time has expired.

I'm sure they are all good devices and your husband will be happy with withever one you choose.

06-15-2009, 01:41 PM	#1
suelorio Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: none	which one should i buy? my husbands wants one and i have been doing research looking at the kindle and the sony. not sure which one is better. he asked if he could download books from our local library onto either one of these. our library downloads to our computer. any thoughts? thanks, sue

06-18-2009, 10:25 AM	#5
evandy Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Have you narrowed down your options at all? Most people seem to be considering Sony vs. Kindle, but there are others out there. A couple of questions to think about for the Sony vs. Kindle option, at least: Are you on a PC? If not, no Sony for you, unless you use 3rd party DL applications (e.g. Calibre) Do you need access to PDFs? If so, Kindle 1/2 might not work (DX is ok) Do you want to be able to load books by wireless? Kindle is for you Do you want to load books via USB? Both are good. (Yes, the Kindle 1/2 can load converted PDFs. Others have said that the conversion process is good on simple PDFs (no columns/formatting, text-based), but fails on "complex" pds). Last edited by evandy; 06-18-2009 at 10:44 AM.

06-20-2009, 08:06 AM	#9
windy220 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: CyBook	My choice was the CyBook My only experience with an e-book reader is the Cybook Gen 3. I got it a year ago and absolutely love it. I did quite a bit of research before purchasing it and decided it was the best option for me. It is quite easy to download books and I have hundreds. I can move them on and off the Cybook easily to keep just the books I want with me at all times. I also have an IPod Touch and downloaded the free apps "IKindle" and "Stanza". I'm not always in a wireless area and you have to be in order to download a book. I read books on both and consider them both to be good. Depending on the book I want to read, I look at all the formats and choose the cheapest! The Cybook Gen 3 does allow you to download books from the library, providing they are in a supported format (mobi). This is also easy and the books just disappear when the time has expired. I'm sure they are all good devices and your husband will be happy with withever one you choose.

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06-15-2009, 02:01 PM	#3
kelly1010 Book Addict! Posts: 533 Karma: 1070 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Device: Sony PRS-505, iPod Touch, Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi	The Sony can download library ebooks using Adobe Digital Editions, which is alot like the Sony library. You download the ebook, plug your sony reader in, and then drag the book onto the reader. It's very easy. This was actually the deal breaker for me between the Sony and the Kindle (aside from the price).

06-15-2009, 02:13 PM	#4
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	The Sony is the better device for library books. Personally, I think both are good - but what really got me on the Sony was that it was much cheaper (and I was able to import my existing library so I wasn't as concerned about more books when I have a couple of hundred to read yet.)

06-18-2009, 11:56 AM	#6
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	Nice summary, evandy. Maybe it can replace a lot of the K. vs. S. posts. Adding a little to that list and the Sony-for-local library criterion: - Aesthetics and size: most prefer the smaller, metal Sony. - Dictionary: Kindle. - Notes & Search: Kindle, unless you're considering the Sony PRS-700. - Not in U.S.: no Kindle wireless advantage. - Expandable via memory cards: Sony.

06-18-2009, 12:51 PM	#7
evandy Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Has anyone made a feature comparison matrix on the Wiki yet? If not, we should add one. Easier than always repeating stuff.

06-19-2009, 02:49 AM	#8
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	yes, there is a comparison page for all devices (at least those that have some specs available) https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

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