Complete newbie

[Vivan]

I'm hoping to buy my first eBook reader, but know absolutely nothing about them. I've looked at the Sony PRS 300 and 505 and they both look good, but I don't really know about any non-Sony ones.

I'll be reading an assortment of books - the store (Sony store etc.) is not important. I'll probably be getting a lot of books, though being a slow reader as I am, I probably won't be having thousands on there at once (at least not at first). Don't really know what to expect - my only experience with eBooks is seeing other people with them on the tube - though I've been planning to get back in to reading and real books take up space/ are expensive.

I live in the UK so Kindle isn't an option.

Don't know if I want a 5' or 6', though I suppose 5' would be nicer. Would like it to be light and as small as possible. Would love an SD card slot but not 100% necessary...

Suggestions please?


EDIT: Actually weight is not an issue - I like solidly built gadgetry.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Vivan

I'm hoping to buy my first eBook reader, but know absolutely nothing about them. I've looked at the Sony PRS 300 and 505 and they both look good, but I don't really know about any non-Sony ones.

I'll be reading an assortment of books - the store (Sony store etc.) is not important. I'll probably be getting a lot of books, though being a slow reader as I am, I probably won't be having thousands on there at once (at least not at first). Don't really know what to expect - my only experience with eBooks is seeing other people with them on the tube - though I've been planning to get back in to reading and real books take up space/ are expensive.

I live in the UK so Kindle isn't an option.

Don't know if I want a 5' or 6', though I suppose 5' would be nicer. Would like it to be light and as small as possible. Would love an SD card slot but not 100% necessary...

Suggestions please?


EDIT: Actually weight is not an issue - I like solidly built gadgetry.

I'm in Germany, but having Kindle is no problem at all.
You state, you won't use the (Sony) store, so Kindle works perfectly fine.
You don't have to use Amazon's bookshop (but you can use it and download via PC), but can buy Mobipocket books for example.
Or you can convert books via "calibre" for Kindle.
The only thing not working in Germany/UK is Whispernet.
There are rumors though about Kindle being available in UK before end of this year.

Concerning 5" vs. 6":
Personally, I find 5" a bit small. If you check the pictures, measurements of housings aren't that different.
Some claim, those 1.5" exactly would make the difference. You may be able to put a 5" unit into your trouser's pocket, 6" might be too bulky.
For me, those 1.5" don't matter at all, I carry my reader(s) in my suitcase or with my Notebook.
So I don't care that much about measurement of housing. But measurement of display IS important. And 5" for some books/formats simply means, not having enough information per page available.
To me, 5" simply is a 2nd source reader, but not the sole one. Many users agree, lots of others are perfectly fine with their 5" unit.
You just should check, whether the (slightly) smaller housing actually will have any benefit for you.

Concerning tips for selecting your reader:
I've got Sony 300, 505, 600 and 700. Personally, I clearly prefer 505 and 600. I don't like the "plastic frame" of Sony 300 and display of Sony 600 is superior to Sony 700.
I can recommend Kindle 2 as well. Kindle DX probably doesn't make any sense, as you already consider significantly smaller units.
Given your description, iRex probably won't have any advantage and is more expensive.
You may want to check out Cybook Gen 3 and Cybook Opus as well.
For the 5" units, I slightly prefer Cybook Opus over Sony 300, mainly because of the auto-rotation feature. And Cybook Gen3 may be a nice alternative to Sony 505.

BTW: Sony 505 is "end of life", but shouldn't worry about that. You'll find extremely low prices for Sony 505 for the remaining units on stock.

[300com]

Funny that the *new* sony models don't use auto-rotation. I wonder why not ?
I think it's brilliant on Kindle, Opus and Ipod.

[Vivan]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I'm in Germany, but having Kindle is no problem at all...

...for the remaining units on stock.

Thanks - I think I'll be going with the Sony PRS-505 .

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Vivan

Thanks - I think I'll be going with the Sony PRS-505 .

Great choice. I still think it's the best of the Sony Readers.

[Vivan]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Great choice. I still think it's the best of the Sony Readers.

I'm just afraid they'll come out with a replacement shortly after I buy it...

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Vivan

I'm just afraid they'll come out with a replacement shortly after I buy it...

Oh they did - the 300 and the 600, but the 505 is still better.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Oh they did - the 300 and the 600, but the 505 is still better.

Depends what your requirements are. For me, the dictionary and the annotation facilities make the PRS-600 a lot better than the 505.

You should definitely look at brands other than Sony. Eg, if you just want to read books, the CyBook Opus is hard to beat. It has the best "ePub" implementation of any device on the market at present, and an excellent folder-based file system.

[Vivan]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Oh they did - the 300 and the 600, but the 505 is still better.

I know, but the 300 is a "pocket" version and the 600 is a "touch"; neither of them is a 505 replacement.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Vivan

I know, but the 300 is a "pocket" version and the 600 is a "touch"; neither of them is a 505 replacement.

They are in the sense that the 505 was discontinued (at least in the U.S.) when they were announced. I agree though neither is a replacement as for me the 505 is still the best of the three.

[Vivan]

Originally Posted by kennyc

They are in the sense that the 505 was discontinued (at least in the U.S.) when they were announced. I agree though neither is a replacement as for me the 505 is still the best of the three.

Since none of them are the same style, it suggests there will be a new "standard" (not touch or pocket) version. In the same way that the iPod Classic keeps going even though they added the touch and the nano.