Dear Sony

[PHugger]

This month I gave up. I have dearly loved my PRS-505. It was a joy long before the Kindle was even a glimmer in Jeffrey Bezos' eye. I loved the build quality and styling. You stuck with me and even replaced it the time when screen cracked. I stuck with you and worked through problems with the Reader Library software. Nothing else tempted me. I had the BMW of book readers. The first Kindle was a joke in comparison. I admit I was a bit jealous about the Amazon book selection, but you keep me supplied with best sellers. Last November I was given a Kindle Keyboard model with Whispernet (3G). I wasn't even tempted to take it out of the box for several months. Then I tried to buy a new book for my Sony and the latest version of the Reader Library software once again stopped working. I bought a book and can't sync it with my reader. I'm not dumb. I work in IT and I feel I could probably get it working with some effort - an hour or so on the phone with Sony support. They'll have me disable EVERY startup program and I bet it will work (the last time this happened it was Jungle Disk). This isn't how it's supposed to be. You should be adapting to my system not forcing me to adapt to yours. I simply can't understand why this is such a hard thing to do - sync some files with a USB storage device.

In a fit of pique I gave in and fired up the Kindle. I didn't even have to use wifi or plug it in to get it up and syncing. The Amazon bookstore is amazing. They have hundred of current books in every genre that are free. I got into all of the freebies because I wanted to read a new short story by Peter F. Hamilton - If At First. I had just looked it up on the Sony store - $15.99 (I just checked now and it is free). It's only a short story (very short) so I was going to pass it by, but Amazon had it for free. They have a great recommendation system that nudged me to download a dozen other free SciFi and Thrillers. The latest generation of E-ink screen on the Kindle is much better. The wifi and 3G radio are much better (no PC needed). Amazon now manages my book collection - it's simple and very fast.

I really feel bad about abandoning my Sony. It's a great device. The hardware is top notch, but the store is weak and the software is feeble. To be honest when people would see my Sony reader and ask about it, I told them to get a Kindle ever since the 3rd generation devices have been out. The Kindle is not without it's problems - the Amazon leather cover (even the one without the light) can literally kill your device electrically (Oberon makes beautiful Kindle covers). The Page buttons are still not thought out perfectly. They are way too easy to press if you are just carrying the device around.

Anyway - this is goodbye Sony,
PCH

[elcreative]

Sony have a store??? Seriously, why give up perfectly good hardware when you can easily shop anywhere and convert with a trivial use of calibre and use on your 505... having a Kindle isn't necessary for reading Amazon eBooks...

[phloxy]

I agree with elcreative. If you love your device, don't ditch it just because Amazon has a better book selection. Even a quasi-computer illiterate eReader n00b like me is enjoying Amazon's selection of books (free and purchased offerings) on my Sony. Honestly, it is super easy to manage your library in Calibre and convert the Amazon books for use on your device.

[carpetmojo]

Absolutely agree.

[mrklaw]

the convenience of access to a store directly on device, and lack of dependence on a computer, is a big benefit of kindle IMO. I think the only time I ever connected mine to a computer is to remove a ton of news articles I'd sent from calibre via email.

Sony T1 is tempting me for similar reasons, but this time for direct on device access to my local library.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by mrklaw

the convenience of access to a store directly on device, and lack of dependence on a computer, is a big benefit of kindle IMO. I think the only time I ever connected mine to a computer is to remove a ton of news articles I'd sent from calibre via email.

Sony T1 is tempting me for similar reasons, but this time for direct on device access to my local library.

The direct access to the library is fantastic! I am really happy with my T1. My husband is still happy with my old 505, however - he loves the fantastic build and solid feel and says that he has no interest in upgrading, despite the better screens now available.

[John F]

Originally Posted by PHugger

This month I gave up. I have dearly loved my PRS-505. It was a joy long before the Kindle was even a glimmer in Jeffrey Bezos' eye. ...

Just to nitpick, I believe there were kindles available at the same time as (or before) the Sony 505.

[PHugger]

As I said I love the device. It's the rest of the ecosystem (store and software) that ruin the experience for me. I know there are other sources on the web for books - I've used and enjoyed Baen, but seriously AZ Sci Fi? I love McCollum's books, but this 'source' is only a single author who is self publishing just a dozen book. Many of the the other recommended sources are specialty shops as well. Let's say I decide to give up on the Sony Bookstore like you suggest. Now I must search through other potential sources with my PC (each with a different download mechanism), manage the files on my PC, Strip out the DRM, Convert the format, and use Calibre to sync to my device. Calibre is good software. Why can't Sony get theirs to work? I love technology, but the point of this is Reading. Compare this to my new Kindle. I turn it on literally anywhere there is 3G coverage, type in a book or author right on the device and browse the Amazon bookstore. Select a book and purchase it. Before I can navigate back to the table of contents, the book is there. I suppose this is bad if you lack impulse control, but nothing is as fast or convenient. With the Kindle I can 'share' books with my family members or friends. I can even use the free Kindle Prime Lending Library. The Sony is hobbled by it's bookstore, software and dependence on a PC. I would likely still be using my Sony if the software wasn't so bad. Syncing should be transparent like your MP3 player. Plug it in and in a few minutes, it says Done! I guess I'm just tired of constantly tinkering with my reader. It's like choosing which car to drive - a vintage BMW that requires some tinkering to keep it on the road or a brand new VW with all of the modern bells and whistles and a 5 year maintenance plan. After the Beemer lets you down and strands you a couple of times, you'll be asking yourself is it worth all this work?


Best regards,
PCH

[PHugger]

Originally Posted by John F

Just to nitpick, I believe there were kindles available at the same time as (or before) the Sony 505.

But seriously, the first Kindle was a Yugo........




PCH

[diddy]

I just bought a Kindle as well ... I spent the last 3 weeks trying to solve the issues the bug ridden Mac Reader app had caused (it messed up all my highlights I ever made, sync stopped working, books were marked as expired although they were bought and so on ... and I am not even using any other 3rd party program which could mess things up).
After using the PRS-650 the T1 and the promised book store and cloud sync features seemed the way to go for me. Indeed, the T1 is excellent hardware!
But, hardware alone is not enough.
I want to read my books and have everything sync'd easily to a Mac app, to the cloud etc.
Sony hasn't managed to open the Reader store here in the UK, they are 4 months behind their schedule. This means also, here we do not have any form of cloud backup / sync. I just lost trust in them.
I have been using my Kindle for a week now. Ok, it is not as slim as the T1, but everything just works. I can finally spend my time reading instead of trying to fix software problems etc.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by PHugger

But seriously, the first Kindle was a Yugo........




PCH

Yugo's last quite a long time, I've driven in many in my day, fairly recently, too!

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by John F

Just to nitpick, I believe there were kindles available at the same time as (or before) the Sony 505.

PRS-505: October 2007
Kindle: November 2007

Not before but the Kindle was definitely well within development before the PRS-505 was released.

[PHugger]

Diddy - I couldn't agree more.
Syncing is such a big issue with the Sony. On the Kindle it's nothing. You don't need to think about it at all. Buy a book and it's on the device. I know the newer Sonys are moving in this direction, but not for the older devices. I want to read not tinker.

Latinandgreek -
When the Yugo went belly up here in the states in the late 80s, I remember the dealers offering them 2 for 1. You bought one and got another for free to keep for spare parts.

I will be keeping my 505 and hopefully someone in my family will be able to use it. I realize that this means I'm stuck with supporting it, but perhaps I can view it as a hobby or a labor of love. As long as they have low expectations and are not in a hurry.


Best regards,
PCH

[John F]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

PRS-505: October 2007
Kindle: November 2007

Not before but the Kindle was definitely well within development before the PRS-505 was released.

Yup. The twinkle had left Bezo's eye and he was just starting to rake in the money (I have no idea if this is true, but it sounds cool.)

[khalleron]

Originally Posted by PHugger

Now I must search through other potential sources with my PC (each with a different download mechanism), manage the files on my PC, Strip out the DRM, Convert the format, and use Calibre to sync to my device.

<snip>

Best regards,
PCH

Not on the T1 - you can download DRM-free and Adobe DRM epubs directly to the reader over the WiFi.

As to using other sources - I think comparison shopping is one of the strong points of an epub reader. I don't have to pay the price of 'the only shop in town', I can look at several of my favorite sites and buy from the lowest priced one. Usually that's Kobo, but sometimes it's Sony or another store.

And the library support is killer - I replaced my 505 just for that feature and I'm happy as a clam.