3 New Sony Readers announced today, apps coming this fall

[astra]

Originally Posted by Papi

. I don't see why anyone would absolutely NOT want wifi on a reader

Because it is a gadget for reading books. I have more than enough resources to access the Internet. When I read a book I don't want any distractions or a feature that would tempt me to ...only check my emails, I swear only 1 email. Only as few things on wikipedia and I quit, I swear. When I read a book I want to get away from computers and the Internet.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Papi

I'd want wifi also, mainly for wikipedia search. In fact that's the only thing making me hesitate between the 650 and Kindle 3. I don't see why anyone would absolutely NOT want wifi on a reader, considering you can turn it off. Of course it adds a few $ to the final price, but other than that...

I can live perfectly without wifi. If I had the choice between a wifi model and a non-wifi model, I'd take the non-wifi model, unless the price is exactly the same.

[Papi]

Someone doesn't need or doesn't care about wifi, I can totally understand it...I wondered more about people specifically not wanting wifi on the device. I understand now it might bring potential distraction to the reading, though I thought it would be nice to have wikipedia. My first eReader will have dictionaries for unknown / foreign language words, but to have informations about an historical person mentioned in a book for example, I'd like to have access to wikipedia. As for the cost, I have absolutely no clue about what costs an additional wifi chip, and the additional development associated to it. But again, I totally understand people have no need for it, I just wondered why someone would specifically prefer a device without it.

[garbanzo]

do you suppose the new pearl screen is going to take care of the glare issues people were having with the touch screens?

...

regarding wi-fi, i don't see the point. i use my reader most while on the move - train, plane, bus, tram... so having wi-fi would be utterly useless. if you need to get online, use a proper mobile device...

[beppe]

Originally Posted by astra

Because it is a gadget for reading books. I have more than enough resources to access the Internet. When I read a book I don't want any distractions or a feature that would tempt me to ...only check my emails, I swear only 1 email. Only as few things on wikipedia and I quit, I swear. When I read a book I want to get away from computers and the Internet.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I can live perfectly without wifi. If I had the choice between a wifi model and a non-wifi model, I'd take the non-wifi model, unless the price is exactly the same.

on the contrary, i am seriously considering a device that would allow me everything. i have great hopes in the iPodTouch that my wife could give me. Now to be on the net i need either to go upstairs or to use a portable (old battery so it has to be power plugged), while i would like to be more agile, go outside for a smoke, for instance, while reading, and if a friend wants to chat, interrupt and chat.

[vxf]

Originally Posted by garbanzo

do you suppose the new pearl screen is going to take care of the glare issues people were having with the touch screens?

...

regarding wi-fi, i don't see the point. i use my reader most while on the move - train, plane, bus, tram... so having wi-fi would be utterly useless. if you need to get online, use a proper mobile device...

The pearl screens should not have the added layer that is now creating glare. If you look at the videos posted online of the 650, it seems the glare problems are gone. But I am speaking without having seen the device myself, so...

I personally like the idea of having wi-fi. It depends on what kind of use you make of the device. But on my PRS900, I would love to have wi-fi when I am not in the US and unable to use 3g. Now, I download stuff through my laptop - but it would be nice to go wireless. It won't change my life, but it's a nice feature to have.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by beppe

on the contrary, i am seriously considering a device that would allow me everything. i have great hopes in the iPodTouch that my wife could give me. Now to be on the net i need either to go upstairs or to use a portable (old battery so it has to be power plugged), while i would like to be more agile, go outside for a smoke, for instance, while reading, and if a friend wants to chat, interrupt and chat.

I have hope that the Android devices that are beginning to appear will address many issues (with the exception of ease of readability which e-ink gives).

I'm hoping even my Droid X (due today!) can provide a reading platform that is usable in most situations....remains to be seen though....should know in a week or so...

[krischik]

Originally Posted by rahulm

Why do you think people still use the iPhone over Android devices? The user experience is far superior even though Android OS is much more powerful and customizable.

Where did you get that funny idea from? My Nexus-One has the best user experience I have seen in a Mobile phone and I don't see any space for a "far superior" user experience above Android.

[krischik]

Originally Posted by Avwriter

If you set the font size to Medium, and load several books from different publishers, the fonts will often be different sizes, even though your reader is always set to medium.

Or you use calibre the fine tune the font size. For my PRS-505 I have converted ePubs to lit just for that (and to get full justification).

[krischik]

Originally Posted by Boston

Maybe its because it was different books, but it was definitely noticeable.

Different books - especially from different houses have different base fonts. If you want to compare fonts you need to compare the same book.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by EatingPie

For my use, the negatives of Wifi outweigh the positives.

+ Easy access to Reader from my Mac.
+ Buy books instantly from Reader.


- Did Sony promise to never remotely delete content without your permission? No, no they didn't! And as to Amazon making said promise... about as good as Sony NOT making the promise in my book (aka "worthless").
- Battery drain.
- Constant turning on/off when in use and not in use.

-Pie

It's a matter of personal choice and desire but for me wifi is a far larger plus than it is a negative. Yes, Amazon handled the book deletion poorly as they should have notified the purchasers of the copyright infringing book that it would be deleted before doing so. All monies were refunded. (IIRC, the amount refunded was greater than the purchase price.) If I were an author I would be glad that Amazon supports copyright.

Battery drain is minimal, mine lasts close to a week with the wifi on all the time.

I still love the convenience of automatically downloading my feeds from Calibre without having to use the USB. If I could do the same with the Sony then I would take a closer look at it if the purchase price were not so high.

I'm sure that the new Sonys will make a lot of people happy and choice is good.

ETA:

Let me add that wifi is *not* a distraction. Access to Wikipedia is great when I want more information than provided by the dictionary or want to find out more about the author or book series. Yesterday I used the browser to order some art supplies for my daughter. I was in the backyard at the time and it was nice to be able to do this quickly and then get back to my reading.

In the past I've stayed at hotels that had extremely slow or nonexistent wifi and the 3G allowed me to check emails. Sure I could've used my phone but the Kindle's 6" screen makes it easier to read email.

Like I said, choice is good.

[astra]

Originally Posted by beppe

on the contrary, i am seriously considering a device that would allow me everything. i have great hopes in the iPodTouch that my wife could give me. Now to be on the net i need either to go upstairs or to use a portable (old battery so it has to be power plugged), while i would like to be more agile, go outside for a smoke, for instance, while reading, and if a friend wants to chat, interrupt and chat.

I am afraid eInk isn't your cuppa.
On the other hand if you don't mind LCD, then I am sure there are plenty of gadgets all-in-one.
iPad for example. People say it is a fantastic gadget.
Or iPhone. I have played with it, I think it is a very good device. Stanza(for reading ebooks) is a mind blowing application
I don't know anything about iPods.
Nokia might be a good thing too.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by krischik

Where did you get that funny idea from? My Nexus-One has the best user experience I have seen in a Mobile phone and I don't see any space for a "far superior" user experience above Android.

Yep.

http://blog.quantcast.com/quantcast/...-os-share.html


Iphone is shrinking, Android is growing...

[Latinandgreek]

Here are my 2 cents concerning wi-fi: If the reader of my choice had wi-fi, great. If not, no big deal. I wouldn't pay extra for wi-fi, but a touchscreen is worth the extra money for me.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

In the past I've stayed at hotels that had extremely slow or nonexistent wifi and the 3G allowed me to check emails. Sure I could've used my phone but the Kindle's 6" screen makes it easier to read email.

Like I said, choice is good.

Call me old fashioned, but when I'm out of range, I never wish I were in range. Not even if I'm away for work.

I have a reader with wifi and we have a very good wifi connection at home. Never used it, after I played with it a bit when I first got it...