Reasons I'm not getting a Kindle but the Sony 505 instead.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Believe me - web surfing on an eInk device is not something you'd want to do .

But when you're sitting in a doctor's waiting room or the imaging waiting room it's nice to be able to go out on the web and find info. Haven't been in any medical offices with free WiFi except my kids' orthodontist but he's the exception. Fortunately, I live in an area with excellent Whispernet coverage.

[Ervserver]

I'd like to think I could go a couple hours a day without internet access....if not someone please shoot me now

[Alisa]

Yes but sometimes you need specific information while you're out. I found it very frustrating in the vet's office a few weeks ago when I wanted to get the nutritional info for some food to show him. My phone's battery was dead and the page with the information I wanted wouldn't display correctly on the Kindle. Took me forever to move through the site to the right page and then I couldn't even get the information I wanted. It would've worked on my phone just fine. Even trying to download a book off of Feedbooks is a three hour tour. I wouldn't use it for websurfing unless I really needed to. Of course if I've got a couple of hours to kill, I'd far rather be reading one of the books I've got on it!

[Ervserver]

If web browsing gets too good on the Kindle people will be driving their cars and Kindling at the same time.

[astra]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

But when you're sitting in a doctor's waiting room or the imaging waiting room it's nice to be able to go out on the web and find info. Haven't been in any medical offices with free WiFi except my kids' orthodontist but he's the exception. Fortunately, I live in an area with excellent Whispernet coverage.

Disagree with you.

For me it is like ....voluntary subject yuorself to a hardship of using 33.3 modem with 486 computer instead of quadcore pc with 20M broadband.

I would prefer to read a book or a magazin instead of using a device similar to Kindle for browsing the Internet.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rflashman

My Sony Reader's connect software stopped working when I upgraded to Vista 64, with no plans from Sony to support me. So I don't entirely agree with this assessment. Also, if the Kindle's wireless stops working, isn't it the same as the Sony Reader?

You'll need to blame Microsoft for your issue with Sony. MS makes it hard to get a 64-bit drive written and all you have to go through to do is is not worth it for the small amount of users of the 64-bit Vista.

That said, you'll need a 32-bit Windows to properly run Ebook Library. That's just the way it is.

One thing I am not sure of though is because the 505 is seens as a mass storage device by the OS, no extra driver is needed. The 505 & Ebook Library might very well function on a 64-bit version of Windows. It's only the 500 that needs a specific USB driver and that driver is 32-bit only.

[rflashman]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You'll need to blame Microsoft for your issue with Sony. MS makes it hard to get a 64-bit drive written and all you have to go through to do is is not worth it for the small amount of users of the 64-bit Vista.

That's a Sony decision, not Microsoft. Logitech, Canon, and pretty much everyone else don't seem to have a problem supporting Vista 64 (it had been a year now). Actually, most 32-bit drivers work fine in Vista.

The Sony Reader is the *only* device I have for Windows that does not support Vista 64. My (all pre-Vista) Canon printer, web cam, USB DVD burner, USB hard drive, etc. all work fine. They either have 64-bit drivers, or the 32-bit drivers work fine.

So I don't blame Microsoft. Sony had the beta Vista 64 for a year before release, and now it is a year after release. Sony stopped supporting me. I can't do much about that decision, except to buy a Kindle.

[Ervserver]

64 bit versions of Windows is not targeted at the casual home user, even the popular iPhone is not supported for 64 bit versions. A majority of users will be very disappointed by installing Vista x64. The lack of 64-bit drivers for most current hardware will be very disappointing and frustrating to most users.

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by rflashman

That's a Sony decision, not Microsoft. Logitech, Canon, and pretty much everyone else don't seem to have a problem supporting Vista 64 (it had been a year now). Actually, most 32-bit drivers work fine in Vista.

The Sony Reader is the *only* device I have for Windows that does not support Vista 64. My (all pre-Vista) Canon printer, web cam, USB DVD burner, USB hard drive, etc. all work fine. They either have 64-bit drivers, or the 32-bit drivers work fine.

So I don't blame Microsoft. Sony had the beta Vista 64 for a year before release, and now it is a year after release. Sony stopped supporting me. I can't do much about that decision, except to buy a Kindle.

Just use the 505, it works on 64bit Vista as well. Or even better switch to 64bit Linux.

[cmumford]

Originally Posted by Ervserver

64 bit versions of Windows is not targeted at the casual home user, even the popular iPhone is not supported for 64 bit versions. A majority of users will be very disappointed by installing Vista x64. The lack of 64-bit drivers for most current hardware will be very disappointing and frustrating to most users.

I think that generally you're right in what you say, but the difference may not be as drastic as you describe. I run 64-bit Vista Ultimate and was quite impressed how well it runs 32-bit applications. I believe that Microsoft won't WHQL certify a driver unless the manufacturer submits both 32 and 64 bit versions of the driver. For instance I recently purchased a new laptop and you can download 64-bit drivers for everything.

I was even able to download 64-bit drivers from HP for a 13 hear old laser printer! That being said I do believe that this is not the norm and owners of older hardware will have problems.

Also, I had to keep my old 32-bit machine running because it won't sync with my iPhone - that sucks!

[DrMoze]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

But when you're sitting in a doctor's waiting room or the imaging waiting room it's nice to be able to go out on the web and find info. Haven't been in any medical offices with free WiFi except my kids' orthodontist but he's the exception. Fortunately, I live in an area with excellent Whispernet coverage.

That's what my Blackberry is for. (With Opera Mini browser.) ANd I keep it charged--a necessity. My Reader is for... reading. I even used it today while waiting in a doctor's office! (Really.)

Actually, the battery life can be an issue. Someone mentioned earlier in the thread that the e-book readers should improve on paper books, citing the Kindle's dictionary and wireless functions. I think it's more important that the e-book readers don't introduce significant disadvantages with respect to paper books. A key factor for my choice of a second Sony Reader (after the Kindle came out) was that I knew the Reader works essentially "like a book." I have a few month's worth of spare-time reading on it and the internal memory is far from full, even without a memory card. Connecting to my pc once every couple of weeks is enough to add a few books I may have come across in the interim, which I keep in a folder on my desktop.

OTOH, long battery life is *critical* IMO. It's bad enough having to keep other devices charged regularly. I want my Reader to be like a book. Pick it up, take it with me, flip a switch and it's ready for me. I'm never worried about running out of juice--a 2-3 week battery life is a huge advantage. Just like I never have th 'recharge' my paper books or worry about them running out of power. Plus, the Sony Reader is thin, and fits easily in a coat or jacket pocket. I never use a dictionary when I read, and the Kindle's "extra" features don't appeal to me, while it's negatives are significant for my reading habits and wants.

[Alisa]

Luckily you can easily turn off the wireless and have nice long battery life. I've been reading every day and haven't recharged for the last week and the battery's hardly down any.

[KDawg]

I like my PRS-500. I like it a lot. I like the form factor and the metal case. I love the eInk and the battery life. But I have followed the Kindle intensely from rumor to review because I don't like Sony very much and I love Amazon. Unfortunately, I have been very disappointed in the reviews of the Kindle device (not the service). The thick, awkward plastic body and the vast array of buttons that are hard to avoid when picking the Kindle up (or so I've read) have really turned me off. I determined to wait for a Kindle redesign.

I dropped by Borders tonight and they had the PRS-505 out on display. It was love at first sight. The slightly awkward controls of the PRS-500 have been cleaned up, the case is cleaner and easier to handle, and the next-generation eInk (same as on the Kindle I believe) display is a vast improvement over the PRS-500 display, which I was happy with. So I caved in and bought it. I think this beautiful new hardware has won me over to Sony for the long run. Now if only Sony would clean up their software and snuggle up to the publishers.

I do wish Amazon would dump the Kindle and team up with Sony for their hardware. That would be the best of both worlds.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by DrMoze

That's what my Blackberry is for. (With Opera Mini browser.) ANd I keep it charged--a necessity. My Reader is for... reading. I even used it today while waiting in a doctor's office! (Really.)

I have a basic phone, so for me the Kindle was a nice way to look up some info online while in various waiting rooms. It was nice to be able to calm my fears and have intelligent questions for the medical professionals.

No, it's not especially pleasant going online but that was my only choice. I have a Palm T|X with built in wireless but unless I upgrade my phone account so that I can tether my Palm to the phone to go online I'll have to stay with the Kindle.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by KDawg

I do wish Amazon would dump the Kindle and team up with Sony for their hardware. That would be the best of both worlds.

From your mouth to Bezos' ears! The Sony Reader is so sexy. Now if they could add in the lovely search features and the Kindle store, I'd be in e-ink Nirvana.