Day one with my new Kindle - Page 4

Donnageddon · 06-10-2008, 08:14 PM

I've had my Kindle for a little over a week, and I've had my Sony Reader PRS505 for about 9 months (I had a Sony Reader PRS500 for about a year before that).

Here is my feelings regarding the 505 vs. the Kindle.

They are both fantastic.

Donnageddon · 06-10-2008, 08:16 PM

But… I give the edge to the Kindle with one major caveat.

Pros: The Kindle has a slightly brighter screen background (i.e. the contrast is better than the 505 but they are both very readable)

The Kindle wireless book ordering is convenient and easy

Kindle store has more content available (although fictionwise, etc make this a slight advantage)

I absolutely love the constant wireless updates of Blogs and the access to the internet! Although I am very certain that Amazon will eventually start charging for the non-Kindle internet access. If it is a reasonable price, I will pay it. The whispernet access is THAT GOOD! (your access to EVDO may vary).

I find navigating with the system menu more intuitive and easier than the 505

The refresh rate when starting up the Kindle and when changing the font size is much, much quicker on the Kindle.

Little cons: I wish the Kindle had an "advance/retreat 10 pages" option as the 505 does; and I wish the Kindle had a sane page numbering system.

Big Con: The ergonomics of the Kindle are quite simply horrendous. I will tolerate no excuses or denials. The Kindle is a mass of sharp edges in most unfortunate places, and the turn page button on the right side is intrusive and annoying. The Kindle is much harder to hold than the 505, thus distracting from the reading experience.

Make no mistake, I will not be returning my Kindle. I am very fond of it. But I do hope they make some changes in the outward design of the thing. If you could combine the outward design of the 505 with the Kindle operating system and whispernet, the thing would be unbeatable!

Donnageddon · 06-10-2008, 08:21 PM

Oh, also the Kindle has an easily replaceable battery.

I like that.

tlrowley · 06-10-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Little cons: I wish the Kindle had an "advance/retreat 10 pages" option as the 505 does; and I wish the Kindle had a sane page numbering system.

It's not clear whether you know this or not, but Alt-Next and Alt-Previous will move you forward and backward in larger increments.

And I like the location system - 772 is always 772 regardless of the font size. How does the Sony handle page numbers in different fonts? Does chapter 6 always start on page 92, or is it a different page in a different font? That would drive me bonkers.

*numbers are changed to protect the innocent.

Donnageddon · 06-10-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlrowley

It's not clear whether you know this or not, but Alt-Next and Alt-Previous will move you forward and backward in larger increments.

And I like the location system - 772 is always 772 regardless of the font size. How does the Sony handle page numbers in different fonts? Does chapter 6 always start on page 92, or is it a different page in a different font? That would drive me bonkers.

*numbers are changed to protect the innocent.

Thanks for the advice on the "alt next, alt prev", but my, that is awkward! And I prefer advance and retreat at a "known quantity".

The 505 does re-paginate based on the font size, but if you find a comfortable font, there really is no confusion. in any event, the adv/prev & page numbering is admittedly a minor quibble for me.

TallMomof2 · 06-11-2008, 09:50 AM

alt next and alt prev take you 20% of the book in each direction.

Alisa · 06-11-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

The 505 does re-paginate based on the font size, but if you find a comfortable font, there really is no confusion. in any event, the adv/prev & page numbering is admittedly a minor quibble for me.

I have two comfortable fonts. I use 3 most of the time and 4 when I'm tired or the lighting isn't as good. I switch back and forth pretty often. I wonder how common that is.

tlrowley · 06-11-2008, 12:01 PM

Alisa, I switch fonts a lot, too. I use 2 most of the time, but 3 when I'm tired (or for the speed increase in the silly Topaz books!). I use my Mighty Bright almost all the time, even in normal room light. I don't think I could read at 2 without it.

I wonder if the Sony having fewer font-size choices means that folks change less frequently? That would be like changing 2 Kindle sizes, and I don't think I've ever done that (except to show if off!)

pshrynk · 06-11-2008, 12:11 PM

I use the 1 font most of the time, since I like long intervals between activity. I go to 3 or 4 if the lighting is poor and my eyes are tired. I have the flex neck light for those times when the lighting is ultra-poor.

JSWolf · 06-23-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

But… I give the edge to the Kindle with one major caveat.

Pros: The Kindle has a slightly brighter screen background (i.e. the contrast is better than the 505 but they are both very readable)

The Kindle cannot have a brighter screen then the 505. That's not possible since the 505 and Kindle use the exact same Vizplex screen. IN fact, that's the only 6" eink screen that is being made at present. So all the 6" eink devices are using the same Vizplex screen. What you might be seeing is an optical illusion based on the white case of the Kindle vs. the blue or silver of the 505

lovebeta · 06-24-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Kindle cannot have a brighter screen then the 505. That's not possible since the 505 and Kindle use the exact same Vizplex screen. IN fact, that's the only 6" eink screen that is being made at present. So all the 6" eink devices are using the same Vizplex screen. What you might be seeing is an optical illusion based on the white case of the Kindle vs. the blue or silver of the 505

Man, you shouldn't say that if you didn't see both items (Maybe you did?

). I have both and they do appear different. I am not sure if this is because of the control chip, 4 color vs 8 color etc. And... I actually think that PRS-505's screen is slightly better than Kindle. THe background of 505 is cleaner: the Kindle screen has quite several noise points, while 505's is uniformly gray. Therefore, for my three devices, I think
505 >= Kindle > 500.

Rocketime · 06-24-2008, 10:46 AM

I think your eyes are playing tricks on you. I think you are seeing a difference based on the formatting and fonts used which are different on each device.

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06-10-2008, 08:14 PM	#46
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	I've had my Kindle for a little over a week, and I've had my Sony Reader PRS505 for about 9 months (I had a Sony Reader PRS500 for about a year before that). Here is my feelings regarding the 505 vs. the Kindle. They are both fantastic.

06-10-2008, 08:16 PM	#47
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	But… I give the edge to the Kindle with one major caveat. Pros: The Kindle has a slightly brighter screen background (i.e. the contrast is better than the 505 but they are both very readable) The Kindle wireless book ordering is convenient and easy Kindle store has more content available (although fictionwise, etc make this a slight advantage) I absolutely love the constant wireless updates of Blogs and the access to the internet! Although I am very certain that Amazon will eventually start charging for the non-Kindle internet access. If it is a reasonable price, I will pay it. The whispernet access is THAT GOOD! (your access to EVDO may vary). I find navigating with the system menu more intuitive and easier than the 505 The refresh rate when starting up the Kindle and when changing the font size is much, much quicker on the Kindle. Little cons: I wish the Kindle had an "advance/retreat 10 pages" option as the 505 does; and I wish the Kindle had a sane page numbering system. Big Con: The ergonomics of the Kindle are quite simply horrendous. I will tolerate no excuses or denials. The Kindle is a mass of sharp edges in most unfortunate places, and the turn page button on the right side is intrusive and annoying. The Kindle is much harder to hold than the 505, thus distracting from the reading experience. Make no mistake, I will not be returning my Kindle. I am very fond of it. But I do hope they make some changes in the outward design of the thing. If you could combine the outward design of the 505 with the Kindle operating system and whispernet, the thing would be unbeatable!

06-10-2008, 08:21 PM	#48
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	Oh, also the Kindle has an easily replaceable battery. I like that.

06-11-2008, 09:50 AM	#51
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	alt next and alt prev take you 20% of the book in each direction.

06-11-2008, 12:01 PM	#53
tlrowley Quilt Geek Posts: 472 Karma: 91775 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA Device: Kindle	Alisa, I switch fonts a lot, too. I use 2 most of the time, but 3 when I'm tired (or for the speed increase in the silly Topaz books!). I use my Mighty Bright almost all the time, even in normal room light. I don't think I could read at 2 without it. I wonder if the Sony having fewer font-size choices means that folks change less frequently? That would be like changing 2 Kindle sizes, and I don't think I've ever done that (except to show if off!)

06-11-2008, 12:11 PM	#54
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	I use the 1 font most of the time, since I like long intervals between activity. I go to 3 or 4 if the lighting is poor and my eyes are tired. I have the flex neck light for those times when the lighting is ultra-poor.

06-24-2008, 10:46 AM	#57
Rocketime Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 431 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fruita, CO Device: Kindle/Nook Color/NST/Acer Iconica	I think your eyes are playing tricks on you. I think you are seeing a difference based on the formatting and fonts used which are different on each device.