8+ Readers in comparison

[llreader]

Crap. I can't just download them to the Mac if I have an iPod touch? (I don't but my daughter does). I don't live in the US, so I couldn't use the Kindle wireless in any case.

PS Can anyone tell me how to get notifications for a thread (like this one)? I can't seem to figure out how to get it to tell me when someone posts here...

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by llreader

Crap. I can't just download them to the Mac if I have an iPod touch? (I don't but my daughter does). I don't live in the US, so I couldn't use the Kindle wireless in any case.

No, if you ONLY have an iPod registered to the Kindle store you can NOT d/l to your PC. If you have a Kindle registered you can.

BOb

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by llreader

mgmuller: Great stuff! This is my first post, but I was wondering why you buy readers in NY? I am an American ex-pat living in Spain, so I know how crappy the service is (Sony doesn't even sell a reader in Spain :-( ), but it seems that if you can get the same product for about what US price + shipping would be, it seems like it is easier to get service locally.

Anyway, I do have a question. I want to buy a PRS-600 (just because they are cool, but also to get easier access to English-language books here, since buying and shipping is outrageously expensive). I talked to the guy at the Sony story here, and he says they should have them here in "3-4 weeks" (there is nothing on the Sony website yet). I was wondering if you can change the language on the software interface to the reader. I would rather spend the extra cash to get an English-language reader sent here than to have the whole interface in Spanish. Can you switch yours to German?

Many thanks for all your posts!

Why I'm buying in the US? Sony 300 for example I still can't get directly in Germany. Sony 600 is announced for mid October.
It's childish, I know, but I simply can't wait. Once decided for a unit, 5 days from the US already seem to last forever...

For comparison:
Sony 600 from the US: $ 299 + $ 40 shipment + € 50 VAT/customs = € 310
Sony 600 in Germany (available 6 weeks later) = € 299
Usually, after costs for shipment plus VAT/customs, price more or less is identical, whether I order from the US or directly in Germany.
I'll have problems with warranty in case of failure. But I'm willing to risk that to have my units ahead of schedule. And sometimes, like Sony 700, the units won't be available in Germany at all.

I can switch my Sony 600 from English to German, French and Dutch. It's the standard unit from the US.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by llreader

Crap. I can't just download them to the Mac if I have an iPod touch? (I don't but my daughter does). I don't live in the US, so I couldn't use the Kindle wireless in any case.

PS Can anyone tell me how to get notifications for a thread (like this one)? I can't seem to figure out how to get it to tell me when someone posts here...

I think, as soon as you post within a thread, you're automatically registered to the respective thread. After having done so, in "thread tools" you can unsubscribe from the thread. I'm getting notifications once per week (probably can be changed in settings) with all the posts already attached to the notification.

[llreader]

Thanks! That is very helpful. The guy at the local Sony store said they would have the 600 in "3-4 weeks", which apparently is news to everyone on the forum. I pressed him on it, and after confirming it again, he clammed up.

I hear there is some Sony announcement on October 2, so maybe that will be when they announce it. I would like to hold one and try it before I buy it. And see if I can change the language (since Spanish wasn't on that list of languages, and I have gotten things like official DVDs here of English-language movies that are dubbed and have no original version - I hate that). I can buy it from the US as an alternate choice.

Have you ever tried using the Sony software to take ebooks out of the library? Is that even an option where you live?

Ok, great stuff. I am getting excited. HA! Excited to sit quietly and read a book. :-D

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by llreader

Thanks! That is very helpful. The guy at the local Sony store said they would have the 600 in "3-4 weeks", which apparently is news to everyone on the forum. I pressed him on it, and after confirming it again, he clammed up.

did you mean to type "900"? The 600 has be out for a few weeks now.

BOb

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by llreader

Thanks! That is very helpful. The guy at the local Sony store said they would have the 600 in "3-4 weeks", which apparently is news to everyone on the forum. I pressed him on it, and after confirming it again, he clammed up.

I hear there is some Sony announcement on October 2, so maybe that will be when they announce it. I would like to hold one and try it before I buy it. And see if I can change the language (since Spanish wasn't on that list of languages, and I have gotten things like official DVDs here of English-language movies that are dubbed and have no original version - I hate that). I can buy it from the US as an alternate choice.

Have you ever tried using the Sony software to take ebooks out of the library? Is that even an option where you live?

Ok, great stuff. I am getting excited. HA! Excited to sit quietly and read a book. :-D

I've bought about 200 eBooks from Sony's webshop and another 200 from various sources in ePUB format.
I'm outside of the US, so I had to purchase via gift cards from Sony. Purchasing ePUB with European credit card usually isn't a problem.
Sometimes there are regional limitations for certain books. But some bookstores don't care, for other's it's enough to give a US address.

I haven't tried lending any books from public libraries. I have no idea, whether our libraries in Germany actually even propose this.
I'm collecting stuff, so I'm not really into lending anyway.

Some German bookstore (don't remember which one, but definitely of the bigger ones) did announce for Sony 600 beginning of this week: Pre-orders accepted, available mid of October.
Usually, statements like that are extremely reliable.
I've just read in another thread, US retailers even would offer certain warranty plans for overseas. Not important to me. Usually, I'm lucky with my equipment. And let's face it: In 2 years there will be another gadget anyway. But for some, this kind of additional warranty package may be an additional safety net they would like to have.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

did you mean to type "900"? The 600 has be out for a few weeks now.

BOb

He lives in Spain, I'm in Germany. Here Sony 600 just has been announced. And from Sony 300 I didn't see anything yet.
You guys from the US are more lucky than we are for buying gadgets.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

He lives in Spain, I'm in Germany. Here Sony 600 just has been announced. And from Sony 300 I didn't see anything yet.
You guys from the US are more lucky than we are for buying gadgets.

Ah... I missed that fact. Thanks for the clarification.

BOb

[llreader]

Yep, Bob, that is exactly the problem. The European market is badly fragmented (Sony has information on the Reader on their French, Irish and Dutch websites, but not the Spanish one - still not sure if it is available yet anywhere, since I haven't looked). I am hoping to be able to buy a PRS-600 next month here in town, but I will order one from the US if I have to. The PRS-900 looks like it will be nice, but it seems a little big for my needs, an probably more than I want to pay. And the 3G wireless isn't gonig to do me much good here, even if it is available, because the Sony store is expensive and I am sure the service will not be cheap (cell phone service in Spain is the most expensive in Europe).

[CarsP1]

That's exactly the thread I've been looking for. I am planning to get a reader and here are some nice reviews. I want to buy either the Kindle2 or one of the Sony readers. Haven't made my decision yet but I think after some online price comparison I will be ready to shop. I have a little preference for Kindle because of the raving reviews but Sony has many great quality products, really like my MP3 player and my HiFi set.

[theles92843]

Mgmueller, I didnt seem to see you mention built-in dictionary as a desired feature. Since it is one that I would highly value, and so far, it seems only the Kindle and Sony PRS-600 offer this, is it correct?

[HarryT]

Those are the only ones with a built-in dictionary, but the CyBook Gen3 and iRex DR1000S can use any MobiPocket dictionary (or even more than one) which gives you a lot more flexibility.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Those are the only ones with a built-in dictionary, but the CyBook Gen3 and iRex DR1000S can use any MobiPocket dictionary (or even more than one) which gives you a lot more flexibility.

You even can strip DRMed Mobipocket dictionaries from DRM, convert them to unDRMed .mobi files and use them on Kindle.
Kindle originally is intended for the US market only, so only supporting an (very good though) English dictionary. I've integrated a German-English as my standard dictionary, which is more helpful to me.
On iRex you even can choose on a word by word basis, which dictionary to use.

[mgmueller]

My momentary ranking, without additional comments:

#13: BeBook
#12: Sony 300
#11: Sony 700
#10: Cybook Gen3
#9: iRex 1000S
#8: Sony 600
#7: Kindle DX
#6: Sony 505
#5: iRex 800
#4: iRex iLiad
#3: Cybook Opus
#2: Kindle 2
#1: Sony 900

As always, absolutely subjective evaluation.

EDIT: iRex 800, after first (slight) disappointment, gaining ground. Top5 really are close, iRex 800 certainly is in it.