Reasons I'm not getting a Kindle but the Sony 505 instead. - Page 3

Astropin · 11-30-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

A good point for Kindle... well for Amazon actually, is they got prices to go down on ebooks all around other sites.

True......made my choice even easier now that the prices are virtually the same for both. I found a few books I'm looking at cheaper from Connect then from Amazon.

runciter · 11-30-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

But you don't need "blazing" for books. Book files are small. EDGE is fine for things like web browsing and e-mail, and does it really matter if a book download (which, as I understand it, happens as a "background" operation anyway) takes 2 minutes or 10 minutes?

True it is a background op, but it makes it more of an inpulse/instant gratification feedback loop which makes it more and more attractive to buy books (obviously the main purpose for Amazon). Obviously books sizes vary, but a 4 MB book takes ~6.5 mins to download on EDGE (assuming 80 kbps) vs <60 seconds on EVDO (assuming 700 kbps). I'd wager that if 5-10 min downloads were the norm for OTA downloads, the blogosphere would say it would be faster/cheaper to just hook up a USB cable and it would negate a bullet point for the Kindle. Besides, look at all the uproar over the iPhone and them going with EDGE and all the slagging they've received.

runciter · 11-30-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astropin

True......made my choice even easier now that the prices are virtually the same for both. I found a few books I'm looking at cheaper from Connect then from Amazon.

Awesome! Hopefully Sony continues to improve the Connect store, adds more titles the Amazon store doesn't have, which hopefully will cause Amazon to do the same. Competition is great

tsgreer · 11-30-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you want a dictionary you could get a CyBook Gen3. Midway in price between the Sony Reader and the Kindle. Whereas the Kindle has its built-in dictionary which I believe (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) you're stuck with, the Gen3 will use any MobiPocket dictionary, which gives you a choice of HUNDREDS of dictionaries to choose from - English, other languages, and specialist ones (medical dictionaries, art dictionaries, etc).

Actually that is an awesome feature. I don't know if Kindle can do that, someone mentioned that it might be able to. Being able to pic different dictionaries would be pretty handy...

kpfeifle · 11-30-2007, 01:06 PM

The Kindle owners manual in PDF on the Amazon page clearly states that if you buy another dictionary you can change the internal lookup to use the new one instead of the built in one. So you are good to go!

tsgreer · 11-30-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpfeifle

The Kindle owners manual in PDF on the Amazon page clearly states that if you buy another dictionary you can change the internal lookup to use the new one instead of the built in one. So you are good to go!

Yep it works. I just tried it with the GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English that's available here in the Mobileread downloads section. It's actually easy to change the dictionary settings under the Kindle's Settings section. So very cool!

wallcraft · 11-30-2007, 01:46 PM

So you don't even need to buy another dictionary - providing you use a DRM-free PRC dictionary. Thats good news, and I don't remember the User's Guide saying anything about PRC dictionaries. This is one area, though, where is may be worth buying a DRMed AZW version - just to get your favorite up to date dictionary.

Alisa · 11-30-2007, 02:37 PM

@rflashman

Another thing about the Kindle store I like is the sample chapter. I love being able read the first chapter before buying and it's easy enough to just download it when I hear about a book I might like. It's free and I can decide later if I really want to buy it. The only thing I wish is that they moved the bookmark in the full copy to the end of the sample chapter so I could pick up reading it seamlessly.

rflashman · 11-30-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

@rflashman

Another thing about the Kindle store I like is the sample chapter. I love being able read the first chapter before buying and it's easy enough to just download it when I hear about a book I might like. It's free and I can decide later if I really want to buy it. The only thing I wish is that they moved the bookmark in the full copy to the end of the sample chapter so I could pick up reading it seamlessly.

I agree that really duplicates the "in store feel" of being able to pick a book up and look 'inside of it' in order to decide if you want to buy it.

Rocketime · 11-30-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rflashman

I agree that really duplicates the "in store feel" of being able to pick a book up and look 'inside of it' in order to decide if you want to buy it.

Agree, this is a nice benefit to the Kindle.

tsgreer · 11-30-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

So you don't even need to buy another dictionary - providing you use a DRM-free PRC dictionary. Thats good news, and I don't remember the User's Guide saying anything about PRC dictionaries. This is one area, though, where is may be worth buying a DRMed AZW version - just to get your favorite up to date dictionary.

Yeah, the dictionary change out thing is something I overlooked until HarryT mentioned it. I wouldn't even have thought of it, so it's good to know that Kindle can do that.

Turtle Woman · 12-01-2007, 03:58 PM

If I didn't have a 505 already I might buy a Kindle because of the convenience and my love of Amazon and because the connection to Wikipedia is the beginning of what I think a true ebook reader should be. But I love my 505 because it is beautiful, especially in its pink leather cover (makes me feel like I'm reading a collector's edition book) and because I can always find plenty to read at the Connect store. The Kindle is just ugly and I like pretty things. We'll see how both devices progress over the next couple of years, but for now my 505 is a keeper.

Ikasu · 12-01-2007, 10:02 PM

I'm going to stay with the Sony Reader, at least for now.
Sony's need to be competitive in digital markets has led it into more than a few setbacks and red quarters, but their products are always quality; and faced with the wireless Kindle, there's little doubt that Sony will release an internet-enabled Reader in the next year or two unless they are completely destroyed (and for once this year they have a price advantage over their competitors!)

With publishing companies like Random House on its side and a partnership with Borders, the Reader will have more appeal to the real bookstore crowd! :P

Arek_W · 12-02-2007, 04:49 AM

I guess all non-US owners who have Sony will stay with Sony. Fact of life. Besides I keep my Sony also for esthetics, Kindle is ugly and Sony looks sharp. Afraid that while reading Kindle ppl may ask me why do I carry with me a Commodor/Amstrad keyboard

HarryT · 12-02-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsgreer

Yeah, the dictionary change out thing is something I overlooked until HarryT mentioned it. I wouldn't even have thought of it, so it's good to know that Kindle can do that.

Are many dictionaries available for the Kindle? At the current time, Mobi sell 202 different dictionaries which can be used on any MobiPocket device.

12-01-2007, 10:02 PM	#43
Ikasu Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I'm going to stay with the Sony Reader, at least for now. Sony's need to be competitive in digital markets has led it into more than a few setbacks and red quarters, but their products are always quality; and faced with the wireless Kindle, there's little doubt that Sony will release an internet-enabled Reader in the next year or two unless they are completely destroyed (and for once this year they have a price advantage over their competitors!) With publishing companies like Random House on its side and a partnership with Borders, the Reader will have more appeal to the real bookstore crowd! :P Last edited by Ikasu; 12-01-2007 at 10:02 PM. Reason: typo

12-02-2007, 04:49 AM	#44
Arek_W Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wroclaw, Poland Device: PRS-505, ASUS N636	I guess all non-US owners who have Sony will stay with Sony. Fact of life. Besides I keep my Sony also for esthetics, Kindle is ugly and Sony looks sharp. Afraid that while reading Kindle ppl may ask me why do I carry with me a Commodor/Amstrad keyboard Last edited by Arek_W; 12-02-2007 at 05:21 AM.

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11-30-2007, 01:06 PM	#35
kpfeifle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 49 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Sony PRS-300- Kindle 3 (WiFi)	The Kindle owners manual in PDF on the Amazon page clearly states that if you buy another dictionary you can change the internal lookup to use the new one instead of the built in one. So you are good to go!

11-30-2007, 01:46 PM	#37
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	So you don't even need to buy another dictionary - providing you use a DRM-free PRC dictionary. Thats good news, and I don't remember the User's Guide saying anything about PRC dictionaries. This is one area, though, where is may be worth buying a DRMed AZW version - just to get your favorite up to date dictionary.

11-30-2007, 02:37 PM	#38
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	@rflashman Another thing about the Kindle store I like is the sample chapter. I love being able read the first chapter before buying and it's easy enough to just download it when I hear about a book I might like. It's free and I can decide later if I really want to buy it. The only thing I wish is that they moved the bookmark in the full copy to the end of the sample chapter so I could pick up reading it seamlessly.

12-01-2007, 03:58 PM	#42
Turtle Woman Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roswell, NM Device: Sony Reader	If I didn't have a 505 already I might buy a Kindle because of the convenience and my love of Amazon and because the connection to Wikipedia is the beginning of what I think a true ebook reader should be. But I love my 505 because it is beautiful, especially in its pink leather cover (makes me feel like I'm reading a collector's edition book) and because I can always find plenty to read at the Connect store. The Kindle is just ugly and I like pretty things. We'll see how both devices progress over the next couple of years, but for now my 505 is a keeper.

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