Why should I get a SONY reader over a Kindle or nook?

crutnacker · 12-03-2009, 07:20 AM

I understand the idea that SONY uses more open formats, but let's assume I'm a guy who likes best sellers and new content. Given the price premium for SONY (at least for the readers that have a lot of features), why should I get a SONY over others?

I'm genuinely interested because I like the look of SONY readers, but think the Kindle and nook feature sets might be more important to me. Having never used any of them, I don't really know.

ficbot · 12-03-2009, 07:25 AM

Kindle can't read epub library books. My library has over 400 best-seller new release type of library books, so for me this would be a deal-breaker.

nick101 · 12-03-2009, 07:50 AM

I don't see a great price premium for the Sony. It's widely available,m and there are some decent offers. There's no price competition for the Kindle or the Nook, since they're only available from Amazon and B&N respectively.

I'd hold off on the Nook for a while - bound to be some teething troubles with the early ones

If you're happy withe the Amazon lock-in, the Kindle's a decent buy. If you're not, the Sony is a better bet.

But don;t forget that there are other multi-format readers around. Sony's not the only choice (much as I love mine)

Katti's Cat · 12-03-2009, 08:10 AM

I opted against the Kindle purely for the fact that I would be forced to buy from Amazon - I don't like that. The Sony allows me (geographical restrictions permitting) to buy whereever I want. Sure, it is convenient to go to one store, but the concept goes against my grain.

rvdparis · 12-03-2009, 02:25 PM

The Kindle doesn't have a touchscreen...? Doesn't seem 'natural' to me...

DougFNJ · 12-03-2009, 03:09 PM

I personally don't like the look and size of the Kindle. The Keyboard is nice to have, but I prefer the touchscreen with the on screen keyboard. I like my technology to be compact and versatile....nothing beats the touchscreen IMHO. The Nook looks nice, but preference for me is for the Sony Reader.

FragFrog · 12-03-2009, 03:28 PM

On the one hand I want my reader to be as small as possible to make it easier to hold in my hand while reading (especially on busses / trains / planes where you cannot generally prop it up somewhere), yet on the other I want a reader to be as big as possible to maximize screen size. Ideally this means getting as little excess 'junk' on the reader as can be. For this reason alone both the Nook as well as the Kindle II are not my preferred choice - sure, they might make great devices, but if I wanted a device I can type on or watch tiny color videos on (and not even well if I am to believe the stories) I would get out my laptop.

For the Kindle DX this is somewhat less of an issue, yet there comes Amazons lockin into play - they are just a tad bit too happy to oblige publishers with restrictions on what you can buy where and whom exactly that content belongs to after you "buy" it.

Mind you, if I had the money I would toss the Sony and get an iRex DR800 / DR1000 for pretty much the reasons mentioned above.

Ea · 12-03-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougFNJ

I personally don't like the look and size of the Kindle. The Keyboard is nice to have, but I prefer the touchscreen with the on screen keyboard. I like my technology to be compact and versatile....nothing beats the touchscreen IMHO. The Nook looks nice, but preference for me is for the Sony Reader.

I know it's different for different people, but I can type much faster with the Kindle keyboard than I have ever been able to with a Dell PDA, an iPod Touch and the iRex readers. I think, for me, it's the lack of physical feedback that's the problem. I really have to see what I'm doing if it's touch screen. With the Kindle I only need a glance and I can feel the button, and so my eyes can glance towards the next button. It just felt so much more comfortable right from the start.

The Sony is really nice though, and if it wasn't because I usually de-DRM books I buy, I would have had serious doubts about the Kindle because of Amazon's locking-in policy. I re-read a lot, so I want to be able to access my books in the long-term future - also if I get a new device. I think epub is - ATM - the best bet.

mxgamon · 12-03-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

Kindle can't read epub library books. My library has over 400 best-seller new release type of library books, so for me this would be a deal-breaker.

Wish my library had ANY ebooks - they have audiobooks only. Where is your library?

If I get a Sony, where besides the Sony store can I purchase new release popular books? If I use the Sony store, does the DRM restrict what device I can play it on, besides my computer? Can the DRM be removed?

Ea · 12-03-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mxgamon

Wish my library had ANY ebooks - they have audiobooks only. Where is your library?

If I get a Sony, where besides the Sony store can I purchase new release popular books? If I use the Sony store, does the DRM restrict what device I can play it on, besides my computer? Can the DRM be removed?

Any store that sells Adobe Digital Edition DRM'd epub (which is most of them (except - at the moment - B&N?))

For example:
fictionwise.com
diesel-ebooks.com
booksonboard.com
cyberread.com
waterstones.co.uk
ebooks.whsmith.co.uk
baen books (webscription.net) DRM free

...and probably many more. Not all of them sell all of their books in epub though.

Try to google this: 'inept adept epub'

mxgamon · 12-03-2009, 07:13 PM

Looking up popular novels on Fictionwise, most seem to to be in Secure Mobipocket and/or eReader. Unless I'm mistaken, Sony readers cannot read either, or can they?

budalb · 12-03-2009, 07:46 PM

Two reasons for me to buy Sony. 1) epub support, 2) SD card. Actually Nook has both and 3G +wifi. But Nook is bigger. I don't want to buy from BN. Not sure it's wifi function. BTW I got a good deal from Walmart.com. The only good thing of Kindle is free Gmail.

Haesslich · 12-03-2009, 10:01 PM

There's also the whole 'Sony can't reach over the air or through Sony Ebook Library and start deleting titles off my reader' issue that Amazon's already invoked once. Even APPLE has been careful about not using the killswitch on any apps they currently offer in the app store - they'll just remove it from the listings, which means you can't get it... and that's it. Knowing Amazon can, and is more than willing, to go into your Kindle to start deleting books is.. well, it's a good incentive to not go Kindle.

Of course, for extra irony points, they had to start this practice with 1984..

Solitaire1 · 12-03-2009, 11:38 PM

One of the main factors that led me to choose the Sony Reader (I purchased my first one before the Kindle was released) is that I can put my own ebooks on my reader without having to go through an external agency. Among the types of ebooks I like to put on my reader are stories that I've written so I can read and review them. A related factor is that it supports many common ebook formats so I can make my own ebooks for my reader.

When I first heard about the Kindle, it looked interesting. Unfortunately, the one thing that made it a "no go" for me was the requirement to send my ebooks to Amazon so they can put them on my Kindle (this may not have been true or may no longer be true, but that is what I understood when I first heard of the Kindle). For me, just the possibility that that might be true was not acceptable and it caused me to not consider the Kindle when choosing to upgrade my ebook reader (I chose a Sony PRS-505).

Although my Sony Reader isn't as fancy as the other ebook readers on the market, it does a terrific job as an ebook reader. When I upgraded to the PRS-505, it added features that dealt with the main limitations I found with the PRS-500 (such as not being able to quickly go to an exact page, and not being able to put collections on a memory card).

Although there are some features I'd like to see added to future versions of the Sony Reader (such as the ability to select a display typeface for all plain text and RTF files), I've been very pleased with my PRS-505. It is likely I will stay with the Sony Reader when it comes time to upgrade once again.

ficbot · 12-04-2009, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mxgamon

Looking up popular novels on Fictionwise, most seem to to be in Secure Mobipocket and/or eReader. Unless I'm mistaken, Sony readers cannot read either, or can they?

Not without 'liberation' via special scripts. But then, the Kindle is in the same boat on that one. There is currently not a book-sized (i.e. non-smartphone) device which supports secure eReader.

12-03-2009, 07:20 AM	#1
crutnacker Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 850 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: None	Why should I get a SONY reader over a Kindle or nook? I understand the idea that SONY uses more open formats, but let's assume I'm a guy who likes best sellers and new content. Given the price premium for SONY (at least for the readers that have a lot of features), why should I get a SONY over others? I'm genuinely interested because I like the look of SONY readers, but think the Kindle and nook feature sets might be more important to me. Having never used any of them, I don't really know.

12-03-2009, 03:28 PM	#7
FragFrog Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 32 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Device: PRS-600	On the one hand I want my reader to be as small as possible to make it easier to hold in my hand while reading (especially on busses / trains / planes where you cannot generally prop it up somewhere), yet on the other I want a reader to be as big as possible to maximize screen size. Ideally this means getting as little excess 'junk' on the reader as can be. For this reason alone both the Nook as well as the Kindle II are not my preferred choice - sure, they might make great devices, but if I wanted a device I can type on or watch tiny color videos on (and not even well if I am to believe the stories) I would get out my laptop. For the Kindle DX this is somewhat less of an issue, yet there comes Amazons lockin into play - they are just a tad bit too happy to oblige publishers with restrictions on what you can buy where and whom exactly that content belongs to after you "buy" it. Mind you, if I had the money I would toss the Sony and get an iRex DR800 / DR1000 for pretty much the reasons mentioned above. Last edited by FragFrog; 12-03-2009 at 03:31 PM.

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12-03-2009, 07:25 AM	#2
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Kindle can't read epub library books. My library has over 400 best-seller new release type of library books, so for me this would be a deal-breaker.

12-03-2009, 07:50 AM	#3
nick101 Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 1248 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Milton Keynes UK Device: Sony PRS-600 Touch, iPhone	I don't see a great price premium for the Sony. It's widely available,m and there are some decent offers. There's no price competition for the Kindle or the Nook, since they're only available from Amazon and B&N respectively. I'd hold off on the Nook for a while - bound to be some teething troubles with the early ones If you're happy withe the Amazon lock-in, the Kindle's a decent buy. If you're not, the Sony is a better bet. But don;t forget that there are other multi-format readers around. Sony's not the only choice (much as I love mine)

12-03-2009, 08:10 AM	#4
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	I opted against the Kindle purely for the fact that I would be forced to buy from Amazon - I don't like that. The Sony allows me (geographical restrictions permitting) to buy whereever I want. Sure, it is convenient to go to one store, but the concept goes against my grain.

12-03-2009, 02:25 PM	#5
rvdparis Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 140 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle Touch + iPad 1 + iPhone 4	The Kindle doesn't have a touchscreen...? Doesn't seem 'natural' to me...

12-03-2009, 03:09 PM	#6
DougFNJ Avid Reader Posts: 273 Karma: 1332 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature, 2TB iPad Pro 11”	I personally don't like the look and size of the Kindle. The Keyboard is nice to have, but I prefer the touchscreen with the on screen keyboard. I like my technology to be compact and versatile....nothing beats the touchscreen IMHO. The Nook looks nice, but preference for me is for the Sony Reader.

12-03-2009, 07:13 PM	#11
mxgamon Member Posts: 13 Karma: 22 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Washington state Device: PRS900	Looking up popular novels on Fictionwise, most seem to to be in Secure Mobipocket and/or eReader. Unless I'm mistaken, Sony readers cannot read either, or can they?

12-03-2009, 07:46 PM	#12
budalb Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 9998 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DXG, Sony PRS-600	Two reasons for me to buy Sony. 1) epub support, 2) SD card. Actually Nook has both and 3G +wifi. But Nook is bigger. I don't want to buy from BN. Not sure it's wifi function. BTW I got a good deal from Walmart.com. The only good thing of Kindle is free Gmail.

12-03-2009, 10:01 PM	#13
Haesslich Fanatic Posts: 542 Karma: 1138182 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kobo Touch,Glo,Mini,Aura/HD/One,H20, Sony PRS-300/600, Kindle 3-PW	There's also the whole 'Sony can't reach over the air or through Sony Ebook Library and start deleting titles off my reader' issue that Amazon's already invoked once. Even APPLE has been careful about not using the killswitch on any apps they currently offer in the app store - they'll just remove it from the listings, which means you can't get it... and that's it. Knowing Amazon can, and is more than willing, to go into your Kindle to start deleting books is.. well, it's a good incentive to not go Kindle. Of course, for extra irony points, they had to start this practice with 1984..

12-03-2009, 11:38 PM	#14
Solitaire1 Samurai Lizard Posts: 14,234 Karma: 66666666 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: NookColor	One of the main factors that led me to choose the Sony Reader (I purchased my first one before the Kindle was released) is that I can put my own ebooks on my reader without having to go through an external agency. Among the types of ebooks I like to put on my reader are stories that I've written so I can read and review them. A related factor is that it supports many common ebook formats so I can make my own ebooks for my reader. When I first heard about the Kindle, it looked interesting. Unfortunately, the one thing that made it a "no go" for me was the requirement to send my ebooks to Amazon so they can put them on my Kindle (this may not have been true or may no longer be true, but that is what I understood when I first heard of the Kindle). For me, just the possibility that that might be true was not acceptable and it caused me to not consider the Kindle when choosing to upgrade my ebook reader (I chose a Sony PRS-505). Although my Sony Reader isn't as fancy as the other ebook readers on the market, it does a terrific job as an ebook reader. When I upgraded to the PRS-505, it added features that dealt with the main limitations I found with the PRS-500 (such as not being able to quickly go to an exact page, and not being able to put collections on a memory card). Although there are some features I'd like to see added to future versions of the Sony Reader (such as the ability to select a display typeface for all plain text and RTF files), I've been very pleased with my PRS-505. It is likely I will stay with the Sony Reader when it comes time to upgrade once again.

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