07-31-2008, 02:59 PM | #1 |
Loves her 505 and her Z4!
Posts: 157
Karma: 631
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Weston, FL
Device: Sony PRS-505
|
I'm undecided....shocking, I know!
Hi everyone!
The catalyst for me to get an e-reader is my upcoming trip to Japan. I'll be there for 11 days, and the thought of lugging multiple books there and back is totally unappealing. I was thinking it would be great to have for the trip, and then I could continue from there with primarily ebooks, for titles that are available. I nearly pushed the order button on Amazon to get the Kindle (my sister in law has one and loves it), but thought twice and decided to do some additional research first. Now I'm just very slightly sorry I've become aware of all the various issues with each e-reader. They say ignorance is bliss, and I guess on this point, I'd agree *lol*. Anyway, I've narrowed it down to the Sony vs. the Kindle, and here's where I'm at (and I'd love any input you all have): For me, the biggest pluses for the Kindle are content availability, price of books, and ease of downloading. The minuses for me on the Kindle are the fact that it's the 1.0 version (I'm confident the next gen will be better, but my Japan trip is in 3 weeks), the less than spectacular aesthetic, and the fact that Amazon's iTunes-like business model essentially locks me into Amazon. Regarding the Sony, I love Sony in general; I've been very pleased with all the Sony products I've bought. I think it's likely built better than the Kindle, definitely has a better aesthetic, and the price is attractive. My major problems with the Sony are that the Sony books are more expensive than Amazon, and there's much less content available. Knowing myself, if it's a hassle in any way to find or download content, the e-reader will soon be gathering dust in my office. So comments on how much of a challenge it is to find and get content for the Sony would also be appreciated. I'll let you all know that I don't know a lot about freely available books (like the Gutenberg stuff, or other free downloads people here have mentioned), or much at all about the different formats (MOBI vs. proprietary formats and all that). So I'm still learning, and any advice on these issues (formats, etc) would also be appreciated. Thank you all in advance!! Joanne |
07-31-2008, 03:05 PM | #2 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
My new standard advice will be to order the Kindle for the 30 day trial. Use it on your trip to see how you like it. During that same 30 days, go into a store selling the Sony and play with it (if they will let you) or go to one of the Meetups and play with someone else's Sony. Then make your decision.
|
Advert | |
|
07-31-2008, 03:10 PM | #3 | |
Enjoying the show....
Posts: 14,270
Karma: 10462843
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Arizona
Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir
|
Quote:
Best advice going. And you are only "locked" into Amazon if you want to purchase their books. You would not believe the amount of free books out there.........the Kindle was love at first sight/hold for me and many others. |
|
07-31-2008, 04:19 PM | #4 | ||
Holy S**T!!!
Posts: 5,213
Karma: 108401
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: San Diego, California!!
Device: Kindle and iPad
|
Quote:
You are not "locked in" to Amazon or to anyone else. The Kindle reads mobi and prc files, so there are lots of places to get books either to purchase or for free. Quote:
I doubt it's much of a challenge to get content for either type of reader. I've been told that the Sony content is a bit more expensive (don't know ... haven't looked), but then the reader itself is cheaper. I have no idea if the Sony is built better than the Kindle. I think my Kindle is a thing of beauty and very well made. But then, I've been building and repairing computers (for a hobby) for about 25 years and I've seen a lot of crap. If you like Sony and you trust the company (I do not), then by all means, go out there and grab a Sony. |
||
07-31-2008, 11:39 PM | #5 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 37
Karma: 10
Join Date: Jul 2008
Device: Hanlin V3
|
Hanlin V3 is very good after I compared the devices in each brand. It is very powerful in language/format supporting. I have ordered one already, it is becoming the most famous ebook reader!
|
Advert | |
|
08-01-2008, 01:21 AM | #6 |
Gadget Geek
Posts: 2,324
Karma: 22221
Join Date: Aug 2007
Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)
|
I think the Sony is gorgeous but ultimately did not buy one because you can't search your books, annotate them or look up things in a dictionary on the device. Kindle also adds web and Wikipedia search. I've also had unsatisfactory experiences with Sony support while I've never had less than excellent support from Amazon. I'm not happy about the DRM but I know that Amazon as a company is not against going DRM-free as evinced by their music service. I hope they'll move that way with books eventually if they can drag the publishers into the 21st century.
Like others say, though, returns are easy. |
08-02-2008, 02:51 AM | #7 |
Guru
Posts: 860
Karma: 4380
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Almada, Portugal
Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note
|
|
08-02-2008, 04:28 AM | #8 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
If dictionary lookup is important to you, the CyBook Gen3 should also be considered; the Kindle has its one built-in dictionary; the Gen3 has hundreds of different ones to choose from, and allows multiple dictionaries to be installed. It also allows you to install your own fonts - a very useful facility which the Kindle currently lacks. |
|
08-02-2008, 02:49 PM | #9 | |
Wizard
Posts: 2,698
Karma: 4748723
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
|
Quote:
MobiPocket: $23.95 Fictionwise: $23.95: $19.16 after rebate (I'm assuming this is their Micro-pay rebate, but not sure) Amazon Hardcover: $16.29 Sony: $14.37 Kindle: $9.99 |
|
08-02-2008, 03:28 PM | #10 |
Groupie
Posts: 152
Karma: 222484
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tenn., US
Device: jetBook, jetBook Lite, Kindle 3, Galaxy Note II
|
I got the Sony last week after a month or so of trying to decide. I read a couple of books on my Palm along the way to make sure that I would actually read eBooks. My office neighbor is a big Kindle fan. I played with the Kindle over a couple of lunches and the new firmware upgrade + price difference swung me over to the Sony. I am happy with the Sony. I could be just as happy with the Kindle. As long as you don't second guess yourself, both are good products!
|
08-03-2008, 02:36 PM | #11 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 19,832
Karma: 11844413
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tampa, FL USA
Device: Kindle Touch
|
Quote:
So far have been reading the freebies from TOR and some Creative Commons (Doctorow) and other out of copyright stuff from Feedbooks. Although I do plan to start reading the Alex Cross novels then the Women Murder Club novels soon.... and I will be buying these from Amazon. Then perhaps revisting some Cristie. Argh... so many books and not enough time! BOb |
|
08-03-2008, 03:01 PM | #12 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 75,901
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
The Kindle does not read Mobipocket eBooks with DRM unless you fiddle with them.
|
08-04-2008, 10:56 AM | #13 |
Guru
Posts: 688
Karma: 2090
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-900 & PRS-950, Amazon Kindle2
|
I did not know that. I've been giving some people at work the wrong advice. When they ask me about my Sony reader; I tell them about the many websites I'm able to buy books beside from Sony with a little conversion (that was before the upgrade). I also tell them about the Kindle and how it uses Mobipocket and that all the websites that I buy from already has that format available. I now have to tell them only buy non DRM books.
|
08-04-2008, 03:19 PM | #14 |
Loves her 505 and her Z4!
Posts: 157
Karma: 631
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Weston, FL
Device: Sony PRS-505
|
Hi, everyone...
Thanks for your input! I ordered a Kindle last night, and I'm going to load it up, take it to Japan, and see how it goes. Between now and next month, I'm also going to try to see a Sony and get an idea of how they compare. HarryT, as far as the prices of Sony's book being more, I did a comparison of about 5 or so books (not all bestsellers) on Amazon vs. Sony. Without exception, the Amazon books were less expensive. I'm at my office, but if you're really interested in the titles I compared, let me know, and I can post them when I get home. |
08-04-2008, 03:32 PM | #15 | |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 75,901
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Quote:
http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/m...on-kindle.html https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18310 As for the Sony, you can get Mobipocket, remove the DRM and convert. Same thing with MS Reader format. And MS Reader format converts easily enough to Mobipocket for the Kindle. |
|
Tags |
duck! |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
undecided | delia* | Introduce Yourself | 16 | 09-27-2010 02:02 PM |
Diesel - Shocking service or is it just me? | jodievt | News | 14 | 02-21-2010 09:40 AM |
Undecided! | neekee | Which one should I buy? | 4 | 04-13-2009 11:32 PM |
Another undecided newbie | Marcela | Which one should I buy? | 8 | 11-15-2008 06:10 AM |
Play prank? - Shocking Digital Camera | jexxica | Lounge | 0 | 06-18-2008 12:04 AM |