A nice person over on my Twitter feed asked my why I call my Kindle “Sir Kindle the Fusspot.” Well, the short answer is, Sir Kindle is very fussy and requires some delicate care in file transfer and management. The longer answer is, I’m embarrassed to say, the honeymoon of me and Sir Kindle is over, and I’ve recognized some serious flaws both in the unit itself, and in the way Amazon is electing to do business as a purveyor of ebooks and ebook readers.
First, the Kindle itself: I like the unit, I’m used to holding it in a way that doesn’t accidentally turn a page or go back a page, and I really like the skin Hubby gave me for Hanukkah that turned Sir Kindle into a hot pink spasm of visual pleasure.
The wireless feature is marvelous, and obviously it’s a major selling point of the Kindle itself. You can email files to the device, and wirelessly transmit a sample of a book to the unit. I keep the wireless turned off to preserve battery life but when I turn it on – whoosh! All the files I’ve emailed and sampled arrive and I’m good to go. The minimalist approach to loading ebook files is a marvelous thing. The idea that I can purchase content from anywhere I have a wireless signal is equally awesome.
But herein lies one of the problems:
If by chance I email a file that Sir Kindle doesn’t like, I don’t always hear back. Sometimes I’ll receive a “There was a problem with your email” reply, though with little explanation as to what the problem was. WHY didn’t you like the file, Sir Kindle? WHAT was the problem? Alas, all I know is that like a Chevy Nova, it don’t go. Sir Kindle’s reply has about as much explanation and understanding as a surly teenager saying, ‘Whatever.’
The other problem I’m having with Amazon is with the choices the company itself makes. As a for-profit entity, I well understand the goal: make money and increase value for shareholders. No brainer. Amazon isn’t a 501(c)3, and it’s not a book lover’s co-op. It’s a for-profit corporate entity, and I totally get that.
My understanding does not change the fact that as a consumer and a reader – and an affiliate of Amazon – I think some of their decisions show a remarkable amount of head-up-the-butt-itis.
First: Amazon’s decision to become more and more monolithic in its formatting, distribution and availability of ebooks is epic, epic fucking fail in my opinion.
As most folks know, there is only one format, the AMZ. Amazon can convert .mobi and several other types of files, but in the end, Amazon is like the Highlander: there can only be one.
But if you’re going for brand dominance, which, fine, that’s an admirable goal, don’t shoot yourself in the foot. I think you’ve made several wrong decisions here:
1. You’ve drastically reduced or eliminated users’ ability to bargain-shop. If a book is available free online at eHarlequin or elsewhere, there isn’t a guarantee that the available formats will work for Amazon – not unless I do some kinky things to the file first, and there goes that whole ease-of-use thing. I’ve heard from several publishers that Amazon can be a bear to deal with when it comes to hosting Kindle files, because Amazon wants such a high percentage of the cost of the file and will only make it available on its own website, and prefers not to have Kindle files outside the scope of Amazon.com.
In this economy, bargain shopping is key, and as prices of books on Amazon increase, Amazon.com’s Kindle files are no longer the best deal, or the best bargain. I don’t have the time or the desire to manipulate files every which way to get them on the Kindle. And even though the open source masterpiece that is Calibre can do the kinky bits for me, Amazon’s inability to recongize the need for consumers to bargain shop is very, very short sighted.
2. Library lending. Many savvy libraries offer ebooks for borrowers, including Ye Olde New York Public Library, which, by virtue of being employed in Manhattan, I have the ability to join (OH THANK YOU NEW YORK CITY MMMWMAH). But not for the Kindle. Again, because Amazon likes to control access to its files, it’s not so keen on allowing third-party distributors to negotiate the lending of library ebooks in the Kindle format, and yet again, users lose an opportunity to bargain-shop and save a few pennies.
Amazon: seriously, have you seen the economy? Get with it already.
The things that never bothered me much about the Kindle while the gleam was new and shiny and the experience virginal are bugging the ever living crap out of me now. I can’t bargain hunt; I can’t take advantage of deals on other websites, unless, as I said, I want to do the funky chicken and try to strip the file down to it’s undergarments, and hope hope hope Sir Kindle will accept the more-nakeder file.
I’m curious about what the Kindle Press Conference will bring, but if it’s the Bubbly Boy Kindle 2.0, unless it comes with library lending capabilities, I’m not impressed. Design, which isn’t Kindle’s strength by a long shot, isn’t something that really gives me a problem in my use of the Kindle. I’m used to it. Function and frugality are way, way more important to me than form, and Amazon and Sir Kindle are rapidly causing me to lose my patience on both fronts.
Will the Kindle become the 2008 version of the Apple Newton, which was light years ahead of its time but ultimately a failure in that it paved the way and watched everyone else (Hi Palm!) blow past it at 500mph? Or will Kindle and Amazon get with it and understand that reading is important, and adopting ebook technology is nifty, but consumer demands for bargain shopping options is more important than controlling the product’s availability and sales point?
Does my opinion ultimately matter?
No. But it matters in that I’ve been an outspoken fan of the Kindle as the venue through which I learned to appreciate ebook readers and the possibility of ebooks in general. So imagine my embarrassment as I realized that as the power of the Kindle has increased, so has the limitation of readers to bargain shop, take advantage of libraries, and seek out the most inexpensive options for readers – as the price of ebooks on Amazon increases.
Meanwhile, the Sony family of e-readers are a different animal, as I’ve come to learn. The Sony Reader is a saucy wench who is friendly to many, many file types and is a good buddy to many a public library. In the coming weeks, I’m going to be test-driving a Sony Reader and writing up my experience as I compare the two devices as a high-volume reader and lover of the ebook. Sony has agreed to send over a Reader for me to test-drive, and I’ll be putting the Sony and the Kindle through evaluations based on how I as a reader employ the device.
One more thing: until now, the prize for the Videomo contest has been a Kindle.
I’m amending that: the winner of the Videomo Contest will have a choice between the Kindle or a red Sony Reader 505, courtesy of the alluring folks at Sony. If the winner would rather have the Sony Reader, instead of the Kindle I originally offered, I’m totally down with that.
My point, and I’m making it in every way I can, is that consumers should have choices, and in my world, so should Videomo winners.
I’ll be revisiting the subject of Sony v. Kindle in the coming weeks, and seeing which reading device will ultimately win my shriveled, wonky heart.
Sony v. Kindle by SB Sarah? WIN!!!
Thank you, this is what we’ve been wanting! I heart you vewy vewy much! I also heart Sony more & more every day…
*squeee!*
That’s wonderful of Sony to send you their eReader! I can’t wait to see what you think of it. I’m going to ask hubby for one for my birthday and I’m very interested to hear your take on it.
The DRM on the Kindle is the main reason (price a close second) that we haven’t bought one.
tell me The56 reasons you like the Sony.
I’m sorry to see that you’ve had problems with your Kindle, yet happy that you may be coming over to the dark side.
I first learned that ebook readers and eInk existed because of the Kindle – that whole taking up the front page of Amazon worked out really well. I oohed, I ahhed…I looked at the $400 price tag and thought maybe of the days when I was rolling in the money.
But, as I tend to do when I’m wanting something, I went to read more on it, and I discovered that the Kindle wasn’t as revolutionary as the lovely video on Amazon had made me believe. Not only were there other devices that did the same exact thing, more or less, but they did it without being fugly. (Not that looks are the deciding factor, but it sure didn’t help).
Some research and discovering those pesky little details, like DRM and being stuck to just shopping at Amazon only, and I bought myself a cute Sony that I found new for exactly half the price of the Kindle. (Ironically, on Amazon Marketplace.) While I really wanted the dictionary feature of the Kindle, the ability to check out library books really helped put the Sony over the edge. Here in Korea I can check out books from Phoenix and Las Vegas (ah, parents with library cards), and that in itself has saved my sanity, not to mention many hour long subway rides to get to the nearest English bookstore.
The ability to shop anywhere is a great thing, especially with places like Books on Board and Fictionwise that give you rewards/rebates in addition to being cheap as well.
I think you’ll like the Sony. The idea of you reviewing the two though? Fabulous. I can hardly wait.
UGH! Why didn’t you do a comparison last month! I got the Sony eReader 700 for my birthday. I love it very much. MMMM…I wish I could have more time with it. I curse my life for being so busy, but I have 22 books in my purse.
Have you taken a look at the iPod touch?
Sounds silly, I know, but my husband and kid got them for christmas and the functionality goes WAY beyond any book reader, and yet…
The open-source (read it FREE) e-book reader software that goes with the iPod Touch offers a very clear, easily read, lockable screen display so you don’t accidentally flip it back and forth and can read laying down. Battery life lasts a long time, even with the backlight cranked up for reading in the dim, and the software allows instant import from hundreds of ebook sites, including Gutenburg and other free sites, as well as paid sites. Also, and here’s the thing that sold me, you can easily convert any file with a few clicks on a desktop to be read on the iPod. How many books does it store? A few hundred thousand if you don’t want music.
Oh, and did I mention music? Or games? Grocery lists? Web browsing? The list goes on.
So am I going to get one for myself? Nope. Going to upgrade the hubby to an iPhone and steal his, already loaded with dozens of useful gadgets. Muahahaha
I could have written this post, with one exception: I switched from the Kindle to the Sony a month ago and I’m not looking back. I have the 505, I still want to try a 700 for comparison, and I’ll still try the Kindle 2.0 for comparison as well (I sold my Kindle this past weekend!) but right now, I really am happy with the Sony, I think it’s more consumer friendly, as far as purchasing options, and that’s what I tell people and have always told people at conferences or elsewhere, when they ask me what to buy. And right now, the Sony’s file management is hands down better than the Kindle’s. We’ll see if that changes with the new Kindle.
Otherwise, with a few exceptions, I suggest most people look at the Sony. I do think there are some reasons to purchase a Kindle (daily commuters looking for wireless delivery of content like newspapers, for one) but those wanting it for the ebook experience should take a hard look at the Sony.
(as an aside, I think the Amazon file format is AZW, not AMZ, but they actually have that and another lesser used format that will sometimes appear for the Kindle: Topaz)
I’ll admit I have been scrolling past any and all posts related to Kindle because it’s not available in Canada. Sony is kind enough to include our small nation in its business plan, which means I’ll be watching your reactions with great interest.
I really hope that the Sony 505 is more to your taste. I love mine with a passion that is semi-abnormal.
To me, the only thing that the Kindle 2 has going for it is that Cole Haan is designing a series of covers. I’d really like one of those.
I had been desperately coveting a dedicated ebook reader until I got a blackberry and mobipocket, two great tastes that taste great together! I never have fewer than 3 books on there (usually more like 5 or 6), I can shop around on price, and it’s all wireless. Furthermore, Mobipocket IS a format the NYPL (long may it thrive) uses, and life is now better than good.
I love my Sony 700 and I have said that many times in other posts. If I had had a chance to actually compare it hands on with hubby’s 505 I would have probably stayed with the 505 but that is ok.
My only complaint is the built in light and the battery power it sucks up. I bought him the lighted cover and it seems to work better. I may actually go buy one for myself and only use the built in light as a backup. The lighted cover is a bit heavier though and you can’t bend it over behind the book the way you can the regular cover and read one handed all the time, including page turning.
I love the 100 free classical downloads they give with the Sony, which I know you can get from Project Gutenburgh. I have all my faves and few new ones on a seperate card, so I always have them with me too.
I do find that new releases are not always available right away for the Sony and that the prices vary between Sony and Fictionwise- Sony usually having a better price, at least in the beginning. I tend to be one of those first day buyers cause I hate to wait.
I am really looking forward to having my Sony with me when I head out on my roadtrip. Only my computer, ereader, ipod and phone to carry. So much lighter packing and no carrying around books that I have read and need to get home again.
SB Sarah, between you and Jane, I’m getting sucked in to the eReader phenomenon. Like everyone else, I’ll be reading closely. It’s inevitable.
Arizela, I’d like your opinion on the iPod’s readability. The screen seems awfully small to my old eyes.
Well that sells it I”m going with a Sony. I love my Sony laptop. I didnt know the had an e reader. But now, Im so sold I would love one in that snazzy red. Ive been scrapping pennies together to save for a Kindle. But my penny scrapping days may be over, Sony’s are cheaper and you have a wider range of choices. Did I mention the snazzy red one.
thanks SB Sarah.
M
spambot building22 howd does it know. Maybe its like a magic 8 ball
Silver- you can play with both my Sony and itouch when I get there. I have one book on the itouch. I think. Still. Maybe.
One heads up on the Sony 700- if you go on a plane trip take the sylist out. I forgot all about it, because it was brand new, and some idiot TSA agent took it. Guess they thought it would do more damage than a ball point pen. Surprised that they haven’t taken them yet. Sony, however, was very gracious in replacing it for me free of charge. I don’t think anyone thought of that when they designed it, I know I didn’t when I bought it.
Huh. Still waiting for my Kindle to arrive, having just heard it will be a Kindle 2.0. Well, now I’m not sure, obviously. But I think the wireless feature has me sold regardless. I have an aversion to bringing things ALL THE WAY UPSTAIRS and PLUGGING THEM IN. Totally ridiculous since I am upstairs and on the computer 600 times a day. But I never, ever update my iPhone unless it starts acting funky. Once every 60 days maybe.
I’m just a convenience kind of gal, I think.
Also, I can’t imagine reading on the iTouch or iPhone. My eyes get all googly after playing a game on my iPhone for 30 minutes. It’s way too bright.
I can’t wait to read your reports on the Sony vs Sir Kindle, as I’m dying to have one or the other and don’t know enough about either. This is probably a stupid question, and I’m sorry for it, but can I buy from Amazon and put the books on the Sony, or Amazon only for the Kindle?
@Maria-
If you want the red one, there’s a link on Dear Author for the Harlequin edition if you are interested.
@Jill Shalvis- no, you can’t swap between the two sites. But there are also sites who offer formats for both.
I’m currently using an iPod Touch for my ebooks, having (mostly) abandoned the PalmOS Sony Clie that was my first ebook platform. The primary reason is that I want my ebooks with me for those ‘I’m stuck’ reading moments, at the doctor’s office, the railroad crossing, etc., plus for travel—if I mostly read ebooks at home, I’d be in the market for a dedicated reader.
I don’t have issues with the small screen, though the old Clie had better controls. I do have issues with the reader software and file formats. To use my library of several hundred ebooks, plus to be able to buy the books I want that are only available from one source, I’m so far up to 3 reader programs on the Touch, each of which needs a different system to download the books. Of course, I had the same problem on the old Clie, but had hoped things would be better with the Touch. Nope, not yet. Apple, wake up, and at least improve the file synch for the Touch!
I’ve had a Sony since they first came out and I love it more with each passing day/year. I’m looking to upgrade my old 500 for my upcoming birthday. I had planned on going with the 700 over the 505. EV, I’d be interested in hearing why you’d have gone with the 505 if you’d had a chance to compare them…
My magic code is has82 – I has *way* more than 82 books for my sony….
Clearly I’m not Arizela but I have a Kindle, iPhone, Sony 505 and and Asus EeePC so I can talk about the comparison for those. Given a choice of reading I’d do the: Sony, Kindle, iPhone/Touch and then Eee. I don’t mind reading on the iPhone and if you want a multi-use device, the reading experience on it isn’t bad, but for me, the eink experience can’t be beat. Reading on the iPhone is small, though doable, but it’s still not as…easy? a reading experience as the Sony/Kindle screens. The eink technology does give you that feeling of reading a book, the screen size makes it easy to adjust, and I find at least the Sony still trim enough to slip into my small purse, along with my iPhone, and carry everywhere.
I think, if you’re willing to put out the money for a dedicated reading device, the eink experience makes it worth it.
I actually debated a lot between the Kindle and the Sony Reader before choosing the Sony Reader, pretty much for the reasons you’ve described. I’m definitely having a love affair with my Sony Reader, and it’s almost a year later!
My Sony Reader Review:
http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/2008/07/sony-reader-pr-505-review.html
Oh, NO!! I drank the Kindleaid several months ago and now there’s a new one. The bloom is off the love I once held for Sir Kindle and I fear your evaluation.
I also have a great public library with ebooks that I can’t read on the Kindle because of DRM. (I curse the one that thought that idea up!) I’ve never downloaded an illegal copy of a book or song in my life and don’t intend to start in the future. Am I a dinosaur? Surely there are many other honest folks who just want to read a book, not steal it.
Ever since I held a Sony in my hot lil hands in Target I’ve been leaning towards that. It kept saying ” Take me hooooome!” and “Shoplifting isn’t REALLY wrong!” Evil thing. I’ve never even SEEN a Kindle anywhere other than the web. The web access is a big draw but realistically how often am I away from my puter? I could plug up the Sony with no problem LOL.
Honestly though, until the price of them go down I won’t be able to buy one of any kind. I have a book buying budget each month and they’re missing out on that money being spent on ebooks but 300-400 to buy an e-reader is a major (impossible) purchase for someone on a fixed income !
So SONY and AMAZON BRING DOWN YOUR PRICES!
I’ve been thinking about an e-reader, so posts (and comments) about this are really helpful. It sounds like the Sony is the way to go right now, but I’m going to wait for some reviews of Kindle2 before I decide.
Can someone knowledgeable about such things tell me—can I read Kindle books on the Sony? The bargain shopping Sarah mentioned is a key factor for me, and I’ve noticed that sometimes the Kindle books are cheaper than at the Sony store or other places. Thanks!
I have a Sony and love it.
The Kindle was never a choice living in Canda (Can’t buy the reader or download the books). So, went with the Sony 505, birthday present from my boys, and I love it. I’ve purchased books from many sellers online and have never had a problem with any of the files.
I carry on average 30 books on the reader. Never far away enough from my computer to care about a device that wirelessly downloads.
Love my Sony.
I can’t imagine trying to read on my Blackberry. I don’t even use it for e-mail (I canceled the data plan), because it’s too small for my wordy self. I’m still mostly reading on my laptop, only getting things in ebook form if they are free or not available in print. (Or, in one instance recently, where I got a cheap deal on the ebook for a newly released hardback that I COULD NOT WAIT to read.)
I am a major library user, and (aside from the initial outlay for the device), I shudder to think what I would spend on books if I bought from Amazon all the books I currently borrow. My cash now tends to be spend on paperbacks by authors whom my library doesn’t carry (mostly newer romance writers, go figure). But if my library decides to start offering ebooks, and the Sony is compatible, I will be tempted indeed.
Hey SB Sarah, my sister lives right by the NY Public. I’ll have her wave to you for me!
I’ve had my Kindle for 10 months and I still love it. I travel for work and the wireless buy on the fly is great. You can read Mobi formats on the Kindle. And you can download for free mobi pocket creator software that coverts word (.doc), Adobe (.pdf), and HTL format to the Mobi (.prc) that can be read on the Kindle. It takes less than a minute to do this easy conversion.
Ev, you are my new BFF! Can’t wait to see you and get my hands on the toys.
Angela, thanks for the input. I have a friend who loves his EEE like whoa but not my cup of tea.
I don’t own an iPod and doubt I ever will at my age. I’m barely computer literate as it. LOL! But I was curious. I have the feeling that I’ll take the Sony plunge once some discretionary funds are available. Or I win one. *gigglesnort*
Whoa…I’ve been signed back in mysteriously and don’t get the fun spambot words anymore. Oh well.
I’m on my 3rd Sony E-reader. I don’t know if the Kindle has it, but if you buy the latest Sony e-reader, you can buy an extra warranty where if you break it they will replace it, no charge. The day I got my second Sony E-reader for the holidays, one of my relatives accidentally sat on it (I didn’t have it on a seat, it was on a computer table) and broke the screen. Thank goodness I had the warranty, otherwise I would have been seriously upset.
Ebooks sold on Amazon are in a proprietary format that you can read only on the Kindle, unfortunately.
Thanks, Angela, that’s good to know.
Well, my eyes are 32 years old, but they are also so bad that I don’t correct to 20/20 with glasses, and I can read it just fine. More easily, in fact, than the average paperback thanks to the no-glare back-lighting, though I’m not giving my paperbacks up just yet.
And as far as software goes, Stanza does a remarkable job with all the formats I’ve tried so far, all by itself. Haven’t tried Kindle books on it though. From their site:
A caveat to that is that most of the books that are available for Kindle are available in other formats from ebooks.com or ereader.com. Amazon may be monolithic but the publishers aren’t that dumb. Sometimes.
As an author, I adore my 505. Not only do I have all my current and favorite reads on it, but I also keep all my working manuscripts on it in .doc format so that I can easily reference prior occurances as I write longhand. Yeah, I’m a freakish mix of technogeek and luddite. I didn’t think I would like the Sony (“Books are all about the paper and the feel and the smell!”) but I got one cheap and challenged myself to read 4 books on it. (The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and two Harry Dresdens) By the end of the week, I hated having to pick up a print book again. Now the print books I have are the ones that are really important to me, like my Jane Austens. All the paperbacks that I’d just donate or trash when I finish them? Those are better off digital anyway.
I had already decided not to buy a Kindle because I felt theri price was too high and because they didn’t support other formats easily.
I went to the Sony website and was seriously considering buying a 505 because the price seemed so much lower than the Kindle. Much to my chagrin, I realized I would have to buy the charger separate. Also, if I wanted any warranty, that would also be separate. By the time, all these costs were factored in, the price was more than the Kindle. I then decided I could do without an e-reader.
I would still like one, but I really think that chargers, warranties, etc should be included in the cost.
Before I invested in an eReader I did some looking into those same issues you mentioned.
For me there was one issue that was top of my list of wants in a reader and that was flexibility in format. I wanted a reader that would offer me the comfort of moving between formats.
I finally narrowed it down to the Cybook and Sony. The kindle didn’t even make it to my short list.
What you didn’t mention was how god awful ugly the darn thing is.
I bought myself a Sony 505 last year around this time. I then got my daughter her own reader for Xmas.
The best investments I made last year. Love, Love , Love my Sony reader (especially with it’s Dooney and Bourke cover)
🙂
I <3 my Reader. I gave it a name (Bisley) and I want to buy pretty covers for it from a nice lady on etsy and I want to marry it and have its babies. It has some awkward things about it and the lack of a wireless thingy probably would have given me some pause if I’d been able to choose between it and the Kindle. Either way, the whole ebook reader/e-ink concept has me completely entranced. But the proprietary format bullshit really irritates me.
Here’s something I love about my Bisley – I can put PDFs and RTFs on him. Last week, I forgot to print off some acts and cases that I needed to have to hand for my criminal law tutorial, just in case my students asked me something specific that wasn’t in my notes. Didn’t have a printer set up at home so I just downloaded the PDFs of the acts off the government website, downloaded the cases off lexis and away I went, with lovely clear versions of all my acts right there with me. And no paper wasted!
I’ve also put RTFs of recipes on him and propped them up in the kitchen (well clear of mess and spills!) so I don’t have to keep running out to my laptop to check quantities.
I’ve downloaded articles off my favourite websites and read them during boring bus journeys.
It’s not just the wide range of books I can have on it, it’s the variety of formats in which I can get those books. I’d hate to be tied to one supplier and not be able to shop around. Kindle might kick the Reader’s ass on most things but in two ways, it’s better – the range of formats it accepts and secondly, *so* pretty! 🙂
I got a Sony 700 a couple of weeks ago. I am in lurrrrve.
I am in Australia, so I had to buy it on eBay but I got it with a 2GB SD card and I only paid US$10 over the Sony RRP. …plus a hideous amount in postage. (and, don’t get me started on the exchange rate…grrr).
Because I am in Oz, I had never seen any reader “in the flesh”. I went with the Sony because I can actually buy books from Australia that will read on the Sony and I can’t do that with the Kindle. I went with the 700 because it had more features and my hubby said for me to “get the top of the range model”.
When I very first got it, I was initially (only) a bit disappointed because there is a bit of glare (not tons, but a bit) and the background was greyer than I expected. This is apparently due to the touch screen. I went online and read a few posts which indicated that the better the ambient light, the “whiter” the background. So, hubby went and bought me a reading lamp so I don’t have to use the built in light as much (which sucks battery power like you wouldn’t believe). (Turns out I had been reading mostly in the dark…).
I suspect I would like eInk better without the touch screen, but I love the touch screen’s functionality and I love the size of the screen. Because it is a touch screen Sony could make the screen bigger (no buttons) and I get more words on a page.
By the day after my Sony arrived, my love affair truly began. On the weekend, I actually found myself reaching to turn the page with my fingers in the top right corner (you know, like with a real book) and I knew then, that my love would last forever.
I do have a beef however. I can’t buy books from the Sony ebookstore because I don’t have a US credit card. Jane at DA tells me that this is because of some territorial rights thing, but I am having trouble understanding why I can’t by Dark of Night by Suz Brockman (for example) from the Sony store but I can from Books on Board or Fictionwise. Obviously they can sell it outside the US, so why can’t Sony?
Also, (again, via Jane at DA) I can’t buy books from Fictionwise unless I want to strip the DRM and fiddle about.
I have Calibre and am finding that easy to use. The Sony reads PDF files very well also, which is great because most of my pre-Sony ebooks were in this format and I’ve just transferred them on over.
So, Sony, please sort out the territory thingy so I can buy stuff from you. I can’t get your specials. It’s drivng me nuts!!!
And, Fictionwise, can you please sell a Sony friendly format?
I think you’ll love the Sony Sarah. I’m looking forward to reading your review.
PS. Thank you for the tip about the stylus – I never would have thougt of that!
I started with the Ebookwise in October. Within a month I knew I would stick with the ebook reader and I ordered a Sony PRS 505 in shiny, shiny Red in December. I had it shipped to a friend in IL and had him send it to me in Korea.
However, there are some aspects of the Ebookwise that I love more than the Sony. The speed of turning pages on PDFs is slow. Also, some books don’t increase the font when I push the increase font button. And lastly, the thing that bothers me the most about my Sony is that I’ve been using a wall USB charger because I don’t want to travel with my computer and the fucker actually drained the power from the reader! And whenever I charge the reader, it seems to take forever for it to read my SD card (like 3 minutes for 191 books). I still love it, but it’s been fussy for me and I’ve wanted to throw it across the room a few times every time I charge it.
Also.. Midknyt.. do they have ebooks at the Las Vegas public library? My mom is house sitting in vegas for a few months and I think she can get a library card… I’ve been considering buying the NYPL membership for $100 since I figure the Sony can read the PDF versions. Sadly, my old library system in Minneapolis does not have ebooks yet (and my library card is still valid)
i think the main thing is the controls. The 505 has multiple page turning buttons- a set at the bottom and a front/back on the side, but not where you might hit them all the time, ie. the Kindle.
And as I said before the built in light does tend to eat the battery, but, on the other hand, the lighted cover you can put on is heavier and you can’t fold the cover over the back of the ereader. I may just carry a book light with me and use the built in one for emergencies.
I like that there are 4 different type sizes instead of 3 on the old one. Sometimes the button turner location drives me nuts and there is a touch pad turner you can turn on but it doesn’t like me or my articificial nails.
All in all, I love my Sony. I am actually reading an ARC right now and finding that it is very heavy and uncomfortable. I can’t curl up in the same position I do with my ereader. I never noticed it before today when i was reading the blog and actually paid attention.
I carry it everywhere and it takes up so little room.
I ADORE my kindle. I’m one of those blindly loyal early adopters who totally shelled out cash from my savings for the Kindle 2. I’m such a freak. I’ve personally found that as long as you don’t try to do anything hinky with it (like downloading other kinds of files or try to save money 😉 ) then I have no problems and kindle has the best selection of any other ereader of the books I like to read. Plus nearly all of my grad school textbooks have been on kindle (awesome!).