Trees Like eBooks
by Michael (michael@code4life.com)
I bought a Sony Reader the day I saw one at Borders. Usually, I ponder $300.00 purchases, but the concept made so much sense. I can store hundreds of books and download new books instantly. I carry one device that suits whatever reading mood I'm in.
Key features
- Stores hundreds of books on 128 megs of internal memory.
- Has an SD and Memory Stick slot for expansion.
- Compatible with Sony's BBeB ebook format. Naturally, books downloaded from Sony's eBook store use this format.
- Reads TXT, Word, and PDF files. One key gotcha, the reader isn't compatible with secure pdfs. That eliminates getting content from most non-Sony ebook stores.
- Has a sturdy metal casing.
Get all the specs here.
Why not use a laptop
A laptop can't do the same thing. The difference is the eInk screen. It's far better for reading text, better than even paper. Well, better than a lot of printed books. There's no fuzzy text, just crisp, clear text from any angle. It requires power only when being updated, so battery life is rated in page turns (about 7500), not hours. Note: the screen flashes when turning pages. It's not a big deal but be prepared.Content
I have 100 free classics to download (a Sony promotion), so I'm not at want for something to read. But, there'll be a time when I'll need/want to buy an ebook, and I'm a little worried. Sony's selection is small (around 20,000) and there aren't many bargains. Here's a little comparison between Sony's ebook store and Amazon's book store. I tried to pick something for everyone.| Title | Sony Connect | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien | Not Available (There's no Tolkien) | $8.00 |
| Harry Potter Book 1 by J.K. Rowling | Not Available (There's no Rowling) | $6.99 |
| Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie | $7.96 | $10.17 |
| Don't Hassel the Hoff by David Hasselhoff | $19.96 | $12.19 |
| The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan | $28.00 | $20.99 |
Comparison
Reading has a slightly different feel when using the Sony Reader. Here's what I've noticed so far:- Enables one handed reading. Great for laying in bed with my dog resting on my arm.
- You can't fall asleep when reading, lest something happens to this $300.00 device. You also can't drop the book on the floor when ready for bed.
Conclusion
I like it.Back
Don't forget prodject Gutenburg!
You could use the classic books from there.
Thanks for the info. Project Gutenberg looks like a great resource.
~Michael~
i read the entire series of harry potter books on a pda without much pain so I like the idea of the sony reader but I don't like being forced into only using certain types of ebooks. I would love something like this that was a little more open source. sony have a habit of only letting sony things play nicely with sony things.
nice review
~andy bailey~
Andy, HP is coming out with a new reader that seems to use a lot of formats. Check it out. Also there's a reader available at www.ebookwise.com.
~Micki~
P.S.
Where did you find all the Potter books in ebook format?
~Micki~
Google books should be another good one. I've found lots of neat books there in regular pdf format. (http://books.google.com/)
The Sony product is underwhelming, although I give them credit for (I think) their first offering to support flash that is not proprietary. Supporting SD as well as Memory Stick is a step I thought I'd never see Sony take. I read almost exclusively on a Palm device--have for MANY, MANY years. The size is far more practical than Sony's too-big offering and the backlight allows reading in darkened places. eBooks are available in .pdf format from numerous vendors/
~spooky~
In the sentence, "You can't fall asleep when reading, less something happens to this $300.00 device," the word "less" should be "lest." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lest)
~SpellingCop~
Thanks SpellingCop. You've done good work.
~Michael~
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