Sony eBook Reader - Part I

Earlier this year, I finally bought myself a Sony eBook Reader. I bought the cheaper Sony PRS-505 version because it is lighter than its big brother (the PRS700) and I do not need the ability to touch the screen or high-light text or make notes; I just want to read. This is one of the best investments I have made in a gadget in a long time.

I just love the styling of this thing. When you hold it in your hand, it feels both sleek and solid, with it's all-metal construction at only 1/3 of an inch in thickness. This thing fits in either my laptop bag or a coat pocket without my even noticing it, and carries hundreds of books, RSS feeds, pictures, and mp3s for all my entertainment needs. The battery lasts a ridiculously long time at 7500 page turns (drawing the page takes the majority of the energy, sitting idle almost nothing).

But the main draw of this device is that I have not yet purchased a book for it. Even though I've read over 20 books on the thing (and have over 100 stored), all of them have either been in the public domain and copyright-free or I have checked them out from my local library. That's right, the Sony reader supports the Adobe Digital Editions DRM scheme, used by thousands of libraries across the country, and Adobe's own bookstore. When I "check out" a book from the library at home using my computer, it transfers to my Sony Reader and expires after 21 days. No having to go to the library, nor returning the books.

Although I could pretty much do this already with a combination of calibre and the Gutenberg Project, I just noticed a new feature of the Sony Bookstore: effortless transfer of books from Google Books to the Sony Reader! That quick setup just added 500,000 books that are out of copyright and free to put on the reader. Amazing, even though I'm not fond of the Sony eBook software as much as calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.

In the next piece or two, I'll describe how the different software works and how transferring books to the Sony reader works. For the most part, it is very easy, but i you're either cheap and/or enjoy really esoteric things like me, you may have to deal with some format conversion. It's easy.

When people see me reading this, they ask if it is a Kindle, even though I ave never seen a Kindle in the wild and have seen two other people with Sony readers, the Kindle is the one people think about (kudos, Amazon). Let me break down the Sony Reader and Kindle differences for you quickly.

Sony: has capability to play mp3s (which means audio books) just cannot do the read out loud whatever you are reading that the Kindle II does. The Sony must be connected to the computer to add books. You can place any pdf, book from the Gutenberg project, HTML page, etc onto the Sony at no charge. You can check out books from the San Jose library and place them on the Sony. They expire in 21days. Has a bookstore navigable with the software installed on a PC.

Kindle: can read you the book so you don't have to. Can download over "whispernet" at no charge other than the cost of the book. Cannot view pdfs (yet, the DX will, i am not sure about the current). You can send it books in other text formats (html? mobi? txt?) but there is a nominal charge for this. You cannot checkout library books. Has a bookstore navigable via the web or on the device.

The thing about the iphone app that is soooo cool is that you can read on your kindle, pick up right there on the iPhone, and then go back to the Kindle and it is where you left off. That's due to the always-connected part of each device. I love this because when I am really into a book, I can't stop reading it and want it to be everywhere I am. As thin as the Sony reader is, it does not fit in my jeans pocket (although it does fit in almost every coat pocket I have), and with this, I would never stand in line, thinking "damn, this is long, where's my book?!" But, if you think most of your reading will be in short, sub-15 minute intervals, an eBook reader is not for you anyway.

The screen is the same between the two devices. I think the controls are nicer on the Sony, but that is my opinion and I have never actually played w/ a Kindle. I hear the controls on the Kindle II are far better than the original.

...Read more