Okay, I’m not really, but as some of you know, I’m lucky enough to have the ability to explore the different ereader options, thanks to my job. Samhain got me a Sony 505 and a Kindle this summer to take to conferences. I had been using an Ebookwise, so I have previous experience with that (and actually, continued to use the Ebookwise for a good two months after I got both the other ereaders). I’ve also got an iPhone so I can try out the reader programs on that.
I have been using the Kindle almost exclusively, because the wireless makes it incredibly convenient for me to just send my submissions and ARCs right to it. But I’ve been increasingly unhappy with the file management options on the Kindle, which only allows you to sort by title, author and date of most recent accessed/added. This is fine if your metadata has good information in it so the Kindle actually has a usable title/author. But forwarding submissions and ARCs, I find myself with all sorts of file names, wondering what it is, and if it’s a pleasure book or a work book, who the author is, and other general details.
Jane and Keishon have both been talking about Calibre (on blogs and on Twitter) so I decided to bring out the Sony Reader and see how it all went.
So far, I’ve been using it for two days and I have to say I’m very happy with both Calibre (easy to use) and with the Sony’s file management. Granted, it is definitely not as convenient getting my books onto the Sony as it is with wireless, but it’s not difficult and I love that I’m now able to sort my books into categories–most especially sort the submissions into a submissions collection as well as the ARCs into a collection. Depending on how I tag the book, I can sort by genre, publisher, ARC, submission and I suppose, if I wanted, length.
Reading on the two is not hugely different as far as I can tell. I’m using the older Sony (the second model), not the touch screen, so now I would dearly love to get my hands on one of those to try out the touchscreen and built in reading light, but the 505 works very well for anyone considering one of those. It is a little different for me, getting used to the smaller page turn buttons than the Kindle, but on the plus side, I don’t have to worry about bumping those page turn buttons which I was ALWAYS doing with the Kindle. I do notice that the Sony’s screen is a little more yellowish than the Kindle, the refresh is marginally slower, and it takes a little longer to start up a book, but none of those is so different that I find myself irritated by it and I mostly noticed it for the sake of providing a comparison here.
But certainly the Sony is smaller and more sexy than the Kindle in design! I like that.
For now, I’m going to keep using the Sony and see how much I really miss the wireless option, or if giving that up is a good trade for me for the better file management (which Sony wins hands down over Kindle). I think the true test may be when I’m traveling and don’t have as easy access to a computer to upload the books. And maybe eventually I’ll get to try a newer Sony and see if it rocks my world in comparison!
Sarah calls her Kindle Sir Fusspot bc of how difficult it is to interface Kindle with other etailer bookstores.
We’ll have to do a swap, maybe at RT. You can take my touchscreen home with you and you can let me use the lower end Sony.
It’s interesting to see that the Kindle has rapidly become the choice of agents and editors, even on the print side of the industry, due to the wireless capabilities. But yes, on a reader level, I love my Sony 505, complete with nifty black leather binder to better simulate holding a “real book” in my hands. I’ve also considered upgrading to the 700, but I’ve read mixed reviews. I would consider the backlighting a plus, but several people have complained that backlit screen makes for more glare. So I’m still on the fence in that regard.
I’ve always laughed at Sarah’s name for her Kindle because it’s so fitting. Do you not like the touchscreen, Jane? What about the built-in lights?
Like you, Katrina, I’ve heard mixed reviews as well. I actually do have the booklight built for the Sony (that flips over the screen) but it scratches SO easily. In fact, I’ve never used it or the Sony, except to show at conferences, and it’s quite scratched, despite being protected by the cover. So when you’re reading with that light, you see all the little marks all over it. Ugh.
I think maybe I need to make myself a pretty cover for my Sony to brighten it up a little…
I love my Sony 505. And my hubby bought me the new LED light and cover for Christmas: http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=1005166&navigationPath=46881n100431 (or use this one: http://tiny.cc/TdcyO ) It’s great for low-light reading.
And I use Calibre instead of the Sony library software too – for the same reason – I can put in meta tags, etc. Of course living in Canada, the Kindle’s not an option for me anyway, so maybe I’m biased.
Leah, that’s exactly the light I use. I’d like it so much better if it didn’t get marked up so easily. For the price, I expected it to be a little sturdier, I guess.
That’s kinda funny. My first MP3 player was a Sony and I absolutely despised the file management on it (and the DRM, too). Guess they’ve caught up, at least in ebooks.
I have a Sony PRS-505, and really love it. For my needs, the Sony software has worked fine, but I also downloaded the Adobe software to handle those titles I purchase off the eHarlequin site, and that’s been fine as well. I highly doubt I’ll ever give up print entirely, but for the convenience, especially when I travel!, the Sony Reader can’t be beat.
I will admit though, I do covet the wireless capabilities of the Kindle. Not enough to actually buy one, but still….I covet.
What is needed to manage the eHarlequin titles? I didn’t realize there was a problem with those?
I downloaded Calibre about a month ago and absolutely love it for organizing books to read on my computer. I’m reading ebooks on my ipaq currently so Mobipocket works best for that device but by the time I actually get a Sony I’ll have everything organized and ready to go with Calibre.
No, I like the touchscreen and the lights – am just offering you an opportunity to use it yourself for some period of time not to exceed __ amount of dates.
Also, the only format that works on the Sony Reader for purchases straight from the eHarlequin site is epub. I think that is what Wendy was referring to.
@Katrina Strauss – actually most editors (not agents though) have Sonys. I know that almost every publishing house from S&S to RandomHouse to Tor to Penguin, the editors and marketing staff have been outfitted with Sony Readers.
Thanks for posting about the two different ereaders. I haven’t gotten one yet, but have been considering a few different ones for when I actually have the money to do so.
Rumor has it that the next generation of Sony eReader will be wireless. If so, I think it will give Kindle a run for its money.
Angie – I really want a Kindle for the wireless capabilities, but if you don’t find missing it too much of a lack while traveling, I’ll probably get the eReader for all the reasons you’ve listed.
Also, I wanted to let you know that I’m giving you the Premio Dardos Award. Don’t ask me what it means, I’m clueless. =)
Jane, why doesn’t Adobe PDF work from eHarlequin? And where do they offer secure epub as an option on the site? I only see Adobe, LIT, and Mobi.
There are always rumours about the next product. Maybe the next Kindle will have better file management!
a question if you please
why would you buy an e-reader over a laptop or notebook?
wouldn’t it just be one more tool to haul around?
and if Samhain bought you a 505 and a kindle…I think you should keep em!
I’m just sayin…
Angie, I buy Adobe PDFs from eHarlequin. They work beautifully. I’ve never considered getting either other option because the library books I download to the Sony 505 are also Adobe.
I’ve only had it a few months, but I do love it.
I found a converter for Sony
http://www.lib2go.com
I have a 505 eReader, and I love it (and not just because it came in Red). Mind you, I live in Canada, and we don’t get the Kindle yet, and even if we did, they don’t support the wireless in Canada, so that didn’t factor into my decision. The leather cover on the Sony, giving the feel of reading an actual book, works very nicely.
But when I bought it, the 700 was a month away from release in north america, and the guy at the Sony store confided that the version released in Japan had some issues with the touch screen. Since touch screen was not a deal-breaker for me, I happily bought my red ereader.
Just before Christmas, CBC.ca had an article on ebooks, and the reported that in December, the Sony stores in Ottawa were selling an average of 10 readers a day. At $300 a pop, that was very nice for their bottom line that month.
(BTW, the Ottawa library even has PDF format ebooks you can download for three weeks. Great for the reading)