Last week in the comments of a Dear Author thread, I told one of the commenters I’d take some pictures of the Sony and the Kindle, for a visual comparison of size, as well as the best visual comparison of the screen images as I could get. Luckily, I have a sunroom that gets good light in the morning, so the pictures don’t do too bad a job showing the readers in natural light. Since I have them, I also threw in some pictures of the Ebookwise, the iPhone and the Asus EeePC. Sadly, I don’t have the Sony 700 or other readers to provide comparison pictures of.

I’m going to share a few here, but for the whole shebang (I took a lot) please go to this album to browse them. There you’ll find pictures of the Sony and Kindle from all angles, including the back, pictures of me holding them and side views, all to give you an idea of the differences between the two.

Two side by sides of the Kindle and Sony 505 from different angles

And a picture for a comparison of the eink screen on each. To be honest, I thought the Sony might be darker but side by side, I didn’t notice any big difference. I have to wonder if it’s the difference in the white casing versus the darker casing.

And shots of all the readers (From left to right: Asus EEE 900, iPhone, Kindle, Sony 505, Ebookwise:

Eink versus grayscale:

I think it’s important to note about the grayscale, that the contrast can be adjusted quite a bit. That’s just how I happened to have it.

Anyone want to see any other pictures that I didn’t include?

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• Questions from the comments (nicemommy-evileditor.com)

I’ve had these two comments flagged to answer in their own post, so I thought I’d better get to them!

Wyzwmn asked

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?

I actually have a laptop. And an Asus EeePC (mini laptop) that only weighs 2lbs. And an iPhone. And an iPaq (which doesn’t get used at all anymore, but I’m just using it to illustrate my point). When I want to read, I immediately reach for the Sony Reader (I also own a Kindle and an Ebookwise, but the Sony is what I use right now). No other device has been able to replace, for me, using a dedicated reader, no matter how small, portable or otherwise useful it is.

I tried to think of a good analogy, but the only one I could think of was pretty weak. Let’s say you have some sort of ongoing problem with your skin. You could go to your general practicioner but if you have the option, wouldn’t you rather go to a dermatologist? Because they specialize, you know it will be better.

That’s how having a dedicated ereader is for me. Yes, it’s a specialty item but it’s a specialty item that can’t be replaced. Yes, I can read on other devices, but the experience isn’t the same, it’s not as convenient and I don’t care to do it if I don’t have to. One of the things about the newer eink devices (not the Ebookwise) is how easy on the eyes it is to read on. As much as I love ebooks, I’m like many people who say they don’t want to read on the computer. I spend probably an average of 12 hours a day looking at a computer screen. I already notice the effects of that. So when I’m ready to read for pleasure at night, it’s a huge relief to be able to reach for an eink device and be able to read on that.

Now, that said, I’m still a fan of the Ebookwise, which isn’t eink technology but is grayscale and a little less harsh than reading on the computer. Dedicated reading devices still have other advantages, such as the size (close to reading a book), the ease of holding them (easier than holding a book or a laptop) and ease of portability (which no computer or laptop can compete with, not even an Asus Eee PC).

I really love my dedicated device. If something happened to the iPhone, the Eee PC and my readers all at the same time, and I had to choose which to replace, I’d replace the dedicated reader first!

Kerry asked:

Since you mentioned the Kindle and other e-devices, I’d love to ask a question about Samhain books. Is there a schedule or specific timeline for Samhain books to be released for the Kindle? Are *all* books at some point available for Kindle, or only ones that are “proven sellers” on, say, My Bookstore and More first?

I’m also curious about the availability of Samhain books at fictionwise. I prefer to buy some books for my iphone at fictionwise because of their rewards program, but apparently Samhain books on fictionwise are only availabe in secure mobi/lit format. I’m kind of on a book-buying diet until my credit at fictionwise is gone, so it’s a bummer.

We do have a deal with Amazon/Mobipocket to release all books in mobi and Kindle formats, but it’s really up to Amazon when they appear. There are people at Samhain who have put a lot of time and effort into making sure all the books are available, but we’re dependent on Amazon to actually get them there. All we can do is keep emailing and keep asking. That was the long answer. The short answer is that all of our books should be available at all online retailers, if the retailer chooses to carry them.

Fictionwise is a little different. We have not had a contract with Fictionwise until very recently, because we were unable to reach an agreement of terms with them (I have commented on this in the past on other blogs). So Fictionwise was getting our books from Lightning Source, where the majority of online retailers get the books from. Lightning source puts the DRM on them (not Samhain) and makes them available in only a few formats. This was Fictionwise’s only option for carrying our books at that point.

Now that we’ve just reached an agreement with Fictionwise and recently signed the contract, our office staff has been working with Fictionwise to get it up and running. Going forward, very soon, Fictionwise will be offering Samhain books starting with new releases in a variety of formats (I believe unsecured formats). Backlist will hopefully be gradually converted, but that won’t happen right away.

Hope that answered both of your questions and I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. Does anyone else have any pressing questions they’ve been wanting to ask?

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We’re going to sell some books on the iPhone, baby!

Here’s the link to the entire press release and a link to the specific instructions for finding our books on the iPhone.

Austin, TX – November 18, 2008 – BooksOnBoard, the premier ebook retailer, has entered into definitive agreements with Samhain Publishing Ltd. and Lexcycle, Inc. to make the entire Samhain romantic fiction catalog of ebooks available on Lexcycle’s Stanza. Stanza is the highest rated and most popular ebook reader for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
“This provides a giant step forward for many of our customers,” said Bob LiVolsi, BooksOnBoard CEO, “Now, our readers will be able to buy, download wirelessly and read ebooks from Samhain’s best selling authors such as Lora Leigh, Jess Dee, and Lorelei James from their iPhones. As always, our prices remain the best in the industry on Samhain and other mass market titles.”

Since we’ve had any pictures of Brianna up here. She looked so cute when she went to daycare this morning that I had to snap a few pictures with my iPhone. She asked me to put her hair up in pigtails (she never does that) and was wearing a pair of cute crop jeans and a pink zip hoodie. She was darling. And I’m not biased.

Sorry for the questionable quality, but that’s the iPhone camera for you!

That scarecrow is a little creepy, isn’t it? The way it seems to be watching her. We inherited that from my in-laws when they cleared out their house this month. Brianna loves it. Me, not so much. But in retaliation on my husband (who brought it home) I’ll be buying light up reindeer for the front yard this Christmas. Ha!

Where the RWA updates are,they’re to the left. In the sidebar. I’ve been Twittering pictures and some commentary from RWA via my iPhone this week. Lots and lots of pictures.

https://twitter.com/angelajames

If you haven’t seen the Today show segment, here’s the link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25966976#25966976 and I can be spotted a few times.

If you were at the workshop today and are searching for the epublishing articles I spoke of, they’re here:

Part 1: Epubbing 101 A Different Way isn’t the Wrong Way

Part 2: Choosing an Epublisher

also, I heard today that the RWA workshops are available for online download individually (or at least will be) so you don’t need to order all the CDs. That’s cool.

The Hoff and I are having a great time. Wish you all were here

Shan mentioned that she didn’t want an iPhone. I laughed because I’d made this video just for her prior to that conversation.

What follows is an 18 second video on how to get Shan’s sons to convince her she NEEDS an iPhone. You might not find it amusing if you’re not her, but I laughed my ass off when I watched it (even though I’m the one who made it) because it’s so spastic. My husband still loves me even though he thinks I’m weird.

Make sure your sound is on. It means nothing if you can’t watch it with sound.

Via the Whispernet on my new Kindle. And then was immediately bitter when I realized I’d never be able to read it on anything but a Kindle. Though Amazon makes it very easy to purchase, which I’m sure is seductive. And sheer brilliance in offering the beginning of the book free to hook the reader in.

Also, I read in bed last night. On my Ebookwise. Heh. My husband noticed the lack of a backlight immediately when I showed him the Kindle and we discussed how most of my reading is done in bed or low-light situations. He felt it was kind of worthless without a backlight, lol (though I kind of agree, given how much I depend on the backlight on the Ebookwise). I did try reading the Kindle with a booklight, but so far I still find the Kindle awkward to hold and I always felt like the light was shining in my eyes.

Next week the Sony Reader arrives*, and I hear the new Bookshelf app on the iPhone is rocking and I’m planning on trying that once I upgrade my firmware, so maybe I’ll add a comparison of reading devices to my epublishing articles. Or just write one here. I can do Ebookwise, Sony, Kindle, iPhone and iPaq. Maybe the people who do the Cybook and the Astak Mentor should send me one so I can compare those too. I think that’s a fab idea, don’t you?

*In case anyone is wondering, no, I don’t need this many ebook readers for my personal use. I’ll have them for taking to conferences so I can plug ebooks and let people try the different devices at the same time.

Oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and brighhhhhht.

Look what I got today! Ignore the rather lame picture taken of myself with my iPhone. I won’t say this often, but look at my nose (clicking on the picture will make it easier to see).

Now Brianna wants to know why there’s not one on the other side, and if I have one in my jewelry box for the other side. And why she can’t touch it.

The weather here. The weather where I live hasn’t been too bad, but Phoenix this time of year is really awesome. I’d forgotten that. I’ve spent most of the morning on my balcony, working on a few things I needed to get done. Including my workshop handouts (which are now in the hands of Staples for printing. Thank goodness for online uploading and Staples!) I’m getting ready to go out and get some lunch, maybe do some shopping and then gear up for the conference.

Where I’m staying is just a mile or so down the road from where I used to live, so it’s been interesting, to see all the changes that have taken place in the last eight years. When I lived here, Chandler was a very southern suburb of Phoenix and not too developed yet. They road I lived off of was full of empty fields and not too crowded with businesses. Since I’ve lived here, a mall has gone up, lots of nice shopping areas, restaurants, and hotels. It’s amazing to see the differences, while still seeing what’s familiar.

It’s reminded me of memories I haven’t thought of in a long time. I lived here my first year out of college, there were quite a few people I knew and partied with that lived and worked with us, and that year was still a continuation of the college partying. We worked during the day and partied at night. There weren’t many nights were we weren’t doing cookouts, going to the bar or traveling to the lake. It was really a fun time and I have good memories of it. It was the only really good year of my first marriage, and sadly, at the end of that year, I also knew I should never have married my husband. He was a fabulous friend but not the right guy for me (yay for Josh, who is SO the right guy for me, hands down!). It’s fun to be here and look back and see how much my life has changed. I’m happy I have those memories but it makes me realize how happy I am that I grew up and moved forward! I’m glad I was invited to attend the conference and had a chance to come a day early and get around the area.

Now, I have to go find Daisy Duck, because I foolishly told my daughter that’s what I would bring her It’s what she wanted and I, being simple, said sure!–my husband laughed. Darn him

More from my iPhone later if I see anything fun!

So I have this nifty iPhone, which I love. I’ve had it about a month and thanks to Jane I can do cool stuff on it (she almost literally held my hand through the scary task of jailbreaking it) but I don’t want to harass her with all my new iPhone owner questions.

My first question is pretty basic: when a new number calls me, is there a way to save that number as a new contact? Tapping on it calls it, so is there a way to save it to a contact or save it as a new contact?

Second, if you have a jailbroken iPhone, what apps do you love for it?