Amazon Kindle vs Sony Reader

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 22 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #37 in Tech & Geek, #771 overall

HERE'S WHAT I THINK

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device is better than the Sony Reader Digital Book.

I like the features of the Kindle ebook reader and its huge selection of books, magazines, and blogs, and think it's a better choice.  I love that the latest Kindle works on a 3G network in the U.S. and in over 100 countries around the world. I love that the price on the Kindle was just reduced to $259.

But I'm fair and I believe in free speech, so I want to know what you think.

So, which is it, the Kindle or the Sony? Let the debate begin!



 


Already Own a Kindle?
Get free and cheap books for your Kindle HERE

Five Reasons I Love the Kindle Wireless Reader - No, Make that SIX Reasons! 

Scratch that. More reasons just keep rolling in!

  • No monthly service fee. Buy what you want, when you want.

  • True portability. No computer required, no "hotspot" required. Got cell service? Got Kindle service.

  • Adjustable font size for my middle-aged eyes.

  • The Kindle proves that beauty is more than skin deep. Ugly device? There's beauty in the book.

  • It's lightweight and portable, a library in my pocket or purse. What's not to love about that!

  • Kindle 2, available now!

  • The BIG Kindle! Perfect for newspapers, textbooks, and work document as well as any of the 300,000+ books in the Kindle store, it's the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device.

  • The latest Kindle, for use in the U.S. and abroad! Perfect for travelers, use the newest Kindle in 100 countries around the world. It's the Kindle Wireless Reading Device - U.S. & International Version

Kindle in the Spotlight 

Ta-da! Meet Kindle for the U.S. and around the world.

Notice the price reduction? Notice that Kindle is now available in the United States and in over 100 countries around the world? Yet another reason to choose Kindle!

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

Amazon Price: $259.00 (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

This is it. The original was good, but now Kindle is even better with a longer battery life and storage for even more books, which you can choose from the 240,000+ titles available. Don't forget the newspapers, magazines, and blogs that you can receive automatically via Amazon's 3G network with coverage in all 50 states and in over 100 countries around the world. Kindle 2 will even read to you!

If you're on the go, or if you just want a lightweight convenient way to read books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, even your own documents, get a Kindle. On a boat or on a train, in a car or on a plane. . . take along your Kindle wireless ebook reading device from Amazon.com

Kindle DX: The Big Screen Kindle


The reasons to choose Kindle keep growing, this time beyond the 6-inch Kindle screen to the
Kindle DX: Amazon's 9.7-inch
Large Screen Reader.
See it HERE.

Another reason to choose Kindle: Read Kindle on your iPhone or iPod Touch - FREE! 

Apple Meets Kindle, Introduced by Whispersync

The Amazon Kindle app for iPhone and iPod Touch is now available FREE from Apple's App Store. The app not only enables you to read on your i-device, synchronizes your reading with the content on your Kindle.

What do we mean by synchronize? Let's say you're reading War and Peace on your Kindle and you stop at page 400 to run an errand. Say you're now standing in a long line at the post office with nothing to do but wait. You could read, but you forgot to bring your Kindle. (Don't you hate it when that happens?) Hold on! You have your iPhone with you (or your iPod Touch) and your i-device has the Amazon Kindle app. Open to War and Peace, page 400, and read on. Now, say you read to page 405, mailed your package, then hustled back home. You settle back into your comfy reading chair and pick up your Kindle to read again, open War and Peace and page 405 is waiting for you. Simply pick right up where you left off. Ah, the wonders of Kindle and Whispersync!

Find out more about the Amazon Kindle app for iPhone and iPod Touch here.

Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL

Amazon Price: $229.99 (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

  • This player is the iPod touch, not the Apple iPhone
  • 16 GB capacity for 3,500 songs, 10,000 photos, or 20 hours of video
  • Up to 36 hours of music playback or 6 hours of video playback when fully charged
  • 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display with 480-by-320-pixel resolution
  • Supported audio formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; supported video formats: H.264, MPEG-4; supported image file types: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG

    Sync books from your Kindle with your iPod Touch using the free application from the Apple app store. See how it works here.

Did we mention the 240,000+ titles to choose from for Kindle?


Scratch that. Make it 275,000+
Scratch that.
Make it 300,000+ and still growing!

Visit the Kindle store.

It's the Sony PRS 700 Reader Digital Book Portable eBook Reader 

n the spirit of the debate, here are the two models of Sony electronic book reader. Take a look, compare, then decide. Will it be Sony or Kindle?

Sony Reader Digital Book with touch screen - PRS700BC

Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

  • displays eBooks purchased at the eBook Store from Sony%uFFFD
  • displays Adobe%uFFFD PDFs, plus TXT, RTF, and Microsoft%uFFFD Word files
  • plays MP3 and AAC files (protected files not supported)
  • 420MB internal memory
  • memory slot holds an SD Memory Card (up to 2GB capacity) and Memory Stick%uFFFD Duo media (up to 8GB capacity)

The Sony PRS 505 Portable E-Book Reader 

The older model Sony electronic book reader. Still a worthy competitor.

Sony PRS-505 Portable Digital e-Reader System (Silver)

Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

  • displays eBooks purchased from the CONNECT eBook online store
  • displays Adobe® PDFs, plus TXT, RTF, BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG and Microsoft® Word files
  • plays MP3 and AAC files (protected files not supported)
  • internal 192MB memory
  • memory slot holds an SD Memory Card (up to 2GB capacity) and Memory Stick® Duo media (up to 8GB capacity)

YOUR TURN! 

The evidence has been presented. What's your verdict?

I choose the Amazon Kindle over the Sony Reader. How about you?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

You're right! I choose Kindle, too.

tandemonimom says:

I don't have either yet, but I want a Kindle!

I choose Kindle says:

I just ordered a refurbished Kindle through Amazon.com and paid $30.00 less than the $359.00 I'd have to pay if I wanted to wait 8 to 12 weeks. And I sure wouldn't pay what others are wanting on Amazon and Ebay. I opted for free shipping and probably won't have it until after Christmas - it wasn't a gift. Since I haven't had a chance to actually look at and hold either item, just from reading everything about each one, I'd have to go with the Kindle because of all the options it offers while it sounds like the Sony is just a basic book reader. It looks like most everyone who's voting for the Sony lives outside the US and has no access to whispernet.

TheGreenerMe says:

I'd get the Kindle just because I haven't heard much about the Sony Reader yet. Though with the Kindle being constantly sold out, I might consider the Reader if it doesn't get restocked soon!

Chuck says:

I own both. I think that the kindle has more functionality. In addition to the internet connection, the kindle allows you to highlight and add notes --which for me is more important than the internet connection. The Sony is a better device. It is more durable, has a better design, and feels like a higher quality device. If the sony had the ability to highlight, I would drop the kindle without hesitation, until then my sony is sitting in a drawer.

pre2master says:

kindle kindle

MobyD says:

If I had the bucks for an ebook reader, I'd go with the Kindle. It works off Sprint's EV-DO network, so if you have Sprint service in your area, you can get stuff with the Kindle (check www.sprint.com and choose Coverage or check coverage on Amazon's Kinle product page). It's great that Amazon is picking up the connect charges so there's no hidden cost for downloading content. I also like that Amazon, unlike Sony, is an American company, although I didn't see anything on Amazon indicating where the Kindle is manufactured. If I had a Kindle, I'd probably be a frequent user of Wikipedia, and would use it to read the newspapers and magazines available on it.

mulberry says:

I'm a Kindle gal.

Christine says:

I actually own both of them. The Kindle is more like a book, so it appeals to the book lover and Amazon-addict in me. On the other hand, lots of titles are available in e-book format, but not Kindle versions...yet. In a few short months, I'll be using the Kindle exclusively.

bdkz says:

I don't have one but if I did I would get the Kindle.

Susan52 says:

I choose Kindle. Try to talk me out of it. I'm listening!

No way, Monkeybrain! It's Sony all the way.

stayfit4life says:

I own the Sony PRS505 and I love it. Having wireless connectivity is not an issue for me as I am always close to a PC. The only thing missing from the Sony is a search function.

Chris says:

I suppose the Kindle is fine if all you want is to buy books from Amazon, but the Sony supports more formats, including pdf, which is the format for pretty much anything you'll find using google scholar, for example.

Lorie says:

The Kindle design drives me crazy. Every time I pick the Kindle up, I turn the page by mistake with my left hand. There is no way to pick it up. Can't use the Kindle just for that reason. I kept losing my place.

Marilyn says:

The Sony. The connecting and downloading are not an issue with me. I like it because I can view the choices in color and I sometimes am drawn to read a description of a book, by it's cover. I just keep plenty of reading material on my Sony. I've seen the Kindle and the buttons seem clumsy. I choose the Sony!

JJ says:

This is probably one of the hardest decisions I have had to Make in a long time, If price were equal I think I would go with the Kindle, However whispernet does not interest me, The fact that the Sony is PC only tends to be annoying, But I believe Sony has a good device, As soon as their prices on books and availability of content equals the rest of the Market, There will be a level Playing field, Plus the Kindle is just so UGLY!!!

Manoj says:

The controls are better in Reader. Since I'm out of US, Kindle's wireless means nothing to me as of now. Sony's design is so much better to look at and feel.

Nick says:

Kindle is at least a 100$ more expensive than the Sony Reader (you can also try eBay and save more). Also, for all the other countries in the world, besides U.S. the Kindle is practically useless (no whispernet, no books). I live in Greece (Europe) and the Sony Reader has proven to be a very wise choice.

Catire says:

Both have the same features as far as im concerned ( i dont live in the US so no Wispernet for me ) so in the end i chose the Sony reader because of its design and price ($100 cheaper ). The kindle's page turn buttons look like they might be a pain because you would click em by mistake all the time.

Gwyn Evans says:

Well, I went with the Sony as the Kindle, or more specifically, the Kindle's wireless connectivity's not available where I live. That's the only thing that the Kindle has going for it over & above the Sony & if it were an option, I'd have to think really hard if it was worth the $120+ it'd cost!

 

Hold Everything! Who said the Kindle's not as pretty as the Sony reader? 

Dress up your Kindle or Kindle DX! Check out these Kindle skins.

Tropics Design Protective Decal Skin Sticker for Amazon Kindle E-Book Reader (Version 1.0)

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

Dress up your Kindle while you protect it with this great design!

  • Each kit covers the front and back of the Amazon Kindle 2.
  • Non permanent adhesive backing that allows you to simply peel off the skins with no sticky residue
  • Scratch resistant protective shields made out of high-quality vinyl
  • Thin enough to maintain compatibility with most accessories and cases; tough enough to absorb the minor abuse that makes a device look dingy
  • This skin compatible with Kindle 2 only.
Kindle skins are available in a wide variety for every taste and every occasion. Browse the complete, huge selection and find skins for both the original Kindle and Kindle 2, as well as coordinating skins for your laptop, phone, game system and other electronic devices, HERE.

Get this gorgeous leather cover for your new Kindle. 

The Kindle 2 ships without a cover or case, so you'll likely want to add one. Here's a great choice, with more listed below.

Made from hand-stained New Zealand leather, this luxurious cover will turn heads.

Cole Haan Hand-Stained Pebble Grain Leather Cover for 2nd Generation Kindle,Saddle Tan

Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)Buy Now

This Cole Haan luxury cover is perfect to protect your Kindle and to take with you anywhere.

  • Made exclusively for Kindle 2 by Cole Haan
  • Hand-stained, hand woven leather exterior
  • Goatsuede interior
  • Elastic catch straps for easy viewing of entire screen
  • Convenient business card holder
Browse our huge selection of Kindle 2 covers, cases, and accessories HERE.

Another Reason to Love Kindle: Cases, Covers, and Accessories 

Oops, make that three reasons.

Check out these lenses for all of your Kindle accessory needs, for both the original Kindle 1 and the new and improved Kindle 2.

Accessorize Your Kindle 

Amazon Kindle Cases, Covers, Lights and Accessories

Don't see what you need here? You might find it here.

Executive Case for Amazon Kindle, Black

Executive Case for Amazon Kindle, Black

The Amazon Kindle Executive Jacket is the ultimate more...1 point

Executive Case for Amazon Kindle, RED (Pre-order--ships ~1 March)

Executive Case for Amazon Kindle, RED (Pre-order--ships ~1 March)

The Amazon Kindle Executive Jacket is the ultimate more...0 points

Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light - Black

Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light - Black

The Mighty Bright Extra Flex Music Stand Light fea more...0 points

Kingston 2GB Secure Digital Memory Card (SD/2GB, Retail Package)

Kingston 2GB Secure Digital Memory Card (SD/2GB, Retail Package)

For the original Kindle. Kingston's standard Secur more...0 points

Cole Haan Smooth Cover Case for Kindle 2,Dark Brown,one size

Cole Haan Smooth Cover Case for Kindle 2,Dark Brown,one size

Protect your Kindle 2 in luxury with this custom c more...0 points

Cole Haan Woven Cover Case for Kindle 2,Light Bronze,one size

Cole Haan Woven Cover Case for Kindle 2,Light Bronze,one size

Protect your Kindle 2 in luxurious style with this more...0 points

Messenger Bag for Amazon Kindle 2

Messenger Bag for Amazon Kindle 2

The stylish Italian leather messanger bag has been more...0 points

Portfolio Case for Amazon Kindle

Portfolio Case for Amazon Kindle

Premium Faux Leather Portfolio case for Kindle wit more...0 points

Amazon Kindle 2 Replacement Power Adapter

Amazon Kindle 2 Replacement Power Adapter

Great idea to have a spare adapter on hand. Keep o more...0 points

EBook Readers on eBay 

Can you find a bargain?

You may, indeed, find a bargain first generation Kindle or Sony Reader on eBay. Shop wisely! (Note that this module only displays auctions. Click on an auction to look for fixed price listings.)

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eBay

RELATED NEWS: FODDER FOR ARGUING MORE 

Now, bloggers know how to argue!

Let's see who's blogging about the Amazon Kindle versus the Sony portable ebook reader.
Amazon Kindle For PC Now Available | WebProNews
"Kindle for PC is also a great way for people around the world to access a huge selection from the K...
Kindle books for the iPod Touch | LISNews
I was pointing out that you don't need an ebook reader (Kindle, Sony or otherwise) or a $300 iPod To...
Kindle Vs Kindle for PC Vs Kindle for iPhone « Kindle Review ...
Barnes and Noble have become a much more real threat to Amazon than Sony ever were. Kindle for PC is...
Sony fights Kindle with $400 high end wireless reader
Sony fights Kindle with $400 high end wireless reader.

Have Something Else to Contribute to the Argument? 

Don't have an ebook reader but still have something to say? This is the place to speak up!

Note that a portion of the proceeds from any purchase made from this page will benefit Soldiers' Angels,
in honor of my two military sons. "May no soldier go unloved."

electronicdeals91 wrote...

Amazon has a first to market product with much more available add-ons, but we love Sony products!

ReplyPosted October 31, 2009

Lensmaster

Stewart Engelman wrote

When the Sony Reader first came out, I was so in awe of the concept that I was put on the original waiting list (they underestimated initial demand). I am very impressed with the Sony Reader. The background/foreground contrast is perfect, and it has a fantastic music player built-in (really high quality). I use the device almost every day like an addiction.

While I have not tried out the Kindle, I do admit that there are some advantages, such as the larger screen and the wider selection of titles.

In the end, I think you are dealing with two very impressive products. I admit I didn't really answer your question "which is better" because I don't know, but both are clearly amazing products. How's that for equivocating?

Stewart Engelman

Reply Posted August 01, 2009

tandemonimom wrote...

Kindle ... maybe for Christmas?

ReplyPosted July 30, 2009

stargazer00 wrote...

Would love to have a Kindle. I wonder if the price will come down over time?

ReplyPosted April 30, 2009

BigGirlBlue wrote...

I've wanted the Kindle since it was first introduced in the US. Patiently waiting for Amazon.ca to introduce one. Ok, I admit, not so patiently waiting. Good dual. The Sony people almost had me reconsidering.

ReplyPosted April 19, 2009

view all 15 comments

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