Amazon Kindle vs Sony Reader

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 29 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #7 in Tech & Geek, #112 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 400,000+ 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

Running Short on Time?



Give the gift of Kindle with a customizable Kindle gift card

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

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

Amazon Price: $259.00 (as of 01/07/2010)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

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

Amazon Price: $229.99 (as of 01/07/2010)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 400,000+ 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

Sony Reader Digital Book with touch screen - PRS700BC

Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2010)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)

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

Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2010)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.

Annie says:

I choose Kindle! I received the Sony for my birthday 6 weeks ago! Although an ebook was nice, downloading is a pain in the butt! The Sony website is always "under maintenance" so you can't get a book alot! Turning pages a pain in the butt and I don't like using the cord... Then we bought my mother the Kindle for Christmas and I had to set it up for her....Waaa-la! It took 5 minutes! The longest part was setting up her Amazon account! I went straight home and ordered the Kindle! Hoping it arrives quick and I can still return the Sony!

Posted January 01, 2010

stacy_mcdaniel says:

I pick the Kindle.I don't own either one. I know more about the Kindle than the Sony reader.

Posted December 27, 2009

EverythingMouse says:

It has to be Kindle!

Posted December 21, 2009

soccer chick says:

i ssay kindle alll the way its also now in sale

Posted December 13, 2009

Jewelsofawe says:

Kindle all the way!

Posted December 11, 2009

tandemonimom says:

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

Posted July 30, 2009

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.

Posted December 22, 2008

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!

Posted December 06, 2008

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.

Posted June 10, 2008

pre2master says:

kindle kindle

Posted May 27, 2008

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

BisDak says:

It's Sony PRS-600 Reader Touch Edition. With its expansion slot, you can have up to 16GB of memory. Full Touch Screen with stylus. Wide range of format including .doc(microsoft word), txt/RTF files, PDF, BBeB and .ePub, JPEG, gif, png, bmp.

Posted November 22, 2009

Susan says:

Sony. So big deal - I have to sync my Sony via USB - I have to sync my ipod, too! Plus - I can 'check out' books from my local library through a program called Overdrive. That, to me, is BRILLIANT! But too bad... it doesn't work for Kindle.

Posted November 13, 2009

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.

Posted July 03, 2009

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.

Posted February 27, 2009

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.

Posted January 27, 2009

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!

Posted November 01, 2008

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!!!

Posted July 03, 2008

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.

Posted July 01, 2008

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.

Posted May 21, 2008

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.

Posted April 17, 2008

 
view all 26 comments

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)

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

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 01/07/2010)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

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

Amazon Price: (as of 01/07/2010)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.
featured lens Kindle Accessories and Gifts for Kindle Lovers

Have you discovered the Amazon Kindle wireless reader? Looking for accessories? You've come to the right place! Check here for essential accessories, spare batteries, chargers, book lights for Kindle, travel accessories, Kindle cases and covers and...

featured lens Kindle Covers, Cases, and Skins - Dress Up Your Kindle!

Business or pleasure? With covers, cases, and skins for your Amazon Kindle Wireless Reader you don't have to settle for plain. Inject a little personality! Dress up your Kindle or dress it down, depending on the occasion or even on your mood. Ch...

featured lens Kindle 2 Covers, Cases, Skins and Accessories

Got Kindle? Getting Kindle 2? Whether you're trading up or starting your Kindle experience with the global, second-generation Kindle reader, you might be looking for accessories. The Kindle ships only with a power adapter and USB cable, so certainly...

Accessorize Your Kindle 

Amazon Kindle Cases, Covers, Lights and Accessories

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

1

Vote Up
Vote Down
Executive Case for Amazon Kindle, Black

Executive Case for Amazon Kindle, Black

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

2

Vote Up
Vote Down
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

3

Vote Up
Vote Down
Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light - Black

Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light - Black

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

5

Vote Up
Vote Down
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

8

Vote Up
Vote Down
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

9

Vote Up
Vote Down
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

10

Vote Up
Vote Down
Messenger Bag for Amazon Kindle 2

Messenger Bag for Amazon Kindle 2

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

11

Vote Up
Vote Down
Portfolio Case for Amazon Kindle

Portfolio Case for Amazon Kindle

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

12

Vote Up
Vote Down
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.)

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
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.
Kindle, Sony, Nook vs Apple, Google, Microsoft - One Trick Ponies ...
Now that Microsoft is reportedly going to show off their own slate/tablet computing device, the eRea...
Kindle, Nook and Sony eBook Reader Product Comparison Reports
eReaders took the number one spot as the top gift item this past holiday season. Nothing is going to...
Will Apple and Microsoft new tablets, Amazon Kindle DX, and Sony ...
Will Apple and Microsoft new tablets, Amazon Kindle DX, and Sony Reader bring PDF versions back in s...
Alcoa Consumer Electronics: Sony's Kindle Competition--The Daily ...
Electronic books, or e-books, will also be rolled out in abundance at CES. The Daily Edition from So...
Powered by Google

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."

submit
Show All

Meet the Lensmaster 

Lensmaster Susan52 has been a member since April 15 2007, has rated 3,223 lenses, favorited 644, and has created 166 lenses from scratch. Susan D donates their royalties to Soldiers Angels. This member's top-ranked page is "Kindle Wireless Reading Device from Amazon". See all my lenses

More Kindle Lenses from Susan52 

(She really does love her Kindle.)

featured lens Kindle Wireless Reading Device from Amazon

Lighter than a paperback, more powerful than WiFi, able to leap the library in a single, uh, click? - it's Kindle, the portable wireless reader from Amazon. The Kindle Wireless Reader from Amazon is the perfect anytime gift for your favorite...

featured lens Amazon Kindle vs Sony Reader

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 K...

featured lens Kindle Covers, Cases, and Skins - Dress Up Your Kindle!

Business or pleasure? With covers, cases, and skins for your Amazon Kindle Wireless Reader you don't have to settle for plain. Inject a little personality! Dress up your Kindle or dress it down, depending on the occasion or even on your mood. Ch...

featured lens Amazon Kindle or Kindle DX? Which is the better choice?

So you've decided to buy a Kindle wireless reader. Now you have a choice to make. Which model should you choose, Kindle or Kindle DX? The answer may be, "It depends." Let's compare the two Kindles, examine some opinions, and help you decide which is...

featured lens Kindle Accessories and Gifts for Kindle Lovers

Have you discovered the Amazon Kindle wireless reader? Looking for accessories? You've come to the right place! Check here for essential accessories, spare batteries, chargers, book lights for Kindle, travel accessories, Kindle cases and covers and...

featured lens The New Kindle 2 from Amazon.com

Are you ready? It's here! Rumors have been running rampant for months. Finally, on February 9, the Amazon Kindle 2 was official announced, preorders began, and late-breaking news is that the Kindle 2 is shipping now! Price for the Kindle 2 is the...

featured lens Kindle for the Blind and Visually Impaired

You spoke, Amazon listened and is improving the Kindle wireless reader to make it even more easily usable for the blind and visually-impaired as well as those with other learning disabilities such as dyslexia. The features that make Kindle so popula...

featured lens Your Paris Travel Guide, the Amazon Kindle

Too much luggage when you travel? Too many books? Let Kindle carry your travel guides on your trip to Paris, France! The Amazon Kindle is the only travel guide you'll need on your trip to Paris. Simply load Kindle up, in advance, with guide books to...

featured lens Kindle My Blog: How to Publish Your Blog on the Amazon Kindle

Have you always wanted to be a published author? Always wanted to sell your writing on Amazon.com? If you're the author of a blog, there's now an easy way to do just that. I know because I've done it. My blog, I Squidoo, Do You?, is now available in...

by Susan52

Susan52 enjoys writing, blogging, and making lenses on Squidoo and is proud to be a member of the Giant Squid 100 Club! The true loves of her life are... (more)

Explore related pages

Kindle Wireless Reading Device from Amazon
Lighter than a paperback, more powerful than WiFi, able to leap the library...
Kindle Covers, Cases, and Skins - Dress Up Your Kindle!
Business or pleasure? With covers, cases, and skins for your Amazon Kindle Wirel...
Amazon Kindle DX Big Screen E-Reader
After months of speculation, the new, big screen Kindle DX from Amazon.com is he...
Kindle Wireless Reading Device from Amazon
Lighter than a paperback, more powerful than WiFi, able to leap the library...
Kindle 2 Covers, Cases, Skins and Accessories
Got Kindle? Getting Kindle 2? Whether you're trading up or starting your Kindle...
Your London Travel Guide, the Amazon Kindle
Let Kindle be your London travel guide! The Amazon Kindle wireless reader is her...

Related Topics

Susan52 Recommends...

Create a Lens!