Comments on: Sony Reader: Mammal or Dinosaur? http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/ on books and technology, today and tomorrow Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:11:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: harmon http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1414 harmon Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:19:50 +0000 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1414 I have a mac, & and iphone, and a Sony Reader 505. While I have never actually held a Kindle, from comparisons I've read, I am pretty sure that from a physical and operational viewpoint, I prefer the Reader. But the problem is that the Reader doesn't prefer my Mac. So I can't buy books at the Sony Bookstore. Further, although some DRMed files, like Adobe, will work on my 505, in order to make that happen, I have to find someone with a PC to do the proper authorizations, even when I've managed to buy the Adobe file & download it to my mac. I am reluctantly being driven to the conclusion that the best combination of ebook reader and iphone reader for a mac owner is Kindle based rather than Sony based. I've tried using calibre, Stanza & Stanza Desktop, which combine to give me an iphone reader which will work with the 505. But compared to the Sony Bookstore and more particularly, Amazon, the ebook selection is sparse - even taking into account the books that are in the public domain. I like the 505, and might keep it as well, mainly as a dedicated newspaper & magazine reader, thanks to calibre. In addition to being able to download 505 ready newspapers/magazines from the internet, an add-on called Bookit permits one-click downloading of web pages into calibre, converted to an epub file suitable for reading on the 505. Of course, if Apple ever decides to make a king sized Touch, all bets might be off. I think it would be the killer ebook reader. I have a mac, & and iphone, and a Sony Reader 505. While I have never actually held a Kindle, from comparisons I’ve read, I am pretty sure that from a physical and operational viewpoint, I prefer the Reader.

But the problem is that the Reader doesn’t prefer my Mac. So I can’t buy books at the Sony Bookstore. Further, although some DRMed files, like Adobe, will work on my 505, in order to make that happen, I have to find someone with a PC to do the proper authorizations, even when I’ve managed to buy the Adobe file & download it to my mac.

I am reluctantly being driven to the conclusion that the best combination of ebook reader and iphone reader for a mac owner is Kindle based rather than Sony based. I’ve tried using calibre, Stanza & Stanza Desktop, which combine to give me an iphone reader which will work with the 505. But compared to the Sony Bookstore and more particularly, Amazon, the ebook selection is sparse – even taking into account the books that are in the public domain.

I like the 505, and might keep it as well, mainly as a dedicated newspaper & magazine reader, thanks to calibre. In addition to being able to download 505 ready newspapers/magazines from the internet, an add-on called Bookit permits one-click downloading of web pages into calibre, converted to an epub file suitable for reading on the 505.

Of course, if Apple ever decides to make a king sized Touch, all bets might be off. I think it would be the killer ebook reader.

]]> By: Robbo http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1382 Robbo Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:58:32 +0000 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1382 has anyone compared the Sony to the Kindle? Seems the down load feature on the the Kindle is superior to Sony. (No need to hook up to your computer) Also Kindle's store is Amazon, so I'd guess there are more titles available there. Finally, has anyone heard when is Kindle coming to Canada? has anyone compared the Sony to the Kindle? Seems the down load feature on the the Kindle is superior to Sony. (No need to hook up to your computer) Also Kindle’s store is Amazon, so I’d guess there are more titles available there. Finally, has anyone heard when is Kindle coming to Canada?

]]> By: QueenQueen http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1242 QueenQueen Fri, 09 May 2008 06:39:20 +0000 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1242 The price of ebook reader is very constrained by the eink panel. E-ink is now really monopolized by a single firm. So, I guess there will unlikely such price cut in near future. The price of ebook reader is very constrained by the eink panel. E-ink is now really monopolized by a single firm. So, I guess there will unlikely such price cut in near future.

]]> By: Beny http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1228 Beny Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:55:55 +0000 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1228 hudsonman35, I totally agree with you. I love this little gadget, but not with it's $300+ price tag. I am resisting just rushing out and buying this baby, but I'm really fighting. hudsonman35, I totally agree with you. I love this little gadget, but not with it’s $300+ price tag. I am resisting just rushing out and buying this baby, but I’m really fighting.

]]> By: hudsonman35 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1175 hudsonman35 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:00:09 +0000 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-1175 I am hoping both the Sony Reader and the Amazon Kindle will come down in price to $100 so more college students and people like me who love new technology can go ahead and buy one of those OR something very similar from Apple or whoever is willing to take the leap into e-Book technology! I also hope Apple iWork and Microsoft Word will have a plug-in that lets you create your own e-Book to upload to a publisher to sell to people OR just create free e-Books to enjoy! - Mark McLaughlin /marknetproductions.wordpress.com / Hudson, MA, USA I am hoping both the Sony Reader and the Amazon Kindle will come down in price to $100 so more college students and people like me who love new technology can go ahead and buy one of those OR something very similar from Apple or whoever is willing to take the leap into e-Book technology! I also hope Apple iWork and Microsoft Word will have a plug-in that lets you create your own e-Book to upload to a publisher to sell to people OR just create free e-Books to enjoy! – Mark McLaughlin /marknetproductions.wordpress.com / Hudson, MA, USA

]]> By: Ars Technica’s Read on the Sony PRS-505 « The Reader http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-518 Ars Technica’s Read on the Sony PRS-505 « The Reader Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:21:30 +0000 http://wowio.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/sony-reader-mammal-or-dinosaur/#comment-518 [...] is largely in line with my own continuing experience with the earlier PRS-500 model. I still gawk at the e-ink screen with wonder, though I am at times [...] [...] is largely in line with my own continuing experience with the earlier PRS-500 model. I still gawk at the e-ink screen with wonder, though I am at times [...]

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