Differences between the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader
Author: Christina Pomoni
Author: Christina Pomoni
Comparing Amazon Kindle to Sony Reader shouldnt be much of a problem. There are some straightforward differences that possibly put Sony Reader on the lead. Being slightly smaller and weighing 1.4 ounces less than the Kindle, the Reader offers end-users more choices, introduces cool features, launches the Touch edition and its cheaper. In particular: a) E-Link Technology Both Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader use the same E-Link display technology that is based on similar microprocessors. However, the Reader has more storage capacity (420 MB) than the Kindle (180MB) and supports also an additional Memory Stick Duo Up to 32 GB, while the Kindle has an internal flash memory of 2 GB. Both devices support TXT, and RTF text formats, while PDF, DOC, DOCX, LRF, LRX ePub text formats are supported by the Reader and the Kindle 2. Also, both devices convert HTML pages to Microsoft Word documents (.doc). Both the Reader and the Kindle support JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP formats for images and MP3 audio formats. However, the Reader supports also DRM-free AAC. b) Readability Both Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader introduce zooming features (Reader zooms in 3 levels, the Kindle zooms in 6) that can create large eBook type contents. Apart from several differences in the built-in fonts that they feature, both devices feature quite readable fonts, large and clear. However, the Reader seems to be slightly on the lead by featuring more smooth and legible fonts. Browsing e-books on both devices is quite straightforward, but Kindlers scroller selector is more user-friendly than Readers soft buttons. However, both devices provide features for easy navigation, although the Kindle may be quite more complicated. The Reader is overall much simpler features more obvious controls for most options. It can also rotate the display to wide mode, which facilitates reading PDF files or other files formats that cannot be resized. c) Design Although both devices have screens with similar specifications (Kindle: 6" diagonal, 91mm 122mm, 600800px, 167 dpi resolution - Reader: 6" diagonal, 175mm x 122mm, 600800px, 170 dpi resolution), its surprising how the Kindle is larger, wider, longer and twice as thick. But its even more surprising that, in spite, the Kindle weighs only 1.4 ounces more (Kindle: 10.4 ounces, Reader: 9 ounces). Besides, the Kindles keyboard is a rather awkward thumb keyboard that aims at facilitating users to typing in URLs and searching for stored content. The Kindles keyboard web-browsing capabilities are limited, offering basically access to the Kindle e-book store. Unlike Sonys keyboard that offers users a touch screen keyboard, the Kindles keyboard looks like a good old-fashioned book. The user has to push large page-turning buttons that are place on the right and left edges of the keyboard, making it impossible not to accidentally clicking on one button. As a matter of fact, because the device features a lot of buttons, it becomes difficult to handle. On the other hand, the Sony Reader is elegantly thinner and places the next page/previous page buttons exactly where people hold a book when they read. So, from an ergonomics point of view, Sony gets the credit. d) Content handling Perhaps the major differences between the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader are in the way they handle content availability. For instance, the Kindle doesnt have to be connected to a PC to download content. As it includes an EVDO cellular 3G connection to the Internet over Sprint for free, the user can transfer content through it. Also, it features the ability to browse on the web without JavaScript and make use of websites like Wikipedia for free, which is extremely important for people who are info junkies. On the contrary, the Reader needs to be connected through a USB 2.0 to a PC for downloading e-book content. The Reader is definitely on the lead as far as display formats are concerned, mostly because it can natively support Sony BBeB eBook format, PDF, and RTF documents. PFDs are quite difficult to read due to scaling complexities but, at the end of the day, they are supported quite effectively due to wide mode rotating feature. One small drawback that needs to be taken care of is the fact that converted RTF documents do not fully support the features available in the BBeB eBook format. On the other hand, things are even more complicated with the Kindle as everything is controlled by Amazon making it restrictive for users to acquire their own content on the Kindle. Even Mobi, which is the most common eBook format, is Amazon-owned so that anything the user does is pocketed by Amazon. As far as e-bookstores are concerned, the Kindle is really on the lead. Already featuring 100,000 book titles, the Kindle makes it both easy and profitable for content owners to promote their book in the e-store. Although Sony eBook store (known as Sony CONNECT) has 200,000 book titles, the Kindle has more recent titles and its more likely that the user finds a particular book such as a computer or other technical book on a specific subject. Overall, Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader are two excellent devices. However, they have major differences in the way they handle content. For users who have their own content in DOC or PDF formats, are competent PC users, pay special importance to ergonomics, and do thorough research before buying a book, the Sony Reader is the best option. Sony Reader comes at a retail price of $299. On the other hand, for users who are not into ergonomics that much, and do not care for DRM restrictions and the lack of support for converting content to their format, Kindle is the best option. Yet, one should not ignore the fact that the Kindle is not only quite unattractive, with pointed shapes, jagged edges, and weird button placements, but it is also more expensive than the Reader coming at a retail price of $399.About the Author:
Christina Pomoni has acquired her MBA Finance from the American College of Greece. Her advanced familiarity with financial statement analysis, capital budgeting and market research has been acquired through her professional career at high-esteemed organizations. As part of her long journey, Christina has served as an Equity Research Associate at Telesis Securities (EFG Eurobank) and a Financial & Investment Advisor at ING Group. Besides, having lived at Chicago, IL, Boca Raton, FL and Paris, France has helped her, not only to be a successful professional, but mostly to see life under a more creative and innovative perspective.
Since 2005, Christina provides high quality writing services to numerous websites and research companies contributing her knowledge and expertise. Her areas of specialization are Business, Finance & Investment, Society, Politics & Culture. She also has a very good knowledge of Entertainment, Health & Fitness and Computers & Technology.
Christina currently designs the website of her own writing company. Believing that knowledge is the road to opportunity and development, her mission is to promote her already established knowledge to a growing number of visitors and to provide high quality writing services to meet the most demanding customer requirements.
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