Kindle or Sony Reader?

My cousin loves her Kindle... and one of my friends loves her Nook (the Barnes and Noble version). Both Kindle and Nook seem to have lots and lots of book options, not just the classics. Both download a book in about 30 seconds once you select and pay for it. And you can download things like newspapers and magazines, as well. For me the best part would be that you can carry so much to read in such a small space.

I have the original Kindle. I like it. I find that most books are cheaper on the Kindle than if you bought hard copies. There are also thousands of books available for free--all the classics and just about any book written before WWII.

However, now that I have an Ipod Touch, and have put the Kindle app, the B&N app, and Stanza on it, I'm putting my Kindle on ebay.

My old eyes have gotten used to reading on the Ipod so I really don't need to lug the kindle around any longer.

It seems, every years the Kindle, the Nook and the Sony E-Reader will be updated. The choice is do you want to keep buying new ones, or just put up with the old. All these apps for the Touch are free and I see they are already updating for free.

The newest Kindle will work in Europe where before, you could only download wirelessly in the U.S. While I can't speak for the new Kindle, I was also able to use mine for very basic web browsing--reading email, news, etc--but it was primitive and time consuming.

If you read a lot, and truly want to travel light, then one of the e-readers is the way to go.

I have a Kindle and really like it.

You might want to read this article on the Barnes & Noble unit

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/technology/personaltech/10pogue.html

I went with Kindle over sony because at the time it seemed Kindle had better "best seller" availalbity. Not sure what the status is now.

Also, at one point Rick had his books on Kindle. He seems to have decided that 'print only' is his future. (That's his lost $10.... I loved having my Paris books on Kindle this year so if Rick won't update... I won't pay :) Other guidebooks are there)

Ellen, when do you have time to read?

Somehow,Steve, I just knew you would have a response to this and do it better than anyone else.

Just remember, I mentioned that reading on my iphone is not fun for me. I have to get out my glasses, it's just not easy. I like the fact that on the Kindle and Sony Reader, you can make the font large enough to read, and still have almost a full page.

I also have the kindle software on my Ipod Touch. I have some of Rick's 2009 books on there too. I used the bookmark feature to mark several sections. Love it!

Rick: Put your recent books into Kindle version!

I now read all my books on the IPod touch at a great savings over buying them in paper copy.

Let me add to my post since I started out by saying I now prefer my IPod Touch to my Kindle, as many others have, but Ellen you stated that's not the route you want to go...and that's fine.

My suggestion would be to not only look at the three devices now available, but also the services and books they offer:

How easy is it to download?
Are the type of books you're looking for available on each device
If it's important to be able to download books internationally, is that available:
What's the battery life like?
How easy is it to charge?
Is the type adjustable?
Are the controls well laid out?
How heavy is it?
How much light is needed?
What else can the device do?

Some of these questions might have no bearing to your needs but they are things to think about. The Sony E-Reader and the B&N Nook should be available in local stores to tryout. For the Amazon Kindle, go the the Kindle board on the Amazon website and there is a section where people offer to show their Kindle's. You might find someone in your area and meet them to get the "feel" of the Kindle.

I was a "reader-sceptic" until a friend game me a demonstration on her kindle. Very impressive. Easy to read and navigate, and she downloaded a book I suggested and it took less than a minute. Don't know how it compares to other readers, but I came away convinced that some type of reader could be a good alternative to lugging books around. Like you, my eyes can't handle an ipod or iphone or any other small device for anything more than a phone call or text message. The kindle was great.

Ellen - My wife took her Kindle with us this past summer on our vacation. It was marvelous, 2 big thumbs up. She even downloaded RS London 2009.

Now she does have the older version that would not allow internation downloads, but it is my understanding the new Kindle will allow international downloads. I also believe the price on the Kindle has dropped by about $50.

The price of Sony Reader dropped to $179 at Best Buy. Wal-Mart was offering a $20 gift card with purchase. I have been happy with my pocket edition for a few months, although I prefer reading paper books. It is small, light, and easy to read with my middle aged eyes. The battery lasted me through an 18 day cruise. I had no difficulty downloading from Sony's store or free from www.projectgutenberg.org . I use the Reader primarily for out of copyright classics that are too dusty from the library or that have too small print from the bookstore.
There are some drawbacks:
1. There is a lot more page turning involved, and it goes more slowly than paper as the Reader "thinks" about the next page. Superfreakonomics is 288 paper pages, 845 electronic pages (or 1214 pages, or 1936 pages with larger print).
2. The Reader does not handle footnotes or appendices well. It is difficult to look back a few pages to find something that bears rereading. The Reader works best for novels. It would be a nightmare way to study a text book. Bookmarking is a clumsy way to try to find what you want to reread, if you remembered to set one and can identify the proper page from the bit of text that is displayed.
3. There is no way to make notes on the Reader.
4. I would love to be able to highlight a word and have it accurately defined.