Sony eBook Reader Vs. Kindle 3

Ebooks have become far more popular than people ever expected them to. With the help of a standalone eBook reader one can carry around thousands of eBooks in the single device, and open it up and starting reading just about anywhere. The convenience that this offers is the single biggest factor that entices people to make this purchase, and the best part is that most of the eBook readers actually resemble a real book when you are reading them.

Standalone eBook readers are facing an increased threat from tablets because one can do so much more on a tablet PC. The eBook apps that they have work just as well as a standalone reader, but here we will be strictly talking about such standalone readers, and the Amazon Kindle 3 and the Sony eBook Reader in particular. The Barnes & Noble Nook is also a worthy adversary to these two gadgets, but that comparison is for another day.

The Amazon Kindle 3

The Kindle 3 was released on August 27, 2010 and this model is definitely superior to the earlier versions. The device uses the new E Ink Pearl display which is clearly sharper than the E Ink of earlier models as well, and the refresh rate is also faster along with the contrast being better. Hence, the reader enjoys a satisfactory reading experience. You also get text-to-speech navigation, 4GB internal memory, a battery life that runs up to 30 days, a web browser based on the WebKit engine that works either on Wi-Fi or 3G networks and access to the Amazon bookstore for purchasing eBooks and magazines and newspapers.

The device weighs 247 grams (241 grams for the Wi-Fi only model), its dimensions are 190 x 123 x 8.51 mm, it has a 6 inches display screen, a 532 MHz processor, 600x800 pixels resolution, a built-in speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB 2.0 micro-B connector port. The Wi-Fi only model sells for $139 while the Wi-Fi + 3G model sells for $189. You can get the it either in white or in graphite color and finishing.

The Sony Ebook Reader

Currently there are 4 models of the Sony eBook reader that are available in the market. These are the PRS-300, the PRS-600, the PRS-650 and the PRS-900 (PRS stands for Portable Reader System). Their details are as follows.

Model Name	Screen Size	Price	Internal Memory
PRS-300	5 inches	$150	512MB
PRS-600	6 inches touchscreen	$170	512MB, additional option to add up to 16GB
PRS-650	6 inches touchscreen	$170	2GB, additional optional to add up to 16GB
PRS-900	7.1 inches touchscreen	$250	2GB, additional option to add up to 32GB

Advantages of the Kindle 3

The Kindle 3 is undoubtedly the more popular of the two devices and is also considered to be the best eBook reader around, and here are the several reasons why this is the case.

• It has wireless connectivity and web access.
• It has text-to-speech functionality.
• It has a greater number of font sizes available.
• It is compatible with the Kindle app that has been developed for various other platforms and operating systems.
• You can buy eBooks and then mail them to your Kindle 3 for free.
• It has a speaker.
• It costs lesser.
• It has more internal memory.
• It works better in landscape mode.
• It has a longer battery life.
• It allows you to take screenshots.
• The prices of eBooks are cheaper on the Amazon store.
• It adjusts line spacing and margins more effectively.
• It is available in over 170 countries.
• It allows you to subscribe to a lot more magazines, newspapers and blogs.

Advantages of Sony eBook Reader

It is very hard for the Sony reader to match up to those specs, but there are certain advantages that come with this reader as well.

• It has a touchscreen which is easy to use.
• It supports ePub format, so you can borrow eBooks from libraries.
• Has access to more eBook stores which follow DRM (Digital Rights Management) standards.
• Memory can be enhanced using the external memory card slots that are available.
• It is made of metal, so it's more solid than the plastic Kindle 3.
• It has many translation dictionaries.
• Its menu can be viewed in 7 different languages.
• It is easier to grip single handedly.
• Scanning through pages and zooming in is far easier.

Once you have carefully understood the differences between both of these readers, you can make a choice about which one suits you better. The Amazon Kindle is a far more well-known brand name in this domain and there is a reason behind this. This does not mean that the Sony eBook reader is an inferior device, and there are many people who prefer that over the Kindle any day. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make.