The two hottest ebook readers on the market in 2009 are the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony EBook Reader PRS-700. Both models bring the customer a great reading experience, at a never before seen level. Anyone who is considering getting into the world of electronic literature and wonders which model gives the best bang for the buck should hopefully consider my comparisons and observations useful when deciding between the two.
Price: Of course, price is always a big factor for the consumer when picking any electronic device. The Amazon Kindle 2 has been newly repriced at $359, now making the $399 Sony EBook Reader the more expensive option on the market. If you were to judge on current price alone, the Amazon Kindle 2 is the clear winner.
Size and Weight: The weight and size of the two EReaders are very similar; one does not have a greatly noticeable advantage over the other. The Sony EBook Reader PRS-700 weighs in at just about 10 oz. with the Kindle 2 just slightly a little over that. The Sony EBook Reader is a bit wider and thicker, while the Kindle is a couple inches longer. In any case, both are very convenient to carry around.
Display: The weight of both the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony Reader PRS-700 are very closely matched. The Sony Reader is exactly 10 oz and a little lighter than the Kindle 2. In terms of size, the Amazon Kindle 2 is slimmer than the Sony Reader. The PRS-700 is somewhat wider and thicker than the Kindle, but only by a very tiny margin. Neither takes up much room in a briefcase or handbag, and are both extremely easy to use on a daily basis.
Wireless Capabilities: This is where the Amazon Kindle 2 scores major points over the Sony Ebook Reader. The Sony EBook Reader has no real wireless capability at all at this time. The Amazon Kindle 2 utilizes Whispernet technology, which gives the user free wireless coverage in the USA by utilizing Sprints excellent 3G high speed network. This is a big deal. Anyone who is an Amazon Kindle 2 user can take their pick from over 240,000 magazines, blogs and of course EBooks available at the central Amazon Kindle Library. Because it lacks this on the go capability, Sony EBook readers are limited to a mere 100,000 eBooks and a somewhat limited amount of subject matter.
Supported Formats: Both the Amazon Kindle 2 and Sony E Book Reader Reader PRS-700 have the inbuilt capability to support most commonly used file formats. The Sony EBook Reader however does have a PDF capability that the Amazon Kindle 2 lacks, which can be a big inconvenience in everyday use. In order to view a PDF document on the Amazon Kindle 2 one has to email Amazon support and have them convert it into a readable file for you.
Storage Capacity: The Amazon Kindle 2 has a decent 2GB of built in internal memory, whereas the Sony EBook PRS-700 can hold just about 250mb. However, the Sony Reader E Book Reader scores here is that it allows the use of memory cards, both SD and Sony’s own Memory Stick Technology. This is convenient for those who like to carry their library around with them. The old first generation Kindle also had this memory card option, but unfortunately it has been removed on the Amazon Kindle 2.
Battery Life and Charge Time: Both the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony EBook Reader have very similar statistics when it comes to battery life, with both of them having the capability to work for 2 weeks on one single full charge. The main difference here is that if the Amazon Kindle 2 is being constantly used with its wireless capabilities turned on, the battery life is reduced to four days. Charge time for both devices is somewhere around the two hour mark. Both can be charged by either USB cord, or wall plug. Sony PSP users may also use the same charger they use for their gaming console.
The Bottom Line 2009 Comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony eBook Reader: Although not an easy thing to call, I believe though that overall the Amazon Kindle 2 is the better eBook reader of the two. The wireless option and the larger library of available titles just give the Amazon Kindle 2 that little extra edge. Don’t think that Sony is done though. As they have demonstrated with the evolution of the Playstation and PSP gaming consoles, improving is something they do very well.
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