The ebook reader from Sony has 500,000 ebooks from Google
Posted in: GadgetsThere is a slight rebound in the vicissitudes of the Sony eBook Reader: Google gave 500,000 ebooks (which are not protected by copyright) are available for free on the Sony eBook Reader. This could be enough to declare that Sony have the largest library, and it is hard to deny that anything is “free” is hard to beat. However, the ebooks will also be available on the Kindle as PDF – free. So while this is great for Sony, it will not allow it to take off compared to the Kindle 2, which costs only $60 more than the Sony eBook Reader, but that includes free access to the internet on Wikipedia and access to more recent ebooks and magazines.
December 13th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
The Kindle has brought a new dimension of reading into my life. I rarely had time to get the newest books or browse other books. The Kindle brings them right into my hands – almost instaneously – and allows me to browse a huge and comprehensive bookstore for all kinds of other purchases.
The Kindle features together add up to an impressive bundle. The initial cost is a bit steep, but after having used the Kindle, I’d do it again. The reasonable price of the publications (not to mention the freebies) and the simplicity of obtaining them makes it easy to keep the latest and/or favorite reading material at hand either for odd moments or for serious, settle-down reading.
The Kindle page is easy to read; the device is easy to hold, easy to navigate and fun to browse with. The design, with the possible exception of the on-off button, cannot be improved. That button could be a little easier to snap; I have to use a fingernail to push it.
My Kindle allows me to progress in my reading no matter where I happen to be, except that interruptions from people who see it often interfere! I’m proud to show it off and have, I’m sure, sold more than one to persons who had never seen one before. I like the screen itself – for my older eyes, the print is clear and I can size it to suit myself. It is restful to hold, no weight to speak of, and the page-turning buttons are placed just right. The size is perfect – it slips easily into my bag, and yet I don’t feel stinted on the printed page.
This is a technology whose time has come. I can’t imagine what could be done to improve it, but I’m sure they will do something and I’ll be on hand to check out the next generation. For me, this is a 5-star purchase; a new product that has quickly become an essential component of my busy life.