Comments on: When Will eBook Readers Stop Sucking?

By: Agent OrangeJuice

Agent OrangeJuice — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:17:31 +0000

I guess maybe when the textr (textr.com) is out… and maybe not, but i have high hopes.

By: Bish

Bish — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:53:43 +0000

Ha. I always end up buying things just before the new version comes out! The problem is, the only way to ensure you have your new toy for a good while before it’s been updated is to buy it when it’s ultra-new, and then you end up paying an absurd price for that small privilege.

I’ve been mulling the same conundrum over ebook readers. I think I’m going to wait until the next generation of Sony’s has been around for a few months and then try to grab a 505 off ebay, since all I really want is an eInk screened reader that’s fairly format-open… Just need a patience transplant in the meantime.

By: Kellbot

Kellbot — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:51:12 +0000

I’ve been looking pretty hard at the PRS-505, you can get them new on Ebay for just above $200. But I feel like they’re *just* old enough that a new one is probably right around the corner, but not quite old enough that you can get them on the cheap. I’m resisting doing what I usually end up doing, which is to buy something right before the price is dropped or the newer better model comes out.

By: Laurence Gonsalves

Laurence Gonsalves — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:05:40 +0000

I agree with your other points, but I don’t get the complaint about the text-to-speech feature of the Kindle 2. It doesn’t really take up space (like the keyboard), does it?

By: Phil Wheat

Phil Wheat — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:25:00 +0000

I bought the Sony PRS-505 about a year ago and am very pleased with it. It’s been a solid reader though I do have envy of the wireless connectivity of the Kindle. I picked it up right before the Kindle 2 was announced – I never would have done the Kindle 1 as it was really just to klunky, but the Kindle 2 was improved greatly.

Disclosure – I was moving from the original Rocket eBook reader to the new generation. The change in style was interesting. Much greater battery life, but no backlight – the experience does change. But the metal body of the 505 is wonderful, I’ve dropped it a couple of times and the metal coated plastic end caps are a bit dinged up but the full reader shows no concern after the falls. I’ll probably stick with this one for my reading until someone gets a good flexible display.

By: dad

dad — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:52:18 +0000

I don’t understand why the Kindle is so expensive. Its purpose in life is to sell electrons from Amazon. Since the books are nearly pure profit, why do they charge so much for the PC?