Sony Reader Review
sony_reader.jpgThe Sony Ebook Reader was one of the first ebook devices to come out with the e-ink technology and remains one of the most affordable and most attractive. While the technology has some limitations in speed (screen refresh) that is frustrating to some users, most of the time spent reading on the Ebook Reader is spent actually reading, not fussing with settings, so the time spent getting going on a book is more than acceptable for all but the most impatient. Overall it is a very usable device, and with the convenience of online book shopping and the myriad of freely available books, it is a must have for anyone who reads more than 10 novels a year. For those who can afford it, however, the iRex Iliad would be a better investment, if only for the moderately larger screen.
The Good
* The aluminum casing makes for a device that feels solid.
* The screen resolution has so far lived up to the hype about e-ink. (easy on the eyes, clear, high contrast, readable in sunlight)
* Reading txt, rtf and word docs is a treat and the font can be adjusted to suit the user�s preferences (not so for PDF files).
* Turned horizontally, with the leather case folded backward, the device makes a nice, self supporting tent for hands-free reading.
* Unlike paper books, especially used books, the Sony Reader doesn�t leave the reader�s hands feeling dry and dirty.
* The battery time lives up the as-advertised expectations.
The Neutral
* As widely reported, the page refresh time is longer than one would expect for a modern electronic device, but this is the trade off for the e-ink technology and does not take any longer than it takes to turn the page of a paper book.
The Bad
* PDF files, the most common format for ebooks, are rendered to fit the entire page on the small screen, which is unreadable. The device does allow for horizontal reading, which results in half of the PDF page being rendered. For most readers, however, the font size would still be unacceptable. However, PDF files can usually be easily converted to text files or Word documents.
* When loading txt, rtf or Word documents, the Reader paginates them according to the zoom settings (font size). This process can take up to a minute, but only has to be done once unless the font size is changed.
* The battery appears to dwindle even when the book is left idle, so if left unused for a week, it will need to be recharged before it can be used.
* The aluminum casing also makes for a device that is unexpectedly heavy compared to most electronic devices.
