Just weeks before Amazon.com is set to reveal their eBook solution to gadget-crazy nerds everywhere, Sony has sent to the market this little piggy, the PRS-505 generation-two Reader. The perceived market leader in the Reader space (though, frankly, it's not that crowded of a space...yet), Sony seemed to rush out the first generation of the product, hoping for early adopters and like-minded geeks to appreciate it for its potential. I can't say they were wrong, as after I got my hands on one, I was delighted by the mere concept behind it, even if a little dissatisfied with the overall experience.
The first-round Reader, warts and all, was highly reminiscent of Sony's early attempts at digital music, which were eventually -- and entirely -- supplanted by Apple's smooth, handsome, and universally-loved iPod. But Sony is not looking to be so easily outdone this time: the new PRS-505 is sleeker than its predecessor, with an iPod-like steel finish rather than the stilted gunmetal of the original design. Additionally, with a design that's a little more than half the thickness of the 500, and that boasts more than 2x the grayscale shades AND memory, the 505 looks like a big step in the right direction. The 505 also has a faster page refresh rate and less ghosting (that's what it's called when characters/images from the previous page stay burned in the next page after refresh), making the overall user experience a lot smoother.
Sony seems to have listened to early adopters (maybe even on this very network, since some of the changes seem like a direct response to complaints made by fellow Gatherers): the gen-2 release is highlighted by such changes as easier page-skipping and more ergonomic button layout. However, no word yet on making this little puppy Mac-friendly, which automatically closes the door to the the self-proclaimed coolest nerds on the planet, and opens the door for Apple to scoop up most of the 18-34 audience on a whim.
Out of an act of either pure charity, marketing genius, or desperation, Sony is currently offering 100 free classic titles if you purchase the 505 Reader before the end of January, 2008. Although most of those 'classics' are presumably fair-use titles that don't cost a dime to distribute, it's still a warm gesture from a company that currently corners the market on eBook reader technology. (After all, when was the last time Apple offered a decent song for free on iTunes?) PS: it's still $300, but at least now you can get free, personalized engraving on your Reader. Can you say "wowee!"?
Hungry for more? Read this article from last month's New York Times technology section, or check out these articles on beloved geek blog Engadget.com for more comprehensive specs on the 505. Try not to be disappointed in Amazon's feebile attempt at building an e-reader of their own -- after all it's still the nascent stages of the product and Amazon isn't exactly so much a purveyor of technology as they are a really, really, really big warehouse hooked up to a pretty decent website.
Stay tuned for more nerd-tastic Amazon Kindle and PSR-505 news as these products hit the shelves.
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Chris is a digital media guy, an avid reader, and a total geek, so he's obviously really pumped about the advent of the digital book. For what it's worth, he still reads books and magazines in paper form, but nevertheless dreams of a day when he can access, search, and cross-reference all his favorite books in a matter of seconds. To the future!
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Comments: 8
I might buy it and pass on the older version to my husband for reading on the bus and when we travel.
Incidentally, I noticed that the Readers are now available in airports across the country. On my last trip I had an interesting conversation with a flight attendant who said she takes hers on every trip.