Adage wrote a rather misleading article on Kindle Vs Sony Reader 300. This is just the latest in Sony’s rather strange attempts to compare the $299 Kindle 2 with its ill-suited $199 Pocket Edition.
Kindle Vs Sony Reader 300 is a ridiculous comparison
Here are the reasons that the Sony Reader 300 is no match for the Kindle 2 -
- Kindle 2 has free Internet.
- WhisperNet gets you books in 60 seconds.
- Sony doesn’t have as many books and they’re not as cheap.
- Kindle 2 beats Sony 300 on memory – 440 MB vs 1.4 GB.
- Kindle 2 beats Sony 300 on screen size.
You get a lot more for that extra $100. Value for Money is what customers are looking for – not just the lowest sticker price.
It makes no sense that Sony would throw in the lightweight 300 when it has the Sony Reader 600.
The Real Comparison: Kindle 2 Vs Sony Reader 600
Kindle Vs Sony Reader 600 is a much fairer comparison.
Kindle Vs Sony Reader 600 - The 600′s advantages
- The touch screen, being able to draw freehand on the touch screen.
- Expandable memory.
- Perhaps a non-breakable screen.
- Multiple Colors.
- The whole ‘do no evil’ and ‘be open’ angle.
Of course, Sony’s new found ‘open’ mantra doesn’t apply to battles they win like Blu-Ray.
If you look closely at most companies that play the ‘be good, be open’ card, they do not promote openness in areas they own, only in areas they lost out in.
Kindle Vs Sony Reader 600 – Kindle’s advantages
- WhisperNet.
- Free Internet.
- Read to Me. No idea if 600 will have this.
- More on-board memory. The 600 has just 360 MB.
- More books and cheaper books.
Regardless of who you thinks wins this fight (I think it’s the Kindle) its a much fairer fight than Kindle Vs Sony Reader 300.
Sony misunderstands Readers and the eReader Market
The Kindle Vs Sony Reader 300 article unintentionally points out some obvious flaws in Sony’s view of the eReader market and customers -
- At times they are borderline delusional -
In one way, the Kindle’s rapid rise has actually benefited Sony. “The president of our division has said many times that Kindle has been great for expanding awareness for digital reading,” a Sony spokeswoman said. “Now everybody knows about it, so we don’t have to market that.”
- They still don’t get that its about books. Sony’s range of titles is rather limited. No one cares about 500K free public domain books.
- They don’t get that its about convenience. Without wireless downloads its too painful to buy online and transfer to the Reader.
- They’re banking too much on ‘the price cut’ and ‘an aggressive retail presence’ and ‘openness’.
Continue with that approach Sony, and you won’t just have to not market it, you won’t have to sell it either.
While Sony are doing some things right, including adding Sony Reader 300s and 600s in WalMart, Target, CostCo, etc. they are still approaching the Kindle Vs Sony Reader battle from an outdated, non customer-centric mindset.
Wide Range of reasonably priced Content and WhisperNet are the 2 big Kindle advantages Sony must match to have any hope of winning the Kindle Vs Sony Reader battle.
Filed under: kindle, sony reader Tagged: | kindle vs sony, kindle vs sony reader
This article (and much of the website) is incredibly biased/slanted. For example:
More books on the Kindle? Really? Check out the broader range of ebook formats handled natively by the Readers.
Cheaper books on the Kindle? Sony has lowered their prices lately, so check again. Also, with more books available from a VARIETY of sources, the Sony Reader can often take advantage of better deals.
Whispernet an ‘advantage’? Not for me,nor many others. I don’t *need* to download books instantly (in North America only, of course.) I don’t want another “internet” device that has to be constantly recharged. (Already have a blackberry and a netbook tyvm.) I have over 100 novels loaded on my Reader (using less than a quarter of the internal memory), which is a huge varied reading list for commuting, travel, hanging in a coffee shop, etc. And I’ll take a 3-week battery life over useless wireless any day.
Another note wrt variety and cost: Besides the tons of FREE books in various formats handled natively by the Sony (beyond the smattering of romance novels that Amazon hands out to Kindle users), I have been happily BORROWING current ebooks from my local library. Far cheaper than being forced to buy these ebooks, right?
Another style/quality comment: I own both a 505 and a 300 Sony Reader. Played around with the Kindle a fair bit. (Original and 2) I far prefer the solid, metal, stylish Sony case to the cheaper plastic Kindle cases with crude keyboard attached. And the 5″ 300, being a bit smaller than the 505/600/700 6″ Readers, is MUCH smaller than the bulky Kindles. I can easily slip the 300 in my front jeans pocket and take it with me everywhere. And I do. Much easier than lugging a Kindle around–which requires a large purse, backpack, etc.
Just a bit of balanced perspective to add to the one-sided views expressed above. I’m glad you enjoy your Kindle, but really: as an avid lifelong book fanatic, the Reader offers a more focused and booklike experience for those who just love to read books. If you want keyboards, wireless/internet,etc.,then maybe a Kindle is for you. (Although I think a blackberry/iPhone/etc. would be better for that anyway.)
Steven – I’m trying to decide between the Sony Reader vs. Sony Touch. Which would you go with? Or do you think I should backtrack and try to find an old 505 model? Please respond ASAP!
“Sony’s range of titles is rather limited. No one cares about 500K free public domain books.”
I do!
Here are a few public domain books off the top of my head:
Dracula
Pride and Prejudice
The Iliad
Ulysses
Paradise Lost
Frankenstien
These are books that would cost 10 bucks on Amazon kindle, but I get them for free on a Sony reader. Yeah, who the hell wants that!?
I’m a bit embarrassed for the author, as I don’t think they know what public domain books are or how they enter the public domain.
It’s okay to be bias in an article. But at least try not to be ignorant.
All of them are free in the kindle store too – check my Top 250 kindle public domain books list (google it).
Perhaps its wrong to say that no one cares about 500K free public domain books.
It’d be more accurate to say that most of those books are available from many books and gutenberg.
Plus you can convert every free google book for the Kindle.
Almost all of switch11 posts are biased, the way he makes money is by “selling” kindles. If you click the links at the top left corner and buy a product, he gets a percentage of the profits. That’s why he doesn’t place ads, its because he doesn’t have to; he makes enough money by distorting information in the majority of his posts.
Info: you can buy books for kindle from other sources, but the sony readers have a far bigger advantage because they get books that are adobe drm’d, which is the format of choice for independent ebook sellers
I do however agree with the majority of this post (one of the few exceptions)
just purchased Sony 300. Gift. Not sure if I want it. I was hoping to hav a reader. I need access to medical info. Do not want touch. Screen. Thinking about kindle?
300 doesn’t have a touch screen. The touch screen is the 6″ 600 and the 7″ 900.
Access to medical info – what type?
Why don’t you want a touchscreen? You can draw and take notes and scribble in the margins on the 600. It’s a useful feature. The Kindle is better overall but tell me more about your specific needs.