“…This second incarnation of the Reader features more shades, a faster refresh speed, USB mass storage support, auto-syncing, and a redesigned exterior that makes the device look insanely expensive.” – Nate Anderson in Ars Technica.
The TeleRead take: Nate, a big Sony fan, correctly mentions Sony’s ongoing evolution from proprietary approaches. Let’s hope it continues. Nate notes that the Sony handles DRMed books only in the company’s BBeB format.
My own angle: Let’s hope that Sony will go all out for the .epub standard via the Digital Editions update expected next year, and that the IDPF can get members to agree on a DRM standard, if big publishers keep insisting on DRM. I’d also like to see a wider choice of fonts sizes and styles, which the Cybook Gen3 offers.
An option to use heavier fonts would reduce the importance of the contrast issue; Sony’s made progress, but the screen background still isn’t light enough for me. If Sony will pay attention to these and other details, and if Vizplex E Ink tech improves as much as I hope, maybe Sony can turn the $300 Reader into more than a niche product.
Related: Get One Give One XO-1 is selling out fast, where, in a moderator’s note, I mention that I’m selling my Sony to raise cash for the XO machine from One Laptop Per Child. But I’ll be back!
Technorati Tags: PRS-500 , Cybook Gen3
