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20 Sep 2011
Sony has been losing the e-book reader battle to Amazon's Kindle, which has been a runaway success despite arguably being an inferior product.
In an attempt to challenge the Kindle, Sony has tweaked the design to introduce Wi-Fi functionality and, perhaps more crucially, has lowered the price. V3 took a look at the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) and put it head-to-head against the Kindle to see whether it can attract consumers away from the market leader.
Design - Sony lays down the gaunlet with revamp
The build quality of the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) feels premium compared to the plastic coating on the Kindle. Both devices are pleasing on the eye, but the lovely gloss finish on the Sony outdoes the drab grey of the Kindle.
Size-wise there is little to separate the two as both come with a 6in screen. They are comfortable to hold and, although the Sony is slightly smaller at 173x110x8.9mm, it is not as thin as the Kindle at 190x123x8.5mm.
Sony claims that the Reader Wi-Fi is the lightest 6in device on the market. At 168g, we're in smartphone territory and the Reader is an impressive 73g lighter than the current Kindle at 241g. The Sony Reader is also more likely to fit into a jacket pocket owing to its squarer design and compactness.
Winner - Sony Reader Wi-Fi
Display and input - touchscreen > buttons
Both devices use an E-Ink display with a resolution of 600x800 pixels, so they are evenly matched when it comes to reading.
However, the Sony incorporates a touch screen, something that Amazon has yet to build into the Kindle. This makes navigating menus extremely intuitive as you can click on icons, scroll using a finger and change the page with a quick swipe.
Sony also ships the Reader Wi-Fi with a stylus to make annotations on pages or highlight passages for reference. In contrast, the Kindle is equipped with a small physical Qwerty keyboard and navigating pages and menus means using the buttons on the bezel.
It is possible to annotate on the Kindle and look up words, but using the keyboard and arrow keys can be slow and fiddly at times. The device could definitely do with touch-screen input, which has been left out as a cost-cutting measure no doubt.
Winner - Sony Reader Wi-Fi
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Do you agree?
Converting books
How do i convert books for the kindle to my e reader.
Posted by: Monica 17 Apr 2012
Worth waiting for Kindle Touch?
Last xmas my husband and I enjoyed a shared gift of the Sony ereader and I'm afraid I was hooked and my husband hardly had a look-in. We will probably be lucky enough to 'share' another ereader this xmas and I'm considering waiting for the new Kindle Touch so we'll have the best of both worlds - a book each, able to download books from Library (Sony) but also have the Wi-Fi capability of the Kindle. Do you think we'll have to wait long for the new Kindle Touch to be launched in UK? PS Why oh Why haven't they (Sony & Kindle) incorporated a back light - not for all-time use but just for when lighting conditions are poor? Next Generation I suppose?
Posted by: Shepherd-fans 24 Nov 2011
will ebooks work on both the sony ereader and a kindle??
I have an older version of the ereader and notice that some kindle books are cheaper will these work on my device??
Posted by: Lisa 09 Nov 2011
Availabilty
In answer to Hugh's comment, the T1 is available (in the UK at least) from the Sony store, priced at £129 inc VAT and delivery. On a different point - I find it interesting that both screens are supposed to be 6 inch; however, from the photo of the two, the two devices seem to be the same size, yet the Kindle's screen looks considerably smaller. I'd be interested to see a photo with the same page shown on both.
Posted by: Mary 18 Oct 2011
SONY can use Amazon Kindle books, so the Kindle is at a disadvantage.
You can buy books for Kindle PC, drag them into Calibre and load them on a SONY reader. So you can buy any book for the SONY that you can for the Kindle and a few besides. My money's on the PRS-T1.
Posted by: Anthony 05 Oct 2011
ePub support
Come again, what conversion tools are available that will convert DRM protected ePub files so that they can be used on a Kindle?
Posted by: Neil 03 Oct 2011
Sony PRS-T1 vs. Kindle Touch
Would be nice to see a similar comparison between this Sony Reader and the new Kindle Touch.
Posted by: enoob 01 Oct 2011
Yes, but.......
Sony sounds great as it doesn't tie you in to a single supplier unlike the Kindle/Apple model. BUT, the thing isn't yet available and Sony can't or won't say when it will actually hit the shops, so it's useless! Come on Sony - you're finished before you start at this rate.
Posted by: Hugh 30 Sep 2011
All Change
Well the goalposts moved again with the announcement of the new Kindles. Sony lower your prices ! you have nothing special to sell, PRS G1 with 3G is even more expensive than T1. Reality Check time I believe.
Posted by: billy bob 29 Sep 2011
Tough call now
I have both a Kindle (3g) and an older PRS-350 (5" touch screen). Love both to bits. Out of it's protective case that I use the Sony is cased in aluminium, light and easy to hold and navigate, interface is a little clumsy at times, but the touch screen is great. Loading a book onto it is a chore compared to the Kindle, so I'm hoping the wifi of the new will fix that for me Out it's case, the kindle is plastic not aluminium, it has a rough touch compared the sony, but this actually makes it easier for me to hold onto. The much larger case size is sno problem except when putting it into a pocket. Navigation is via huge buttons on either side and is easy and sure. Menu navigation without touch screen is sometimes annoying but not overly so. The kindle 3G is a dream when it comes to loading books. No USB cables needed, the 3G on mine (costs 152 quid for the ereader btw) makes getting books a doddle. I can even email them to myself and convert on the fly using a special free email service. This is a tough call. I love both of them. I have both because of the stupid format wars. If one device read all formats, I'd stick with that no matter which it was. For now though, I think I'd go kindle and go 3G not just wifi. That said, this new Sony is bound to be at least as nice as my PR-350 and PRS-505 before it (I broke it :( ). Time to save up and hand the 350 to another member of my family I think!
Posted by: Anthony Butler 23 Sep 2011
apologies
"The article does clarify the position regarding ePub etc. (SHEESH - read the article)" My apologies, you're quite right. Dunno how I missed that first time around. V3 response: Peter - if you see your original comment, we updated the original article to mention epub so wasn't that you missed it originally.
Posted by: peter 23 Sep 2011
Read the review!
Agree with the photoshop criticism; the article states the Kindle as being higher and wider - why show a misleading picture? Can't agree with Peter' posting. The article does clarify the position regarding ePub etc. (SHEESH - read the article). As someone considering buying one or the other, I think the article, while not the last word, is pretty helpful - so thank you.
Posted by: David 22 Sep 2011
Misleading Sizes
The specs identify that the devices both have 6" screens and the Sony is smaller in dimensions. Looks like photoshop has been at working making the images the same size and then resulting in the Sony having an apparently larger screen
Posted by: Andrew 21 Sep 2011
poor review
Sorry, this is a very poor review. In particular it fails to mention the fact that the sony reader can use epub format, whereas the Amazon cannot. So you can actually buy epub books for ANY online ebook seller and use them, whereas with the Kindle, you can only buy from Amazon. The Amazon selection winds up being smaller and very often more expensive. Not to mention that the sony has a decent browser. I hate to sound like a Sony fanboy but SHEESH- do your homework. V3 response: The review has been updated to discuss Epub support, which is available for both the Sony and Kindle devices via a conversion tool.
Posted by: Peter 21 Sep 2011