April 11th, 2009 | 
Author: Two of the hottest ebook readers on the market in 2009 are the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony Reader PRS-700. These two ebook readers bring the user an incredible reading experience, on a level that has not been seen before. Anyone who is new to ebook readers and who wants to buy one needs to read the following comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader. This will show you how to choose between them and how they compare.
Price
Of course the price is one of the biggest factors in any electronic device so let’s compare them first. The Amazon Kindle 2 is now priced at $359, whereas the Sony Reader is a little more expensive at $399. If you want to judge on price then the Kindle is the winner, saving $40.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of these gadgets don’t really give one distinct advantage over the other. The Sony Reader PRS-700 weighs around 10 oz., the Kindle 2 just slightly over that. The Sony Reader is a bit wider and thicker, while the Kindle is a couple inches longer. In any case, both are very convenient to carry around.
Display
The weight of both the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony Reader PRS-700 are very closely matched. The Sony Reader is exactly 10 oz and a little lighter than the Kindle 2. In terms of size, the Amazon Kindle 2 is slimmer than the Sony Reader. The PRS-700 is wider and thicker than the Kindle , but this is minimal. As such they are both very convenient for everyday use and don’t require much space to carry.
Wireless Capabilities
The Kindle 2 has a major benefit that the Sony Reader does not. This is because the Kindle has wireless capabilities as it makes use of the Whispernet technology. This gives access to free wireless coverage in the US via Sprint’s 3G high speed network – the Sony Reader does not have this functionality. This is really one of the main buying factors for the Kindle 2, and something that the Sony cannot compete with. Anyone with a Kindle 2 can choose from 240,000 ebooks, magazines, blogs and magazines from the Kindle library. This is a huge library that that Sony users do not have. You can also access this library at anytime with wireless functionality. Because the Sony PRS-700 does have wireless capabilities, users can only access 100,000 ebooks which have a limited rage in subject matter.
Supported Formats
Both the Amazon Kindle 2 and Sony Reader PRS-700 support the most common file formats, but the Kindle does not support PDF document which is very inconvenient. You will need to email the PDF to Kindle support and have it converted if you want to use it. The Sony Reader is better than the Kindle 2 in this respect.
Storage Capacity
The Kindle 2 can hold 2GB of internal memory, whereas the PRS-700 can hold 250mb. However, where the Sony Reader really shines is by using memory cards. The Kindle 2 does allow the use of external memory cards. The Sony Reader can support 16GB of external memory which is really convenient for people who like to carry lots of information with them.
Battery Life and Charge Time
Both of the ebooks have the same statistics when it comes to battery life, with both able to read for 2 weeks on one full charge. The main difference here is that the Kindle 2 can be used with wireless turned on, which means that the battery life is reduced to four days of life. The charge time for both the Sony and Kindle 2 is 2 hours. You just need an AC wall charger or USB device. The USB device takes 4 hours to charge. Both ebook readers’ score equal points on this test.
The Bottom Line 2009 Comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs Sony eBook Reader:
Although it’s not a total knock out for the Kindle over the Sony Reader, it’s close! The Amazon Kindle 2 remains the better ebook reader hands-down. The price, breadth of content, wireless capabilities, and overall design improvements of the Amazon Kindle 2nd generation makes it a clear winner over the Sony Reader 700.
Watch the full video review of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader here and see for yourself why the Amazon Kindle is the best portable ebook reader money can buy right now!
Article Source: 2009 Review of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader PRS-700
