Sony PRS-300 | Reader Pocket Edition

“Carry Hundred of Books in Your Pocket”

To every Coca-Cola there is a Pepsi –
To every iPod there is a Zune –
So it’s no surprise that “Kindle”, Amazon.com’s digital book reader, has some competition. This would come from the PRS (Portable Reader System) line from Sony. BUT I was surprised to find that Sony reader came out first, in early 2006; but it seems that the Kindle made a much bigger splash in late 2007.

Dimensions –
Length: 6.25 inches
Width: 4.25 inches
Depth: 0.4 inches
Screen Size: 5 inches
Weight: 7.8 oz (0.49 pounds)
Mac and PC compatible: Yes
Battery Life: 2 weeks
Built in Dictionary: No
Audio Player: No
Access to over 1 million public domain titles: Yes
Able to borrow eBooks from libraries: Yes
Compatible with multiple eBook Stores: Yes

Where to buy:
You can of course buy it from Sony’s website, www.sonystyle.com . As well as all the major electronics stores and retailer stores with electronics departments. For sure Best Buy, Fry’s, Borders, and Target. And, believe it or not, you can actually buy not only the PRS-300, but also the other editions of the Sony Reader on Amazon.com. How’s that for competition?

Price: The PRS-300 is $199. Keep in mind that other readers, like Sony’s new Digital Reader Touch Edition and the Kindle 2 both retails for $299.

Important information about the retailer: Sony offers a 90 day limited warranty on the device, and you can also check out the owner’s manual on their website – which is 92 pages long o_o – but at least it lets you know what you’re getting yourself into. No matter who you buy from (at least online anyway) they will almost certainly be pushing the accessories, like the adaptor and leather carrying case. So consider yourself warned.

I chose to blog about this because I find the advent of digital reader age to be interesting. Personally I’m a big fan of alternative ways of “reading.” AudioBooks are great because you can listen to them in the car or on you MP3 player. Reading has never been my strong suit, but I do love stories. And the idea of having an entire library with me in a things that weighs less than a pound would take away one of the things I find hardest about books - picking them up in the first place!

Other might be interested in this item because it’s a gadget. I could be wrong about this, but generally I think people enjoy the larger “personal bubble” that hand-held screens project. Nothing says “don’t bother me” so easily and effectively. I have to admit that this is kind of a “brainy” and pricey item for the average consumer - but hey, at least it comes in Pink for the ladies ;-).