Beyond Paperback

Drum roll please...one of my new gadgets is the Sony Reader Pocket Edition! I've been wanting to read more books, but between classes and work I haven't had the time to go to the bookstore and buy multiple books that eventually add up to a whole in the pocketbook.

Solution. My brother got me this 5 inch pocket reader for Christmas. Multiple books located in one small, light display. I'd been obsessed with the Kindle for some time but didn't want to spend $400 on a piece of technology that would be obsolete the second I bought it. I'd briefly heard about the Sony version of these ebooks but had never looked into one.

This new version of the Reader is more affordable. With the decreased cost comes some decline in what the Reader is able to do but there are other versions for the people who want a more advanced gadget. For the person who wants to simply read a book and carry multiple books on one device this is the Reader for you.

Features
This tiny gadget, 6 1/4 in by 4 1/4 in, and only weighing 7.76 ounces, can hold up to 350 books that can be purchased on the Reader Library, which works like Apple's Itunes store and library. When the Reader is plugged into the computer using the USB cable, the Reader Library opens and detects the device. Users can brows through thousands of books in the Reader Library Store.

After choosing a book, the site leads you to a check out area that allows you to enter your payment options, and the book downloads in about two minutes. Drag the book on to the Reader located in the left panel and tada! you bought a book from the comfort of your home and received it immediately.

The best feature, in my opinion, is the E Ink Viziplex paper-like screen. The gadget reads exactly like a book would. No strain on the eyes like you get from staring at a computer screen. Sunlight or artificial light does not hinder reading and the print is extremely sharp and clear. The screen has an option to view the font in small, medium, and large. To turn the page simply press down on the arrow keys. The Reader saves where you stopped reading so there is no more worrying about losing your page when you set a book down.

The Reader supports PDF, and can access books from public libraries, Google Books, and the Reader Library.

The batter thus far seems to be amazing. The Sony site says the battery will last for two weeks of reading or 7,500 continuous pager turns. I believe this! I haven't had to charge my Reader since I began using it on Christmas and I've finished one book already.

This little reader comes in three fun colors including silver, pink and navy and there are tons of fun and stylish accessories to protect the Reader.

Problems
With the Reader itself I've had no problems. The main complaint I have is that there is no back light on the display. I thought about this, and firstly, if there were a back light it may act like a computer screen and be hard on the eyes, and secondly, why do we need a back light when traditional paperback books do not have back light? It's simple enough to read in a lit room or buy a reading light like we've done for years with paperback books.

The other problem is Sony's Web site. It can be a huge pain in the ass. On Christmas day it was impossible to download the software because the site was so busy. This was not Sony's fault but navigating the site and trying to find help was impossible.

The device does not have the ability to connect wirelessly and therefor must be connected to the computer to download books is another problem I could see people being annoyed with. This doesn't bother me. I have to do the same with my Ipod. With the money saved on this gadget I will gladly connect it to my computer for a few minutes to receive my book.

Summary
For under $200 this device is amazing. It lives in my purse and I pull it out whenever I have down time. I pull it out for lunch at work and am bombarded with questions asking "what is that?" and "how well do they work?"
Browsing the Reader Library from my couch is delightful. I don't have to drive to the bookstore and squeeze my way through crowds to find a book I want to read.
My brother earned massive points with this gift. I guess I owe him big now.