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Posts Tagged ‘computers’

Will the Sony PRS-600 Spell Disaster For the Amazon Kindle?

December 15th, 2009

Many people acknowledge the amazon Kindle as the king of e-readers, as reflected in the Amazon Kindle 2 reviews. However, as the Sony PRS-600 and 300 are about to be released, the challenge has began. Although the details are not that clear yet, there are things that have already been confirmed. First, the existence of the devices has been established by Sony. Then some details about what they offer were also given. This is what should make Amazon a little bit anxious about the situation.

The first thing most people are going to notice is the price. The Kindle 2, the older model now that the Kindle DX is out, still runs for about 260 dollars.  However, the brand new Sony PRS-600 is purported to be releasing at about that same price. The aggressive pricing clearly shows that Sony is looking to get in on  people who still aren’t will to shell out almost 500 dollars for a Kindle DX, but who want something newer than the Kindle 2. Sony also states that they will be matching  the 9.99 dollars price for new releases and best sellers, further proof of their willingness to compete with Amazon. For the money Sony is asking, they certainly  appear to be offering something quite significant.

One of the features worth looking into with Sony’s new electronic book readers is the touch screen feature. The only other e-reader where this feature is found is the 1000-dollar FLEPia. The touch screen allows you to take advantage of additional space where buttons would usually take up. This indicates that the device would then be lighter and a bit smaller. The screen is about 6 inches in size, and a mere 10 ounces. Its thickness is about 4 inches. It is compact, yet is more advanced compared to other readers that you may come across.

But if you are into cool features, you’re probably most excited about the possibility of a flexible screen. While it hasn’t been confirmed by Sony, the  manual for the device does state that many of the parts are flexible. This has opened up some speculation that the device may have a bendable and indestructible  screen, a new technology of which Sony may be trying to get in on the ground floor.

While all the hearsay can certainly spice things up, the facts about both the Sony PRS-600 and the Sony PRS – 300 are also mighty fascinating as well. The PRS-600 allows freehand writing using a stylus, and comes with a dictionary, a library suite compatible for Mac and PC, 380 MB storage capacity which can possibly be expanded, and up to 7,500 pages of battery life. Given its affordable price, the PRS-600 is looking to be one impressive gadget. While the specifics are still incomplete at this time, it does seem like the Kindle could be in for some heavy competition. The Sony PRS-600 and Sony PRS-300 are about to hit the market and they seem to have every intention of doing so with a bang. Is it the end of the Kindle 2 era?


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Electronic Book Readers: Easing Students’ Woes

December 14th, 2009

Books are most commonly known as sources of information which includes history and other types of stories. Ever since the ebook reader has been introduced, it has already been a threat to what we once had before – written literature. However, its introduction to the market has brought about various advantages not only to ordinary individuals but to students as well. This time around, students do not have to struggle their way through bringing those heavy books with them. They do not have to worry about forgetting  their books or having health concerns due to the relentless burden of heavy bags. If you have your own portable ebook readers this would not be an issue for you, and that is the reason why universities and colleges should start supporting having this device for students.

The first reason is simply because of health concerns. From junior high all the way through college, students have to bear the burden of several classes-worth of books, some of those books being considerable in size. This can be a major problem as it can lead to a kid being physically worn out by the end of the day or developing back problems later on. The problem is so severe that some companies have designed their backpacks after heavy-load camping packs to help reduce lower back strain. If all of a kid’s books were on a light ereader they would never forget one and they wouldn’t have to lug around 50 pounds on their back all day.

The second reason why ebook readers would be a good substitute for a backpack of books is its practicality. College students wait in long lines every start of the semester just to get the books they need, often trying to get first shot at second-hand but in-good-condition books. Then at the end of the semester, they line up again to get these books sold. With an ebook reader, there would be no need for all those long lines because you can download books wirelessly in minutes. We all know that to the diligent student, savings in time can go a long way in pursuing other important activities.

Cost is another great, if not obvious, reason to make the switch. While a 400 to 500-dollar ebook reader may not seem like a savings, it pales in comparison to what the typical student will spend on books. Depending on their major, some students may even spend that much on just one book! The ebook reader offers the opportunity to cut back on long term spending by making one investment. And nothing is worse than waiting an hour in line to sell your hundred dollar book back only to get nothing more than lunch money in return.

There are already enough hassles for students; dealing with dozens of heavy and cumbersome books doesn’t have to be one of them. With an electronic device instead of all the books, students will be able to face their classes with a little bit more energy and a little bit less stress at wondering if they brought the right book. Teachers would also stand to benefit from ebooks as they no longer have to worry about their students being able to find what they need. It’s all digital and there are endless copies available. Given what students stand to gain, it seems like a no-brainer for campuses to start supporting electronic book readers.


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With So Many Choices, How Do You Choose An Ebook Reader?

December 13th, 2009

Nowadays, almost everything in this world relies on digital technology, even reading. If you are still into buying books and you would like them to travel with you, hauling them around would not be that easy. But, if you have your own electronic book reader, bring books anytime, anywhere would be possible. You can even bring thousands of books with you if you want to. This time around, you can enjoy reading books wherever you are and whenever you want to. However, the challenge here is to find the right ebook reader that would meet your needs. You definitely would like to find the right one because you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on one that doesn’t meet your needs.

If you’re looking for the cheapest price for an ebook reader, you won’t find one that only costs a hundred bucks or so. You would need to spend a little over 200 dollars. With this amount, you’ll be able to buy a typical ereader which has the basic features. However, this price may not be enough to get one that has a longer battery life and you probably might have to get a more advanced model. For better options, you may have to spend about 500 dollars. One of the advanced models that you may come across is the Kindle DX, which has some of the best features in an e-reader. The more you pay for the device the better features you get. Another high-end alternative that has a lot of add-ons packed in is the Flepia which may costs more than 1000 dollars.

Whether you spend 200 dollars or five times that, the important thing is you get the ebook device with the features you need. Otherwise, it would all be a big waste of money. A battery that lasts long and a screen that’s easy on your eyes are some of the basic things that you would want to look into. If possible, try using the device before making the purchase. Even the most pricey ebook readers may not be the perfect fit for you.

More often, what is left unnoticed when it comes to its features is the reader’s file compatibility. For example, not all readers are capable of reading PDF files, which is one of the most popular file format nowadays. This would then limit the libraries that you may get your ebooks from. If you opt to use Sony readers, they would have a library which has about a hundred thousand books, while Amazon’s Kindle would allow you to gain access to over 250,000 books.

It doesn’t have to be a difficult process to choose an ereader, you just have to know what to look for. Getting the most expensive model may not be the  wisest choice for you. While the Flepia may come with a really nice touch screen, can you really justify spending about 1,000 dollars for it? That is a question that only  you can answer. No one can make the decision about which one is correct for you except for you. Don’t just look for the one with the most features, the best ebook reader is the one that suits your needs without  breaking your budget


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