[CALIBK12] E-book readers

[Carol Bly]

I have been using my newer version (second generation) of the Sony PRS
non-stop since last April. This is still a new enough technology that a
lot will be changed in the very near future. If you like to fiddle with
technology, I think you’ll enjoy it. However, if you are looking for
something durable to check out, these probably aren’t quite ready for
that market.

General Advantages
Holds about 150 books - I’ve got 30 on mine right now, which allows
me to jump back and forth to suit my interest, without having to haul a
bag of books around with me
Text size is adjustable
Long-life battery – Sony allows for up to 7,200 page turns
I’m able to get 90-95% of the current bestsellers, both fiction and
non-fiction, in the e-book format for less than what I would pay for in
book (and sometimes paperback) format
Easy to hold and curl up with Vs fighting the binding to keep my book
open to the right page without breaking the spine

General Disadvantages – All surely to be resolved in newer versions
No text search
No ability to highlight (although, I’m hearing the newer versions of
the Sony will have this feature)
Not backlit, so needs a lighting system (again, newer version is
resolving this)
Screen too small to make looking at detailed images impractical
I can’t share the great book I’ve just read with my friends
It’s got a black and white screen
It is an expensive piece of equipment, which is pretty scary given that
I’m inclined to throw my purse (where I keep it) down on the floor, or
fling it into my trunk

Sony Vs Kindle (these are only my perceptions - you may find different
information)
Sony is about $100 cheaper
Kindle is proprietary – you must get your books from Amazon
Sony can take downloads from multiple sources, as well as store Word
documents, pdf, RTF, plain text and HTML files from other non-internet
places (such as work), pictures and MP3 files (via headphone)…actually
this was the determining factor for me because at the time I was buying
I couldn’t find anything about the Kindle regarding format
flexibilities…and it was $100+ cheaper
For Sony, classics and State documents are very much available – I
got 100 free with the Sony, and had to really sort through a lot of
titles to narrow it down – Also, a number of organizations are making
public domain books available in formats that can be accommodated by the
Sony
Sony is more compact
Sony has more slots for memory cards
I envy that I could get files wireless from Amazon, including some news
sources. Again, it’s limited to Amazon resources

Again, much will change over the next couple of years, but these are my
thoughts.

Regards,
Carol



Dr. Carol Bly,
Superintendent,
Rescue Union School District
2390 Bass Lake Rd.
Rescue, CA 95672
Office: (530) 672-4810
Fax (530) 672-0719
www.rescue.k12.ca.us 
Educating for the Future Together
 
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>>> "Barnes, Margaret" <Margaret.Barnes at SAUSD.US> 12/9/2008 9:46 AM
>>>
I've been using a first generation Sony reader.  I don't usually buy
electronics immediately after they are released because the upgrades
come so quickly, but I had to have one in spite of the price (more
than
$300 at the time).  The "electronic ink" technology the reader uses
makes it easy on the eyes, unlike LCD. The display almost looks too
low-contrast compared to a computer screen, but it's absolutely like
reading ink on paper in terms of eye fatigue.  The Sony version is
more
compact than the Kindle - it fits in my purse - but the arrangement of
the page-turning buttons is a little awkward. From what I've heard,
the
Kindle's controls are more ergonomic and it includes a keyboard for
note
taking.  I download books from the Sony bookstore which is somewhat
limited but okay, not necessarily a bargain but cheaper than
hardcovers
and once you download a title, you own it.  My favorite feature is the
ability to adjust text size.  The reader also will accept other
formats
such as PDF's , images, music, and documents, but I've never used it
that way.  It's great for traveling.  I'd be curious to hear how the
Kindle works out in a library.  Will you check them out? Use them as
adaptive technology?  I'm sure these little devices are the wave of
the
future, especially for textbooks.



Maggie Barnes

District Librarian

Santa Ana Unified School District

1601 E. Chestnut Ave.

Santa Ana, CA 92701

714-480-4784, x74784

margaret.barnes at sausd.us 





________________________________

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu 
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Megan Fuller
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 6:30 PM
To: library
Subject: [CALIBK12] E-book readers



Anybody know anything about e-book readers such as "Kindle".  I am
going
to try to get a few of them for the library and I've only heard about
Kindles, but they are so expensive.  Is there a good less expensive,
alternative?  What are the pros & cons?  Are e-book readers
propriatary?
I don't have any experience with them.

Megan Fuller
Aptos Junior High
http://www.aptosjr.pvusd.net/library/ 

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.
-- Wernher von Braun









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