Lately, the e-book reader market has become a battleground for major market players like Amazon and Sony. Amazon had pioneered the field with its revolutionary Amazon Kindle. However, Sony Reader has completely changed the rules of the game and is threatening the throne that Kindle has long held. Here we will delve into the features, specifications and design of these two devices and discover which one deserves to be on your shopping list this year.

Characteristics

The Sony Reader is the new kid on the block and has some great features that are sure to make the Kindle run for your money, but the Kindle has some great tricks up its sleeve, too.

1. Connectivity: For starters, the Kindle has the EVDO service that allows users to browse e-book libraries and download their favorite books. This Amazon Kindle feature is virtually useless for customers living outside the US, as the network provider AT&T is not present in most countries.
2. Touch screen– The Sony Reader has a full touch screen interface that says goodbye to the clunky keyboard once and for all. Without the keyboard, the screen takes up most of the space and allows users to have a better experience. Plus, you can turn the pages while browsing through the books in the Reader.
3. Music– The Sony Reader allows its users to copy their favorite tracks from the computer and play them through a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sony is among the best manufacturers of audio devices and they have achieved a point or two with the audience thanks to the built-in music functions.
4. Build and designAmazon’s Kindle is solidly built and extremely sturdy, but it’s just not aesthetic enough. Sony, on the other hand, rules the heart of the customer with its metallic finish and sheer elegance. On the other hand, the build quality and design of the Amazon Kindle is not up to scratch, as it has been known to squeak when buttons are pressed hard.
5. Monitor– The display quality of both the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader is wonderful and the screens are glare-free, making it easy to read even in direct sunlight. Getting back to the point, you can’t read the Amazon Kindle without an external light source. Rather, the Reader has peripheral illumination technology that enables users to read even in the dark. This is where the Sony reader really beats the Kindle, if you don’t want to upset your spouse, you can still read the Sony reader in the dark.
6. Audio books– Amazon’s Kindle can read newspaper articles and e-books to the user, while Sony cannot.

Judging from the pros and cons, we have seen that although the Kindle comes with 3G support, audio book support, and internet facilities, Sony still offers a better overall book reading experience.