Somewhere Else Entirely

Sony Reader vs Kobo

I’ve left out the Nook because Canada doesn’t have Barnes & Noble, and Kindle and iPad got left out because they don’t offer enough user freedom for my liking. No “colour eReaders” made it either, because in truth they’re really just cheap tablets. Now, all that aside, here is my assessment of the Sony Reader WiFi PRS-T1 and the Kobo Touch.

Screen Resolution; Kobo Wins
I didn’t bother to check the true resolution of each reader, but Kobo definitely makes book covers and menus look much smoother. Text while reading looks pretty much the same, though, so I wouldn’t make this a deciding factor.

Ghosting; Sony Wins
Here “ghosting” refers to the afterimage visible after turning pages or navigating menus which has been a problem for all eInk screens. Kobo ghosts really bad, even while reading. The Sony has some ghosting in the web browser and menus, as well as from popup menus while reading, but these aren’t as bad as the Kobo. Also, there is no ghosting at all from regular reading aside from large bold titles on the Sony.

Touchscreen Sensitivity; Sony Wins 
The Kobo often fails to respond to touch commands. It’s not too bad, and not really noticeable while reading, but the Sony is definitely much more responsive. Some people find the Sony to be too sensitive, but I think it’s perfect.  

Page Turning Speed; Tie 
Both readers compete well in page turning races.

Web Browser; Sony Wins 
Both browsers are pretty slow, and sometimes not very functional. However, Sony’s browser works properly more often than the Kobo’s does. Also, Sony is the only one that allows you to look up terms in Wikipedia or Google directly while reading.

Menu Design; Sony Wins 
 Sony makes everything very easily accessible. On the Kobo, there is much more menu navigation required to find settings, applications, etc. Even just looking up a word in the dictionary on Kobo requires menu navigation, whereas Sony brings it up with one tap.

Construction; Sony Wins (?)
I dropped my Sony down a flight of stairs onto concrete without damaging it. I haven’t had a chance to test the durability of the Kobo, but its weak points are quite obvious and the plastic feels cheaper. I would definitely keep the Kobo in a protective case. 

Ergonomics; Sony Wins
The Kobo is slippery on the back, so you have to grip it more firmly, and it’s heavier as well. Because of this, the Sony is definitely easier to handle for long periods of reading. For those of you who read only for an hour or so at a time, you probably wouldn’t notice.

 Aesthetics; Tie
I know this one is mostly opinion, but I can’t figure out why the Kobo looks like a mattress. And even though the Kobo offers one more colour than the Sony, the colours are only on the back, which will be covered by the case you’ll need for it. The Sony is sleek and modern, but some people have complained about the shininess of the front border. It hasn’t bothered me, but I can see how it might in certain lighting conditions. The menus in the Kobo are definitely nicer to look at, though, despite their clunkiness in terms of navigation. 

Price; Kobo Wins(mostly)
The regular price on the Kobo is lower than that of the Sony. However, the Sony is on sale more often. Sometimes this evens the price, and sometimes it makes the Sony cheaper. The Kobo comes on sale once in a while, too, making it cheaper than even a Sony on its lowest sale. I got mine for less than a Kobo, and it seems like this is possible at least once a month. Don’t pay full price for a Sony; it’s almost always on sale. Kobo sales are far enough apart that impatient people would be better off paying full price. The Kobo makes up for it by giving you any case for $10, which is definitely needed. Sony doesn’t need a case, but you’ll pay more if you do want a case anyway.

Included Software; Whatever.
Both software packages are alright. Sony’s software is less demanding for your computer’s resources, but both programs are easy to use and work as they’re supposed to. However, I choose to use Calibre instead as it offers more functions and allows me to manage both eReaders in one interface.

Customer Service; Sony Wins
Both offer 24-hour phone lines, but I hate phones so I haven’t tried these. Kobo doesn’t have 24-hour live chat, and you need to wait a couple of days for a response to email. Sony has 24-hour chat, which sometimes connects you with very helpful people but sometimes gives you annoying manual-readers. Experiences with mail-in repair services vary. Sony lets you keep track of everything they do during the repair process, but they take longer to get your reader back to you. The good communication is a win for me, though.

Direct Downloads; Kobo Wins
Downloading books directly on Kobo is pretty janky, but it works better than it does on the Sony. The eBook Store app on the Sony is barely functional. 

As you can see, I’ve got a pretty clear preference for the Sony. I recommend you go into stores to play with demo models before making a decision,