If there’s one bit of kit I can’t live without while traveling, it’s … well actually, it’s my iPhone. But running a very close second is my eReader.
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I’ve long been a fan of Amazon’s Kindle and still am. But when Sony kindly offered to forward a sample of their latest Touch Screen eReader for us to review, who was I to turn it down?
Sony PRS-T1 eReader
The Skinny
In Sony’s own words, they pitch the new PSR-T1 thusly:
Curl up with all the hottest titles and none of the distracting ads on the world’s lightest 6″ e-Reader. Admire the lovably glare-free, paper-like display designed for hours of comfortable reading, even in direct sunlight. Use your fingertips to select a title, turn the page or zoom in and out. Select from over 2 million titles at Reader™ Store or use the world’s first eReader with wireless public library access to borrow books directly from the device for free.
Features include:
- Wi-Fi access to over 2 million titles
- E-Ink Pearl V220 glare-free screen
- Stores up to 1200 titles
- Audio playback
- Ultra compact and elegant styling
- 12 Built-in Dictionaries
- Long battery life
- Clear Enhanced Touch screen
- Note-taking
- Bookmark pages
In Detail
Design
Sony has always had a knack for designing sleek gadgets that just beg to be touched. The new PRS-T1 continues that tradition: it’s razor thin, extremely lightweight and available in your choice of three modern colors (black, white, and red).
Display
Many people question the need for a dedicated eReader when tablet PCs are practically standard issue for travelers nowadays. If I can get books on my tablet, why carry a separate reading device? I prefer to travel with both and use only my eReader (rather than my iPad) to read books.
The difference is in the display. The E-Ink Pearl display on the new Sony eReader is gorgeous – crisp, crystal clear text on a true “paper-feel” background with zero glare. It guarantees comfortable reading for hours without the eye-strain associated with extended reading sessions on a standard LCD screen. There’s no backlight and it provides a range of adjustable font sizes, brightness, and contrast.
A Library in Your Hands
The eReader ships with 2GB of included storage (that’s up 1,200 books) with the option to expand to up to 32GB. That’s more books than the average person could read in a lifetime.
Plus, Sony’s Reader Store offers more than 2 million titles. You can even borrow books digitally for free from your local library or download from Google’s extensive and growing repository of public domain books.
Pricing & Availability
Available now directly from Sony (with free shipping) or Amazon.com for approximately $120 (USD).
Bottom Line
It’s sleek and lightweight. It can replace every book you own, including travel guides. The battery life is insane – up to a month. And the display looks and reads like any standard paperback. For a hair over $100, traveling bookworms would be crazy not to own one.