About.com Rating
While it's just a sliver thicker than last year's model, it has shrunk in every other dimension, including a noticeable weight reduction down to 7.58 oz. You'll never know you're carrying it, and by shaving off half an inch here and there, the Reader Touch is now almost pocketable, although those interested in extreme compactness might want to consider Sony's Reader Pocket Edition, which is considerably smaller.
In comparison, the Reader Touch is nearly an inch and a half shorter than a Kindle WiFi and slightly narrower, while sporting the same size display. Unlike the Kindle -or most other popular e-readers- the Reader Touch has no wireless capability, so a Mac or Windows PC is required in order to buy books and manage your content. Personally, I have no issue with this, but anyone who likes the ability to add books spontaneously, dislikes cables or doesn't own a computer should probably look at a different e-reader. Battery life is rated at two weeks, and that's exactly what I saw. When the review model arrived, I fully charged it, read an hour or two nightly, and when it was ready to go back after two weeks, the low battery warning had just come on. Like the Reader Pocket Edition, Sony has chosen to switch to a micro USB cable with the Touch, so if you're upgrading from the previous model, don't expect to hang on to your old USB cable as a spare.
Recommendation
The Reader Touch is an elegant, attractive e-reader with a beautiful screen and the advantage of touchscreen capability.
In my opinion, there's no other mainstream e-reader that can match this one for looks. The red or black brushed aluminum case is minimalist, thanks to that touchscreen eliminating the need for all but a few buttons, and it's durable. The support for EPUB and other common file formats (excluding Kindle e-books) means there should be no shortage of reading material available and it has the ability to borrow e-books through public libraries, which Kindle lacks. However, make no mistake about it, the Reader Touch is priced as a premium device. At $229, it's more expensive than Kindle WiFi ($139), Nook ($149) or Kobo ($149) e-readers, and each of these competitors offers a similar sized E Ink Pearl display and WiFi wireless capabilities.
At the end of the day, it comes down to whether you can live without wireless, whether you care about Kindle and whether the touchscreen capabilities and handsome design are worth a premium that ranges from $80 to $90. If not for that hefty price, the Reader Touch would have earned 4.5 Stars.
While it's just a sliver thicker than last year's model, it has shrunk in every other dimension, including a noticeable weight reduction down to 7.58 oz. You'll never know you're carrying it, and by shaving off half an inch here and there, the Reader Touch is now almost pocketable, although those interested in extreme compactness might want to consider Sony's Reader Pocket Edition, which is considerably smaller.
In comparison, the Reader Touch is nearly an inch and a half shorter than a Kindle WiFi and slightly narrower, while sporting the same size display. Unlike the Kindle -or most other popular e-readers- the Reader Touch has no wireless capability, so a Mac or Windows PC is required in order to buy books and manage your content. Personally, I have no issue with this, but anyone who likes the ability to add books spontaneously, dislikes cables or doesn't own a computer should probably look at a different e-reader. Battery life is rated at two weeks, and that's exactly what I saw. When the review model arrived, I fully charged it, read an hour or two nightly, and when it was ready to go back after two weeks, the low battery warning had just come on. Like the Reader Pocket Edition, Sony has chosen to switch to a micro USB cable with the Touch, so if you're upgrading from the previous model, don't expect to hang on to your old USB cable as a spare.
Recommendation
The Reader Touch is an elegant, attractive e-reader with a beautiful screen and the advantage of touchscreen capability.
In my opinion, there's no other mainstream e-reader that can match this one for looks. The red or black brushed aluminum case is minimalist, thanks to that touchscreen eliminating the need for all but a few buttons, and it's durable. The support for EPUB and other common file formats (excluding Kindle e-books) means there should be no shortage of reading material available and it has the ability to borrow e-books through public libraries, which Kindle lacks. However, make no mistake about it, the Reader Touch is priced as a premium device. At $229, it's more expensive than Kindle WiFi ($139), Nook ($149) or Kobo ($149) e-readers, and each of these competitors offers a similar sized E Ink Pearl display and WiFi wireless capabilities.
At the end of the day, it comes down to whether you can live without wireless, whether you care about Kindle and whether the touchscreen capabilities and handsome design are worth a premium that ranges from $80 to $90. If not for that hefty price, the Reader Touch would have earned 4.5 Stars.
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