Sony Reader Daily Edition

This pricey but touch-friendly eReader delivers a Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery large screen, 3G connectivity, and an easy-to-use interface.

You might not remember it, but Sony introduced its first Reader device way back in 2006, long before eBooks were cool. Then Amazon introduced the Kindle the following year, adding the convenience of wireless downloads. Because Akku Sony VGP-BPS8 Sony was slow to add this functionality, it would become an also-ran in a category it helped pioneer. The Sony Reader Daily Edition is the company’s effort to get back in the game, combining 3G wireless with a bigger touchscreen display than what you’ll find on the Amazon Kindle 2 or Barnes & Noble Nook. However, at $399, this device costs $140 more than the competition. Is it worth the premium?
Design

The 8.1 x 5 x 0.6-inch Daily Edition is essentially a longer Sony Reader Touch Edition with 3G. Both readers VGP-BPS9/B have the same type of screen, touch interface, ports, and minimalist design. The Daily Edition is the same width as the 6-inch Touch Edition, so it fits comfortably in one hand. However, the longer 7-inch screen allows for more lines of text and two-column reading in landscape mode.

Below the E-Ink screen sit five physical buttons: Previous/Next Page, Home, Zoom, Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery and Options. A stylus is tucked into the upper left hand corner next to the power slide. Media slots for SD and Memory Stick Duo Cards are hidden behind a cover on the right edge. Along the bottom is a wireless on/off switch, mini-USB and headphone ports, volume controls, and the power port.

Adding to its premium air, the Daily Edition VGP-BPS9/S includes a portable zipper case and a built-in leather cover to protect the screen. We particularly appreciated the magnetic closure on the cover that kept it secure even as the reader jostled around in our bag.
User Interface

As with the Touch Edition, the Daily’s menu consists of large icons designed to be navigated with a finger (or stylus). The home page VGP-BPS9 offers quick access to the most recently read book or periodical, a list of the most recently added books, as well as Collections, Notes, and Periodicals. Along the bottom of the screen are tabs for accessing the Reader Store, other applications (such as handwritten notes and the audio player), and Settings.

The interface is simple, but that’s to the user’s advantage. We had no trouble navigating and understanding how to use the good battery Daily Edition right out of the box. As is appropriate for a device designed for touch navigation, all of the elements were a bit oversized, so we never had to struggle to click the element or text we wanted with the pad of our finger.

Unfortunately, another attribute the Daily inherited from the Touch Edition was battery sluggishness. After tapping an icon or other selector, the Daily often took a few seconds to respond. About a third of the time the device wouldn’t follow the command at all even though it appeared to register our taps or swipes.