Google's current strategy on ebooks seems to be centered on research related books, which makes a lot of sense given that's what folks would want to read on their PC more than a portable device. But their approach, which essentially boils down to them buying the digital rights to stuff that the sellers don't have the rights to sell, is monopolistic and evil. I wouldn't be surprised if they do the same with their move into consumer ebooks.

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If you have lots of your own documents you want to read and want an open-system then the Sony Reader is the better option, if you want to purchase books and have newspapers wirelessly delivered then Kindle is the better option.

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5 years later, newspapers are dropping like flies.

We are at an interesting crossroad in literature. Guttenberg (the guy) essentially a market by creating a way to share information in a physical medium and thereby monetizing it. Prior to that, there were bards, newscriers, etc. that spread information by word of mouth but there was no consistency of the message.

So if we remove that physical media and continue to spurn DRM, what happens to the market?

Who will be the journalist, author, investigative reporter if there is no way to make sure you are paid for your services?

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The Sony Reader 505 which came out even before Kindle 1, has a comparable if not better screen than Kindle 1/2.

For the other stuff, yes, I would like to have something like Whispernet on the Sony except it does impact battery life quite a bit. And magazine subscriptions? Modern fiction? Meh.

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