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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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.
