The Sony Ereader PRS- 505 vs the PRS 600

After much thought and debate I took the plunge a few months ago and bought the PRS 600 Touch Edition.  I decided to use it for a bit and then make the final decision on whether to keep it of stay with my beloved PRS 505.  I went back and forth for the first few weeks, there are features on both that I dislike and features that I like, as with anything.  Neither is perfect.  I have finally decided that I am sticking with the PRS 600.  (So that means you can definitely have my PRS 505 April lol) The things that I miss from my PRS 500 in comparison to the 600 are probably more a matter of personal taste than real problems.

THE CONS
 First off, the bookmark feature on the 600 sucks ass.  On the 500 you just clicked a button and tada! bookmark.  With the 600 you have to click the option button, select the create/edit notes button on the screen and then touch the little bookmark symbol, then exit out of that screen.  PAIN IN MY ASS!  When i'm ready to stop reading for whatever reason I want something simple. not a process that takes 45 seconds (yes I timed it) Obviously you don't have to use the bookmark feature on either reader as it automatically will open back up on that page, unless of course, you are clumsy, absent minded, or a multi tasker like myself.  I tend to switch back and forth between books.  I have books that I have for review, books for pleasure, and textbooks.  I need the damn bookmark feature. 

Secondly, I liked the old booklight cover that was available for the 595.  the light was similar to the bookwedge.  It was attached to the sturdy cover and fliped over onto the screen.  The 606 cover is just as sturdy but the light raises up and can be adjusted to shine over the screen.  Not usually a problem but therein lies the another issue with the 600.

THirdly, THE GLARE.  The screen glare is a bitch on the PRS 600.  Not unmanageable but, when used with the book light or when outside in the sun. You have to tilt it to find the right angle.  Now i'm a creature of habit and I like to read while doing...well everything.  That includes while cooking, a feat that was simple with the 505 because I could lay it on the counter and read it.  With the 600 laying flat doesn't work in my kitchen, the lights hit is just right making it impossible to read.  So I bought a cookbook holder LOL.

Forthly, and most importantly for me, is the battery life.  I read constantly.  If i'm not at work or being with my family I'm reading.  I don't like to have to charge things.  The 505 battery life lasted for days and days and days.  I took it on vacation to Florida.  Read for most of the 10 hours down, read for several hours everyday, read the trip back and still had one bar of life left.  The 600 lost all battery life on me in 3 days with heavy use like that.  (yes I could plug it in while I sleep but the majority of the time I'm reading myself to sleep and the cord gets in the way).

THE PROS
The design is much sleeker on the 600.  It has rounded corners, it has a smoother back and it is a bit thicker which improves how it feels in your hand.


I love the touch feature.  I like turning the pages with just a swipe.  I like being able to change the direction of the swipe so that it doesn't matter which hand i'm using as well.  Which is great when lying in bed so i can be comfortable on either side.


Second. The notes and highlitght feature. I can mark up the books for when I write my reviews.  For example:  I was reading one for review just this morning and it was annoying the piss out of me.  The child of the female lead changed names in 4 different spots.  Seriously, I was completely confused, I kept thinking who the hell is this person?  Where did they come from?  It normally wouldn't have taken me that long but the book is written in a disjointed manner anyway and this just added to the hot mess.  


Third. Font size.  Oh how I love this little gem.  The PRS 505 had this feature but the added advantage with the 600 is that it goes up to XXL.  A much needed size when certain publishers (ahem ... TORQUERE PRESS) have books that refuse to convert to the appropriate format.  Oh you can read them...with a magnifying glass.  They start out fine when you bump them up to your preferred size ( I like Large because i'm blind lol) but you turn the page and WHAM teeny tiny.  They now have a Sony pdf format available which seems to have fixed the problem but I have a zillion older pdf format books that are languishing in my TBR mountain.


Fourth, I love the search option.  You can type in a book you want to search or you can sort by date, author, tag etc.  You could sort like that on the 505 but i really like being able to just type the name or keyword in to get right to the book. 


So my final decison is to stick with the 600 for now.  At least until the next best thing arrives.  LOL  That iPad looks cool as fuck and after the bugs get worked out i'm going to take a closer look.  I do so love my iPhone and something I could read on that has a big screen?  AWESOME!

2010 Ebook Challenge- update

 I can't help it!  Just this last one! Click the pic if you would like to play along!  I am going with Obsessed.  I'm going to up the count to 200 though.  I've already read 20 Ebooks this year.  LOL

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 E-Books.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 E-Books.

-- Addicted – Read 12 E-Books.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 E-Books.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

My Books

1. The Brotherhood: Amour Magique - Willa Okati
2. The Brotherhood 2: Bite Me - Willa Okati
3. The Brotherhood 3: The Dragon’s Tongue - Willa Okati
4. The Brotherhood 4: Good Luck Piece - Willa Okati
5. The Brotherhood 5: The Out of Towner - Willa Okati
6. The Brotherhood 6: Tezcatl’s Game - Willa Okati
7. The Brotherhood 7: Single White Fang - Willa Okati
8. The Brotherhood 8: Under Hill and Over Bar - Willa Okati
9. The Brotherhood 9: Tunnel of Love - Willa Okati
10. The Brotherhood 10: The Salt of the Earth - Willa Okati
11. The Brotherhood 11: Nothing Like Experience - Willa Okati
12. The Brotherhood 12: Believe it or Not - Willa Okati
13. The Brotherhood 13: The Incubus Call - Willa Okati
14. The Brotherhood 13.5: Once Upon a Liam - Willa Okati
15. Jock Dorm 1: Dar and Greg - Bobby Michaels (re-read)
16. Jock Dorm 2: Drew and Vince - Bobby Michaels (re-read)
17. Jock Dorm 3: David and Connor - Bobby Michaels
18. Wings - Aprilynne Pike
19. The Brothers Bishop - Bart Yates
20. Reining in the Past - Carol Lynne
21. Bareback - Carol Lynne
22. Through the Montana Mist - Carol Lynne
23. Hit and Run - Cassidy Ryan
24. A Case of Mistaken Virginity - Connie Bailey
25. An Improper Holiday - K.A. Mitchell
26. Sleeping With the Past - Cassidy Ryan
27. Force of Law - Jez Morrow
28. Hard for the Money - Syd McKinley, Carol Lynne, Kiernan Kelly
29. Hell Hath no Fury - Carol Lynne
30. Sculpting Clay - Linda Reilly
31. Good to Know - D.W. Marchwell
32. JackMagic - Jillian Snyder
33. When the Bluebird Calls - Leiland Dale
34. Soothe the Burn - T.A. Chase
35. Dead Men Get No Tail - Misty Malone
36. Open Sesame - Mia Watts
37. A Wolf in Men's Clothing - Dakota Rebel
38. Rip Cord - Jeanne St. James
39. Ghost of his Past - Liam Drake
40. Gay Since Today - Kim Dare
41. Mate Hunt - Amber Kell
42. Mate Hunt - Amber Kell
43. Take it Easy - AKM Miles
44. Too Keen - AKM Miles
45. Seb's Surrender - Carol Lynne
46. Twisted Rose -Amber Kell
47. Vampire King's Husband- Amber Kell
48. Kissing Orion - Amber Kell
49. Lost and Found -Amber Kell
50. Bound and Determined - Amber Kell
51. Heart and Soul - Amber Kell
52. Jaguar Moon - Linda Palmer
53. Picture me Perfect - Stormy Glenn
54. Dream Mate - Stormy Glenn
55. Nights in Pink Satin - Sharon Maria Bidwell
56. Blue Willows - Gregory Norris
57. Pure Folly - Madelynne Ellis
58. Stealing My Heart - Various 
59. Promises - Marie Sexton
60. Rescued - Bailey Bradford
61. A Game of Chances - T.C. Blue
62. Angel Moon - Shayla Kersten
63. A Promise Given - Stormy Glenn
64. Baby it's Cold Outside - Nicole Kimberling
65. Parallel Process - Barbara Sheridan & Anne Cain
66. Precious Jade - Fyn Alexander
67. Putting Out Fires - Sienna Black
68. A Gentleman’s Bargain - Hunter Raines
69. Resolution -  Carol Lynne
70. Ice Water in Hell - Carol Lynne
71. Putting Out Fires - Sienna Black
    
72. Feral Heat - Jamie Hill & Jude Mason
    
73. Bear Combustion - Jamie Hill & Jude Mason
74. I Love Rock n Roll - Carol Lynne
75. Wild Hunt - Willa Okati
76.  An Uncommon Whore - Belinda McBride
77. A Good Knight - Sharon Marie Bidwell
    
78. Second Chance - Selena Kitt
79. Unspoken Desires - Stormy Glenn
80. Cowboy Dreams - Stormy Glenn
81. Freaks in Love - T.A. Chase
82. Dark Side of the Veil - Stormy Glenn
83. Hot Damn!- H.C. Brown
84. Without Sin - J. Tomas
85. Vamps - Nancy A. Collins
86. Night Life - Nancy A. Collins
87. After Dark - Nancy A. Collins
88. Embraced by the Sun - Mya
89. The Alpha's Desire - Mya
90. Thief of his Heart - Mya
91. No Souvenirs - K.A. Mitchell
92. Tatterdemalion - Anah Crow and Dianne Fox
93. Hide Out - Kate
94. The Major and the Minor - Pepper Espinoza
95. Duncan's World - T.A. Chase
96. Fighting Dragons - T.A. Chase
97. Bi Now, Gay Later - Kim Dare
98. Seeing You - Dakota Flint
99. A Prophecy of Destiny - Leiland Dale
100. Blueprint for Love - J.P. Bowie
101. Bound by Nature - Cooper Davis
102. A to Z - Marie Sexton
103. Nothing Personal - Scott & Scott
104. Wishing for a Home - T.A. Chase
105. Gaymes - Anthology
106. Circles of Life & Death - Rayne Auster
107. Lift Me Up - Rayne Auster
108. Moonlight's Silver - Rayne Auster
109. Retribution - M. Flagg
110. Firehouse Heat - Carol Lynne
111. Urban Shaman - Lyn Gala
112. Unmasked - Anthology
113. Rogue Wolf - Violet Hilton
114. Sylvan - Jan Irving
115. Revenant - Connie Bailey
116. Simple Men - Eric Arvin
117. Winner Takes All - Jennifer Urban and Elizabeth Silver
118. Icing on the Cake - Shayla Kersten
119. Turned - Christina Loren
120. The Guardian - Mary Calmes 
121. Catch Me if You Can - L.B. Gregg
122. Give and Take - Anne Brooke
123. Skin Deep - S.W. Vaughn
124. Forever Bound - Chloe Stowe
125. PJ's Pool Boy - Ryan Field
126. Survival Instinct - Roxy Harte
127. Out of Balance - Stephani Hecht
128. Pool Boy Seduction - Amanda Young
129. The Manny - Sara Bell
130. Knight or Daye - Jude Mason
131. Stiff Trick - Jude Mason
132. Sins of the Father - D.W. Marchwell
133. Tuxedo Tryst - Nikki Soarde
134. Freaks and Saints - D.J. Manly
135. Love, Grant - AKM Miles
136. Because it's True - Willa Okati
137. The Shunned - Jay Hughes
138. Stroke of Luck - Jenna Brynes
139. Touched by an Alien - Gini Koch
140. Take my Picture - Giselle Ellis

The Vampire Files Challenge

IMELINE: January 1st to December 31st 2010
RULES: Read (or re-read) the twelve(12) books in P.N. Elrod’s Vampire Files series in 2010.

DETAILS:

• As of today, there are 12 books in the series. If there happens to be a new book in series published within 2010, you won’t need to read it to complete the challenge. If you’ve already started this series, you can still participate in the challenge. You can either start all over again as a refresher or just start where you left off.

• Anyone can join at anytime between now and the latter part of next year. You don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog, you can post your comments or reviews in the comment section of the wrap-up post.
• Audio books, hardbacks, paperbacks, tattered second-hands, and library books are okay.
• If you decide to participate in the challenge, post a link to this post on your blog so that other people can find their way here to sign up.

THE BOOKS (in chronological order):
- Bloodlist
- Lifeblood
- Bloodcircle
- Art In The Blood
- Fire in the Blood
- Blood on the Water
- Chill in the Blood
- Dark Sleep
- Lady Crymsyn
- Cold Streets
- Song in the Dark
- Dark Road Rising

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

• You don’t have to read any of the following to complete the challenge.
• Some of the short stories are from Out of Print paperback anthologies. You may be able to find them online in places like Half.com or Paperbackswap if you’d like to read them anyway. They would be perfect if you like to participate in the “Short Story Sunday” meme.

Short Stories:

- “You’ll Catch Your Death” – from Vampire Detectives (OOP)
- “A Night at the (Horse) Opera” – from Celebrity Vampires (OOP)
- “A Night at the (Horse) Opera” reprinted in Fields of Blood (OOP)
- “The Quick Way Down” – from Mod Magic (OOP)
- “The Breath of Bast” – from Kittens, Cats, and Crime
- “Slaughter” – from The Repentant
- “Grave-Robbed” – from Many Bloody Returns
- “Her Mother’s Daughter” from My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
- “Hecate’s Golden Eye” – from Strange Brew

Related Books:

- The Devil You Know – a limited edition sequel to Bloodcircle only available here

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge

January 1st to December 31st 2010

OME!  I can't believe i'm doing this to myself!  Another challenge!  All details are over on J. Kaye's Book Blog if you want to join!  I'm going for the Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.  I really can't believe i'm doing this to myself lol.

My Reads
1. Wings - Aprilynne Pike
2. The Printer's Devil - Paul Bajoria
3. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
4. The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
5. The Titans Curse - Rick Riordan
6. Jaugar Moon - Linda Palmer
7. Vamps - Nancy A. Collins
8. Night Life - Nancy A. Collins
9. After Dark - Nancy Collins
10 Without Sin - J. Tomas

Work is the suck!

When I started this blog i had really good intentions. I really did, but then the inevitable happened. We lost 3 people at work and now I work ALL THE FUCKING TIME! I'm so not kidding with that one either. I've been working 12-14 hour shifts 4-5 days a week. May not seem that bad except they are third shift so i spend what time i'm not working sleeping. My reading has declined to the point that i'm reading maybe one book a week if i'm lucky. My reviewing has dropped down to almost nil and i'm not sure my children don't think i'm the crazy lady who visits every now and then. I can not wait until March when the new nurses will be ready to be on their own and we will be back up to staff! Of course two of our nurses are talking about leaving for other jobs now so who the hell knows how much longer it will really last. *sigh* At least I have a job, that's what i keep telling myself. LOL

Review Vamped by Lucienne Diver

So....hmmm... I'm a bit conflicted about this book. First of all I'm a 38 year old mother of three and I found this book hilarious, especially the smart assed mouth of the main, dare I say it, heroine, Gina Covello. Secondly, I have exactly nothing in common with any character in the book. Not Gina, Bobby, nor the myriad of other teens roaming it's pages. But, the book was well written, the plot was solid, and the characters were monstrous. Not because they were vampires. No, they were monstrous because they were that most dreaded thing of all....teenagers. Now as much as i liked this story and it's characters the teen thing did grate on my nerves every now and then. I wanted to smack them and tell them to get over themselves, the world does not revolve around you! Oh, I'm sorry I forget myself, when you are a teen ager it most certainly does revolve around you! I had a quibble with how quickly Gina fell for Bobby but then I remembered the fickle nature of the teen heart and got over myself. Most of the time I can forget the YA nature of a book and just enjoy the story but this is definitely a YA book albeit a fun one. So if you are looking for a fun, breezy way to pass a couple of hours. You like vampires, teens, and drama. Vamped is one you will enjoy. I certainly did and I look forward to Revamped coming next year. If you want to check out more about the book and the author pop on over to Lucienne Diver's website Here.

Review Chicagoland Vampires 1: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Looking for something fun to read? Try Some Girls Bite! Merit is a kick ass heroine, or she will be when she finally develops completely as a vampire. I like that she's a bit whiny about being changed, she has every right to be upset about it. It added a realistic slant to the story. Merit and Mallory are awesome as best friends who love each other unconditionally. Ethan is that tall, dark, handsome, and scary vampire that you want to seduce you. Morgan is that sexy vampire that you want to..fang you! There is a mystery, some intrigue, and a well written plot that had me upset that I had to put the book down to take the kids school clothes shopping.

Merit is such a complicated character. She knows that Ethan will do anything for his house. He's arrogant, manipulative, and cold at times but she still finds her self feeling attraction for him. Morgan gives off that dangerous sexy vibe as well but with him it's different. Whether it comes from the blood tie between Ethan and Merit or the fact that Merit wants to deny any feelings for this man who changed her I still don't know. But I can't wait to read the next book to see if more is shed on the subject. There were many loose ends dangling in the breeze with this book. Not just with the ending but with minor plot elements as well, I hope that we discover the answers with the next book due out in October. I wish I hadn't let this book languish in my tbr pile but when you have one as large as me it happens sometime. Thank you Ms. Neill for a refreshing vampire/urban fantasy tale! Visit the authors website here to learn more about Some Girls Bite and it's upcoming sequel. She also has the beginning of a new series coming out in January 2010.