eBook Surprises

The Internet is a pretty amazing place. But you all know that. Still, every now and then you get a pleasant surprise which is a change from the usual “shock and awe” that attempts to penetrate our dulled www senses. This surprise was a Sony PRS-505 eBook which landed on my desk today. But the  story about the device can come in the next post. How the thing landed on my desk in the first place is an intriguing little vignette. In more ways than one. In the first place I was a little surprised to hear from Jenny at Rocket XL, via this blog, a couple of weeks ago. I have never met Jenny but somehow she had found this blog. Reading and travel are an interesting mix – perhaps reading with an eBook while traveling means this device would be something in which you are interested.  Such was Jenny’s thinking and that was how the offer was pitched. How about reviewing an eBook for us Pickled Eel?Now I put my marketing hat on and then take it off in recognition of Jenny’s lateral approach. Maybe she is a reading traveler as well and knows what a carry on bag stuffed full of books can do to the sense of humour of your fellow travellers.

Love to. But I have to confess Jenny, that I thought it was all bit of a con – who sends these sorts of devices around the world to unknown blogsters? Well, turns out Jenny does and somewhat to my surprise a carton arrived on my desk this afternoon with an eBook ensconced inside. More on the eBook later but you should know my first impression was that a small leather bound paperback had arrived.

Now that is an extremely good sign and a good first impression. I am the sort of guy that loves the feel and smell of books. My study is floor to ceiling books (all walls) and they spill out and around the rest of the house. So I am starting from an anti “e” perspective.   However I am also coming from an IT point of view. I run a software development and technology company so the gadget factor kicks in as well. If I can appease these two traits in my exploration of this eBook we will be in good shape. Like I said, first impressions were a good start.

But I also appreciated the insight I gained into RocketXL who sent me this device to review. I think the lads in dispatch have a sense of humour. As I opened the carton I was greeted by newspaper advertisements for Botox and strip joints. My very smart Sony carton was wrapped in the back pages of the LA Weekly, a newspaper somewhat distant from the LA Times! Thanks guys!

(By the way, a visit to the RocketXL website is worth a look if only to see what their web designers have come up with. It’s pretty neat. No, not a paid ad but simply recognition that someone has done a good job).