I had a Sony PRS-700 on pre-order from SonyStyle.ca (I live in Toronto) and just received it yesterday. While waiting for my reader I was reading these forums on a daily basis, especially the debate over screen quality between the PRS-505 and PRS-700, and was wondering whether I had made the right decision. While many of the impressions about the 700 are from people who have owned the 500 or 505, I thought that feedback from someone who has never owned and eBook reader before might be useful to those of you that are new to eBook readers as well.

The elephant in the room: The screen
After reading much of the debate on the screen quality when I finally got the package from Sony I was expecting the worse. Low-and-behold its actually pretty good! Completely readable. However, the contrast could be a little better, and in some lighting conditions the edges of the text do not appear 100% sharp. A lot of people have speculated this has to do with the touch screen, I've noticed that if you hold the screen on a very sharp angle under direct sunlight you can actually see a very slight speckling on the surface of the plastic over the eInk screen. This makes me wonder if this is really due to the touch screen or an anti-glare coating Sony put on the touch screen. This would explain why so many of the photos taken of the 700 next to the 505 on an angle look so bad (any light hitting the screen on an angle is meant to be diffused and therefore will not make for a decent photo). If you are expecting the screen to be just like paper you will be disappointed, but if you see this is an electronic alternative its pretty good (once again I'm not comparing to other eBook reader models as I have never owned one before).

PDF support, Search
These are the features of the 700 which ultimately got me interested in buying the eBook reader. I am a programmer, so many of my reference books are 1200-1500 pages. Many of these come in PDF version as well, so good PDF support was a must. As I often find myself going to the index of one my reference books to find sepecific information, the search feature on the 700 is a dream come true! I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the 700 understands the native PDF table of contents and allows you to select items and jump right to the page! From what I understand the 700 is the only Sony model that allows zooming on PDF files (which is great for all the charts I have), but I also heard that there is firmware upgrade for the 505 that increases it support for PDFs as well. Do any of the Gurus on this forum know what the differences in PDF handling on the 505 with the firmware upgrade and the 700 out of the box are? (I'm curious).

Other features
The touch screen is nice, it wasn't a big selling feature for me as I am just as happy pushing buttons, but the interface is intuitive and I would rather have a touch keyboard for searching than a clunky mass of buttons appended to the bottom of the device. The light is simply put "okay". Its nice that its there when you need it, from what I understand none of the clip-on alternatives are anything to write home about either, and I'm not in the habit of reading in the pitch dark to begin with so its not a big deal. I usually do not write in the margins of my books or highlight them either so the annotation feature was not a big selling point for me but after trying it out and realizing its potential I can see this as something I could make a lot of use of!

All-in-all I am very happy with my 700 (and its had some nice surprises I didn't expect). The debate about the screen is still something that bothers me not because the 700's is bad, but because I've never seen the 505's in real life and am curious if it really is that much better. Besides that all the other features are great, functionality is intuitive, speed is very snappy. Great product!

Jason

Nice unbiased review. I got my PRS700 yesterday and am still checking it out. When I find the right words to describe my experience, as you have done, I'll get back and leave my impressions.

Thanks and welcome to the forum.

The PDF support is the reason I ordered the PRS-700.

Like you, I am a software engineer and depend upon these manuals to earn an income. I have fallen in love with my Kindle, but the ability to read PDF files has been very frustrating. Oh sure, you can convert PDF files to images, but then they are almost impossible to read.

I can not thank you enough for your review, since I am getting rather sick and tired of hearing that the PRS-700 is not as "sharp" as the PRD-505.

PDF support is why I ordered this darn thing! Otherwise, I would have obtained another Kindle.

Yes or No?

Can I zoom into an image based PDF file with the PRS-700 and enlarge the image? Can I use the touch screen to move the enlarged image for better viewing?

That is something that was impossible to do with my Kindle.

I believe you can zoom in on image based PDF files, using the slider bar on the upper left corner. Navigation is by arrow keys located at the edge of each side of the screen. You can also drag your finger or stylus around to navigate within the image, it's a bit crude but sounds like what you're looking for.

I checked this out on a PDF book with graphics on cover page. Works great.

Here is test PDF file from Goggle Books.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rV4BAAAAQAAJ&dq=rigging+rudimentary&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=_0iSdA8Vce&sig=kRII2SVmswsZYG7PFOH7TAsiDK4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

The table and graphics are very important to me, and trying to convert this book into something that the Kindle can use, has been very frustrating.

Give this file a test with the PRS-700 and let me know your results.

The PDF support is the reason I ordered the PRS-700.



I agree that PDF support is unbelievably good on the 700 as opposed to any "small" device out there.

I have not read math books in a while so cannot comment on how technical books work so far at least, but I receive pdf arcs from authors/publishers and until now I had to extract text, process it, and even then sometimes the results were less than satisfactory so I would go more for print arcs than insisting on pdf's which would be more convenient for everyone.

But now with the 700 I am finally reading the pdf 's directly, just put them onto it from my pc, no preprocessing necessary and if the zoom does not reflow the text nicely - some do, some don't - horizontal half-page reading works nicely.

But that was a quite unexpected bonus for me :)

My comments were intended for JayBoy, but Wetdogeared has been very helpfull also.

I need to know if anyone can read that PDF book from Goggle Books on the Sony PRS-700.

If not, then I MUST cancel my order, since that is the only reason why I ordered the darn thing.

If that book can be read, and the images viewed, then I made the wise choice.

If not, then I will cancel and order another Kindle.

Here is test PDF file from Goggle Books.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rV4BAAAAQAAJ&dq=rigging+rudimentary&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=_0iSdA8Vce&sig=kRII2SVmswsZYG7PFOH7TAsiDK4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

The table and graphics are very important to me, and trying to convert this book into something that the Kindle can use, has been very frustrating.

Give this file a test with the PRS-700 and let me know your results.

I downloaded this to Adobe Digital Editions then copied it to my reader. The reader took about 4 minutes to digest it but eventually it looks as it should. I found some graphics, could zoom in and maneuver with arrow keys and with finger. Hope this helps you out.

Text is very small but ledgible, upping the font size doesn't seem to do anything but the zoom and maneuver works good. All text and images are ledgible using zoom function.

You were able to view the ship images and still read the text?

With the Kindle, I could only do one or the other.

THANKS!

I downloaded this to Adobe Digital Editions then copied it to my reader. The reader took about 4 minutes to digest it but eventually it looks as it should. I found some graphics, could zoom in and maneuver with arrow keys and with finger. Hope this helps you out.

Text is very small but legible, upping the font size doesn't seem to do anything but the zoom and maneuver works good.


This is what I was expecting, but I needed someone to verify that capability.

With graphic based PDF files, changing the font size will never work. I was hoping that the touch screen zoom and maneuver would make books like this possible to read on the Sony PRS-700.

If this can be done, then who cares about screen contrast?

If this can be done, then who cares about screen contrast?

People who read novels and are used to paper books.

Ok, now I am rather confused.

The ability to read a book AT ALL, in any format, is not as important as screen contrast?

Again, please try to read this test book and let me know how well you can read it.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rV4BAAAAQAAJ&dq=rigging+rudimentary&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=_0iSdA8Vce&sig=kRII2SVmswsZYG7PFOH7TAsiDK4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

Ok, now I am rather confused.

The ability to read a book AT ALL, in any format, is not as important as screen contrast?

No it's not. I'm in the same boat as you, and want to read all of those wonderful PDFs that I have on architecture, design, and programming languages. But I'm in the minority. Most people couldn't give two shakes about that stuff - they're only interested in reading the same type of fiction books they read today, but on an eReader.

I couldn't care less that my bicycle weighs more than one pound... I don't compete in triathalons... I ride around the neighbourhood. What I do care about is that in order to get that bike that weighs one pound, I have to have a seat that is in serious danger of entering my butthole.

If you never use any of the features of the 700 that don't exist on the 505, you're pretty pissed off about the fact that you sacrificed screen contrast... and I can totally understand that. Should a person be a rabid fanatic about it? No... :) But I can understand it.

With graphic based PDF files, changing the font size will never work. I was hoping that the touch screen zoom and maneuver would make books like this possible to read on the Sony PRS-700.

If this can be done, then who cares about screen contrast?
I think this functionality is one of the features overlooked while everyone is debating 'screen contrast'.

Not everyone uses the device 100% of the time for reading novels.

Thanks for your reply. I have been so frustrated this week, that I was about to cancel my Sony PRS-700, and order another Kindle.

Using OCR software, ANY EBOOK READER can display text!

Like you, tables and images are very important and the ability to display them is vital.

For TEXT, my Kindle has been fantastic and I absolutly love it. In the middle of the night, if an idea hits me, I can explore the internet and find an answer.

Driving down the road, my wife has often asked me a difficult question. No problem, I just activate the Kindle's internet capability and find the answer.

Now, why would I want to spend more money on a Sony PRS-700, that does not have this internet capability and costs more?

Goggle Books!

See now I'm on the fence when it comes to connectivity. I get easily distracted and I think the ability to surf (even lightly) on the same device where I'm reading books would be brutal for me. It's the chief reason I can't use my computer to read... too much "stuff" to do/play with/see... When I'm locked up with a physical book, I concentrate... So the 700 without net access seems right for me, at the moment.

We've all got our own reasons for buying this beast.

I have only purchased two books from Amazon with my Kindle. The internet capability is not that important, since I can wait until I get home to answer my wife's question.

Reading historical books were costing me a fortune. When I spent $75 for an "out of print" book fromEngland, I knew that there had to be a better answer.

Along came the Kindle and I was able to download these books over the internet.

However, some of these books have graphics and tables that are vital to understand, and simple TEXT was not working.

I have purchased software that claimed to translate PDF to something that the Kindle could display. With my set of "test PDF files" they have all failed.

I was able to translate a very important reference book into images, but the type was so tiny, it was almost impossible to read.

Simple Question:

Can the PRS-700 display the test file that I have linked? Can you read both the text and view the images?

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rV4BAAAAQAAJ&dq=rigging+rudimentary&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=_0iSdA8Vce&sig=kRII2SVmswsZYG7PFOH7TAsiDK4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

Trying to understand something that is 200 years old, without pictures, is almost impossible.

If the PRS-700 can not display this test book, then I must cancel my order tonight.

Kindle internet capabilities:

Ok, sometimes downloading stories from www.literotica.com, late at night, does come in rather handy.

Enough said....

Kindle internet capabilities:

Ok, sometimes downloading stories from www.literotica.com, late at night, does come in rather handy.

Enough said....

LOL! Too much information. :rofl:

Simple Question:

Can the PRS-700 display the test file that I have linked? Can you read both the text and view the images?

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rV4BAAAAQAAJ&dq=rigging+rudimentary&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=_0iSdA8Vce&sig=kRII2SVmswsZYG7PFOH7TAsiDK4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

Trying to understand something that is 200 years old, without pictures, is almost impossible.

If the PRS-700 can not display this test book, then I must cancel my order tonight.


I have tested this book - Rudimentary... 5 MB PDF Google Books and it displays almost all pictures and all tables but there are several pictures that are not displayed. The text is readable in vertical mode and perfectly eligible in horizontal half page mode. Navigation is a bit slower than usual, but still fast compared with any other small device and an image pdf in my experience.

To see which images are not displayed open the book in Adobe Digital since they do not display there either, though they DO display in the regular Adobe PDF reader. Or download the free Sony library software and dump the pdf into it and open it with the Sony software. That will also give a rough idea of how it looks on the 700 too in vertical mode.

PDF support, Search

This was a huge selling point for me. And also annotation. If I did not have the 505 I would have gone for the 700 model. Now if they add character recognition for the data entry, bluetooth and a dictionary. I will probably break down and buy that model


From what I understand the 700 is the only Sony model that allows zooming on PDF files (which is great for all the charts I have), but I also heard that there is firmware upgrade for the 505 that increases it support for PDFs as well. Do any of the Gurus on this forum know what the differences in PDF handling on the 505 with the firmware upgrade and the 700 out of the box are? (I'm curious).

Jason
All of the features that are supported in the 505 are included in the 700. There where 2 changes in the firmware. One was text reflow the other was to enhance the whitness of the PDF. The PDF with the original FW had a grayish background that made PDFs hard to read.

=X=

You were able to view the ship images and still read the text?

With the Kindle, I could only do one or the other.

THANKS!

Sorry I had to leave the thread there for a while. I wanted to do a complete test on the sample PDF book that I downloaded.

I thought at first that I only had 191 pages with "Digitized by Goo*le and their logo at the bottom right of each page. But, it was just taking time to render the images or whatever. Each page turn takes from 3 to 6 seconds. Here is some of what I saw:

Page: 71 Preparing of Rigging....(lots of nice knots)
Page: 35 Top mast tressel....(shows graphic and can zoom in and see
both graphic and text)
Page: 93: Looks like a missing graphic.
Page: ??: All tables were available and could be zoomed in and navigated

Note: I checked on the missing graphic on my computer with adobe digital editions and there was a blank place there where I think a graphic should have been. The reader did, however, show all charts and graphs that show up in the Adobe Digital Editions so the reader got everything that I copied down to it.

Hope this was of help, I got to play with the zoom and maneuver functions.:)

Another update...just went to look at the downloaded PDF using the regular adobe reader and I saw the picture of the big ship. That ship did not make it to Adobe Digital Editions and therefore did not make it to the reader.

Shunt1

For the type of reading you are talking about you need an Iliad, and probably the new Digital 1000s (or variant of it), and you will get the detail you are looking for.

Any 6" reader today will not cut it for you, even if with such good pdf options as the 700 looks to have.

you can take a look at the conversion program called 'PaperCrop'.
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31677
It can process quite complex PDFs into smaller images and it also supports reflow. It lacks some features such as pre-trim, but this can be a really valuable tool for reading PDFs on 6 inch device. Since the program creates image or PDF files, it can be useful for any device. You can try this tool and see whether it alleviates the problem of reading PDFs in 6 inch e-ink reader.

However, I would agree with others that having letter/A4 size e-ink device will be really nice for reading PDFs.

After experimenting a little more I found another pleasant surprise when it comes to large charts. You can not only zoom and slide around PDF charts with the touch screen, you can also do this with high resolution pictures! And it is even faster than doing the same operation with PDFs! This is great for programmers out there to look at large database schematics, and class inheritance charts. I can see this also being of use for looking at blueprints, electronic schematics, etc. When I first looked into buying the 700 I didn't really see much of a use for storing pictures on the device, but knowing that I can zoom-in and slide these around now I do.

Here is test PDF file from Goggle Books.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rV4BAAAAQAAJ&dq=rigging+rudimentary&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=_0iSdA8Vce&sig=kRII2SVmswsZYG7PFOH7TAsiDK4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

The table and graphics are very important to me, and trying to convert this book into something that the Kindle can use, has been very frustrating.

Give this file a test with the PRS-700 and let me know your results.

I have opened up a case with Adobe support and used this PDF as an example. I have asked why Adobe Digital Editions would render most graphics in the book but not all. I'm awaiting a reply. The PRS700 got all the graphics, text and tables that ADE created and was good (for a 6 " screen) at zooming in and maneuvering around this old book. It handled everything ADE gave it, it's just that ADE did't convert all graphics, maybe another converter would. If they get back to me I'll reply here.

I thought that feedback from someone who has never owned and eReader before might be useful to those of you that are new to eReaders as well.

Jason, you are in for a big surprise. You still do not own eReader (http://www.ereader.com/ereader/software/browse.htm).

You own eBook reader, and it is entirely different beast.

I have opened up a case with Adobe support and used this PDF as an example. I have asked why Adobe Digital Editions would render most graphics in the book but not all. I'm awaiting a reply. The PRS700 got all the graphics, text and tables that ADE created and was good (for a 6 " screen) at zooming in and maneuvering around this old book. It handled everything ADE gave it, it's just that ADE did't convert all graphics, maybe another converter would. If they get back to me I'll reply here.

I am curious too. It is not the first time I saw that - image rendered with Adobe PDF reader but not with Ebook Library/ADE/700 - with a Google book.

At first I supposed the images which are embedded pictures and not part of the image scan are not supported, but they seemed to be bitmap and the manual says the 700 supports such.

Unless the pdf is drm'ed, you do not need to open it in ADE to put it on the 700, you can add it to your Sony Ebook library directly - though it may help with metadata if you go through ADE

I am curious too. It is not the first time I saw that - image rendered with Adobe PDF reader but not with Ebook Library/ADE/700 - with a Google book.

At first I supposed the images which are embedded pictures and not part of the image scan are not supported, but they seemed to be bitmap and the manual says the 700 supports such.

Unless the pdf is drm'ed, you do not need to open it in ADE to put it on the 700, you can add it to your Sony Ebook library directly - though it may help with metadata if you go through ADE
Thanks for your suggestion Liviu_5. The PDF wasn't DRM'd so I bypassed Adobe Digital Editions and copied directly into eBook Library. The results were about the same, most of the graphics were intact but some detailed drawings were left blank.

Jason, you are in for a big surprise. You still do not own eReader (http://www.ereader.com/ereader/software/browse.htm).


:deadhorse:

Yawn.

:deadhorse:

Yawn.

Yeah, I am getting tired of that too :rolleyes:

Yeah, I am getting tired of that too :rolleyes:
The nomenclature police are out in force today JayBoy. It took a while for eReader to get it right, they went through a progression of Palm Reader and Peanut Press before they settled on eReader.:angry:

The nomenclature police are out in force today JayBoy. It took a while for eReader to get it right, they went through a progression of Palm Reader and Peanut Press before they settled on eReader.:angry:

I am not sure I follow you.

I am not sure I follow you.
Sorry I thought everyone was slamming Jayboy for using the word eReader instead of eBook reader. Was this not the case?

Sorry I thought everyone was slamming Jayboy for using the word eReader instead of eBook reader. Was this not the case?
I did. However, I believe pilotbob was sarcastic about me mentioning it :)
I was not slamming, just wanted to tell him that the proper term is ebook reader, not eReader :)

I did. However, I believe pilotbob was sarcastic about me mentioning it :)
I was not slamming, just wanted to tell him that the proper term is ebook reader, not eReader :)
Thanks, I don't know the personalities here yet so I didn't see the sarcasm. I'll let you old friends play. Didn't mean to intrude, just trying to stick up for us newbies.

Dunno about pilotbob. He might clarify the situation when he reads this :D

Dunno about pilotbob. He might clarify the situation when he reads this :D

Yes, you are right... I was ribbing you because the old line "eReader is a brand name and not a generic name... just bores me and gets old." I think the context of the message makes it obvious what people are talking about. Yes, I do know and agree there is room for confusion... I myself bought a book from eReader.com for my Sony... not until I paid and downloaded did I know the truth.

Then again, people use Xerox, Kleenex, Matchbox, iPod, etc when they are refering to generic items rather than brand names and most are able to understand what was meant. I bet many people will call an "eBook Reader" they may see somewhere a "Kindle".

BOb

[snip]I bet many people will call an "eBook Reader" they may see somewhere a "Kindle".

BOb

You've got that right -- I have yet to have anybody walk up to me while I've been reading my Sony in public and ask me if it was the Sony Reader. They all walk up and say "Hey, is that the Kindle?" I politely tell them, no it's the Sony, which came first, and then proceed to show them what it can do.

But from my experience, the public at large is unaware that there is a Sony product to compete with the Kindle.

I politely tell them, no it's the Sony, which came first, and then proceed to show them what it can do.


To which they hear... "No this is an older and obsolete thing but it is sort of like the Kindle." Coming first isn't really very important with tech devices so I'm not sure why you point that out.

BOb

JayBoy, can you please edit your message to not use the term eReader? You will confuse some people into thinking that the 700 will handle eReader format eBooks which it will not.

Also, I think we need a moderator to sort out the thread titles and then sort out any quoted portions using the term eReader. In this case, the capitalization is exactly the same as the official eReader and that is not good.

I bet many people will call an "eBook Reader" they may see somewhere a "Kindle".
BOb
Of all the people who asked me about my PRS-505 all but one have asked me if if I had the kindle?"

I guess that's my was of saying I agree.
=X=

I have opened up a case with Adobe support and used this PDF as an example. I have asked why Adobe Digital Editions would render most graphics in the book but not all. I'm awaiting a reply. The PRS700 got all the graphics, text and tables that ADE created and was good (for a 6 " screen) at zooming in and maneuvering around this old book. It handled everything ADE gave it, it's just that ADE did't convert all graphics, maybe another converter would. If they get back to me I'll reply here.

I can not thank you enough for your help in exploring the capabilities of the PRS-700 with a rather complex PDF file with graphics. That took some time and effort on your part, and it was very much appreciated.

You have answered most of my questions about the PRS-700, and it sounds like it is a major improvement over the Kindle, in it's ability to handle PDF files.

What I asked for was not an easy task, and you have helped all of us.

:thanks:

After experimenting a little more I found another pleasant surprise when it comes to large charts. You can not only zoom and slide around PDF charts with the touch screen, you can also do this with high resolution pictures! And it is even faster than doing the same operation with PDFs! This is great for programmers out there to look at large database schematics, and class inheritance charts. I can see this also being of use for looking at blueprints, electronic schematics, etc. When I first looked into buying the 700 I didn't really see much of a use for storing pictures on the device, but knowing that I can zoom-in and slide these around now I do.


With my profession, the ability to zoom into images like this, is exactly why I ordered my PRS-700.

You have just confirmed my basic hunch, and why the PRS-700 will find new applications that even Sony did not anticipate.

My PRS-700 should arrive this Friday, and I will be pushing it to it's limits.

:goodjob:

To which they hear... "No this is an older and obsolete thing but it is sort of like the Kindle." Coming first isn't really very important with tech devices so I'm not sure why you point that out.

BOb

That's not the reaction the people show when I say what I say. What I then explain is all the good points of the Sony and why I don't like the Kindle (yes I've actually used one) and nobody says anything like "oh, that's older then, and obsolete?" They say, "Wow, that's fascinating!" Some say they plan to look into it, others say it's interesting but they're gonna stick with paper books.

Nobody comments on my device being obsolete.

That's not the reaction the people show when I say what I say. What I then explain is all the good points of the Sony and why I don't like the Kindle (yes I've actually used one) and nobody says anything like "oh, that's older then, and obsolete?" They say, "Wow, that's fascinating!" Some say they plan to look into it, others say it's interesting but they're gonna stick with paper books.

Nobody comments on my device being obsolete.
The same here. Not that anyone really knows or understands what is Kindle anyway, but I always tell people, just in case, that it is not kindle but a much better ebook reader and explain all the advantages of the Sony Reader and disadvantages of Kindle.

Hi Everyone,

Some posters pointed out that my original title for this thread was not accurate; I referred to the PRS-700 as an "eReader" (this is a specific model line) when it should be "eBook reader" (the generic term for the type of device). I have update the title of this thread to reflect the proper term. Thanks for the feedback any everyone that is finding this thread useful.

Jason

Hi Everyone,

Some posters pointed out that my original title for this thread was not accurate; I referred to the PRS-700 as an "eReader" (this is a specific model line) when it should be "eBook reader" (the generic term for the type of device). I have update the title of this thread to reflect the proper term. Thanks for the feedback any everyone that is finding this thread useful.

Jason
I think you just made astra very happy.:)

There has been a lot of photos on these threads showing how bad the 700's screen can look. After looking at those for so long and then receiving my 700 and realizing they didn't do it justice, I thought I would take a few shots of mine just for the sake of comparison. These are just taken under my 35 watt desk lamp with a Canon compact camera set on macro (nothing fancy).

Regular orientation
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=101&pictureid=899

In landscape orientation
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=101&pictureid=901

In landscape orientation, zoomed-in on large jpeg
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=101&pictureid=900

Thank you for posting those -- it's good to see pictures which actually are accurate!

MMm... looks good to me.

thank you for your time and contribution for the 'cause' ;)

I think you just made astra very happy.:)
:dtw:

Jayboy, you have shown me exactly what I was looking for. That zoomed JPG image was perfect.

Thanks to the OP for this review. Now I definately now the 700 is my forthcomming eBook. :)

As I read loads of scientific PDFs, and have never even seen an eBook in real life, this one is going to be my first!

For all you developers out there (and enthusiasts) this may be of interest:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/28/e-inks-am300-developers-kit-gets-shown-off-on-video/

It's the eInk developer kit. In the video notice the demonstration of an animation, support for 16 shades of grey, and the ability to use a stylus built-in. Could the next generation Sony eBook reader support video? Or maybe even suuport the 3D model option in PDFs? Hmmmm.....

JayBoy

I have opened up a case with Adobe support and used this PDF as an example. I have asked why Adobe Digital Editions would render most graphics in the book but not all. I'm awaiting a reply. The PRS700 got all the graphics, text and tables that ADE created and was good (for a 6 " screen) at zooming in and maneuvering around this old book. It handled everything ADE gave it, it's just that ADE did't convert all graphics, maybe another converter would. If they get back to me I'll reply here.

re: Book on Ships http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&...um=1&ct=result

Here is the canned reply that I received from Adobe regarding why certain pages ,i.e. the ship in the book you were using as an example, were not rendered in Adobe Digital Editions.

Thank you for writing to Adobe Technical Support.

I see that you’re having problems viewing the embedded images in an
ebook on Adobe Digital Editions.

This might just be an isolated case or specific to that ebook source
only. I suggest that you try checking with one of our sample ebooks in
our library, see if the problem persists on them. Please follow the link
below.

Sample eBook Library
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/library/ (http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/library/)

I hope this information helps, feel free to respond to this case if you
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I replied, telling them that of course their supplied samples would all render correctly, and asked again why certain images will render and other's won't. I asked them again to specifically look at the book in question. I'm awaiting a reply.

I just found another interesting shortcut on my 700. Many of you know that you can flip through multiple pages by swiping your finger and holding it on the screen. I just found that you can also do this by pressing and holding 2 fingers (one above the other about a centimeter apart) on one side of the page. I don't see this documented, but it works consistently. Can anyone else with a 700 confirm if this works for them as well?

I just found another interesting shortcut on my 700. Many of you know that you can flip through multiple pages by swiping your finger and holding it on the screen. I just found that you can also do this by pressing and holding 2 fingers (one above the other about a centimeter apart) on one side of the page. I don't see this documented, but it works consistently. Can anyone else with a 700 confirm if this works for them as well?
does it work with one finger only ? it could just be the continued pressure which counts.

I just found another interesting shortcut on my 700. Many of you know that you can flip through multiple pages by swiping your finger and holding it on the screen. I just found that you can also do this by pressing and holding 2 fingers (one above the other about a centimeter apart) on one side of the page. I don't see this documented, but it works consistently. Can anyone else with a 700 confirm if this works for them as well?
I tried skimming thru a PDF manual. Pressing one finger and holding did nothing. Pressing and holding 2 fingers on right side of screen about 1 cm appart went into forward search about 80% of the time. If I did a single page swipe to get off the first page, the two finger method worked more often, about 90%.
Hope that's of help.:)