Has anyone tried one of the fancy leather book covers that Sony sells as accessories for the Reader? I don't know if they're actually available yet. I was wondering if they are magnetised, like the supplied cover, and whether they can be folder back in the same way? The way I use my Reader is to fold the cover back behind it, and hold it one-handed - can that be done with the leather cover?

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8062

HarryT, if you do a search of the forums here, you should find several threads on this topic, with many experiences of the Reader leather covers. The most populated:
Poll: Sony Reader covers - what color do you pick? (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7720)
Fancy Cover Review, Anyone? (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8390)
The Sony brand leather/suede covers do have magnets and there have been issues with some of them. See: Problem with magnets in leather (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8062)
Hope that helps.

Thanks - that's very helpful. So does anyone think there's any practical benefit to the leather covers, other than their looks? Would anyone recommend buying them? I must admit that when I look at both the docking cradles and the covers I think "what's the point?" - neither seems to actually add anything particularly useful.

I found that the vinyl cover was rapidly getting nicks, etc. -- in order to preserve the quality of the original cover, I went for the leather cover. It is a very nice in-hand feel.

I really wish they'd make a standard type cover with a hard plastic insert on the front to protect the screen. I typically wear cargo type pants and carry the reader around in the side thigh pocket. It's a little big to comfortably sit with it there, but correctly sized to easily slide in and out. Still I can't help but want more protection for the screen.

I've been thinking of trying to mod it myself, but don't want to risk that until I can source a replacement cover.

Jeb

May want to try this. Used it last week to protect the Reader. Have some sheet steel and plastic to insert into the case but not the time right now to try it. But was ok just in my carry on baggage.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=48758&postcount=71


Also started a survey on if there seem to be a flaw in the extra covers...
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8481

The Sony Leather covers are too stiff to fold back behind the reader like the original stock cover (black) can. I purchased and tried 2 red ones from Borders and had to return them both because of defects. One had the connector out of alignment by a few degrees and the other had one of the metal plates that match with the magnets on the reader in the wrong location so it would not stay closed. There seems to be a real problem in the manufacture of these in their Chinese factory.

Must be mfg by the same guys that did the bats!

Hoping that they are changing cases in the next few months.

My brown leather cover folds back behind the reader with no problems.

The Sony Leather covers are too stiff to fold back behind the reader like the original stock cover (black) can. I purchased and tried 2 red ones from Borders and had to return them both because of defects. One had the connector out of alignment by a few degrees and the other had one of the metal plates that match with the magnets on the reader in the wrong location so it would not stay closed. There seems to be a real problem in the manufacture of these in their Chinese factory.

I also bought a red cover at Borders and found it to be so badly aligned that the reader stuck out at 1 corner and wouldn't properly close. I went back a week later and exchanged it for another red cover. Fortunately I opened that one in the store and found that it the same problem.

I was looking for a cover that was a bit more robust than the vinyl cover included in the PRS-500 box. Anyone find an alternative?

Well, there's this one (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9633) .... :nice: