Am I choosing correctly?

A.T.E. · 03-22-2010, 09:47 AM

Hi,

I had already posted this in the new members section, but maybe my post was not noticed. So I repost it here.

I am considering buying an e-book reader as I spend most of my Internet time reading things, and also because I like to read books occasionally: too much time in front of a LCD screen, too much time with my noisy and warm notebook on my lap.

I have been browsing this and other sites, and so far my idea is to buy a Sony PRS-300 or a PRS-505, if a find a good second hand deal. But it is just an idea.

Reasons: price, availability, epub and calibre compatibility, and "brand".

I have installed calibre on my computer to better understand what would be my life with the new gadget, I have been using the calibre reader, and the impression is positive.

Some questions:

1. reading your forum I see that some people say that 5" is too small and that 6" is necessary, while others say it does not really matter. As I have not had a chance to test any ebook reader, I would like to learn more about this. Has anybody who has bought a 5" later regretted not having a bigger 6" screen?

2. those who bought the PRS-300, what were your reasons to choose that? Has your user experience confirmed that?

3. I have downloaded news with calibre and read them in its viewer. The epub file contains hyperlinks that I can click with the mouse. Can the Sony 300 do that?

Thanks to all who will take the time to answer these newbie questions.

Spoon Man · 03-22-2010, 10:13 AM

I can't tell you about the Sony readers, they are not my area of experience, but as far as the 5" vs 6" screens goes I would ask whether you like reading hard back books or paper back books? I've got a 6" device and I think its great, but I would be more than happy with a 5" as well. Whats a few extra page turns?

If you prefer getting more information on the screen at one time however, I would recommend a larger screen. For me, its just another push of a button.

Graham · 03-22-2010, 10:23 AM

I'd been using a 6" Cybook Gen3 for 2 years and was wary of switching to a 5" screen, but having recently bought the Elonex 511EB I can say I'm not finding it a problem. Yes, of course you get more words on a screen on the 6", but the 5" isn't too small, and I find I get just as engrossed in my reading.

Graham

w1nt3r · 03-25-2010, 04:30 PM

I have had PRS-505 for more than 1 year now, and I absolutely LOVE it. The contrast, screen, etc is among the best of the e-readers I've seen so far.

If you read pure word (no graphic at all), it MAY not matter if you have 5-inch or 6-inch screen. For me though, 6-inch is the absolute minimum. I am considering buying a larger screen e-reader, but I will never buy the smaller one.

animedude01 · 03-26-2010, 12:48 AM

I've used the Iliad and DR1000 by Irex and the Astak 5" EZReader PocletPro. For PDFs, I use the DR1000 due to screen size. For general reading of anything other than PDFs, I use the PocketPro and am very happy with it. Before I bought it, I thought I'd have issues with the small screen size, but I don't have any. It's now my favorite for anything other than PDF and I get great battery life to boot.

Even for reflowable PDFs I prefer the DR1000 because a lot of times the reflow looks bad.

My $0.02.

A4- · 03-26-2010, 04:10 AM

Since you read a lot online, you might want to have a look at the Onyx Boox, which comes with a built-in browser and wifi.

Ea · 03-26-2010, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A4-

Since you read a lot online, you might want to have a look at the Onyx Boox, which comes with a built-in browser and wifi.

That's a good suggestion.

Apart from that, in my experience there's very little difference in reading on a 5'' or 6'' screen if it's ony text you read and you don't need extra-large fonts. I haven't tried the Sony 300, but the 505 is a nice solid device.

A.T.E. · 03-31-2010, 10:51 AM

Hi, thanks to everybody.
The Onyx was a good suggestion but I could not find a swiss reseller, plus its price, so I finally bought the Sony PRS-300 silver.
So far so good.
Also, second hand PRS-505 on ebay were at least 80% the price of a new 300, so I gave up on that too.

lene1949 · 04-02-2010, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.T.E.

Hi, thanks to everybody.
The Onyx was a good suggestion but I could not find a swiss reseller, plus its price, so I finally bought the Sony PRS-300 silver.
So far so good.
Also, second hand PRS-505 on ebay were at least 80% the price of a new 300, so I gave up on that too.

All the PRS-505 go to Eastern Europe...

Sorry... I've got a strange sense of the ridiciculous.. I'm Danish...

03-22-2010, 09:47 AM	#1
A.T.E. Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Switzerland Device: Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Aura H2O, Sony PRS-300, FBReader	Am I choosing correctly? Hi, I had already posted this in the new members section, but maybe my post was not noticed. So I repost it here. I am considering buying an e-book reader as I spend most of my Internet time reading things, and also because I like to read books occasionally: too much time in front of a LCD screen, too much time with my noisy and warm notebook on my lap. I have been browsing this and other sites, and so far my idea is to buy a Sony PRS-300 or a PRS-505, if a find a good second hand deal. But it is just an idea. Reasons: price, availability, epub and calibre compatibility, and "brand". I have installed calibre on my computer to better understand what would be my life with the new gadget, I have been using the calibre reader, and the impression is positive. Some questions: 1. reading your forum I see that some people say that 5" is too small and that 6" is necessary, while others say it does not really matter. As I have not had a chance to test any ebook reader, I would like to learn more about this. Has anybody who has bought a 5" later regretted not having a bigger 6" screen? 2. those who bought the PRS-300, what were your reasons to choose that? Has your user experience confirmed that? 3. I have downloaded news with calibre and read them in its viewer. The epub file contains hyperlinks that I can click with the mouse. Can the Sony 300 do that? Thanks to all who will take the time to answer these newbie questions.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need help choosing and e-reader	Gwen2479	Which one should I buy?	26	05-30-2011 08:45 AM
Am I choosing correctly?	A.T.E.	Introduce Yourself	4	03-24-2010 08:33 PM
New to all this, help choosing please :)	arekieh	Which one should I buy?	8	11-22-2009 09:43 PM
Choosing for my 10 year old	birchbarkcanoe	Which one should I buy?	24	03-08-2008 03:06 PM
Help choosing new book	Hobbesdawg	Which one should I buy?	4	05-04-2007 12:56 AM

03-22-2010, 10:13 AM	#2
Spoon Man Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 3002 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: Kindle 1	I can't tell you about the Sony readers, they are not my area of experience, but as far as the 5" vs 6" screens goes I would ask whether you like reading hard back books or paper back books? I've got a 6" device and I think its great, but I would be more than happy with a 5" as well. Whats a few extra page turns? If you prefer getting more information on the screen at one time however, I would recommend a larger screen. For me, its just another push of a button.

03-22-2010, 10:23 AM	#3
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	I'd been using a 6" Cybook Gen3 for 2 years and was wary of switching to a 5" screen, but having recently bought the Elonex 511EB I can say I'm not finding it a problem. Yes, of course you get more words on a screen on the 6", but the 5" isn't too small, and I find I get just as engrossed in my reading. Graham

03-25-2010, 04:30 PM	#4
w1nt3r Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I have had PRS-505 for more than 1 year now, and I absolutely LOVE it. The contrast, screen, etc is among the best of the e-readers I've seen so far. If you read pure word (no graphic at all), it MAY not matter if you have 5-inch or 6-inch screen. For me though, 6-inch is the absolute minimum. I am considering buying a larger screen e-reader, but I will never buy the smaller one.

03-26-2010, 12:48 AM	#5
animedude01 Addict Posts: 254 Karma: 1200 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: DR1000S, ILIAD2, Nokia n900, Kindle for PC, Astak EZReader Pro	I've used the Iliad and DR1000 by Irex and the Astak 5" EZReader PocletPro. For PDFs, I use the DR1000 due to screen size. For general reading of anything other than PDFs, I use the PocketPro and am very happy with it. Before I bought it, I thought I'd have issues with the small screen size, but I don't have any. It's now my favorite for anything other than PDF and I get great battery life to boot. Even for reflowable PDFs I prefer the DR1000 because a lot of times the reflow looks bad. My $0.02.

03-26-2010, 04:10 AM	#6
A4- Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 1110 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Netherlands Device: iRex iLiad v2	Since you read a lot online, you might want to have a look at the Onyx Boox, which comes with a built-in browser and wifi.

03-31-2010, 10:51 AM	#8
A.T.E. Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Switzerland Device: Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Aura H2O, Sony PRS-300, FBReader	Hi, thanks to everybody. The Onyx was a good suggestion but I could not find a swiss reseller, plus its price, so I finally bought the Sony PRS-300 silver. So far so good. Also, second hand PRS-505 on ebay were at least 80% the price of a new 300, so I gave up on that too.

Advert

Advert