Hold on to your Sony readers

duckbill · 08-29-2010, 09:59 PM

First off, apologies to all for giving up on the Sony reader (PRS 505) so fast (see my thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92514)

After having received the new Kindle I was somewhat disappointed with the display. I had expected a whiter background and also find that there is very little difference to the display of my beloved PRS-505.

There is significant improvement while viewing pictures and the page turns are also considerably faster. The ability to send texts via email and ordering directly from the device are also quite significant improvements.

It may be wise for some to hold their horses until Sony officially launch the new series of readers.

kartu · 08-30-2010, 06:29 AM

Kindle (Pearl screen) vs Sony PRS 300 (by amutin aka REALexMSG from the-ebook.org) scan:

Dave Berk · 08-30-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartu

Kindle (Pearl screen) vs Sony PRS 300 (by amutin aka REALexMSG from the-ebook.org) scan:

Weird. I can barely see any difference.

HarryT · 08-30-2010, 07:30 AM

The difference is not so much that the background is whiter, but that the text is blacker. The Pearl screen has genuinely black text, compared to dark grey on the older screens.

Dave Berk · 08-30-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The difference is not so much that the background is whiter, but that the text is blacker. The Pearl screen has genuinely black text, compared to dark grey on the older screens.

I can't really see it either but I know how hard is it to capture eink correctly on camera (though this is really a scan, not a picture).

jswinden · 08-30-2010, 12:26 PM

Here is a better view from my 300 and my Kindle DXG. I'll try to take some comparison shots with the 300 and my K3 later today.

Note: both readers have font hacks and are showing the same font.

To me anyway, the 300 looks washed out compared to the Kindle Pearl screen, and the text is much darker on the Pearl screen.

...

jswinden · 08-30-2010, 01:20 PM

Here are my comparison photos of the Sony 300 to Kindle WiFi.

Both devices are showing the same book (The Federalists Papers).
Both devices are showing the same pages within the book.
Both devices are using their default serif font. (No font hacks.)

I think this clearly shows the vast superiority of the Pearl eInk screen to the 2nd Generation eInk screen, especially in the closeup view.

If Sony releases new readers with the old 2nd Generation eInk screens then they won't be able to compare to the Kindle Pearl screens.

...

jswinden · 08-30-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Berk

Weird. I can barely see any difference.

Probably because a careful examination of his photos (yes plural) appears to show two separate photos cut and pasted to look as though they were taking as one photo of the two devices sitting side by side. Look at the lower right of the composite photo which shows a strange edge of black. I can take photos all day long of eInk screens and no two come out the same. They are notoriously famous for being difficult to photograph. However, in my photos, I placed the devices either on top of one another or side by side to use the same lighting in one photograph to more accurately display the differences.

Donnageddon · 08-30-2010, 02:36 PM

It certainly does demonstrate the difficulty of photographing eink displays.

In your first demonstration, the Sony clearly has the lighter background

and in the second, the effect is reversed

Although, in both sets the Kindle has much darker text. I wonder how bold text looks in the Kindle?

kartu · 08-30-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

I think this clearly shows...

I'd say you have to have letters of the same size, to do right screen to screen comparison. On your pictures 300 has much smaller letters. No wonder that they aren't as crisp.

jswinden · 08-30-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartu

I'd say you have to have letters of the same size, to do right screen to screen comparison. On your pictures 300 has much smaller letters. No wonder that they aren't as crisp.

Fair enough, I hadn't notice that until after I took the other photos. Here is the same two pages but closer to the same font size. This is as close to the same font size as I can get.

The Pearl screen is still hands down the winner.

...

bill_mchale · 08-30-2010, 04:53 PM

You know, just a thought, but comparing hacked devices (Even if it is only to add fonts) is not exactly a fair assessment of the two readers. After all, the screen is only one aspect of an ebook reader that determines how readable it is.

Overall, for reading text, I believe that the Kindle3 screen is better than the competition, but I also know that the Competition will likely catch up in short order. Further, using a Sony PRS-505, the difference in the screens is not dramatic enough that I would switch readers -- others might, but not me.

Certainly, the advantages in using a more open DRM environment is more important to me than the advantages of the new screen.

--
Bill

jswinden · 08-30-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

You know, just a thought, but comparing hacked devices (Even if it is only to add fonts) is not exactly a fair assessment of the two readers. After all, the screen is only one aspect of an ebook reader that determines how readable it is.

Overall, for reading text, I believe that the Kindle3 screen is better than the competition, but I also know that the Competition will likely catch up in short order. Further, using a Sony PRS-505, the difference in the screens is not dramatic enough that I would switch readers -- others might, but not me.

Certainly, the advantages in using a more open DRM environment is more important to me than the advantages of the new screen.

--
Bill

Apparently you missed this in my second set of photos: "Both devices are using their default serif font. (No font hacks.)"

I really hope Sony and the other major players come out with competitive readers using Pearl screens (or something better). I would never want one company to dominate. With competition comes a constant set of new and improved readers. So competition is good for us consumers. I have no loyalty to any brand. I went with sony for a couple of years, but they fell behind. Now I'm going with Kindles. Who knows what brand I'll go with next.

SkyDream · 08-30-2010, 05:49 PM

Way to go for Sony.

shanghaichica · 08-30-2010, 06:44 PM

The K3 looks much better than the prs-300. And I always thought the 300 had a good screen.

I hope I still love my 300 when my K3 arrives.

08-29-2010, 09:59 PM	#1
duckbill Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Zealand Device: PRS-505, Kindle 3 Wi-Fi	Hold on to your Sony readers First off, apologies to all for giving up on the Sony reader (PRS 505) so fast (see my thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92514) After having received the new Kindle I was somewhat disappointed with the display. I had expected a whiter background and also find that there is very little difference to the display of my beloved PRS-505. There is significant improvement while viewing pictures and the page turns are also considerably faster. The ability to send texts via email and ordering directly from the device are also quite significant improvements. It may be wise for some to hold their horses until Sony officially launch the new series of readers. Last edited by duckbill; 08-29-2010 at 10:01 PM.

08-30-2010, 12:26 PM	#6
jswinden Nameless Being	Here is a better view from my 300 and my Kindle DXG. I'll try to take some comparison shots with the 300 and my K3 later today. Note: both readers have font hacks and are showing the same font. To me anyway, the 300 looks washed out compared to the Kindle Pearl screen, and the text is much darker on the Pearl screen. ... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by jswinden; 08-30-2010 at 12:30 PM.

08-30-2010, 01:20 PM	#7
jswinden Nameless Being	Comparison of Sony 300 to Kindle WiFi Here are my comparison photos of the Sony 300 to Kindle WiFi. Both devices are showing the same book (The Federalists Papers). Both devices are showing the same pages within the book. Both devices are using their default serif font. (No font hacks.) I think this clearly shows the vast superiority of the Pearl eInk screen to the 2nd Generation eInk screen, especially in the closeup view. If Sony releases new readers with the old 2nd Generation eInk screens then they won't be able to compare to the Kindle Pearl screens. ... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by jswinden; 08-30-2010 at 01:27 PM.

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08-30-2010, 06:29 AM	#2
kartu PRS+ author Posts: 1,637 Karma: 2446233 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300, 505, 600, 650, 950	Kindle (Pearl screen) vs Sony PRS 300 (by amutin aka REALexMSG from the-ebook.org) scan:

08-30-2010, 07:30 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The difference is not so much that the background is whiter, but that the text is blacker. The Pearl screen has genuinely black text, compared to dark grey on the older screens.

08-30-2010, 02:36 PM	#9
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	It certainly does demonstrate the difficulty of photographing eink displays. In your first demonstration, the Sony clearly has the lighter background and in the second, the effect is reversed Although, in both sets the Kindle has much darker text. I wonder how bold text looks in the Kindle?

08-30-2010, 04:53 PM	#12
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	You know, just a thought, but comparing hacked devices (Even if it is only to add fonts) is not exactly a fair assessment of the two readers. After all, the screen is only one aspect of an ebook reader that determines how readable it is. Overall, for reading text, I believe that the Kindle3 screen is better than the competition, but I also know that the Competition will likely catch up in short order. Further, using a Sony PRS-505, the difference in the screens is not dramatic enough that I would switch readers -- others might, but not me. Certainly, the advantages in using a more open DRM environment is more important to me than the advantages of the new screen. -- Bill

08-30-2010, 05:49 PM	#14
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	Way to go for Sony.

08-30-2010, 06:44 PM	#15
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 989 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11, iPhone 13 Pro Max,iPad mini 6, PW5	The K3 looks much better than the prs-300. And I always thought the 300 had a good screen. I hope I still love my 300 when my K3 arrives.

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