PRS-350 I Still think it's great

[Ripplinger]

I'm becoming a 350 hoarder. A friend in Europe got a used blue 350 for me, but the screen is badly damaged. So I'm going to swap the shell from a silver reader. Except I have skins on the 2 I own that cost $20, another $15 to reorder to replace on the silver after the swap, and it just made more sense to grab a used 350 from eBay for $40. And then saw another for $37! I couldn't resist! So I'm now up to 5 PRS-350s.

And the blue is just beautiful! The hassles to get it are well worth it for me.

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

And the blue is just beautiful! The hassles to get it are well worth it for me.

Seriously envy you that one!! Congratulations!!

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I'm becoming a 350 hoarder. A friend in Europe got a used blue 350 for me, but the screen is badly damaged. So I'm going to swap the shell from a silver reader. Except I have skins on the 2 I own that cost $20, another $15 to reorder to replace on the silver after the swap, and it just made more sense to grab a used 350 from eBay for $40. And then saw another for $37! I couldn't resist! So I'm now up to 5 PRS-350s.

And the blue is just beautiful! The hassles to get it are well worth it for me.

The blue IS beautiful, I would have to loved to be able to pick one up. Great find!

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I'm becoming a 350 hoarder.

[...]

And then saw another for $37! I couldn't resist! So I'm now up to 5 PRS-350s.

Thank you. I can now come out and admit to hoardership, being unable to resist buyinig a $37 cowboom 350 last year, even though I already had two.

"Spares" isn't a correct term, since they don't seem to break (ok, maybe if you sit on them). So there's some peace of mind for we hoarders to carry one wherever we go.

The most robust ereader, if you adhere to one rule: Pull the stylus straight up until it is completely out of the silo!

[raiderkilo]

PRS-350 with PRS+ and Custom Dictionaries works very well.

[Prestidigitweeze]

You'd think we could find more defective ones with blue exoskeletons to harvest now that the 350's two-year-old tech.

I, too, have two 350s and use them daily.

[kolosus]

I haven't seen a blue one in the wild anytime in recent memory. Works wonders still but the kindle has a better contrast. I still use mine though.

[l_macd]

I've now installed PRS+ on my 350 just to try it out.... seems pointless to be able to change fonts when I've got to edit the file in Calibre before it'll actually work though! Not the fault of PRS+ obviously. But I digress, the only really noticeable difference for me early on is that the battery ran out far quicker than normal. So I think I'll need to try and monitor that and I might just end up un-installing PRS+ if it continues (that is easy enough to do isn't it?).

Edit: I'd tried a soft reset as suggested in the PRS+ website and the battery was still draining, but thankfully after trying another soft reset, the battery life appears back to normal. Suddenly PRS+ looks a lot better now, and I'm back loving the 350 again! Had a chance to get a Kobo Mini for £39, but I just can't think of a single good reason to ditch the 350 for it other than it's new and shiny, and that's just not a good enough reason!

[Yamada]

The 350 was/is really that good? I'm not trying to imply any disbelief, but I remember the reviews were somewhat average in 2010. Yet...I've seen quite a few people here talk rather glowingly about it.

The 350 still sells for $140 brand new on Amazon!

[faithbw]

I thought the reviews at the time were harsh because the 350 was costly compared to other ereaders and it didn't have internet access. The lack of internet was probably a fair critique especially considering that Sony included it on future models. However, the x50 had infrared touchscreens that other ereaders didn't have. I really thought reviews at the time downplayed that feature. Plus, the Sony software is good and very stable. I've yet to have it crash or freeze on me. The build is superb. Even compared to later Sony readers, the x-50 series is sturdy. So, I say all this to say, yes the 350 is really that good.

[Yamada]

From what I'm reading the 350 is actually constructed with a metal case, the 650 is a combination of metal/plastic.

I like that, even if it is a little older than the Kobos and Kindles and Nooks coming out today. I'm still reading on a Kindle 2, so anything is an upgrade, I suppose. I just can't bring myself to buy one of these newer plastic jobbies.

[Ripplinger]

The 350 (and 950 as well) also has a metal front with a plastic back. But that metal front keeps the glass from flexing and cracking as easily. Plastic on the back keeps the weight down.

But yes, the x50 line of Sony's readers, including the 350, was really that good. Very stable firmware, plus hackable, and with PRS+ installed, there's still nothing comparable to me yet.

Having just gotten a Kobo Glo I use at times for the light and seeing the "shortcomings" of how it even displays ebooks, definitely a big yes, the x50s were that good, everything just worked as it should.

[Yamada]

Thanks for the replies.

From this site: [Deleted link to third-party copy of copyright User Guide PRS-650]

On page 9, it shows *two* full-sized memory card slots; an Memory Stick Duo and and SD slot...wow, talk about heart's delight. I happen to have plenty of both lying around.

I'm really seriously thinking about finding one of these.

[dordale]

I have a 350 and a 650. Use them both probably equally as much. Sometimes, I really think I'd like a lighted reader--and have recently been severely tempted by the Kobo Aura. But, I still love my 350 and 650. Actually one of the things I really like about them is that they don't have wi-fi access--don't have to worry about "big brother" collecting information about my reading habits and purchases. Also don't have to worry about unexpected updates being sent to my system messing up my settings.

I do have PRS+ installed on both of my readers and I agree with Ripplinger--nothing comparable so far as far as customization.

[Latinandgreek]

I love my 350 and still read on it daily. I would like a front lit reader with higher resolution and have been looking at the Aura, but nothing beats the solid construction of the 350. It has yet to crash on me or have any software glitches (knock on wood)!