The Sony PRS700: the Newest Member of the Sony Reader Family - Page 3

igorsk · 10-02-2008, 07:21 PM

tsgreer · 10-02-2008, 07:22 PM

I'll hold off upgrading, but glad they finally got the light in there. That's what everyone I know seems to complain about. Also, touchscreen doesn't impress me, but I love that they are still thinking about and acting on the future of ebooks. YAY!

And I really, really would love the store to be web-based (just like the amazon kindle store) for us mac-heads without windows...

BuddyBoy · 10-02-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyBoy

Of course if I could sell the 505 + Lighted book cover for $250, I'd probably go for it.

That was fast - I just had a call from a friend of mine with a PRS-500 and she said "I know you're going to upgrade. I'll buy the 505."

NatCh · 10-02-2008, 07:23 PM

I think it's the same OS, but the software has been updated, obviously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok... so are we saying the eInk screen is smaller than the 505 screen? Or is it the same size?

It is the same size, I misunderstood what you were getting at.

InspectorGadget · 10-02-2008, 07:24 PM

Did someone say, "Plastic Logic?" My understanding is that their eInk technology is entirely plastic, omitting the thin, fragile glass membranes inside the current Sony screens THAT KEEP !@#$% BREAKING unexpectedly in 10-15 percent of the machines.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29270

All-plastic technology screens would be a great improvement if my assumptions prove out. Just a guess at this point.

- The Inspector

kovidgoyal · 10-02-2008, 07:24 PM

Any word on the processor/memory specs? Battery life?

JSWolf · 10-02-2008, 07:25 PM

The 505 is also a 6" screen. Whoever came up with 6.5" is clearly incorrect.

TadW · 10-02-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Do we know yet if the software on it is similar to the 505 or did they switch to Win CE? Cos the screen in the promo pic does look very CE like.

Please don't... for a second I was so shocked, my heard stopped.

PsyDocJoanne · 10-02-2008, 07:25 PM

I hope my original post didn't come off as insinuating it wasn't worth the extra $100 to a new buyer. It is. But it's not worth the upgrade for me.

As for the Plastic Logic demo, I think it makes the touchscreen look a little flaky (again, I'm hopeful that Sony has improved upon it, and that maybe what we were seeing was a beta product from Plastic Logic).

But honestly, I don't see the value in adding a touchscreen. Knowing me, my touchscreen would be constantly dirty, full of fingerprints, and well-scratched up in short order. And where's the advantage, really? I mean, is pressing a button really that difficult, and is swiping a finger really that much easier?

Valloric · 10-02-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Any word on the processor/memory specs? Battery life?

I'd like to know this too.

InspectorGadget · 10-02-2008, 07:26 PM

Not sure I like the idea of the touchscreen. I mean it's an obvious evolution, but I'm afraid I'd keep accidentally activating functions while carrying it or brushing it while reading. I often have to grab my backpack and exit a train quickly while holding onto the eBook with fingers on screen and being grateful that the screen isn't touch-sensitive!

PsyDocJoanne · 10-02-2008, 07:27 PM

I was the person who mentioned Plastic Logic...and of course, there's no Plastic Logic technology in the 700 (if only...then I could step on it to my heart's content

). But I would imagine the touchscreen technology is similar. If you watch the demo on You Tube, you'll see that it's functionality looks a little.....well, flaky, I guess.

NatCh · 10-02-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valloric

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Any word on the processor/memory specs? Battery life?

I'd like to know this too.

So would I -- hopefully our pinch-hitting reporter will be able to get more of these details for us, otherwise we'll have to wait 'til they update the product pages over at SonyStyle.

bbusybookworm · 10-02-2008, 07:32 PM

Well, the touch screen does offer one major advantage.

It allows them to add annotation, notes, dictionary, search, etc without having to bolt on a hardware keyboard.

And while I agree that a hardware keyboard is king for longer data entry's, for the purposes of the reader it should be enough.

What I'm curious about is whether it supports handwritten notes or markup? If it does, Irex is going to have a major competitor on its hands. While it may not be as accuret, it may be enough for many peoples needs

NatCh · 10-02-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

What I'm curious about is whether it supports handwritten notes or markup?

'fraid not

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

... there's no true digital ink capability, it's all handled through virtual keyboard/menu interaction.

10-02-2008, 07:21 PM	#31
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,020 Karma: 16050 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Image gallery. __________________ Yet another reverse engineering blog Like to chat? Join #mobileread

10-02-2008, 07:22 PM	#32
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 611 Karma: 2499 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	I'll hold off upgrading, but glad they finally got the light in there. That's what everyone I know seems to complain about. Also, touchscreen doesn't impress me, but I love that they are still thinking about and acting on the future of ebooks. YAY! And I really, really would love the store to be web-based (just like the amazon kindle store) for us mac-heads without windows... __________________ Industrious + Simple Living + Frugal = Rich

10-02-2008, 07:25 PM	#37
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 16,132 Karma: 18503 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	The 505 is also a 6" screen. Whoever came up with 6.5" is clearly incorrect. __________________ Jon If you want to listen to really good music while you surf Mobileread, here.

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10-02-2008, 07:24 PM	#35
InspectorGadget Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 70 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	Did someone say, "Plastic Logic?" My understanding is that their eInk technology is entirely plastic, omitting the thin, fragile glass membranes inside the current Sony screens THAT KEEP !@#$% BREAKING unexpectedly in 10-15 percent of the machines. http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29270 All-plastic technology screens would be a great improvement if my assumptions prove out. Just a guess at this point. - The Inspector

10-02-2008, 07:24 PM	#36
kovidgoyal Creator of calibre, Ph.D. Posts: 8,940 Karma: 37478 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: PRS-500/505/700, K2, BeBook	Any word on the processor/memory specs? Battery life?

10-02-2008, 07:25 PM	#39
PsyDocJoanne Loves her 505 and her Z4! Posts: 157 Karma: 631 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Weston, FL Device: Sony PRS-505	I hope my original post didn't come off as insinuating it wasn't worth the extra $100 to a new buyer. It is. But it's not worth the upgrade for me. As for the Plastic Logic demo, I think it makes the touchscreen look a little flaky (again, I'm hopeful that Sony has improved upon it, and that maybe what we were seeing was a beta product from Plastic Logic). But honestly, I don't see the value in adding a touchscreen. Knowing me, my touchscreen would be constantly dirty, full of fingerprints, and well-scratched up in short order. And where's the advantage, really? I mean, is pressing a button really that difficult, and is swiping a finger really that much easier?

10-02-2008, 07:26 PM	#41
InspectorGadget Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 70 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	Not sure I like the idea of the touchscreen. I mean it's an obvious evolution, but I'm afraid I'd keep accidentally activating functions while carrying it or brushing it while reading. I often have to grab my backpack and exit a train quickly while holding onto the eBook with fingers on screen and being grateful that the screen isn't touch-sensitive!

10-02-2008, 07:27 PM	#42
PsyDocJoanne Loves her 505 and her Z4! Posts: 157 Karma: 631 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Weston, FL Device: Sony PRS-505	I was the person who mentioned Plastic Logic...and of course, there's no Plastic Logic technology in the 700 (if only...then I could step on it to my heart's content ). But I would imagine the touchscreen technology is similar. If you watch the demo on You Tube, you'll see that it's functionality looks a little.....well, flaky, I guess.

10-02-2008, 07:32 PM	#44
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 943 Karma: 2554 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Notts, UK Device: PSR500,Gen3,N800, iPhone3G & Pocket Pro	Well, the touch screen does offer one major advantage. It allows them to add annotation, notes, dictionary, search, etc without having to bolt on a hardware keyboard. And while I agree that a hardware keyboard is king for longer data entry's, for the purposes of the reader it should be enough. What I'm curious about is whether it supports handwritten notes or markup? If it does, Irex is going to have a major competitor on its hands. While it may not be as accuret, it may be enough for many peoples needs