[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

I thought this was a forum where people can have an open discussion. Perhaps I was wrong and should have read the etiquette rules for posting. I also own the PRS-350 so I'm speaking to my experience with the device.

Yes, of course the forum is open. However, I made two points -- one about civility and one about the appropriateness of a forum for information about a given product.

1. My point about civility, in retrospect, seems unfair: my understanding of what you were saying was conditioned by my seeing it through an elusive slit of a text field on a Samsung Epic amid numerous force quits and imminent train and subway stops -- all after having worked for twenty hours straight. I've apologized for that already, which should at least reassure you that I'm more interested in being fair than being right.

2. My point about the appropriate thread still stands in the sense you were giving extensive product information on a Nook in a forum about the PRS. Even in my most abrasive moment, I thanked you for that information. But I also suggested your research would be more helpfully placed in the which-should-I-buy forum, and that lists of features would be less likely to devolve into a mine-is-better tough-off.

So I don't know what's so uncivil about that. But at least my postings were done in a non-condescending way. Sadly, I can't say the same with regards to your last posting.

And there the civility ends. Either you refrain from calling people condescending or you don't. (I do, however, appreciate your level tone.)

The majority of keyboards are made of plastic, even on laptops. The point I'm making is that for things that we hold/touch companies use materials that are comfortable. That's why some premium keyboards and mouses include the use of rubber to make the devices more comfortable to use. The problem with eReaders is they're a standalone solution where the device and interface/screen are integrated. And unlike a laptop people hold the devices for hours.

Good and thoughtful argument in favor of rubber vs. metal. However, I'm not sure it applies to ULs like the Samsung Series 9 and the MacBook Air. And carefully placed rubber on strategic surfaces is not the same as rubber all around.

It's important to note that not all Sony PRS devices are made the same. Only the front bezel which also covers the left side is aluminum on the PRS-350, the rest of the device is plastic. That doesn't add much in quality of construction or durability.

I'm surprised you're making that argument, since your previous one about the strategic placement of rubber seems to refute it. I can't speak to the Touch, but previous versions of the Nook have felt decidedly less durable than their Sony counterparts, including the 350.

But with regards to audio support on an eReader, it doesn't add any value to the reading experience.

Tell that to a person who's experiencing eye fatigue, hates text-to-speech and needs to switch to audiobooks.

That's why I consider it subjective. Features that enhance the reading experience are less subjective (font selection, display adjustment, formatting control, etc.) and could be a deal breaker.

With sincere respect, I must point out you're using the word subjective incorrectly. Unnecessary, of lesser value, less relevant to the purpose of the device -- all of these words and phrases might better serve your meaning. I don't mean to be "pedantic" in saying this, as ardeegee presumed. I mean only to give exact words and other people the importance both deserve. Better to take the trouble of finding another word than risk the appearance of devaluing other posters or advancing preference as fact.

Last I checked Sony doesn't yet have a replacement for the PRS series. Nor do we know when the replacement models will be available. It could be 5-6 months before we see a new Sony eReader model which would put the current PRS series about midway through it's life cycle.

I meant to say the same thing, actually, which is why I mentioned the cycle in the first place. If we were certain Sony were coming out with a new reader in the next few months, let alone, at all, I doubt we'd be buying up 350s and 950s. However, I don't really see the PRS series as "midway though its life cycle" -- particularly since Sony has occasionally listed the 950 as discontinued, and stores are clearly liquidating their PRS stock.

I also don't consider the Nook Touch a "budget" eReader.

Yes, that was an unfortunate choice of words on my part. I meant latest-feature-inclusive and relatively inexpensive. It's the kind of product you see after an idea has been out for awhile and can prove to be the best of the lot in that sense.