Quote:
Originally Posted by globalite
From looking around online, I like the look of the Sony readers. Obviously I'd like to handle one before buying, though. I'm also checking ebay and craigslist. I'm seeing a PRS-600 for $100. How does the PRS-600 compare to the PRS-650 and also to the PRS-350? The 650 looks like it's significantly more expensive than the 350. What are the features that account for the higher price?
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Sorry, a PRS-600 for $100 dollars is NOT a good deal in todays market.
The older Sony touch models like the 600 used an older eInk technology and older touch screen technology.
The older eInk had LESS CONTRAST, and the older touch screens required more pressure, and were shiny creating HUGE problems with glare and fingerprints.
I am not surprised that folks would want to dump their used 600's on ebay for $100 dollars, since they can get a like-new refurbished PRS-350 from Sony for $99 dollars that is much better.
Effectively they are offering to swap you an older technology reader with serious issues, so they can go out and get a new PRS-350, Nook STR, or Kobo Touch.
To answer your question about the differences between the Sony 350 and 650 readers . . .
Compared PRS-350, the Sony PRS-650 has -
- 1 inch larger screen (measured diagonally - only a fraction of an inch vertically and horizontally)
- A built in MP3 player that can be used to play audio books or background music while you read.
- SD and 'Memory Stick' expansion memory slots.
I have a PRS-650, but find that I don't use the MP3 player much, even though it works quite nicely.
The reason is quite simple, using the MP3 playback runs the battery down in a day, instead of a week or more, eliminating one of the main advantages of an eInk reader - and I don't like putting all those extra cycles on my readers battery, when I can just as easily use my tiny external MP3 player.
The expansion memory slots are nice, but were mainly of value for audio books, which run hundreds of megabytes each (but as I said above, I typically don't play music or audio books on my 650).
For standard EPUB book titles, which average about a thousand times smaller than audio books, the internal memory of the 350 is more than adequate.
The screen difference is also not a big a deal, because the PRS-350 screen is still 800x600 resolution just like the PRS-650, the pixels are just more tightly packed, giving the 350 a higher 'DPI' (which actually gives the PRS-350 slightly sharper text when viewed from the same distance).
The reason for the huge price difference is that right now the PRS-650 is in fairly short supply, and as a result is selling pretty close to it's not-very-competitive 229 dollar list price here in the U.S.
I say that this price is 'not-very-competive' because it is almost a hundred dollars more than the similar Nook STR, and even worse compared to the Kobo Touch that sells for just $119. Of course the Kobo and Nook don't have MP3 playback, but they DO HAVE WiFi, which most would consider an equivalent (or perhaps even more useful) addition on a day to day basis.
The PRS-350 is in much better supply, and is a much better deal; no doubt in part because the introduction of the Nook STR and Kobo Touch readers has forced retailers to continue to heavily discount it from Sony's ridiculous list price of 180 dollars.
I own the PRS-650 and am pretty happy with it, but if I were doing it again, I would probably go with the PRS-350.
Sure, it doesn't have MP3, it doesn't have WiFi - It also wont make phone calls like a smart phone, can't play any games out of the box, doesn't make pasta, and makes a pretty lousy bottle opener . . .
- But it IS one hell of a nice little eBook reader that offers something that it's larger cousin the 650 does not; SOMETHING THAT NONE OF THE LARGER 6 INCH READERS HAVE; and that is an exceptional blend of sharp clear readability, and slip it in your pocket and read anywhere on the go portability.