[markrich]

I've been on the fence for a while with the readers. I would like one, but have been trying to jusify one to myself. With my iPod I carry all my music around because I listen to all my music. With my library I carry a book and replace with another when read. I don't add a second and third to my bag in case I want to read the first one again. However something about the reader keeps drawing me back. Perhaps it's the surpressed gadget freak? Perhaps it's the need for a new toy? Perhaps, like my iPod its the desire to buy more and more of the things I want digitally because I am running out of physical space at home? :-)

I played with the 550 at the Waterstones in Bristol, UK and liked it, save the screen refresh part. I know it's not slow but it isn't fast either and seemed distracting. From other sites I understand Sony has worked on this for this new reader with some electronic wizardry and the screen refreshes much faster and nicer. However the touch screen part seems to be the most exiting part of the new model. I did feel with the 550 that this was it's primary weakness. In a landscape now accepting touchscreen as the way forward, buttons seem well....so twentieth century. :-)

I wish Sony would sort themselves out on release dates and do things globally rather than concentraing on one market and moving on. They are a big company and can do it if they wish. I am disappointed that the new machine wasn't announced for the EU market at the same time and if I do get one I may have to order from America online. Oh well, I guess someone has to prop up the American economy somehow ;-)

Overall, it has its weaknesses I admit. What new toy doesn't. However for me I think I may yet dabble. I have been disappointed by the abilities of fbreader on my Nokia N810 and it would be good to carry with me in my bag when I travel around Europe and not take up too much space. Plug in the iPod, fire up the reader and a 3 hour flight should disappear. May even distract me from the arse in the next seat shouting into her mobile phone when the airlines enable that function.

My reading habits are varied. I do like the classics so I guess I am well catered for.

However perhaps can anyone answer this little question for me re the 550 and 700? Can the readers display Cyrilic as well as Latin alphabets? I like to read Russian literature in the original where I can.