[ewiplayer]

Hi folks,

I've been running around the forums and the web looking into EBook readers for the last few weeks. I've wanted one for years but the "critical mass" hadn't been reached yet (IMHO) until recently.

I read technical books... programming, architecture, design, etc... The PRS 700 looks like the one to get because I want to make notes, and I desperately need to search and bookmark. The price point, while a little steep, just marginally manages to meet my bank-for-the-buck meter so I'm seriously considering it. Since I've never had a reader before I have some questions that I need some experts to weigh in on, if you don't mind...

1) I don't use Windows, but use OS X. I can run Windows in a virtual machine if I must but would prefer not to. Can I use the PRS 700 (I'll take experiences on the 505, obviously considering the limited experience with the 700) as a mounted disk for easy file copying?

2) How have people found the non-replaceable battery issue with their 505s? I love the idea of being able to toss out defective/dead batteries myself and replace them with a Nokia battery or whatever... Has anyone had to replace the battery?

3) All of the readers seem to be geared towards fiction books - simple formats, no diagrams or sections of source code (i.e. courier font formatted sections), etc... I've read that PDF formatting isn't great... has anyone read these kinds of books on a 505? What's it like?

4) File formats... I have a lot of PDF and CHM books. How easily do you think I am going to be able to get these on the 700 and how well do you think they will translate to the device? Will the experience be lousy? Do you think it would be possible to do any file conversion without Windows?

I tried a 505 but the responsiveness was just brutal. The page flips were too slow and the numeric entry was brutal (i.e. hit 45, wait 5 seconds and then it would go to page 45). The 700 seems better in this area and has the features I need. I haven't tried one though because the Sony Store doesn't have one where I live in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. But they'll have one soon, I hope.

Anyways... thanks in advance. The posts in the forums are always enthusiastic and informative, so I'm looking forward to reading what people have to say.

Cheers,
EWIPlayer