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jsuplido · 11-08-2006, 03:01 AM

Background: This was actually a reply to a negative comment about the Sony Reader which was posted at 1src.com. Btw, I got mine from tekchic (you rock!)

I just got my Sony Reader and thought I'd offer another point-of-view.

1. It felt slow but only because I was coming from a PDA-point-of-view. However, after about an hour's worth of reading, the "slowness" seemed to have faded away. I guess I just got more relaxed...

2. It's a "digital screen" but I prefer reading from it now. My other favorite used to be the Nokia 770's screen but backlights (and other similar screens) cause eyestrain for me. So reading in a lighted room is a great combination. Besides, it's how a (real) book is meant to be read -- in a well-lit place.

I admit I was surprised with the flashing screen but like what I said above, once I got to my regular reading speed, I didn't mind the flashing screen anymore. It was actually quite refreshing.

3. I love the size. It's comfortable to hold and it's like I'm carrying a small book or Moleskine notebook. I peeled off the cover and tried holding the Reader... it was so thin that it was uncomfortable to hold after a while! I have two favorite ways of holding the Reader: with the cover open, and with the cover folded back.

4. This is a $400 device (no way is this a $99 device!). I like the quality... no scratches, no dead pixels, no creaks. This is a solid machine and at one point, I couldn't help but feel I was unpacking a CLIE! I'd rather buy the Reader than the iLiad or any "large screen" ebook reader. Again, I like the backlight-less screen... it's more comfortable to the eyes. Oh, the Reader comes fully charged out of the box.

The Reader comes with a $50 voucher which I have used to buy the Foundation series, a Stephen King bundle, Neuromancer, and Eragon. I still have about $2 to spare. The main problem? I can't buy more because Guam is not among the list of US states. However, a simple workaround is to pay someone to "gift" me a giftcard.

I use OS X. I've since converted my other non-DRM'd ebooks from .pdb to .txt. I then convert these to .rtf. It's also quite easy to save anything in PDF format in OS X but I'd rather use .rtf. (If I want, I can also save an iCal month in PDF and view it in the Reader.)

I have other DRM'd ebooks I got from eReader and Fictionwise. I'm not throwing them away because I'd like to read them someday.

5. I predict a bright future for the Sony Reader. Mobileread is generating a lot of interest in the Reader that the discussions remind me of what the CLIE did to Cliesource.com.

There are counter opinions regarding the Reader. Like what I'm writing, these are opinions and in the end, it's the owner that decides which is good or bad.

All in all, it's pretty obvious that I simply adore the Sony Reader. The PRS-500 is perfect for me as it is. If it gets any "better" then it's probably best to compare it to an oversized PDA or even a small laptop... which the Reader wasn't ever designed to be.

11-08-2006, 03:01 AM	#1
jsuplido @jsuplido Posts: 58 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Guam Device: iPhone, PRS-300	Amazing device! Background: This was actually a reply to a negative comment about the Sony Reader which was posted at 1src.com. Btw, I got mine from tekchic (you rock!) I just got my Sony Reader and thought I'd offer another point-of-view. 1. It felt slow but only because I was coming from a PDA-point-of-view. However, after about an hour's worth of reading, the "slowness" seemed to have faded away. I guess I just got more relaxed... 2. It's a "digital screen" but I prefer reading from it now. My other favorite used to be the Nokia 770's screen but backlights (and other similar screens) cause eyestrain for me. So reading in a lighted room is a great combination. Besides, it's how a (real) book is meant to be read -- in a well-lit place. I admit I was surprised with the flashing screen but like what I said above, once I got to my regular reading speed, I didn't mind the flashing screen anymore. It was actually quite refreshing. 3. I love the size. It's comfortable to hold and it's like I'm carrying a small book or Moleskine notebook. I peeled off the cover and tried holding the Reader... it was so thin that it was uncomfortable to hold after a while! I have two favorite ways of holding the Reader: with the cover open, and with the cover folded back. 4. This is a $400 device (no way is this a $99 device!). I like the quality... no scratches, no dead pixels, no creaks. This is a solid machine and at one point, I couldn't help but feel I was unpacking a CLIE! I'd rather buy the Reader than the iLiad or any "large screen" ebook reader. Again, I like the backlight-less screen... it's more comfortable to the eyes. Oh, the Reader comes fully charged out of the box. The Reader comes with a $50 voucher which I have used to buy the Foundation series, a Stephen King bundle, Neuromancer, and Eragon. I still have about $2 to spare. The main problem? I can't buy more because Guam is not among the list of US states. However, a simple workaround is to pay someone to "gift" me a giftcard. I use OS X. I've since converted my other non-DRM'd ebooks from .pdb to .txt. I then convert these to .rtf. It's also quite easy to save anything in PDF format in OS X but I'd rather use .rtf. (If I want, I can also save an iCal month in PDF and view it in the Reader.) I have other DRM'd ebooks I got from eReader and Fictionwise. I'm not throwing them away because I'd like to read them someday. 5. I predict a bright future for the Sony Reader. Mobileread is generating a lot of interest in the Reader that the discussions remind me of what the CLIE did to Cliesource.com. There are counter opinions regarding the Reader. Like what I'm writing, these are opinions and in the end, it's the owner that decides which is good or bad. All in all, it's pretty obvious that I simply adore the Sony Reader. The PRS-500 is perfect for me as it is. If it gets any "better" then it's probably best to compare it to an oversized PDA or even a small laptop... which the Reader wasn't ever designed to be.