MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Change my mind from Sony PRS-700

sonicbuddha · 07-03-2009, 09:18 PM

I've been seriously considering a ebook reader for my technical books for a long time. I'm a frequent visitor of this site to search for options and look for new technologies. I was seduced by the first blush of the PRS-700, its touch screen, ability to highlight and take notes, support many of the formats that I need supported. I listened to the criticism of the foggy screen and, as a good consumer should, I looked for myself. It was true. And so I've waited, watched new potential ereaders pop up- but not yet materialize. Over months, my patience has worn thinner than rice paper and so, here I am.

I'm asking- convince me of another option or that something new is really just barely around the corner. My priorities (and non-priorities):

Important:
Ability to display PDFs.
Ability to highlight same.
Ability to search both books and, hopefully, highlighted texts.
Ability to load and manage my own, non-DRM'd books.
A price that is reasonable (ie does not compare to purchasing a netbook or tablet laptop, which I already have)
Ease of use (which means simply that I can open and read, close and suspend, reopen and read again)
Reasonable battery life as would be expected from a ereader device.
Local support, from the vendor, the company, and from the community (I am in California)

Not so important (but nice):
Wifi
Note taking
Mac support
Touch screen

Ruled out (because of the above):
Kindle: (due to limitations on my own library)
Iliad: (price, overseas vendor thus difficult return and support, end of life firmware, lack of suspend, lack of PDF highlighting)

Shortcomings of PRS-700:
Lack of Mac support
Foggy screen
Buggy firmware support for highlighting and notes

Please, show me alternatives, correct me where I am wrong, tell me of something worth waiting for.

Many thanks.

07-03-2009, 09:18 PM	#1
sonicbuddha Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: none	Change my mind from Sony PRS-700 I've been seriously considering a ebook reader for my technical books for a long time. I'm a frequent visitor of this site to search for options and look for new technologies. I was seduced by the first blush of the PRS-700, its touch screen, ability to highlight and take notes, support many of the formats that I need supported. I listened to the criticism of the foggy screen and, as a good consumer should, I looked for myself. It was true. And so I've waited, watched new potential ereaders pop up- but not yet materialize. Over months, my patience has worn thinner than rice paper and so, here I am. I'm asking- convince me of another option or that something new is really just barely around the corner. My priorities (and non-priorities): Important: Ability to display PDFs. Ability to highlight same. Ability to search both books and, hopefully, highlighted texts. Ability to load and manage my own, non-DRM'd books. A price that is reasonable (ie does not compare to purchasing a netbook or tablet laptop, which I already have) Ease of use (which means simply that I can open and read, close and suspend, reopen and read again) Reasonable battery life as would be expected from a ereader device. Local support, from the vendor, the company, and from the community (I am in California) Not so important (but nice): Wifi Note taking Mac support Touch screen Ruled out (because of the above): Kindle: (due to limitations on my own library) Iliad: (price, overseas vendor thus difficult return and support, end of life firmware, lack of suspend, lack of PDF highlighting) Shortcomings of PRS-700: Lack of Mac support Foggy screen Buggy firmware support for highlighting and notes Please, show me alternatives, correct me where I am wrong, tell me of something worth waiting for. Many thanks.