Quote:
Originally Posted by wallcraft
In the US, your only real choice for 5" EInk screens is between the Sony PRS-300 and the EZ Reader Pocket Pro. Both will be available late August, and both appear to be very good options. The Sony will probably be a bit slower turning pages and has fewer features, but the hardware and software are of high quality with good styling. The Pocket Pro will be a bit faster with more features (SDHC card, text to speech, folders) and also has high quality hardware and software, with perhaps not quite as good styling (but more colours too choose from). I think the Pocket Pro is better value for money, and the more capable device, but the PRS-300 is a good option too.
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I feel that Sony's option to unload every non-essential embellishment from a reader, and have a solid CORE product is a good thing. Sony has had years of experience with their PRS line, and the units seems quite solid in both hardware and software. So I would have no qualms against purchasing a Sony Reader product.
The PRS-300 has no SD card (lower cost), unimpressive controller (lower cost), simple sleeve (much lower cost), no TTS, no folder support, no user-changeable battery. Just a product that does one thing, and one thing only, read a few book formats, and an ability to store a few hundred on an internal flash memory.
However, where I see absolutely nothing at all wrong with their decision to take this route, I heartily am appalled at the price they give this gimped unit.
It's only 20 bucks cheaper than Astak's unit, which, when compared, is a 20 bucks anyone would gladly spend for the multitude of improvements.
The PRS-300, in my humble opinion, should be introduced at $129.00, if not $99. The unit, in it's gimped state, is not worth the high price that they are suggesting.
I would not pay more than 129.00 for such a device. The device itself, taken for it's own merits, might be a 200 dollar device. But you have to take into consideration the competition, and price accordingly.
With a price point of 199, you have to wonder how much of that is going to be pure profit, taking into account how much stuff is missing.