MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Over-Obsessing Over E-Reader Decision

Arts · 05-21-2010, 12:46 AM

Sony 600,

It's my first and only reader, so I can only tell you about my experience with it. After much research I went with the 600 because I wanted the touch screen but...

Firs thing I did, was figure out my needs. In my case I am a programmer and I read a lot of technical books. The way I study is that I read a book, take notes and save them to Google Docs so I can refer back to it whenever I need to. So for me the most important thing for me was the note taking, and that's why I chose a touch screen.

Pros (Needs):
- Touch screen, and "fast" note taking (thanks to pen).
- MP3 Player (I thought it was a need... read conclusion)
- External memory (I thought it was a need... read conclusion)

Cons:
- Text isn't sharp, probably the worst I've seen.
- Screen is very reflective, like others have said is bearable.
- Note taking takes some time when the ebook is in an external memory, (4-5s) and around (2-3s) on internal memory.
- When I resize the font, I lose indentation of the code segments (programming books). So I need to read the books in small font, thank god I don't need any glasses.
- Reader software, although it looks cool at the beginning, you don't have zoom capabilities in the reader in the computer. So if I want to read from my computer and take notes, so I can sync them with the reader, you'll have a hard time reading in the computer, because the resize works the same way as the reader (by font) not by zoom.

Conclusion

So I chose the 600, because I thought "cool, external memory", "cool, mp3 player". Now that I realize it, I still prefer to use my iPod for mp3's and I don't carry more than 600 MB in books or notes. I would have save a couple bucks and choose a reader with less reflection and more sharpness, even though note taking might take me a little longer.

My advise to you is figure out your needs and how you are going to use it, be as realistic as possible. Honestly, I don't think the reader will replace you favorite MP3 player, and do you really need that much storage, do you always have to carry around 30 or more books?

05-21-2010, 12:46 AM	#22
Arts Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PRS-600	Sony 600, It's my first and only reader, so I can only tell you about my experience with it. After much research I went with the 600 because I wanted the touch screen but... Firs thing I did, was figure out my needs. In my case I am a programmer and I read a lot of technical books. The way I study is that I read a book, take notes and save them to Google Docs so I can refer back to it whenever I need to. So for me the most important thing for me was the note taking, and that's why I chose a touch screen. Pros (Needs): - Touch screen, and "fast" note taking (thanks to pen). - MP3 Player (I thought it was a need... read conclusion) - External memory (I thought it was a need... read conclusion) Cons: - Text isn't sharp, probably the worst I've seen. - Screen is very reflective, like others have said is bearable. - Note taking takes some time when the ebook is in an external memory, (4-5s) and around (2-3s) on internal memory. - When I resize the font, I lose indentation of the code segments (programming books). So I need to read the books in small font, thank god I don't need any glasses. - Reader software, although it looks cool at the beginning, you don't have zoom capabilities in the reader in the computer. So if I want to read from my computer and take notes, so I can sync them with the reader, you'll have a hard time reading in the computer, because the resize works the same way as the reader (by font) not by zoom. Conclusion So I chose the 600, because I thought "cool, external memory", "cool, mp3 player". Now that I realize it, I still prefer to use my iPod for mp3's and I don't carry more than 600 MB in books or notes. I would have save a couple bucks and choose a reader with less reflection and more sharpness, even though note taking might take me a little longer. My advise to you is figure out your needs and how you are going to use it, be as realistic as possible. Honestly, I don't think the reader will replace you favorite MP3 player, and do you really need that much storage, do you always have to carry around 30 or more books?