Mobile Tech Reviews the PRS 700

reggaejames · 11-12-2008, 10:32 AM

Here is the first official review I could find of Sony's new reader.
See link
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/gadg...er-PRS-700.htm
Still undecided whether to buy it or not...

zelda_pinwheel · 11-12-2008, 10:47 AM

thanks for the link ! very interesting article. i noticed both feedbooks and calibre got a mention

; mobileread didn't but i have to wonder whether the author might be a member here...

lots of good info there in any case and it seems like a fairly objective review.

guguy · 11-12-2008, 10:56 AM

Argh... I didn't know the contrast was that bad... And i've been waiting for
months, wishing sony would launch the ultimate reader (sigh)...

johnnyr · 11-12-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guguy

Argh... I didn't know the contrast was that bad... And i've been waiting for
months, wishing sony would launch the ultimate reader (sigh)...

This is a pretty good picture, and accurately represents what the 700 looks like.

Liviu_5 · 11-12-2008, 11:17 AM

For a change an informative and accurate review.

reggaejames · 11-12-2008, 11:30 AM

Hi, everyone. I have enjoyed reading your comments on Sony's new reader.
I was planning on making the 700 my first purchase. But after seeing the pics I am not so sure anymore.
I live in Thailand and have only seen e-readers online. Will not being able to compare it to anything make me satisfied with the 700's screen?
I mean it can't be that bad right? I am torn between form over function.

Katelyn · 11-12-2008, 02:48 PM

I've read over and over about the less than perfect contrast offered on the 700.

I've been using my 505 for months with the wedge light cover. I like to fold the cover back when I read so I always read through the wedge light, day or night. Is the lack of contrast comparable? I would suspect those of us who read through the plastic of the wedge light already know what to expect from the 700. Am I right?

Katelyn

Donnageddon · 11-12-2008, 03:10 PM

Good review. Thanks reggaejames!

rebarnmom · 11-12-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katelyn

I've read over and over about the less than perfect contrast offered on the 700.

I've been using my 505 for months with the wedge light cover. I like to fold the cover back when I read so I always read through the wedge light, day or night. Is the lack of contrast comparable? I would suspect those of us who read through the plastic of the wedge light already know what to expect from the 700. Am I right?

Katelyn

Although I don't have that experience, I think that is a good point. I got to compare the PRS-700 side by side with the PRS-505 with the light wedge illuminated, but I didn't try comparing the text of the PRS-505 through the light wedge, without it turned on.

As I don't own either yet, I think that I can say fairly confidently that the PRS-700 still has more features and potential, despite the disappointment in the screen contrast, to push me more in that direction. Thanks for that observation. A comparison pic of that would be interesting to see as well!

rebarnmom · 11-12-2008, 03:17 PM

I forgot to include my thanks for that review reggaejames!

johnnyr · 11-12-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebarnmom

Although I don't have that experience, I think that is a good point. I got to compare the PRS-700 side by side with the PRS-505 with the light wedge illuminated, but I didn't try comparing the text of the PRS-505 through the light wedge, without it turned on.

As I don't own either yet, I think that I can say fairly confidently that the PRS-700 still has more features and potential, despite the disappointment in the screen contrast, to push me more in that direction. Thanks for that observation. A comparison pic of that would be interesting to see as well!

The lightwedge is still much better then the 700. When I was at the Sony store, I asked the sales guy to show me the lightwedge. He took it out of the package, and hooked up the 505 to it. It still looked crystal clear, compared to the 700.

wallcraft · 11-12-2008, 04:03 PM

I seems likely that the PRS-700 has a resistive touch screen, which typically blocks about 25% of the light (best case about 15% of the light). See How do touch-screen monitors know where you're touching?.

mobelby · 11-12-2008, 09:48 PM

I think I'm in the same boat as several other participants on the 700 threads who are not based in the US or Canada.

I've been waiting patiently for the 700 with all it's new features but horrified that the screen doesn't even match up to the 505. What's worse is that since we're not in North America we can't see it for ourselves in person, which has been the wisest advice on the forums. I've seen a 505 in London and I've seen the screens of the Iliad and Cybook in person in Australia. If the 700 matched up to those screens I would have purchased it even with the price differential.

However, that's not the case. Further the Australian import price (based on today's exchange rate and including shipping) is AUD724, which is 45% more expensive than the 505 (also imported) or the Bebook/Hanlin bought locally.

In these economically challenging times you have to focus on the core value over the bells and whisltes. The core value of any ereader is the ability to read your book collection (in my case a wide collection of .LIT and .TXT novels and newsfeeds) as if it was a real, old world book. On this test alone it's nigh on impossible to take a punt on the 700 based on the first hand feedback of others

nathany · 11-12-2008, 10:23 PM

Thanks for the review. Is the screen truly as poor as a matte lcd though? Maybe that's just in terms of glare. It isn't shooting light at your eyes, so it should still be easier on the eyes than a laptop, no?

The iRex uses a Wacom sensor which is under the screen, alleviating this problem, but also costing more in battery life. Either way a tradeoff. Plus there is the matters of form factor, software, and price.

starrigger · 11-13-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyr

The lightwedge is still much better then the 700. When I was at the Sony store, I asked the sales guy to show me the lightwedge. He took it out of the package, and hooked up the 505 to it. It still looked crystal clear, compared to the 700.

I wonder if anyone has compared the 700 to a Kindle with a lightwedge.

11-12-2008, 10:32 AM	#1
reggaejames Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Thailand Device: Sony 700	Mobile Tech Reviews the PRS 700 Here is the first official review I could find of Sony's new reader. See link http://www.mobiletechreview.com/gadg...er-PRS-700.htm Still undecided whether to buy it or not...

11-12-2008, 11:30 AM	#6
reggaejames Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Thailand Device: Sony 700	It is a lot worse... Hi, everyone. I have enjoyed reading your comments on Sony's new reader. I was planning on making the 700 my first purchase. But after seeing the pics I am not so sure anymore. I live in Thailand and have only seen e-readers online. Will not being able to compare it to anything make me satisfied with the 700's screen? I mean it can't be that bad right? I am torn between form over function.

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11-12-2008, 10:47 AM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	thanks for the link ! very interesting article. i noticed both feedbooks and calibre got a mention ; mobileread didn't but i have to wonder whether the author might be a member here... lots of good info there in any case and it seems like a fairly objective review.

11-12-2008, 10:56 AM	#3
guguy Groupie Posts: 191 Karma: 15 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clermont-Ferrand/Paris, France Device: PRS-505	Argh... I didn't know the contrast was that bad... And i've been waiting for months, wishing sony would launch the ultimate reader (sigh)...

11-12-2008, 11:17 AM	#5
Liviu_5 Books and more books Posts: 917 Karma: 69499 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: White Plains, NY, USA Device: Nook Color, Itouch, Nokia770, Sony 650, Sony 700(dead), Ebk(given)	For a change an informative and accurate review.

11-12-2008, 02:48 PM	#7
Katelyn Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 342 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Device: Pocketbook 360, Iphone 3g, Sony 505, REB1200, GEB1150	I've read over and over about the less than perfect contrast offered on the 700. I've been using my 505 for months with the wedge light cover. I like to fold the cover back when I read so I always read through the wedge light, day or night. Is the lack of contrast comparable? I would suspect those of us who read through the plastic of the wedge light already know what to expect from the 700. Am I right? Katelyn

11-12-2008, 03:10 PM	#8
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	Good review. Thanks reggaejames!

11-12-2008, 03:17 PM	#10
rebarnmom Wizard Posts: 1,289 Karma: 4525055 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Sony PRS-700 (traded in), Sony PRS-650	I forgot to include my thanks for that review reggaejames!

11-12-2008, 04:03 PM	#12
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	I seems likely that the PRS-700 has a resistive touch screen, which typically blocks about 25% of the light (best case about 15% of the light). See How do touch-screen monitors know where you're touching?.

11-12-2008, 09:48 PM	#13
mobelby Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 224 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: eeepc 901	I think I'm in the same boat as several other participants on the 700 threads who are not based in the US or Canada. I've been waiting patiently for the 700 with all it's new features but horrified that the screen doesn't even match up to the 505. What's worse is that since we're not in North America we can't see it for ourselves in person, which has been the wisest advice on the forums. I've seen a 505 in London and I've seen the screens of the Iliad and Cybook in person in Australia. If the 700 matched up to those screens I would have purchased it even with the price differential. However, that's not the case. Further the Australian import price (based on today's exchange rate and including shipping) is AUD724, which is 45% more expensive than the 505 (also imported) or the Bebook/Hanlin bought locally. In these economically challenging times you have to focus on the core value over the bells and whisltes. The core value of any ereader is the ability to read your book collection (in my case a wide collection of .LIT and .TXT novels and newsfeeds) as if it was a real, old world book. On this test alone it's nigh on impossible to take a punt on the 700 based on the first hand feedback of others

11-12-2008, 10:23 PM	#14
nathany Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 108 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo h2o	Thanks for the review. Is the screen truly as poor as a matte lcd though? Maybe that's just in terms of glare. It isn't shooting light at your eyes, so it should still be easier on the eyes than a laptop, no? The iRex uses a Wacom sensor which is under the screen, alleviating this problem, but also costing more in battery life. Either way a tradeoff. Plus there is the matters of form factor, software, and price.

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