Time to upgrade? Sony PRS950 to...???

[Brian M]

Short version:

I have owned/used the same Sony PRS950 for 11 years, it's starting to physically fail (fall apart) so I'm looking into options. I don't have any other reason for replacement.

I'm a book-only reader (no magazines, cartoons, or PDFs)

Suggestions must offer page buttons
I'd like to stay in the 7~8" size range
I'd prefer longer battery life to "features" (android, bluetooth, wifi, etc..)
no "store" necessary (I sideload everything with calibre)



And now the wordy version:

So, I've had my PRS950 for over a decade and it looks it. Still functions fine, but the slider switch for the power is getting harder and harder to use (used to have plastic nubs on top, they're gone). I can almost certainly "fix" that issue myself, and may, unless there's a good reason and option to upgrade.

Hard for me to part with money as I have very little, but I know that some things are worth the cost. I don't keep on top of the e-reader developments so I'm not sure if there's anything game changing that I should consider. Hoping that those of you reading might know the differences and be able to tell me about them. About the only "might be nice" I've noticed are the lit screens... but after 11 years without, I'm clearly fine without.

I only read books, so no format issues with magazines, cartoons/comics or PDF files... though I have read a book or two in pdf on the Sony.

So, *must haves* ~
buttons
at least a 7" screen (probably keep it smaller than 10")
outstanding standby/reading time.

*Nice to have*
disable touchscreen or with stylus only, maybe an ability to Drastically turn down sensitivity... I find that when camping, any little piece of trash or bug that happens to land on my Sony screen will make it go nuts. Happens if a hair falls on the screen too... just too sensitive.

I sideload everything with Calibre, so no need (or want) for wifi, bluetooth, cellular. I can turn those off with the Sony, so no power draw. I also source my own books, so no need for a store of any sort.

*ABSOLUTELY NO AMAZON PRODUCTS*
Seriously, my wife had the K3 (keyboard version) which functioned fine but was too small for me. She has a newer version of some kind or another and it freezes, or reboots, with too much frequency (more in a month than mine has in its life with me). She hates that she traded away the better product and I simply don't like Amazon as a company. To put a finer point to this, I have the same dislike of McDonalds and haven't given them 1 cent since about 1988, and Levi Strauss/Dockers has been sharing their company since about 1994...


I'm a very frugal person, have zero issues buying used and like I said above, I'm currently looking to buy a less used PRS950 if I can get it at the right price. Might try and see about "fixing" my power button (needs some texture, perhaps superglue and a little sand ). After replacing the battery, taking the power switch/slider out to try and fix will be a non-issue...

The 2 companies I know make a product that might match are PocketBook and Kobo. Do they really offer anything that's a HUGE change over my PRS950 beyond the light? Or is it just minor changes.. 15:1 contrast instead of 10:1, 200 grams instead of 240 grams? Since I use Calibre/USB for all book loading, any differences there are unimportant (loading over wifi, if it has wifi I *must* be able to turn it off for power savings).

I'm in a situation where I have an old reliable, something I like, fits my needs and is just a little worn. Trying to decide if spending money on something new is worth it for me.... mostly leaning towards no, but want to get some impressions on what's changes and is out there now.

Thanks. Especially for reading (sorry if it's rambling, snow in GA today and I opted for hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps as a treat... might be impacting me a touch as I don't normally imbibe). But thanks for any insight you might be willing to offer too.

[LDB]

Sounds like it's either Libra 2 or Forma. Good luck with your decision.

[rcentros]

I think the closest you're going to come to the Sony PRS-950 is the PocketBook InkPad 3. It has buttons arranged along the bottom of the device, weighs 210 grams, has a touch screen that can be turned off and its screen is 7.8". When you buy it you register with one of the German book sellers, but that's about all the communications you have to have with a store. It works with Overdrive (via its Send-to-PocketBook, feature or by using its browser). You can also directly connect to your computer. ADE is built-in, so you just copy the .ascm file to it and it does the rest. You can also use the PocketBook Cloud or DropBox. But if you're only going to sideload, WiFi turned (as can the front light).

Although the PocketBook InkPad 3's screen is 7.8" -- that's a diagonal measurement. The screen will be significantly wider than your PRS-950. Amazon has these on their site should you want to go that direction. (So you wouldn't have to buy one overseas.)

https://www.amazon.com/Pocketbook-PB...s%2C537&sr=8-2

[JSWolf]

I went from Sony to Kobo and I think that was a good choice. Given that the OP has a 950, I suggest going with the Libra 2. It's going to be an excellent upgrade. The problem with Pocketbook is that it doesn't work as well with Calibre as the 950 did and the Libra 2 does. the Libra 2 works much better with Calibre then the 950.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Brian M

*Nice to have*
disable touchscreen or with stylus only, maybe an ability to Drastically turn down sensitivity... I find that when camping, any little piece of trash or bug that happens to land on my Sony screen will make it go nuts. Happens if a hair falls on the screen too... just too sensitive.

According to the the MR Wiki, the Sony PRS950 used IR touch. Which would explain why the screen reacted when things fell on it. I don't think there was anything that could be done about it. Most (all?) current ereaders are using capacitive touch much like phones and tablets. That gets around the issue of other things touching the screen, but, also causes problems when wearing gloves.

As others have stated, the Kobo Libra 2 or Kobo Forma should fit. The latter has been superseded by the Sage, but, the Forma is still available and has much better battery life. Which, for camping, might be important.

[Brian M]

Thanks all. A member offered me an "excess" PRS950 so that's the route I'm taking. Known quantity reader that I'm happy with (favorite old sweater type thing), and a price that doesn't make me whimper.

Would still like to know if there's a significant difference though. Or is it one of those light-bulb things... incandescent works great, but CFL are touted as better and cheaper. CFL turn out to be worse and more expensive... then LED come along and you can get about the same quality light as incandescent, but for LOTS more money (purchase), maybe less in the real long run but maybe not. In reality, all of them provide "light", which is the main point.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Brian M

Would still like to know if there's a significant difference though. Or is it one of those light-bulb things... incandescent works great, but CFL are touted as better and cheaper. CFL turn out to be worse and more expensive... then LED come along and you can get about the same quality light as incandescent, but for LOTS more money (purchase), maybe less in the real long run but maybe not. In reality, all of them provide "light", which is the main point.

For me there is a world of difference between 10-year-old readers and modern ones (I still have a couple of my very first eink readers from 2011). Everything is better... the screen, the contrast, the frontlight, the warm light, speed, ergonomics and so on. But these things are very subjective, of course.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Brian M

Thanks all. A member offered me an "excess" PRS950 so that's the route I'm taking. Known quantity reader that I'm happy with (favorite old sweater type thing), and a price that doesn't make me whimper.

Would still like to know if there's a significant difference though. Or is it one of those light-bulb things... incandescent works great, but CFL are touted as better and cheaper. CFL turn out to be worse and more expensive... then LED come along and you can get about the same quality light as incandescent, but for LOTS more money (purchase), maybe less in the real long run but maybe not. In reality, all of them provide "light", which is the main point.

LED bulbs may cost more, buy they cost less to use and last a lot longer. So overall, the LED bulb is going to cost you less. And because LED bulbs use less wattage to run, you can put a stronger LED bulb in a lamp that won't take a stronger incandescent bulb. So LED mas more advantages then disadvantages and will cost less.

As for Readers, I had a Sony Reader PRS-650 which is the same as the 950 except for the screen and going Kobo was an LED moment.

In another thread, there is someone who is having trouble with his Sony Reader. It's not working if the ePub has large images. I don't know if that's resolution and/or file size. But I know if the image size is large enough, it will seriously slow down the Sony. I had that problem. But because most Readers are3 300DPI, some ePubs are now made with high resolution images. That includes the cover. So do you want to have to reduce the size of at least the cover in order to be able to read your eBooks or would you rather go with a Reader that works with hi-res graphics?