PRS-300 Just got my PRS-300!

[justanut]

I had filled Calibre with all the eBooks I've accumulated over time (which I've been reading off my cellphones) while eagerly awaiting the arrival of my PRS300 and its finally here!

Looks gorgeous, the screen's bigger than I thought it would be (a good thing, I was worried that it would be too small, the main reason I kept going between 300 and 600... e-shoppin pfft...) The clarity blew me away, the background's almost white, good constrast with the words (a tad light though, something to do with the ePub format?) and very very readable even in low light. Brought it out into the sun and WOW.

Bought my PRS with the Sony leather cover, it totally looks like just another notepad of mine sitting there on my desk. No I can't stuff it down my jeans' backpocket but they go into the cargo pants' thigh pockets easily.

I'm happy to say I'm another proud and satisfied owner of the PRS-300

*UPDATES*

I know there are some features or rather the lack of features that are holding people back despite knowing this is a really good eReader, thought I might share my thoughts on it.

1. Screen Size - I did not get to compare the 300 vs 600 and I was apprehensive about the 5-inch screen intially. Would there be too few lines per page? Will I have to page turn every 5 secs? I'm glad to say that when I receive the eReader, the size was just nice. Physically it wasn't too big for me to leave it at home (I've been bringing it with me EVERYWHERE, yes even to the washroom ^^). The screen was able to display a substantial amount of text per page and I found the Small setting just perfect for my reading on Epub. Oh and the darn screen was so damn clear and sharp that I kept trying to flip the page like a paperback >..<

2. Lack of extras - Although I've never ever found myself consulting the dictionary while reading, nor annotating on the novels I read, being the tech geek that I was, I was caught between the pure book-replacement (300) or the 600 with all the extras that I "might want to use or find useful one day". In the end, logic won though. Why pay more for extras I've not wished for in a book in the past couple of decades? A clearer screen and seemingly better real-world battery life seems much more important in a book-replacement.

3. Wow a touch screen! - At first it may seem like a great idea, flipping pages like a real book, but like many have found out, it gets mundane quickly. Not to mention its nothing like the capacitive screens on the iPhones, and the thumbprints are an unwelcome distraction while reading. I know I'm tired of wiping my iPhone all the time.

Just waiting for my Mighty Bright Xtraflex 2 and Travelflex to arrive and I'm all set~

PS. 3 Dan Brown books down and batt's still showing full!

[Latinandgreek]

Congratulations and welcome!

[justanut]

Thanks!

Hope to contribute to the community here as well~

Btw, I'm on Windows 7 32-bit, no problems connecting with Calibre, Sony Reader and Adobe Digital Editions.

Other machine on 64-bit is currently having video card problems, I'll post an update on whether there are problems on that when I get it up and working again... Windows 7 64-bit is FULL of bugs

[Bremen Cole]

Congrats! Had my 300 for 3 weeks now, like it more every day. I use Calibre only (did not install the Sony software), and have the standard Sony cover. It's all good..........

[RonF]

I also just purchased a 300. It also happens to be my first device in the ereader market. I have shelves filled with paper/hard books I should have delved in earlier as I am loving the reading on this.

I was going to start a new thread when I noticed this one, so I figured i would just post here with my quickie review about it....

So I spent A LOT of time researching what I had hoped would be the perfect e-reader for me. Over the holiday I had a chance to use a PRS-600 that a friend received for Christmas and that is what set me off to get one. I enjoyed using it for the time that I had it, but I also did notice and mention the glare problem with it and I was constantly adjusting it to get a good reading position. Now, I have to admit that the lighting conditions were poor when I was playing with it, and I know that it had something to do with my problems with the glare.

Now, as far as my reading habits - I get a book and read it, and throw it into the bookshelf to sit. I don't hilight, annotate, or use the dictionary, so they were not a big deal to me. I also wanted a reader that can handle a large number of formats. While I liked the screensize of the 600, the reader seemed like it needed both hands in order to feel comfortable for long reading times. I read about how great the screen was on the 505 (and how great that unit was as well) and also how the 300 screen was close to the 505. I had a chance to see the 300 and 600 side by side in a B&M and I could notice the difference, BUT as a first timer in this market, if I had the 600 and didn't know any better I would have probably been satisfied with the contrast on it. So with the open formats on the Sony's, and the crispness of the 300 screen, my choice was made. I knocked the Kindle off quickly as the keyboard is not something I would see myself using and it would constantly be there, and I also didn't like the limits on their formats. The Nook was in the runnning as I bought most of my books in my local B&N and have been very happy with the service I get from them. But the fact that I would have to wait ~1 month was a turnoff

So with a sale and a $10 coupon it was hard to turn down a $169 PRS-300 that I could pick up and use immediately from a local store with a decent return policy

I had Calibre installed and pre-loaded with books before I got the unit, and I also had Sony's Library up and running as well, with no issues (Win XP Pro 32bit). I still haven't used Library, but it did recognize the unit when hooked up via usb, and I still have yet to autorize it through them, so I am hoping things still run smoothly with it. Calibre is a blessing to use and loaded all of my books easily. I also tested some format changes to see which I liked better (epub I think) and they were all easy to do.

The only con that I could think of on this unit was the lack of a page turner on the side of the unit. That was quickly fixed by finding and installing the Russian firmware, and I think this is now almost as close to a perfect reader for me that I could find. I also like having the clock always visible and having the shutdown linked to the enter button.

I just wanted to thank all here for your posts, as I did a lot of reading on this forum and it helped with my decision. I am not one to post anything of this length, but I felt the need to possibly help someone else who is in the market for a reader.

Ron

[Bremen Cole]

RonF said "The only con that I could think of on this unit was the lack of a page turner on the side of the unit. That was quickly fixed by finding and installing the Russian firmware, and I think this is now almost as close to a perfect reader for me that I could find. I also like having the clock always visible and having the shutdown linked to the enter button."

I have been tempted with this hack, because I would like all three of the features you list. But, I had a bad experience on a firmware hack on a device some years ago, and have been a bit overly cautious ever since. May have to rethink that though.........

[RonF]

Bremen, I too was a little concerned. I double, then triple checked to make sure I had the same base firmware. Also, I know it may not be the right thing to do, but since I had just purchased it, if it was bricked I was hoping for an exchange from the store I bought it. Not the best way to handle something like a mistake on my part, but I really was looking forward to those extra 3 options.

I can't tell you how smoothly everything went with the upgrade. It really was easy. If you do decide to try it PM me and I will tell you exactly what I did.

[King Windom]

I have also been considering the firmware hack but am concerned about it. Can you still access Sony's book site to purchase through their software? Thanks Dan

[xtine]

Originally Posted by RonF

I can't tell you how smoothly everything went with the upgrade. It really was easy. If you do decide to try it PM me and I will tell you exactly what I did.

If it's not too much trouble, maybe you could start another thread with step-by-step instructions? I've been wanting to try this hack too but keep chickening out because I'm afraid of bricking my Reader

[justanut]

Lol... same here, just couldn't bring myself to try the firmware. But I'm quite pleased with turning using the existing setup. My wife's more than sufficient to remind me of the time and to get my butt into bed before she smashed my Reader

Btw, anyone know if there's a gap around the screen itself? Kinda worried moisture or dust could get in. Noticed that moisture gathers very easily on the screen when I exit a cold room

Other than that, day 3, 2 books by Dan Brown down... and no issues at all

[Pripyat]

Hy E-book Readerz!

I bought a prs 300 before christmas,everything fine i just would like to ask a question about the charging. I have an original sony psp charger with an 5V output charging voltage,but the reader need an 5.2V.

Anyone knows,is there any chance to the battery is gonna be damaged,or not gonna have the maximum capacity if i use the PSP charger? Or its safe to use that charger?

[justanut]

Safe~

[grooks]

Originally Posted by justanut

Btw, anyone know if there's a gap around the screen itself? Kinda worried moisture or dust could get in. Noticed that moisture gathers very easily on the screen when I exit a cold room

I never personally seen or heard of moisture/dust getting under the screen on the 505, so I would expect similar results with the 300. The 600 has the extra touch screen layer and there were a few complaints from 700 owners that dust got under the touch screen.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Pripyat

Hy E-book Readerz!

I bought a prs 300 before christmas,everything fine i just would like to ask a question about the charging. I have an original sony psp charger with an 5V output charging voltage,but the reader need an 5.2V.

Anyone knows,is there any chance to the battery is gonna be damaged,or not gonna have the maximum capacity if i use the PSP charger? Or its safe to use that charger?

The PSP charger works great, and as said above, perfectly safe. Many here have bought the PSP chargers and have had zero problems......

[grooks]

Originally Posted by Pripyat

Hy E-book Readerz!

I bought a prs 300 before christmas,everything fine i just would like to ask a question about the charging. I have an original sony psp charger with an 5V output charging voltage,but the reader need an 5.2V.

Anyone knows,is there any chance to the battery is gonna be damaged,or not gonna have the maximum capacity if i use the PSP charger? Or its safe to use that charger?

I use a PSP charger exclusively to charge my Reader. In over a year using one I've had no problems and have seen no ill effects.