Black Friday $99 eInk Showdown: Nook Wifi vs. Sony PRS300

megacoupe · 11-17-2010, 02:22 AM

$99 seems like a great price for these devices, despite being previous generation models. However, I haven't kept up on ebook reader prices, so are these actually good deals? Which is the better deal?

I played with a Nook last year and wasn't too impressed with it (and I only have a Sony PRS500 for reference!). The PRS300 is small, but pocketable.

So, sell me on either model. When the price is the same, which model gives more bang for your buck?

wallcraft · 11-17-2010, 02:37 AM

The PRS-350 from Dell at $129 is a better deal on a 5" Sony. The 350 is definitely worth an extra $30 over the PRS-300, and is the best 5" EInk device at present.

If $100 is your limit, then the Nook WiFi is a good deal. The basic design is a year old, but there is a software refresh coming soon and it may have already improved over when you tried it.

Tattncat · 11-17-2010, 04:37 AM

Go with the Nook wiFi. I went from Sony to the nook wifi/3g and haven't been sorry.

JSWolf · 11-17-2010, 04:39 AM

I did recently try out the nook and found screen updates to be slow. I don't know if this is fixed in the forthcoming update. But be aware that with 1.4.2, it is a bit slow for new hardware.

tubemonkey · 11-17-2010, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The PRS-350 from Dell at $129 is a better deal on a 5" Sony. The 350 is definitely worth an extra $30 over the PRS-300, and is the best 5" EInk device at present.

Too bad it doesn't come in black. I would've considered it.

ProfCrash · 11-17-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Too bad it doesn't come in black. I would've considered it.

Where is the dead horse emoticon when I need it?

tubemonkey · 11-17-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Where is the dead horse emoticon when I need it?

Try this instead.

Pomtroll · 11-17-2010, 11:21 AM

I don't have a Sony so I really can't compare. BUT I do like my Nook & I'm thinking of getting my sister one for Christmas. I don't notice my page turns being that much slower than the page turns on my Kindle3. So that is not an issue for me. I do like the touch screen for navigating & shopping. Sony has it also so it depends where you like your touch screen.

I think a $99 dollar Nook is a nice bargain.

ProfCrash · 11-17-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

I don't have a Sony so I really can't compare. BUT I do like my Nook & I'm thinking of getting my sister one for Christmas. I don't notice my page turns being that much slower than the page turns on my Kindle3. So that is not an issue for me. I do like the touch screen for navigating & shopping. Sony has it also so it depends where you like your touch screen.

I think a $99 dollar Nook is a nice bargain.

Make sure that you are in line when the doors open. My understanding is that Best Buy is going to have 10 $99 Nooks per store on Black Friday. It is possible that this has changed but that is what was posted a few days ago.

GA Russell · 11-17-2010, 08:36 PM

For $99 I would get a jetBook Lite with a free leather case from newegg.com.

IMO the JBL's reflective TFT screen is far superior to the eInk vizplex screen your other two choices have.

blt50203 · 11-23-2010, 06:13 PM

Don't wait in line. Barnes and Noble is selling the refurb wifi nook on their website now. You can also get the 3G for $119. The same deals can be found at Buy.com I believe. Having owned both a 505 and nook I preferred the 595 from a purely organizational point of view until the latest nook update allowed me to organize my side loaded content.

eBuk · 11-23-2010, 10:02 PM

Depends on what you're looking for. If you want a very small, no-frills eBook reader that does one thing incredibly well then go for the Sony 300 (I own one).

If you want WiFi and don't mind the larger size and heavier weight go for the B&N Nook.

Care · 11-23-2010, 10:09 PM

blt, I can't find a refurbished Nook on the B&N site. Or is it somewhere else?

My niece would like a reader and she is only 11 so something not too expensive (especially since she has 3 younger siblings). I would get her a Nook over the Sony pocket, but I don't see the Nook at $99. After the new update the page turns are faster and even the font looks better.

JSWolf · 11-23-2010, 10:31 PM

An even better deal going on right now... get a PRS-650 in black from Borders for $199 and a free light cover. So that makes the total cost rather nice.

JSWolf · 11-23-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

For $99 I would get a jetBook Lite with a free leather case from newegg.com.

IMO the JBL's reflective TFT screen is far superior to the eInk vizplex screen your other two choices have.

Have you compared the TFT to the new Pearl screen?

View Poll Results: Which $99 eInk reader is the better deal?
B&N Nook Wifi	31	73.81%
Sony Reader PRS300	7	16.67%
Neither: Buy _______ at $_______ instead (please post below)	4	9.52%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

11-17-2010, 02:22 AM	#1
megacoupe Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 8682 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kindle Voyage	Black Friday $99 eInk Showdown: Nook Wifi vs. Sony PRS300 $99 seems like a great price for these devices, despite being previous generation models. However, I haven't kept up on ebook reader prices, so are these actually good deals? Which is the better deal? I played with a Nook last year and wasn't too impressed with it (and I only have a Sony PRS500 for reference!). The PRS300 is small, but pocketable. So, sell me on either model. When the price is the same, which model gives more bang for your buck?

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11-17-2010, 02:37 AM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The PRS-350 from Dell at $129 is a better deal on a 5" Sony. The 350 is definitely worth an extra $30 over the PRS-300, and is the best 5" EInk device at present. If $100 is your limit, then the Nook WiFi is a good deal. The basic design is a year old, but there is a software refresh coming soon and it may have already improved over when you tried it.

11-17-2010, 04:37 AM	#3
Tattncat Bookworm Posts: 673 Karma: 1029391 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Device: Nook Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab3, Sony PRS700, Sony PRS505	Go with the Nook wiFi. I went from Sony to the nook wifi/3g and haven't been sorry.

11-17-2010, 04:39 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,291 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I did recently try out the nook and found screen updates to be slow. I don't know if this is fixed in the forthcoming update. But be aware that with 1.4.2, it is a bit slow for new hardware.

11-17-2010, 11:21 AM	#8
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I don't have a Sony so I really can't compare. BUT I do like my Nook & I'm thinking of getting my sister one for Christmas. I don't notice my page turns being that much slower than the page turns on my Kindle3. So that is not an issue for me. I do like the touch screen for navigating & shopping. Sony has it also so it depends where you like your touch screen. I think a $99 dollar Nook is a nice bargain.

11-17-2010, 08:36 PM	#10
GA Russell Argos win Grey Cup! Posts: 7,678 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	For $99 I would get a jetBook Lite with a free leather case from newegg.com. IMO the JBL's reflective TFT screen is far superior to the eInk vizplex screen your other two choices have.

11-23-2010, 06:13 PM	#11
blt50203 Rogue Bookseller Posts: 20 Karma: 260 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rhode Island Device: Apple iPad, iPhone, B&N nook	Don't wait in line. Barnes and Noble is selling the refurb wifi nook on their website now. You can also get the 3G for $119. The same deals can be found at Buy.com I believe. Having owned both a 505 and nook I preferred the 595 from a purely organizational point of view until the latest nook update allowed me to organize my side loaded content.

11-23-2010, 10:02 PM	#12
eBuk Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New York, NY Device: Sony PRS-300 [B&N Nook Color or Huawei S7]	Depends on what you're looking for. If you want a very small, no-frills eBook reader that does one thing incredibly well then go for the Sony 300 (I own one). If you want WiFi and don't mind the larger size and heavier weight go for the B&N Nook.

11-23-2010, 10:09 PM	#13
Care Aes Sedai Posts: 659 Karma: 46166 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura and Kobo Mini, had a Nook, NOOKcolor, Nook STR.	blt, I can't find a refurbished Nook on the B&N site. Or is it somewhere else? My niece would like a reader and she is only 11 so something not too expensive (especially since she has 3 younger siblings). I would get her a Nook over the Sony pocket, but I don't see the Nook at $99. After the new update the page turns are faster and even the font looks better.

11-23-2010, 10:31 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,291 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	An even better deal going on right now... get a PRS-650 in black from Borders for $199 and a free light cover. So that makes the total cost rather nice.

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