Looking to replace my PRS-505

[Elfwreck]

My beloved 505 is dying. The battery life is less than it used to be (I have to charge it every few days now), and there's a mark on the screen where I dinged it with something. And to be honest, I'd like something with a faster processor--the page turning speed is fine, but the time it takes to switch from inside the book to the nav menu, and the time to open books & change font sizes within them, are annoyingly slow. (Which means I'm not just looking for another 505, which is too bad, 'cos I love the ergonomics.)

I was planning on getting an Astak Pocket Pro to replace it, but those have gotten incredibly hard to find, and are more expensive than many newer devices. I'd like some advice about whether I should seek out a Pocket Pro from the few places that sell them, or if there's something else that'd have the traits I want.

What I want:

• Long battery life. More than 24 hours reading time without recharge, which AFAIK means e-ink.
• 5" screen. Not 6". Not bigger. If there's a 4" e-ink screen out there, I want that instead. I miss reading on my Clie.
• Memory card slot. Or maybe 2gb of internal memory would be enough; I keep a whole library on my reader.
• Fast processor. Faster than I currently have, anyway.
• File support for HTML and either DOC or RTF. Epub and PDF. (I know that PDF support on 5" screens ranges from "mediocre" to "sucks rocks." What level is unimportant to me; if it supports PDFs, I'll make mine work on it.)
• Folder support. And "view most recently opened titles" would be nice.
• U.S. Availability. I don't exactly mind ordering overseas, but would prefer to avoid it. Would very much prefer to avoid the higher prices on most European units I've seen.

What I don't care about:

• DRM support. Of any kind. I won't be using it.
• Wi-fi. I probably don't need to go out of my way to avoid it, but I have no interest, especially not if it's only tied to a bookstore, which, see above, I won't be using.
• MP3 player. In 2.5 years with the Sony Reader, I haven't yet used this.
• Dictionary. Haven't yet noticed the lack.
• Attached booklight. I can sort out my own accessories.
• Color. Aside from "battery life is more important to me," I don't care about color support.
• Games. Haven't yet bothered to figure out how to play Sudoku on my Sony; not concerned with playing it on the next reader.

Do not want:

• Touch screen. Not sure if I absolutely will not use a touch screen, but it's a strong negative. I definitely want at least a button or easy tap to turn pages; I don't want to use two hands to read.
• Separate areas for purchased and sideloaded ebooks, or different filetypes. I've no idea if any of them do this. (Nook? Maybe?)

Price cap: $200 US. Yeah, that's probably asking a lot. But my 505's not dead, so I have no absolute need at the moment, and Pocket Pros sometimes show up on ebay for $150-175. Am willing to buy used; am not willing to pay an extra $50 for immediacy, especially considering how fast prices are dropping.

The list is almost custom-made for the Astak Pocket Pro; that's what I had in mind. With Astak not selling it directly anymore, and the swarm of new readers on the market, I'm wondering if something else would be as good or better.

[Andrew H.]

If you like your Sony, why not just get a 350? It has a touchscreen, but you can turn pages using a button if you prefer. And it has a better e-ink screen than that Astak.

[Elfwreck]

No memory card slot; no folder support; no HTML filetype support. And I've played with its interface a bit and found it troublesome, although I'd probably get used to it without too much hassle.

350's on the list of possibles, but I don't think I'd like one as much as one of the Jinke clones. It's gotten rid of some of the 505 features that I love (the buttons & memory capacity), and added things I don't want, like a touchscreen.

[Hoyt Clagwell]

You really should check out a 350. The touchscreen really does work well. You will not need two hands to read. Just a click swipe with your thumb is all you need.

[Elfwreck]

It still lacks both the filetype support and the folder structure support that I want. With the 505, I'm aware I could put PRS+ on it and get folder support; I don't think I can do that with a 350.

It also doesn't allow a memory card, but 2gb internal (if it is 2gb internal, not 1.5gb and its own software) is enough.

Currently, my Sony has problems if I put more than about 400 ebooks on it; I haven't heard that the new ones have fixed that problem, although they have gotten faster. I don't want to wait three minutes for the software to load after I put new books on it.

Click-swipe with my thumb means two hands; I'm often reading standing up on a crowded train. I need to not have to lift the top finger off the reader to change pages. I could tap a corner; I can't swipe a corner safely. (I have small hands. I know the 350 is tiny; I'd still be worried about dropping it if I have to lift my thumb and drag to change pages.)

I'd really really *like* to want the 350; the size is perfect. But the way it's set up--touchscreen, limited filetype support, no folders, Sony's library system that has to re-organize after every connection to the computer--I don't think I'd be happy with it.

I'm not at all convinced the better screen (I don't care about screen quality; I'd be quite happy with an LCD screen if it weren't for battery life) and faster processor are worth losing the traits that the Pocket Pro has that I want.

[AlbertaCowboy]

I'll throw my voice in for the 350 as well. Although I have a 650, I have set up enough of the 350's to know they are pretty much identical.
I upgraded from a much loved 505, and was very leery about the touchscreen. As it turns out, I only ever use the touch to select my books initially from the list. I never swipe pages, only use the buttons, which is very comfortable one handed.
As far as the library indexing goes, the 350 is night and day compared to the 505. It used to take me 12 minutes (yes, I timed it) after disconnecting from my computer before I was able to access the menu. With my 650, the same number of books (~1200) takes less than a minute to index.
Honestly, if you were happy with your 505, you will be happy with a 350.

[jabberwock_11]

Unfortunately there really isn't much out there in the 5" range that has all of the things you are looking for. I was sad to sell my 505 and have played around with most of the alternatives out there, unfortunately with very little in the way of success.

The Pocketbook 360 is probably your best bet, it has pretty much everything you want. It is currently being sold for $129. Here is a link: http://www.pocketbookreader.com/PocketBook_360.html

I have to say, as a former die hard Sony fan, that there are a few good devices out there that don't have everything you are looking for, but that might just make up for those short comings with other features that you have not considered. Food for thought.

[=X=]

Well I think you've managed to spec yourself out of any reader, you are going to have to give on one of the requirements.

Anyhow the two closes ones based on your req. are:
- Bookeen Cybook Opus e-Book Reader (found by Hughes excellent (How to Decide web site.)
- EZ Reader Pocket Pro

The Opus doesn't support RTF/Docs but does have folders. The EZReader supports Docs, but I don't know if it supports Folders.

[=X=]

Okay I've read a few of your post, it looks like your not 100% opposed to touch screens, your concern is that they will require two hands to use.

I can tell you I read on my phone 4" and nook 7" screens with one hand all the time. Both are Android devices, the software I use to read has the ability to change gestures so you can changes pages by swiping, tapping, or just scrolling ( I use the scrolling). And the Android device supports all the formats under the sun.

You might also want to look into an iPod or wait for Samsungs Galaxy Player (my post).

It's essentially their Galaxy phone w/o the phone features. I have their phone and it's a phenomenal piece of hardware, and it's extremely light with good build quality.

Disabling the WI-FI and setting the screen to low should give you a full's day charge. My sons iPod last more than a day and he is always on the device.
=X=

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

I'll throw my voice in for the 350 as well. Although I have a 650, I have set up enough of the 350's to know they are pretty much identical.
...
Honestly, if you were happy with your 505, you will be happy with a 350.

I'm increasingly annoyed with the lack of folders and the limited RTF support on the Sony (doesn't show pictures).

Originally Posted by jabberwock_11

Unfortunately there really isn't much out there in the 5" range that has all of the things you are looking for.
...
The Pocketbook 360 is probably your best bet, it has pretty much everything you want. It is currently being sold for $129. Here is a link: http://www.pocketbookreader.com/PocketBook_360.html

That looks very promising. Where's the price & ordering info?

Originally Posted by =X=

Well I think you've managed to spec yourself out of any reader, you are going to have to give on one of the requirements.

I think the Astak Pocket Pro has everything I want; I'm just worried that the newer things all have faster processors, and that the ones still on the shelves might have less-good batteries than new devices, although I suppose I can replace batteries.

Anyhow the two closes ones based on your req. are:
- Bookeen Cybook Opus e-Book Reader (found by Hughes excellent (How to Decide web site.)
- EZ Reader Pocket Pro

The Opus doesn't support RTF/Docs but does have folders. The EZReader supports Docs, but I don't know if it supports Folders.

EZReader supports folders; I had decided to get one, and was undecided between maroon & purple, just before they yanked them from the market.

The Opus looks otherwise okay; lack of RTF support is a nuisance, and it looks like it's more expensive than the EZReader and the Pocketbook 360.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by =X=

Okay I've read a few of your post, it looks like your not 100% opposed to touch screens, your concern is that they will require two hands to use.

I can tell you I read on my phone 4" and nook 7" screens with one hand all the time.

Touch screen is negotiable; 20 hours of reading time is not. If I have to plug it in every night, it's not what I want. (Could cope with it. I don't have to, so I'm not looking at anything that I can't use for a few days without recharging.)

And the Android device supports all the formats under the sun.

All in one app? I don't want to jump between programs trying to remember which one reads what books. I currently have epubs, pdfs, rtfs, and txt files on my Sony. I would love to also have HTML files; I get annoyed that I have to convert those before using them. I want to be able to scroll through lists of all my ebooks at once, not "all the epubs" and then "all the pdfs" on a different app; that's my main reason (aside from battery) for not seriously considering any of the Android devices. (Which seem lovely, and I might want one. Just not as an ebook reader.)

[jabberwock_11]

Here is the price info/order page for the pocketbook 360. http://shop.pocketbookreader.com/Poc...9.qscstrfrnt02

[Fbone]

Doesn't the PB 360 only come with 512mb of total internal memory? If so, better get the memory card with it.

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

It still lacks both the filetype support and the folder structure support that I want. With the 505, I'm aware I could put PRS+ on it and get folder support; I don't think I can do that with a 350.

PRS+ will give you full folder support on the 350, I have it installed on mine and works wonderfully.

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

It also doesn't allow a memory card, but 2gb internal (if it is 2gb internal, not 1.5gb and its own software) is enough.

You're right in that it doesn't have an expansion slot for a memory card, and yes, the software does use up some of the internal memory, I'm not sure how much though. But really, is there any reason you need to carry around more than 1000 ebooks with you at any time? Since you also have them backed up on your computer for safekeeping, it's simple enough to periodically swap which 1000 books you have on the reader at any time.

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Currently, my Sony has problems if I put more than about 400 ebooks on it; I haven't heard that the new ones have fixed that problem, although they have gotten faster. I don't want to wait three minutes for the software to load after I put new books on it.

I haven't experienced any problems even having 700+ ebooks on the reader.

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Click-swipe with my thumb means two hands; I'm often reading standing up on a crowded train. I need to not have to lift the top finger off the reader to change pages. I could tap a corner; I can't swipe a corner safely. (I have small hands. I know the 350 is tiny; I'd still be worried about dropping it if I have to lift my thumb and drag to change pages.)

Not sure how you think the touch screen works and why you think you need to click and swipe, but you don't. It's not really a touch screen like you're used to on cell phones for instance; there's an infrared beam, totally unnoticeable, around the frame that senses your movement. Holding the reader in my right or left hand, it's a simple quick flick of my thumb on the screen from right to left, a very small movement, to turn the page. You can also change the swipe from left to right to advance pages if you prefer.

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I'd really really *like* to want the 350; the size is perfect. But the way it's set up--touchscreen, limited filetype support, no folders, Sony's library system that has to re-organize after every connection to the computer--I don't think I'd be happy with it.

Which filetype are you interested in reading that the Sony won't handle? It's one of the better reader for various filetypes, also handles library books which are epub. Folder support through PRS+ already covered. I never use the Sony Reader Library, I use Calibre only. But I really don't think the Sony software reorganizes the reader every connection to the computer, I never noticed it doing that before I discovered Calibre.

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I'm not at all convinced the better screen (I don't care about screen quality; I'd be quite happy with an LCD screen if it weren't for battery life) and faster processor are worth losing the traits that the Pocket Pro has that I want.

It's the newest e-ink screen, so it is better than the Nook (still using first gen e-ink screen), and is the same screen as the Kindle uses. The text looks a bit sharper than on the 650 because of packing the same number of pixels into a smaller size screen.

You should try to find the ones you're interested in at a local store and try them out, but I really don't think you'd be disappointed with the 350 at all. I love mine and take it everywhere with me.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Touch screen is negotiable; 20 hours of reading time is not. If I have to plug it in every night, it's not what I want. (Could cope with it. I don't have to, so I'm not looking at anything that I can't use for a few days without recharging.)

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

All in one app? I don't want to jump between programs trying to remember which one reads what books.

I don't know if there is an app that does it all. There might be, but what I've found is every app tends to render their preferred format better than the other supported format. So in order for me to get the best experience I'll open up that app that pertains to the format. Kindle for MOBI, Moon for ePUB/html/txt, and RepliGo for PDF.

I use a file browser to select what book I want to read so I don't have to open the app first. Also an indirect advantage about having multiple apps is I can have multiple books open simultaneously.

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I currently have epubs, pdfs, rtfs, and txt files on my Sony. I would love to also have HTML files; I get annoyed that I have to convert those before using them. I want to be able to scroll through lists of all my ebooks at once, not "all the epubs" and then "all the pdfs" on a different app; that's my main reason (aside from battery) for not seriously considering any of the Android devices. (Which seem lovely, and I might want one. Just not as an ebook reader.)

If that is your main reason, you might want to consider an LCD device like Android or iOS. The reading apps for these devices are far superior than what exist for any eInk device. Pinch zoom on PDF is awsome, I spend 0% time now making my PDF readable on a 7" device just because the reflow is either 90% accurate or I can pinch to zoom.

eReaders link Moon and Alkdio have customization features that far exceed any eInk device. You can control margins, fonts, indents, word spacing, etc...

I use to carry my K2 every where and prior to owning a nook. I would not even think of going LCD. But the advantages the Android platform has over eInk devices outweighs their short comings. I don't like the fact that I have to charge my nook every other day where my Kindle lasted the week. I use to think the K2 had the best reading experience but I find I don't use my K2 anymore, in fact I just finished transferring all of my K2 books over to the nook last night.