PRS-300 died...next e-reader?

Drizzt321 · 09-23-2013, 09:10 PM

So, my Sony PRS-300 Pocket reader died

At least, it started going into a refresh cycle and refuses to work anymore.

So, I'm in search of a new e-reader. E-ink for sure, as I dislike reading on an LCD screen for a long time, and I like a long battery life. Other key features are works with Calibre well, reasonable speed at page turns (I've seen mention of newer, non-full page refreshes on e-ink), about the size of a paperback book, lighting would be nice but not required, and good build quality. Oh, and hardware page turn buttons would be great. And reasonable book load/font-size reflow times would be great. It always seemed to take forever on the PRS-300 if I accidentally hit the font-size change button.

Doing a bit of research since I haven't been keeping up to date, I see the Sony has the T2 and T3 just released. Looks reasonably attractive, and not too expensive.

Also have the Icarus Illumina HD, Cybook Odyssey HD, Kobo (Glo, or one of the others) all seem to be more or less what I'm looking for, although there are probably a few others I'm missing.

I'm kicking the Kobo out of the running since it doesn't have hardware page turn keys, and I have the feeling I'd really miss those.

So, while I'm probably missing a few, the Sony T2/T3, Illumina HD, Odyssey HD are where I'm at now. The Illumina HD is pretty attractive with it's previous/next page buttons on both sides of the reader. It will get fairly expensive, what with having to order it from the EU and all, especially after the exchange rate and my CC will undoubtedly charge me a exchange fee.

So, I'll throw it out there. Opinions? Ideas?

ectoplasm · 09-23-2013, 09:35 PM

I can only comment on my Aura HD. I had a Kindle a while back, but I gave it away. For me, the frontlight is vital. Lack of hardware buttons is not a problem to me. I can very lightly touch the screen and it registers, so it's not like the screen gets smudged. I use the touch for other things anyway, like the dictionary, and to mark the current position with a highlight. I remember these things were a pain on my old Kindle (without touch).

With new gadgets like this, I don't know how things will work out until I use it for a while, then unexpected things turn out to be handy, and other unexpected things turn out to be a problem. With the Kobo, the only problem I had was solved by applying a patch, thanks to a Russian programmer, that fixed some rendering issues.

Drizzt321 · 09-24-2013, 05:49 PM

I can't imagine not having some kind of tactile feedback (aka an actual button) for turning a page. Plus, I sometimes like to hold with my left hand, sometimes with my right hand. And usually one-handed. So touch only would be...a pain in the rump.

robko · 09-24-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drizzt321

I can't imagine not having some kind of tactile feedback (aka an actual button) for turning a page. Plus, I sometimes like to hold with my left hand, sometimes with my right hand. And usually one-handed. So touch only would be...a pain in the rump.

As long as you get a device that accepts tap to turn (rather than a swipe) one-handed usage is pretty simple (I use mine that way most of the time). If you frequently switch between hands during a reading session could complicate things somewhat.

Drizzt321 · 09-24-2013, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

As long as you get a device that accepts tap to turn (rather than a swipe) one-handed usage is pretty simple (I use mine that way most of the time). If you frequently switch between hands during a reading session could complicate things somewhat.

Hmm...didn't think of ones that have a 'touch anywhere to turn page' mode. I only was thinking of those that have specific regions to touch for forward/back/etc.

I _may_ have found someone nearby on ebay with a PRS300 that looks good in the pics. Hopefully they'll get back to me tonight. For $25 it's a lot cheaper and just plain easier than figuring out which of the various ones out there I want. Then finding a place that will ship it to me for a decent price.

Mivo · 09-24-2013, 07:06 PM

The Odyssey's buttons are also on the left and right side. They work well if you read while sitting and press the buttons from the front. If you lay on your back and hold the device above your head, they are more ornery. Here's a review from another MR member that matches my experience: http://flackoverflow.com/e-reader-review/ It's more insightful than the usual "commercial" reviews.

The new Icarus sounds excellent, and if I were to buy a new e-ink reader right now, that would be one of my top choices. But I'd also wait for some reviews.

Drizzt321 · 09-24-2013, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mivo

The Odyssey's buttons are also on the left and right side. They work well if you read while sitting and press the buttons from the front. If you lay on your back and hold the device above your head, they are more ornery. Here's a review from another MR member that matches my experience: http://flackoverflow.com/e-reader-review/ It's more insightful than the usual "commercial" reviews.

The new Icarus sounds excellent, and if I were to buy a new e-ink reader right now, that would be one of my top choices. But I'd also wait for some reviews.

Yea, that's the other thing that's making me pause to buy a new model. Just a whole bunch of them are just coming out, it'll probably take a month or two to settle down a bit. Plus there might be holiday sales going on

soulfuldog · 09-25-2013, 11:44 AM

I wouldn't buy another PRS300 (unless you absolutely love it), since its pretty out of date now, the battery is 3+ years old, and the display and battery are much improved on newer models. I'd maybe stretch back as far as the 350/650 models if you have a particular desire for the similar metal casing and build quality of your old Sony, but unless money is really tight, just take your pick from one of the new models available. They will all be so much quicker and easier on the eye than what you have been used to.

If I wasn't fussed about having a lighted reader, I'd try and pick up the discounted Nook ST, or the Kobo Mini, not sure the Sony T3 is worth it, but a discounted T2 could be a good buy? If you want to upgrade to the latest HD screens with a light, there is a bit of choice out there right now. But for that fact that the Icarus looks quite bulky (it's not much smaller than my Kindle Keyboard), I'd be tempted to give it a try, but as it stands I'm probably going to choose between the new Paperwhite and the Kobo Aura. I like my page turn buttons but also want a smaller & lighter reader, so am going to have to compromise somewhere!

Definitely worth waiting for a couple of months if you can for some more feedback, plus there might be the chance of Nook announcing a new ereader too.

Drizzt321 · 09-25-2013, 02:56 PM

I found a fairly inexpensive replacement battery on Amazon (I checked just in case), but point taken.

The newer displays would definitely be nice, it's true. Faster page turns would definitely be great.

The T2 is physically a fair bit larger than the T3, so I think I'd probably prefer the T3. You're right, I should look more carefully at the size of the Icarus, I do want something a bit on the svelte side. Hrm. Maybe I'll just go grab a book off my bookshelf I haven't read in a while and go back to the old fashioned method of enjoying my mind

*sigh* And what is it with these ereader companies and not bringing their ereaders to the US?

09-23-2013, 09:10 PM	#1
Drizzt321 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	PRS-300 died...next e-reader? So, my Sony PRS-300 Pocket reader died At least, it started going into a refresh cycle and refuses to work anymore. So, I'm in search of a new e-reader. E-ink for sure, as I dislike reading on an LCD screen for a long time, and I like a long battery life. Other key features are works with Calibre well, reasonable speed at page turns (I've seen mention of newer, non-full page refreshes on e-ink), about the size of a paperback book, lighting would be nice but not required, and good build quality. Oh, and hardware page turn buttons would be great. And reasonable book load/font-size reflow times would be great. It always seemed to take forever on the PRS-300 if I accidentally hit the font-size change button. Doing a bit of research since I haven't been keeping up to date, I see the Sony has the T2 and T3 just released. Looks reasonably attractive, and not too expensive. Also have the Icarus Illumina HD, Cybook Odyssey HD, Kobo (Glo, or one of the others) all seem to be more or less what I'm looking for, although there are probably a few others I'm missing. I'm kicking the Kobo out of the running since it doesn't have hardware page turn keys, and I have the feeling I'd really miss those. So, while I'm probably missing a few, the Sony T2/T3, Illumina HD, Odyssey HD are where I'm at now. The Illumina HD is pretty attractive with it's previous/next page buttons on both sides of the reader. It will get fairly expensive, what with having to order it from the EU and all, especially after the exchange rate and my CC will undoubtedly charge me a exchange fee. So, I'll throw it out there. Opinions? Ideas?

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09-23-2013, 09:35 PM	#2
ectoplasm Addict Posts: 255 Karma: 1151364 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Aura HD and H2O	I can only comment on my Aura HD. I had a Kindle a while back, but I gave it away. For me, the frontlight is vital. Lack of hardware buttons is not a problem to me. I can very lightly touch the screen and it registers, so it's not like the screen gets smudged. I use the touch for other things anyway, like the dictionary, and to mark the current position with a highlight. I remember these things were a pain on my old Kindle (without touch). With new gadgets like this, I don't know how things will work out until I use it for a while, then unexpected things turn out to be handy, and other unexpected things turn out to be a problem. With the Kobo, the only problem I had was solved by applying a patch, thanks to a Russian programmer, that fixed some rendering issues.

09-24-2013, 05:49 PM	#3
Drizzt321 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	I can't imagine not having some kind of tactile feedback (aka an actual button) for turning a page. Plus, I sometimes like to hold with my left hand, sometimes with my right hand. And usually one-handed. So touch only would be...a pain in the rump.

09-24-2013, 07:06 PM	#6
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	The Odyssey's buttons are also on the left and right side. They work well if you read while sitting and press the buttons from the front. If you lay on your back and hold the device above your head, they are more ornery. Here's a review from another MR member that matches my experience: http://flackoverflow.com/e-reader-review/ It's more insightful than the usual "commercial" reviews. The new Icarus sounds excellent, and if I were to buy a new e-ink reader right now, that would be one of my top choices. But I'd also wait for some reviews.

09-25-2013, 11:44 AM	#8
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	I wouldn't buy another PRS300 (unless you absolutely love it), since its pretty out of date now, the battery is 3+ years old, and the display and battery are much improved on newer models. I'd maybe stretch back as far as the 350/650 models if you have a particular desire for the similar metal casing and build quality of your old Sony, but unless money is really tight, just take your pick from one of the new models available. They will all be so much quicker and easier on the eye than what you have been used to. If I wasn't fussed about having a lighted reader, I'd try and pick up the discounted Nook ST, or the Kobo Mini, not sure the Sony T3 is worth it, but a discounted T2 could be a good buy? If you want to upgrade to the latest HD screens with a light, there is a bit of choice out there right now. But for that fact that the Icarus looks quite bulky (it's not much smaller than my Kindle Keyboard), I'd be tempted to give it a try, but as it stands I'm probably going to choose between the new Paperwhite and the Kobo Aura. I like my page turn buttons but also want a smaller & lighter reader, so am going to have to compromise somewhere! Definitely worth waiting for a couple of months if you can for some more feedback, plus there might be the chance of Nook announcing a new ereader too.

09-25-2013, 02:56 PM	#9
Drizzt321 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	I found a fairly inexpensive replacement battery on Amazon (I checked just in case), but point taken. The newer displays would definitely be nice, it's true. Faster page turns would definitely be great. The T2 is physically a fair bit larger than the T3, so I think I'd probably prefer the T3. You're right, I should look more carefully at the size of the Icarus, I do want something a bit on the svelte side. Hrm. Maybe I'll just go grab a book off my bookshelf I haven't read in a while and go back to the old fashioned method of enjoying my mind sigh And what is it with these ereader companies and not bringing their ereaders to the US?

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