Questions about the PRS-300

Jazradel · 03-03-2010, 05:24 AM

I have a few questions about the PRS-300 from my mum (who's not confident enough with computers to ask herself).

1. How good is the pdf handling? I believe she is asking specifically in regards to reformatting medical journals for the smaller screen.

2. How well does the prop up reading light on the cover work (the one you have to buy)?

3. Is there any way to buy one in Australia? (I'm fairly sure the answer is no).

I actually have the 505, so comparisons to that (and the extra cover) are welcome.

m-reader · 03-03-2010, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazradel

I have a few questions about the PRS-300 from my mum (who's not confident enough with computers to ask herself).

1. How good is the pdf handling? I believe she is asking specifically in regards to reformatting medical journals for the smaller screen.

2. I've totally forgotten... I'll get back on this one.

3. Is there any way to buy one in Australia? (I'm fairly sure the answer is no).

Hi Jazradel

1. Probably not too good due to small screen. My PRS-900 handles reflow really well, I'm not sure how PRS-300 handles it.
2.

3. Look up B&H Photo on the internet. It's a US based web shop, they ship internationally. I just bought a PRS-300 for my sis-in-law in Melbourne. Delivery is about 62 USD UPS - got there within a week. The price was 186 USD or thereabouts, which is very good. If you're not fussed with colour (I bough the pink one), the price could be even lower.
You may be able to buy one in Oz (google it "Sony PRS-300 site:.au"), but the price wise it's probably cheaper to get it from the US.

RachaelJ · 03-03-2010, 10:42 AM

Hi I just got one of these yesterday. I put a PDF on it and although it displayed it was too tiny to read (I have quite good eyesight but would need to use a magnifying glass). You can make the writing bigger but I had tables and diagrams on it and it didn't look right.Hope this helps.

grooks · 03-03-2010, 11:45 AM

PDF's are not very good on most ebook readers. On the 'small' setting it will look like it does on a computer but the print will be very small as it has to fit to a 5" screen. If it is a text based PDF, moving to the 'medium' and 'large' settings will enable reflow but charts and graphs will probably lose all formatting. If the PDF is not text based then they only size option will be 'small'. The 300 does not have a zoom feature for reading PDF files.

Conclusion, a 5" or 6" device is not ideal for reading PDF's. Either find a larger screen or wait for the new crop of ebook readers that are rumored to arrive later this year.

Jazradel · 03-03-2010, 06:33 PM

I remembered the second question. It was about the optional cover w/ reading light.

Thanks for the answers about pdf reflow, and especially about B&H Photo. I'll try to get an example journal and see what it looks like when I shrink it down to 5".

Bremen Cole · 03-03-2010, 07:10 PM

I tried the case/light combo, and it was just too dim for me. I returned it, and got the other Sony case without the light. I liked the fact it was also a smaller form factor, and therefore the reader would still fit in a coat pocket or cargo pant/shorts pocket.

jessie102 · 03-04-2010, 10:55 AM

So, if one has a PRS505, is there any advantage to getting a PRS300?

Someone mentioned the lack of zoom in PRS300, I think that already detracts greatly from the list of possible advantages.

Since if you have zoom, you can read any PDF of any formatting by sizing the page.

grooks · 03-04-2010, 11:48 AM

The only differences between the 505 and 300 is the smaller form factor and the 300 does not have SD/ProDuo card slots

I know the 600 and 900 have zoom and not sure about the 700. Zoom will work for the entire page. If your zoom makes the page larger than will fit on the screen, there are arrows that will pan left/right/up/down to see the parts that do not show on the screen. Also, once you turn a page it will revert back to its original size.

Croptop · 03-04-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazradel

2. How well does the prop up reading light on the cover work (the one you have to buy)?

I have this cover and find it to be just right. The light stays exactly where you put it and I find it plenty bright enough. In order to ensure that the light stays bright enough, I use a rechargeable battery and top up the charge once I notice the light level starts to dim (about once a week or so).

jessie102 · 03-05-2010, 12:53 AM

yea, basically once you have page zoom feature, there is no reason to worry about readability people.

Reflow is just an attempt to reformat all the tables of the paragraphs such that everything is organized into a single vertical column. But the best any reflow technique can do is GUESS at which article is supposed to be where and in what order.

I would recommend using zoom so that you have complete control over your reading experience.

m-reader · 03-05-2010, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croptop

I have this cover and find it to be just right. The light stays exactly where you put it and I find it plenty bright enough. In order to ensure that the light stays bright enough, I use a rechargeable battery and top up the charge once I notice the light level starts to dim (about once a week or so).

I agree with Croptop. In order to get the best results, make sure you change the battery at least once a week (if you are a heavy reader). A fresh battery makes a big difference.

03-03-2010, 05:24 AM	#1
Jazradel Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PRS-505	Questions about the PRS-300 I have a few questions about the PRS-300 from my mum (who's not confident enough with computers to ask herself). 1. How good is the pdf handling? I believe she is asking specifically in regards to reformatting medical journals for the smaller screen. 2. How well does the prop up reading light on the cover work (the one you have to buy)? 3. Is there any way to buy one in Australia? (I'm fairly sure the answer is no). I actually have the 505, so comparisons to that (and the extra cover) are welcome. Last edited by Jazradel; 03-03-2010 at 09:19 PM. Reason: Remembered the third question.

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03-03-2010, 10:42 AM	#3
RachaelJ Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 14 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: sony pocket	Hi I just got one of these yesterday. I put a PDF on it and although it displayed it was too tiny to read (I have quite good eyesight but would need to use a magnifying glass). You can make the writing bigger but I had tables and diagrams on it and it didn't look right.Hope this helps.

03-03-2010, 11:45 AM	#4
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	PDF's are not very good on most ebook readers. On the 'small' setting it will look like it does on a computer but the print will be very small as it has to fit to a 5" screen. If it is a text based PDF, moving to the 'medium' and 'large' settings will enable reflow but charts and graphs will probably lose all formatting. If the PDF is not text based then they only size option will be 'small'. The 300 does not have a zoom feature for reading PDF files. Conclusion, a 5" or 6" device is not ideal for reading PDF's. Either find a larger screen or wait for the new crop of ebook readers that are rumored to arrive later this year.

03-03-2010, 06:33 PM	#5
Jazradel Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PRS-505	I remembered the second question. It was about the optional cover w/ reading light. Thanks for the answers about pdf reflow, and especially about B&H Photo. I'll try to get an example journal and see what it looks like when I shrink it down to 5".

03-03-2010, 07:10 PM	#6
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	I tried the case/light combo, and it was just too dim for me. I returned it, and got the other Sony case without the light. I liked the fact it was also a smaller form factor, and therefore the reader would still fit in a coat pocket or cargo pant/shorts pocket.

03-04-2010, 10:55 AM	#7
jessie102 Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 6720 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: SONY PRS505	So, if one has a PRS505, is there any advantage to getting a PRS300? Someone mentioned the lack of zoom in PRS300, I think that already detracts greatly from the list of possible advantages. Since if you have zoom, you can read any PDF of any formatting by sizing the page.

03-04-2010, 11:48 AM	#8
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	The only differences between the 505 and 300 is the smaller form factor and the 300 does not have SD/ProDuo card slots I know the 600 and 900 have zoom and not sure about the 700. Zoom will work for the entire page. If your zoom makes the page larger than will fit on the screen, there are arrows that will pan left/right/up/down to see the parts that do not show on the screen. Also, once you turn a page it will revert back to its original size.

03-05-2010, 12:53 AM	#10
jessie102 Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 6720 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: SONY PRS505	yea, basically once you have page zoom feature, there is no reason to worry about readability people. Reflow is just an attempt to reformat all the tables of the paragraphs such that everything is organized into a single vertical column. But the best any reflow technique can do is GUESS at which article is supposed to be where and in what order. I would recommend using zoom so that you have complete control over your reading experience.

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