Amazing device!

jsuplido · 11-08-2006, 03:01 AM

Background: This was actually a reply to a negative comment about the Sony Reader which was posted at 1src.com. Btw, I got mine from tekchic (you rock!)

I just got my Sony Reader and thought I'd offer another point-of-view.

1. It felt slow but only because I was coming from a PDA-point-of-view. However, after about an hour's worth of reading, the "slowness" seemed to have faded away. I guess I just got more relaxed...

2. It's a "digital screen" but I prefer reading from it now. My other favorite used to be the Nokia 770's screen but backlights (and other similar screens) cause eyestrain for me. So reading in a lighted room is a great combination. Besides, it's how a (real) book is meant to be read -- in a well-lit place.

I admit I was surprised with the flashing screen but like what I said above, once I got to my regular reading speed, I didn't mind the flashing screen anymore. It was actually quite refreshing.

3. I love the size. It's comfortable to hold and it's like I'm carrying a small book or Moleskine notebook. I peeled off the cover and tried holding the Reader... it was so thin that it was uncomfortable to hold after a while! I have two favorite ways of holding the Reader: with the cover open, and with the cover folded back.

4. This is a $400 device (no way is this a $99 device!). I like the quality... no scratches, no dead pixels, no creaks. This is a solid machine and at one point, I couldn't help but feel I was unpacking a CLIE! I'd rather buy the Reader than the iLiad or any "large screen" ebook reader. Again, I like the backlight-less screen... it's more comfortable to the eyes. Oh, the Reader comes fully charged out of the box.

The Reader comes with a $50 voucher which I have used to buy the Foundation series, a Stephen King bundle, Neuromancer, and Eragon. I still have about $2 to spare. The main problem? I can't buy more because Guam is not among the list of US states. However, a simple workaround is to pay someone to "gift" me a giftcard.

I use OS X. I've since converted my other non-DRM'd ebooks from .pdb to .txt. I then convert these to .rtf. It's also quite easy to save anything in PDF format in OS X but I'd rather use .rtf. (If I want, I can also save an iCal month in PDF and view it in the Reader.)

I have other DRM'd ebooks I got from eReader and Fictionwise. I'm not throwing them away because I'd like to read them someday.

5. I predict a bright future for the Sony Reader. Mobileread is generating a lot of interest in the Reader that the discussions remind me of what the CLIE did to Cliesource.com.

There are counter opinions regarding the Reader. Like what I'm writing, these are opinions and in the end, it's the owner that decides which is good or bad.

All in all, it's pretty obvious that I simply adore the Sony Reader. The PRS-500 is perfect for me as it is. If it gets any "better" then it's probably best to compare it to an oversized PDA or even a small laptop... which the Reader wasn't ever designed to be.

BuddyBoy · 11-08-2006, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuplido

It's comfortable to hold and it's like I'm carrying a small book or Moleskine notebook.

It feels just like a Moleskine to me too - so much so that I've looked into hollowing one out and making it into a carrying case.

jsuplido · 11-08-2006, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyBoy

It feels just like a Moleskine to me too - so much so that I've looked into hollowing one out and making it into a carrying case.

Cool idea!

Btw, I took some pics of the Reader together with the Moleskine.

yvanleterrible · 11-08-2006, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuplido

Background...

... I didn't mind the flashing screen anymore. It was actually quite refreshing.

....

Nice one, subtle...

Good additions to all comments on the reader.

Bob Russell · 11-08-2006, 09:46 AM

Nice pics with the moleskine!

Cthulhu · 11-08-2006, 10:11 AM

My wife bought me a moleskin journal for my birthday one year....by that point I had a palm, so while I love the thing & it reminds me of so many old school authors, I have never used it.

Interesting to see how technology keeps evolving.

Thanks for the review jsuplido

tcv · 11-08-2006, 10:17 AM

pics?

rmeister0 · 11-08-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuplido

It's comfortable to hold and it's like I'm carrying a small book or Moleskine notebook. I peeled off the cover and tried holding the Reader... it was so thin that it was uncomfortable to hold after a while! I have two favorite ways of holding the Reader: with the cover open, and with the cover folded back.

It does have that Moleskin look and feel about it, doesn't it?

I do think the build quality of this thing is quite good.

NatCh · 11-08-2006, 02:29 PM

in post #3, tcv.

jsuplido · 11-08-2006, 07:25 PM

Here are some of the pictures from my Flickr gadgets set...

Reader and Moleskine

a size comparison

MacBook Pro + Boot Camp + Windows XP = Sony Connect

jmdor · 11-08-2006, 08:36 PM

I have 1 stuck pixel -- not enough to want to return it, as I generally don't notice it in any case. Slightly disappointing, but nothing major.

lint · 11-08-2006, 09:03 PM

i just wish it had the rubber band my moleskine has!

tcv · 11-08-2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

in post #3, tcv.

Gah! So it is!!

njt · 11-09-2006, 03:55 AM

Just a quick question, how was the foundation series formatted? I've seen lots of posts about how bad it can get... so just want to know before I purchase^^

Nightwing · 11-09-2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njt

Just a quick question, how was the foundation series formatted? I've seen lots of posts about how bad it can get... so just want to know before I purchase^^

How good are the stories of Foundation?

11-08-2006, 03:01 AM	#1
jsuplido @jsuplido Posts: 58 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Guam Device: iPhone, PRS-300	Amazing device! Background: This was actually a reply to a negative comment about the Sony Reader which was posted at 1src.com. Btw, I got mine from tekchic (you rock!) I just got my Sony Reader and thought I'd offer another point-of-view. 1. It felt slow but only because I was coming from a PDA-point-of-view. However, after about an hour's worth of reading, the "slowness" seemed to have faded away. I guess I just got more relaxed... 2. It's a "digital screen" but I prefer reading from it now. My other favorite used to be the Nokia 770's screen but backlights (and other similar screens) cause eyestrain for me. So reading in a lighted room is a great combination. Besides, it's how a (real) book is meant to be read -- in a well-lit place. I admit I was surprised with the flashing screen but like what I said above, once I got to my regular reading speed, I didn't mind the flashing screen anymore. It was actually quite refreshing. 3. I love the size. It's comfortable to hold and it's like I'm carrying a small book or Moleskine notebook. I peeled off the cover and tried holding the Reader... it was so thin that it was uncomfortable to hold after a while! I have two favorite ways of holding the Reader: with the cover open, and with the cover folded back. 4. This is a $400 device (no way is this a $99 device!). I like the quality... no scratches, no dead pixels, no creaks. This is a solid machine and at one point, I couldn't help but feel I was unpacking a CLIE! I'd rather buy the Reader than the iLiad or any "large screen" ebook reader. Again, I like the backlight-less screen... it's more comfortable to the eyes. Oh, the Reader comes fully charged out of the box. The Reader comes with a $50 voucher which I have used to buy the Foundation series, a Stephen King bundle, Neuromancer, and Eragon. I still have about $2 to spare. The main problem? I can't buy more because Guam is not among the list of US states. However, a simple workaround is to pay someone to "gift" me a giftcard. I use OS X. I've since converted my other non-DRM'd ebooks from .pdb to .txt. I then convert these to .rtf. It's also quite easy to save anything in PDF format in OS X but I'd rather use .rtf. (If I want, I can also save an iCal month in PDF and view it in the Reader.) I have other DRM'd ebooks I got from eReader and Fictionwise. I'm not throwing them away because I'd like to read them someday. 5. I predict a bright future for the Sony Reader. Mobileread is generating a lot of interest in the Reader that the discussions remind me of what the CLIE did to Cliesource.com. There are counter opinions regarding the Reader. Like what I'm writing, these are opinions and in the end, it's the owner that decides which is good or bad. All in all, it's pretty obvious that I simply adore the Sony Reader. The PRS-500 is perfect for me as it is. If it gets any "better" then it's probably best to compare it to an oversized PDA or even a small laptop... which the Reader wasn't ever designed to be.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Seriously thoughtful Amazing...	Over	Lounge	19	04-21-2010 03:24 PM
It's Amazing...	banjobama	Lounge	35	03-22-2010 12:23 PM
Amazing...	GeoffC	Lounge	4	08-03-2008 12:29 PM
This is amazing!	MatchNL	iRex	2	05-14-2008 05:17 PM
Its amazing	JimCuk	Sony Reader	7	01-05-2007 02:21 PM

11-08-2006, 09:46 AM	#5
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Nice pics with the moleskine!

11-08-2006, 10:11 AM	#6
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	My wife bought me a moleskin journal for my birthday one year....by that point I had a palm, so while I love the thing & it reminds me of so many old school authors, I have never used it. Interesting to see how technology keeps evolving. Thanks for the review jsuplido

11-08-2006, 10:17 AM	#7
tcv Addict Posts: 330 Karma: 596 Join Date: Oct 2006	pics?

11-08-2006, 02:29 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	in post #3, tcv.

11-08-2006, 07:25 PM	#10
jsuplido @jsuplido Posts: 58 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Guam Device: iPhone, PRS-300	Here are some of the pictures from my Flickr gadgets set... Reader and Moleskine a size comparison MacBook Pro + Boot Camp + Windows XP = Sony Connect

11-08-2006, 08:36 PM	#11
jmdor Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Windsor, CO Device: Kindle; ex-Sony PRS500	I have 1 stuck pixel -- not enough to want to return it, as I generally don't notice it in any case. Slightly disappointing, but nothing major.

11-08-2006, 09:03 PM	#12
lint Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 76 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader	i just wish it had the rubber band my moleskine has!

11-09-2006, 03:55 AM	#14
njt Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 14 Join Date: Oct 2006	Just a quick question, how was the foundation series formatted? I've seen lots of posts about how bad it can get... so just want to know before I purchase^^

Advert

Advert