Am I choosing correctly?

A.T.E. · 03-22-2010, 09:47 AM

Hi,

I had already posted this in the new members section, but maybe my post was not noticed. So I repost it here.

I am considering buying an e-book reader as I spend most of my Internet time reading things, and also because I like to read books occasionally: too much time in front of a LCD screen, too much time with my noisy and warm notebook on my lap.

I have been browsing this and other sites, and so far my idea is to buy a Sony PRS-300 or a PRS-505, if a find a good second hand deal. But it is just an idea.

Reasons: price, availability, epub and calibre compatibility, and "brand".

I have installed calibre on my computer to better understand what would be my life with the new gadget, I have been using the calibre reader, and the impression is positive.

Some questions:

1. reading your forum I see that some people say that 5" is too small and that 6" is necessary, while others say it does not really matter. As I have not had a chance to test any ebook reader, I would like to learn more about this. Has anybody who has bought a 5" later regretted not having a bigger 6" screen?

2. those who bought the PRS-300, what were your reasons to choose that? Has your user experience confirmed that?

3. I have downloaded news with calibre and read them in its viewer. The epub file contains hyperlinks that I can click with the mouse. Can the Sony 300 do that?

Thanks to all who will take the time to answer these newbie questions.

Spoon Man · 03-22-2010, 10:13 AM

I can't tell you about the Sony readers, they are not my area of experience, but as far as the 5" vs 6" screens goes I would ask whether you like reading hard back books or paper back books? I've got a 6" device and I think its great, but I would be more than happy with a 5" as well. Whats a few extra page turns?

If you prefer getting more information on the screen at one time however, I would recommend a larger screen. For me, its just another push of a button.

Graham · 03-22-2010, 10:23 AM

I'd been using a 6" Cybook Gen3 for 2 years and was wary of switching to a 5" screen, but having recently bought the Elonex 511EB I can say I'm not finding it a problem. Yes, of course you get more words on a screen on the 6", but the 5" isn't too small, and I find I get just as engrossed in my reading.

Graham

w1nt3r · 03-25-2010, 04:30 PM

I have had PRS-505 for more than 1 year now, and I absolutely LOVE it. The contrast, screen, etc is among the best of the e-readers I've seen so far.

If you read pure word (no graphic at all), it MAY not matter if you have 5-inch or 6-inch screen. For me though, 6-inch is the absolute minimum. I am considering buying a larger screen e-reader, but I will never buy the smaller one.

animedude01 · 03-26-2010, 12:48 AM

I've used the Iliad and DR1000 by Irex and the Astak 5" EZReader PocletPro. For PDFs, I use the DR1000 due to screen size. For general reading of anything other than PDFs, I use the PocketPro and am very happy with it. Before I bought it, I thought I'd have issues with the small screen size, but I don't have any. It's now my favorite for anything other than PDF and I get great battery life to boot.

Even for reflowable PDFs I prefer the DR1000 because a lot of times the reflow looks bad.

My $0.02.

A4- · 03-26-2010, 04:10 AM

Since you read a lot online, you might want to have a look at the Onyx Boox, which comes with a built-in browser and wifi.

Ea · 03-26-2010, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A4-

Since you read a lot online, you might want to have a look at the Onyx Boox, which comes with a built-in browser and wifi.

That's a good suggestion.

Apart from that, in my experience there's very little difference in reading on a 5'' or 6'' screen if it's ony text you read and you don't need extra-large fonts. I haven't tried the Sony 300, but the 505 is a nice solid device.

A.T.E. · 03-31-2010, 10:51 AM

Hi, thanks to everybody.
The Onyx was a good suggestion but I could not find a swiss reseller, plus its price, so I finally bought the Sony PRS-300 silver.
So far so good.
Also, second hand PRS-505 on ebay were at least 80% the price of a new 300, so I gave up on that too.

lene1949 · 04-02-2010, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.T.E.

Hi, thanks to everybody.
The Onyx was a good suggestion but I could not find a swiss reseller, plus its price, so I finally bought the Sony PRS-300 silver.
So far so good.
Also, second hand PRS-505 on ebay were at least 80% the price of a new 300, so I gave up on that too.

All the PRS-505 go to Eastern Europe...

Sorry... I've got a strange sense of the ridiciculous.. I'm Danish...

03-22-2010, 09:47 AM	#1
A.T.E. Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Switzerland Device: Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Aura H2O, Sony PRS-300, FBReader	Am I choosing correctly? Hi, I had already posted this in the new members section, but maybe my post was not noticed. So I repost it here. I am considering buying an e-book reader as I spend most of my Internet time reading things, and also because I like to read books occasionally: too much time in front of a LCD screen, too much time with my noisy and warm notebook on my lap. I have been browsing this and other sites, and so far my idea is to buy a Sony PRS-300 or a PRS-505, if a find a good second hand deal. But it is just an idea. Reasons: price, availability, epub and calibre compatibility, and "brand". I have installed calibre on my computer to better understand what would be my life with the new gadget, I have been using the calibre reader, and the impression is positive. Some questions: 1. reading your forum I see that some people say that 5" is too small and that 6" is necessary, while others say it does not really matter. As I have not had a chance to test any ebook reader, I would like to learn more about this. Has anybody who has bought a 5" later regretted not having a bigger 6" screen? 2. those who bought the PRS-300, what were your reasons to choose that? Has your user experience confirmed that? 3. I have downloaded news with calibre and read them in its viewer. The epub file contains hyperlinks that I can click with the mouse. Can the Sony 300 do that? Thanks to all who will take the time to answer these newbie questions.

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03-22-2010, 10:13 AM	#2
Spoon Man Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 3002 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: Kindle 1	I can't tell you about the Sony readers, they are not my area of experience, but as far as the 5" vs 6" screens goes I would ask whether you like reading hard back books or paper back books? I've got a 6" device and I think its great, but I would be more than happy with a 5" as well. Whats a few extra page turns? If you prefer getting more information on the screen at one time however, I would recommend a larger screen. For me, its just another push of a button.

03-22-2010, 10:23 AM	#3
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,742 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	I'd been using a 6" Cybook Gen3 for 2 years and was wary of switching to a 5" screen, but having recently bought the Elonex 511EB I can say I'm not finding it a problem. Yes, of course you get more words on a screen on the 6", but the 5" isn't too small, and I find I get just as engrossed in my reading. Graham

03-25-2010, 04:30 PM	#4
w1nt3r Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I have had PRS-505 for more than 1 year now, and I absolutely LOVE it. The contrast, screen, etc is among the best of the e-readers I've seen so far. If you read pure word (no graphic at all), it MAY not matter if you have 5-inch or 6-inch screen. For me though, 6-inch is the absolute minimum. I am considering buying a larger screen e-reader, but I will never buy the smaller one.

03-26-2010, 12:48 AM	#5
animedude01 Addict Posts: 254 Karma: 1200 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: DR1000S, ILIAD2, Nokia n900, Kindle for PC, Astak EZReader Pro	I've used the Iliad and DR1000 by Irex and the Astak 5" EZReader PocletPro. For PDFs, I use the DR1000 due to screen size. For general reading of anything other than PDFs, I use the PocketPro and am very happy with it. Before I bought it, I thought I'd have issues with the small screen size, but I don't have any. It's now my favorite for anything other than PDF and I get great battery life to boot. Even for reflowable PDFs I prefer the DR1000 because a lot of times the reflow looks bad. My $0.02.

03-26-2010, 04:10 AM	#6
A4- Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 1110 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Netherlands Device: iRex iLiad v2	Since you read a lot online, you might want to have a look at the Onyx Boox, which comes with a built-in browser and wifi.

03-31-2010, 10:51 AM	#8
A.T.E. Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Switzerland Device: Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Aura H2O, Sony PRS-300, FBReader	Hi, thanks to everybody. The Onyx was a good suggestion but I could not find a swiss reseller, plus its price, so I finally bought the Sony PRS-300 silver. So far so good. Also, second hand PRS-505 on ebay were at least 80% the price of a new 300, so I gave up on that too.