The PRS-350, the 3rd day

GlenBarrington · 10-06-2010, 07:44 AM

First off, the screen makes the 300 look sad and tired. Superb screen! And the touch screen features work reasonably well (with a finger, less well with the stylus).

I know they only made it smaller by a tiny amount, but the difference in 'Feel' is significant. It is far more portable than the 300.

I had trouble getting Calibre to recognize the 350, but they worked together smoothly after I upgraded to the newest release of Calibre. (So many releases of Calibre in a month, that I don't always keep up! Not that I'm complaining mind you)

I'm not 100% comfortable with the Touchscreen OS, I don't like seeing my books as icons and I can't seem to make the change to a list permanent.

The OS itself seems a bit more stable than that of the 300. Fewer inexplicable pauses and involuntary restarts. (no restarts for me so far) Still a little slow to boot up, but so far, once the thing is fully up it seems to work smoothly. Still a little slow compared to . . . well I have nothing to compare it to, the 300 was my first non PDA reading device, but it does seem slow compared to my Treo.

The "handwriting" application is really more of a very primitive drawing application. And the stylus doesn't always seem to leave a mark when drug across the screen. Its' a good thing I won't use it much, BUT I assume the stylus will require some sort of screen protector to prevent scratches.

I'd like to see replacement styluses with a little more 'heft' to them. They feel somewhat flimsy.

You know, with the 'handwriting' application, and the notepad application, the PRS350 is only a calendar and a contact list away from a basic PDA. It's small enough and "Palm-able" enough to work.

With those apps added, we could have a very good reason to keep our 350's out on the desk at work. Productivity could fall through the floor.

Think of those apps as another way to stick it to 'the man'.

FizzyWater · 10-06-2010, 08:15 AM

I have a new 650 - unless the firmware really is different between the two models, you should be able to make the Book List view permanent. I don't like the icon version either.

GlenBarrington · 10-06-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I have a new 650 - unless the firmware really is different between the two models, you should be able to make the Book List view permanent. I don't like the icon version either.

I'll study the user's manual a little more closely. Maybe I overlooked something.

doreenjoy · 10-06-2010, 08:21 AM

Please report back if you find the secret.

viviena · 10-06-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I'd like to see replacement styluses with a little more 'heft' to them. They feel somewhat flimsy.

I would too, as I broke mine a few days ago.

I'm not even a very strong person, but mine broke where the upper plastic part is joined to the long metal tube.

Here's hoping the superglue works.

FizzyWater · 10-06-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

Please report back if you find the secret.

This is what I did for my 650:

Click on the Books > View All option from the Home screen
Press the Options button
Click on the View > Thumbnails menu item ("Thumbnails" is grayed out, so at first I thought the option was not really available, but it's just the way it displays)
Select either "List" (title plus author) or "Title Only" from the menu that opens up

I hope this works for your 350s!

grooks · 10-06-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

This is what I did for my 650:

Click on the Books > View All option from the Home screen
Press the Options button
Click on the View > Thumbnails menu item ("Thumbnails" is grayed out, so at first I thought the option was not really available, but it's just the way it displays)
Select either "List" (title plus author) or "Title Only" from the menu that opens up

I hope this works for your 350s!

If you have books within one or more Collections, the same steps above will need to be done inside one collection then will be turned on for all collections.

CraftyDan · 10-06-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

You know, with the 'handwriting' application, and the notepad application, the PRS350 is only a calendar and a contact list away from a basic PDA. It's small enough and "Palm-able" enough to work.

I've been thinking along the same lines.

If you could get Outlook (or PC/net planner of your choice) to print to epub/pdf your schedule for the next 30 days in page-a-day and/or page-a-week format you've got a read only planner.

Same strategy for an address book.

In my mind the only thing left is . . . A CALCULATOR!

<sigh> Sadly, I have to wait until next week to get mine. Checkbook just doesn't have it in it yet. </sigh>

Xanthe · 10-07-2010, 11:56 PM

My 350 was delivered today and I've just started playing with it. I see that it keeps track of the time and date, but aside from accessing the Settings to see what time/date is set, does the 350 display the time anywhere else? Also, I don't see any way to change fonts; am I missing something?

doreenjoy · 10-08-2010, 12:14 AM

When you press the Options button, the time should flash in the status bar.

induna · 10-08-2010, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

My 350 was delivered today and I've just started playing with it. I see that it keeps track of the time and date, but aside from accessing the Settings to see what time/date is set, does the 350 display the time anywhere else? Also, I don't see any way to change fonts; am I missing something?

You can't easily change the font with the standard firmware. If you flash with the "Russified" firmware (search the forums) you can modify the usercss configuration to use any font you like. Since this requires hacking your reader, it's best if you spend some time reading about the process, although it is not difficult.

Xanthe · 10-08-2010, 10:20 PM

@doreenjoy - Yes, it does! Thanks for that information.

@induna - Thanks for letting me know that. I'll probably play around with things in the future, once I learn fully what the 350 does and doesn't do.

Right now I'm just really surprised at the lack of good foldering on the 350, and the really bare-bones nature of the Sony Library software.

GlenBarrington · 10-09-2010, 07:17 AM

[QUOTE=Xanthe;1153348Right now I'm just really surprised at the lack of good foldering on the 350, and the really bare-bones nature of the Sony Library software.[/QUOTE]

Not sure what you mean by foldering, but the Library software DOES stink, bigtime. One of the great features of a Sony reader is you don't have to use their software OR their bookstore! Calibre and just about any ePub vendor will work for you!

Latinandgreek · 10-09-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraftyDan

I've been thinking along the same lines.

If you could get Outlook (or PC/net planner of your choice) to print to epub/pdf your schedule for the next 30 days in page-a-day and/or page-a-week format you've got a read only planner.

Same strategy for an address book.

In my mind the only thing left is . . . A CALCULATOR!

<sigh> Sadly, I have to wait until next week to get mine. Checkbook just doesn't have it in it yet. </sigh>

Something like this?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=calender+pdf

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=calender+pdf

Xanthe · 10-09-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Not sure what you mean by foldering, but the Library software DOES stink, bigtime. One of the great features of a Sony reader is you don't have to use their software OR their bookstore! Calibre and just about any ePub vendor will work for you!

I'm used to the Aluratek Libre, where I have folders set up in each authors name, and where I can have sub-folders with their various series' names and books. I have a separate folder set up for the 100 classic books that came with the Libre and another one for the books that I've added, which I've broken down with the aforementioned authors name. I can also create folders by genre (or any other category) if I want.

The Sony Library software is some of the most unwieldy and limited that I've ever worked with. It's easier to just drag-and-drop the books into the reader.

10-06-2010, 07:44 AM	#1
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	The PRS-350, the 3rd day First off, the screen makes the 300 look sad and tired. Superb screen! And the touch screen features work reasonably well (with a finger, less well with the stylus). I know they only made it smaller by a tiny amount, but the difference in 'Feel' is significant. It is far more portable than the 300. I had trouble getting Calibre to recognize the 350, but they worked together smoothly after I upgraded to the newest release of Calibre. (So many releases of Calibre in a month, that I don't always keep up! Not that I'm complaining mind you) I'm not 100% comfortable with the Touchscreen OS, I don't like seeing my books as icons and I can't seem to make the change to a list permanent. The OS itself seems a bit more stable than that of the 300. Fewer inexplicable pauses and involuntary restarts. (no restarts for me so far) Still a little slow to boot up, but so far, once the thing is fully up it seems to work smoothly. Still a little slow compared to . . . well I have nothing to compare it to, the 300 was my first non PDA reading device, but it does seem slow compared to my Treo. The "handwriting" application is really more of a very primitive drawing application. And the stylus doesn't always seem to leave a mark when drug across the screen. Its' a good thing I won't use it much, BUT I assume the stylus will require some sort of screen protector to prevent scratches. I'd like to see replacement styluses with a little more 'heft' to them. They feel somewhat flimsy. You know, with the 'handwriting' application, and the notepad application, the PRS350 is only a calendar and a contact list away from a basic PDA. It's small enough and "Palm-able" enough to work. With those apps added, we could have a very good reason to keep our 350's out on the desk at work. Productivity could fall through the floor. Think of those apps as another way to stick it to 'the man'.

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10-06-2010, 08:15 AM	#2
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I have a new 650 - unless the firmware really is different between the two models, you should be able to make the Book List view permanent. I don't like the icon version either.

10-06-2010, 08:21 AM	#4
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Please report back if you find the secret.

10-07-2010, 11:56 PM	#9
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	My 350 was delivered today and I've just started playing with it. I see that it keeps track of the time and date, but aside from accessing the Settings to see what time/date is set, does the 350 display the time anywhere else? Also, I don't see any way to change fonts; am I missing something?

10-08-2010, 12:14 AM	#10
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	When you press the Options button, the time should flash in the status bar.

10-08-2010, 10:20 PM	#12
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	@doreenjoy - Yes, it does! Thanks for that information. @induna - Thanks for letting me know that. I'll probably play around with things in the future, once I learn fully what the 350 does and doesn't do. Right now I'm just really surprised at the lack of good foldering on the 350, and the really bare-bones nature of the Sony Library software.

10-09-2010, 07:17 AM	#13
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	[QUOTE=Xanthe;1153348Right now I'm just really surprised at the lack of good foldering on the 350, and the really bare-bones nature of the Sony Library software.[/QUOTE] Not sure what you mean by foldering, but the Library software DOES stink, bigtime. One of the great features of a Sony reader is you don't have to use their software OR their bookstore! Calibre and just about any ePub vendor will work for you!