PRS-350 To buy or not to buy (at $120 on Best Buy)? - Page 3

Poppaea · 05-16-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterGame

I'll be darned. It works. Not only does it tell me that the front of the PRS-350 is metal, it tells me that the metal-looking front of my calculator is not.

Pomtroll · 05-16-2011, 05:46 PM

Boy these posts can get mighty interesting very very fast.

carpetmojo · 05-16-2011, 05:53 PM

Just as a rider to above, and a vital life-skill for all, if you are offered a carpet/rug which "is silk" - and therefore worth $/£17zillion - try the temperature test. It really does do the biz.

Silk is noticeably colder than wool or cotton.

The clincher is to ask if you can burn a small piece of fringe for a smell and appearance test.
(It's a scream, honest

)
But, if they agree - it's probably straight. ( silk = blob, and strange odour, anything else else = crook)

The things you learn on MobileRead..................

So, an alternative, ask if you can chuck the ereader on the fire...........

shibamistress · 05-16-2011, 08:25 PM

Not that I want to join in on the aluminum debate, but I was pretty sure the 350 are aluminum too, but....I didn't do the test at Best Buy.

In any case, I've now looked at it twice, and I'm thinking I just might get one. I really liked them--may or may not be true, but it feels sturdier than the Nook (which was my big contender) and I liked the size and the price. I'm still mulling it over, but is definitely in the running for me.

Amalthia · 05-16-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coops

It's excellent, but worth a bit of effort to get much better fonts installed or embedded in your epubs.... the default Sony font is sadly rather rubbish.

Coops

I like the Sony's default font.

Mater · 05-16-2011, 10:40 PM

Reasons I chose the prs 350 over the other ereaders...

1. size ... literally does fit in my wristlet with cell phone, id and credit cards, and lip gloss with room to spare
2. price...at $119 I can still get another ereader and not feel bad at what I spent.
3. e-ink...soooo much nicer than reading with a backlit display.
4. battery life...yes I know, not as long as Kindle (30 days) but longer than Nook (11hrs)...but hey 11 days is nothing to sneeze at.
5. epub format...sadly not on Kindle

I doubt seriously that I would get another e-ink reader. This one has all I want. I prefer my laptop for keeping my library of ebooks and going online to peruse for book choices. I just use Calibre and highlight the books I want and transfer to my prs350. My next will probably be a tablet like the Nook Color but the reasons have nothing really to do with reading. Well I take that back...more for magazines and childrens books.

ilovejedd · 05-17-2011, 09:30 PM

Just picked up my PRS-350, some first impressions:

Smaller than I expected. I guess the one I played with previously was an older version (perhaps the PRS-505?). I remember it not having a touch screen. Still, the screen on the PRS-350 is around the same size as a bunko and just a little smaller than mass market paperbacks so I find it quite acceptable. Being pocketable is a big plus.
Solid construction. Despite its lightweight, the PRS-350 feels very well made. I'm also really liking the somewhat rubbery grip on the back.
Font sizes. Big jump from S to XS with no size in between. I find the S too big, but the XS is just a little bit too small for my eyes. Between the two, though, I prefer XS. Text is very clear even at XS. No noticeable pixels.
The flashing/transition screen seems a lot shorter than on the older versions. I found this somewhat distracting so I'm glad it's not as noticeable on the PRS-350.
Readable in bright sunlight. On the iPhone, I usually have to turn up brightness pretty high so I can read in bright sunlight which inevitably gives me headaches. There's also the issue with glare and reflections. I was trying out the PRS-350 this afternoon while in the car (parking lot) waiting for my mom and it's been really comfortable to use.

Overall, I'm really liking my first foray into e-ink readers. At $120, the PRS-350 was a good purchase. I might upgrade to a PRS-650 eventually, but I'd definitely want to have some hands-on experience before I buy one (unless I find it online for $150 or less).

Thank you everyone for all the feedback. They've been really helpful when I was making a decision.

Poppaea · 05-18-2011, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mater

4. battery life...yes I know, not as long as Kindle (30 days) but longer than Nook (11hrs)...but hey 11 days is nothing to sneeze at.

Power it off entirely between reading and you will get 30 days of battery life. The two weeks are for having the Sony in constant stand-by.

Prestidigitweeze · 05-18-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I might upgrade to a PRS-650 eventually, but I'd definitely want to have some hands-on experience before I buy one (unless I find it online for $150 or less).

It would be nice if Sony stopped playing hard-to-own and actually told us what their next crop of readers will be like and if it will be at all. If they were dropping their readers entirely, then I'd grab a 650. If they're about to announce new readers, then I'd either try to pick up a discounted 650 from the Sony Store if that happens or wait for their rumored 2,400 x 1,650 Pearl screen and faster processor.

Prestidigitweeze · 05-18-2011, 09:19 AM

(Or I could simply renounce my expectations, go back to Bavaria and gnaw on Schließfrüchte.)

Poppaea · 05-18-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

(Or I could simply renounce my expectations, go back to Bavaria and gnaw on Schließfrüchte.)

On what???

Prestidigitweeze · 05-18-2011, 02:13 PM

Waiter, this fruit is closed. I'm tired of fruit capsules. Bring me some open fruit.

Latinandgreek · 05-18-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

It would be nice if Sony stopped playing hard-to-own and actually told us what their next crop of readers will be like and if it will be at all. If they were dropping their readers entirely, then I'd grab a 650. If they're about to announce new readers, then I'd either try to pick up a discounted 650 from the Sony Store if that happens or wait for their rumored 2,400 x 1,650 Pearl screen and faster processor.

Wow! This is pretty much a dream ebook reader for me, I hope it comes to fruition!

Poppaea · 05-18-2011, 02:41 PM

And where is the rumor it's going to be a Sony from?

kjm00 · 05-19-2011, 03:26 PM

Mentioned elsewhere (by me), but possibly relevant: the PRS-950 is also on sale at BB for $199.

So, is Sony dumping all of its eReaders at Best Buy?

05-17-2011, 09:30 PM	#37
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	Just picked up my PRS-350, some first impressions: Smaller than I expected. I guess the one I played with previously was an older version (perhaps the PRS-505?). I remember it not having a touch screen. Still, the screen on the PRS-350 is around the same size as a bunko and just a little smaller than mass market paperbacks so I find it quite acceptable. Being pocketable is a big plus. Solid construction. Despite its lightweight, the PRS-350 feels very well made. I'm also really liking the somewhat rubbery grip on the back. Font sizes. Big jump from S to XS with no size in between. I find the S too big, but the XS is just a little bit too small for my eyes. Between the two, though, I prefer XS. Text is very clear even at XS. No noticeable pixels. The flashing/transition screen seems a lot shorter than on the older versions. I found this somewhat distracting so I'm glad it's not as noticeable on the PRS-350. Readable in bright sunlight. On the iPhone, I usually have to turn up brightness pretty high so I can read in bright sunlight which inevitably gives me headaches. There's also the issue with glare and reflections. I was trying out the PRS-350 this afternoon while in the car (parking lot) waiting for my mom and it's been really comfortable to use. Overall, I'm really liking my first foray into e-ink readers. At $120, the PRS-350 was a good purchase. I might upgrade to a PRS-650 eventually, but I'd definitely want to have some hands-on experience before I buy one (unless I find it online for $150 or less). Thank you everyone for all the feedback. They've been really helpful when I was making a decision.

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05-16-2011, 05:46 PM	#32
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	Boy these posts can get mighty interesting very very fast.

05-16-2011, 05:53 PM	#33
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Just as a rider to above, and a vital life-skill for all, if you are offered a carpet/rug which "is silk" - and therefore worth $/£17zillion - try the temperature test. It really does do the biz. Silk is noticeably colder than wool or cotton. The clincher is to ask if you can burn a small piece of fringe for a smell and appearance test. (It's a scream, honest ) But, if they agree - it's probably straight. ( silk = blob, and strange odour, anything else else = crook) The things you learn on MobileRead.................. So, an alternative, ask if you can chuck the ereader on the fire...........

05-16-2011, 08:25 PM	#34
shibamistress Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 226854 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southwest US Device: KSO (3G), Nook Color, android apps	Not that I want to join in on the aluminum debate, but I was pretty sure the 350 are aluminum too, but....I didn't do the test at Best Buy. In any case, I've now looked at it twice, and I'm thinking I just might get one. I really liked them--may or may not be true, but it feels sturdier than the Nook (which was my big contender) and I liked the size and the price. I'm still mulling it over, but is definitely in the running for me.

05-16-2011, 10:40 PM	#36
Mater Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Rowlett, TX Device: Sony Reader	Reasons I chose the prs 350 over the other ereaders... 1. size ... literally does fit in my wristlet with cell phone, id and credit cards, and lip gloss with room to spare 2. price...at $119 I can still get another ereader and not feel bad at what I spent. 3. e-ink...soooo much nicer than reading with a backlit display. 4. battery life...yes I know, not as long as Kindle (30 days) but longer than Nook (11hrs)...but hey 11 days is nothing to sneeze at. 5. epub format...sadly not on Kindle I doubt seriously that I would get another e-ink reader. This one has all I want. I prefer my laptop for keeping my library of ebooks and going online to peruse for book choices. I just use Calibre and highlight the books I want and transfer to my prs350. My next will probably be a tablet like the Nook Color but the reasons have nothing really to do with reading. Well I take that back...more for magazines and childrens books.

05-18-2011, 09:19 AM	#40
Prestidigitweeze Fledgling Demagogue Posts: 2,384 Karma: 31132263 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: White Plains Device: Clara HD; Oasis 2; Aura HD; iPad Air; PRS-350; Galaxy S7.	(Or I could simply renounce my expectations, go back to Bavaria and gnaw on Schließfrüchte.)

05-18-2011, 02:13 PM	#42
Prestidigitweeze Fledgling Demagogue Posts: 2,384 Karma: 31132263 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: White Plains Device: Clara HD; Oasis 2; Aura HD; iPad Air; PRS-350; Galaxy S7.	Waiter, this fruit is closed. I'm tired of fruit capsules. Bring me some open fruit.

05-18-2011, 02:41 PM	#44
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,577 Karma: 20638583 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra Colour	And where is the rumor it's going to be a Sony from?

05-19-2011, 03:26 PM	#45
kjm00 Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Sony Reader and my Blackberry (Mobipocket)	Mentioned elsewhere (by me), but possibly relevant: the PRS-950 is also on sale at BB for $199. So, is Sony dumping all of its eReaders at Best Buy?