Difference between the PRS-650 and the PRS-350?

zardoz73 · 09-03-2011, 07:12 PM

I was recently in a retail shop that sold both the PRS-650 and the PRS-350. I like them both, they're about the same price, so I'm torn. Obviously the PRS-350 is smaller--much smaller. Which makes me think it's a good thing, but maybe it's TOO small. But then the 650 is small, too, it's just large in comparison with the 350.

Anyway, I currently have a Nook and am pretty much sick of it. The touchscreen sucks and the battery life sucks (because of the touchscreen). Either the 650 or the 350 will be an improvement over the Nook, I just wonder which one I should get.

Thoughts?

Ripplinger · 09-03-2011, 07:57 PM

The 650 has an SD expansion slot, the 350 doesn't. They both have the same base memory though and will hold the same amount not counting the expansion card.

The 650 can play some audio formats and has a headphone jack, the 350 doesn't, it's strictly a reader.

The 650 is a 6" screen, the 350 is a 5" screen. They both have the infrared touch screen. Neither has wi-fi, you need to sideload your books.

None of those points are an issue for me. I use my reader strictly for reading and have a very tiny mp3 player if I want to listen to music or audio books, no need to carry around the reader then. And the base memory is enough to carry around up to 1200 ebooks, more than I'd ever need.

For myself, I love the smaller 350. Since it fits into just about any pocket, I take it with just about every time I leave the house. Those who have both the 650 and 350 say the screen looks sharper on the 350 since they're both 800x600 res, but it's packed into a bit smaller screen, so it seems to appear darker text.

zardoz73 · 09-03-2011, 09:17 PM

thanks for the info, Ripplinger. I am *this* close to choosing the 350, but wonder if the screen is too small. Do you ever feel like the screen--and the unit in general--is too small?

As for your other points, I agree. I don't need extras like wifi and an mp3 player and all that. I just want to transfer my books on my computer via Calibre and USB.

FizzyWater · 09-03-2011, 10:36 PM

I used to read on my PDA screen (screen size similar to an iPhone, for the youngsters on the board) and didn't think it was too small.

However I have to admit as I've moved up into another age bracket and find myself increasing the font - again - I think that today I would find the 350 a little small. Hey, if someone gifted me with one, I'd gladly keep it, but it would be my "on the go" reader, rather than one I read at home.

Ripplinger · 09-04-2011, 12:42 AM

I love the size of the 350 and don't find the screen is too small for me at all. My eyes are pretty bad too and in dimmer light I even read at medium font quite often and I'm still not bothered by the screen size. So you have a few less lines of text per page meaning a few more page flips... it takes just the slightest thumb movement on the screen to turn the page so I don't even realize when I'm doing it, it's not an issue at all.

Originally I thought I wanted the 6" screen, but they were hard to find at the time. Then the 350 went on sale and I bought it thinking I was going to end up returning it for the 650. Instead I fell in love with the size of it, it's very comfortable to hold for long periods of time as well. I don't leave home without it.

Flip Martian · 09-04-2011, 04:57 AM

I looked at both too, and did wonder whether the 5" screen would be too small. But its actually not, its perfectly fine and the 350 is that much more portable. No need for mp3 or expansion - it holds more books than I will probably ever read anyway!

The price difference was a factor too - 350s were more numerous on ebay where I got mine from (as new condition).

Analogus · 09-04-2011, 05:50 AM

Mine is the 350. Reason for buying the smaller one:

Money
Portability
Screen resolutíon (same amount of pixels as the 6"). Put the screen a bit nearer to your eyes, and the 5" looks larger ;-)

A.

Asawi · 09-04-2011, 10:18 AM

I haven't actually played with the 650 so I can't compare the two of them. I have however played with many other 6" readers, and the 350 is doing really, really well compared to them!
Especially now that I finally dares installing PRS+ (alternative firmware) and was able to use another font I can read on the "S" setting if the light is good, and on "M" when light isn't as good. I never, ever thought I'd be able to read that size lettering, and if it wasn't for the great screen contrast in the 350 I wouldn't be able to!

Pinecone · 09-04-2011, 02:03 PM

Where is this retail store with 650s in stock?

I would REALLY like to get another 650.

Quexos · 09-04-2011, 03:48 PM

Between the two models I'd choose (I actually did) the 650 because the 350 is too small for serious reading methinks.
But If I did not own the 650 I'd wait a few weeks and get the T1, It's not much of an improvement but it's cheaper and a little better (as in not better to dump the 650 over it if you already have it)

faithbw · 09-07-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zardoz73

thanks for the info, Ripplinger. I am *this* close to choosing the 350, but wonder if the screen is too small. Do you ever feel like the screen--and the unit in general--is too small?

As for your other points, I agree. I don't need extras like wifi and an mp3 player and all that. I just want to transfer my books on my computer via Calibre and USB.

As someone who has switched from the nook classic to the 350, I can say that the 350 is not too small for me. This was definitely a concern for me at first. However, reading on the 350 has proven to be a better experience than reading on the nook. The resolution is much clearer on my 350 and the words appear just fine to me. It's much lighter than nook. It's much easier to hold. Just today, I was able to hold it in one hand while turning the pages with thumb while waiting for the bus. I had some food in my other hand, so being able to hold the 350 in one hand was great!

Plus, I can easily slip the 350 into the little zip up pocket of my purse. It's very inconspicuous. I take it where ever I want to go.

Pomtroll · 09-07-2011, 05:10 PM

I have 3 readers. Nook Classic, Kindle3 & the Sony 350. I'm not young (63) and do not have any trouble reading on the 350. In fact is is my preferred reader. For most of the books I read on it I do change the page mode to margin cut & it seems to help if the fonts are too small. I seldom go out of the small font size.. BUT I am near sighted so I don't have trouble reading up close.

brbubba · 09-10-2011, 10:55 AM

PPI (Pixels per inch) is what made me choose the 350 over every other device out there. It has 200 ppi vs 160 ppi on most devices. I actually had a kindle initially and thought I was going blind because all the text was blurry. Returned it and got the 200. Even with 200 I think there's room for improvement, but it's the best you can get in e ink right now.

Analogus · 09-10-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brbubba

[ ] but it's the best you can get in e ink right now.

Not exactly right:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/i...ory-hd-review/

But beside that, I choose the 350 based on the same thoughts. Resolution, especially for me beeing short sighted is everything.

A

brbubba · 09-11-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Analogus

Not exactly right:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/i...ory-hd-review/

But beside that, I choose the 350 based on the same thoughts. Resolution, especially for me beeing short sighted is everything.

A

Whoaaa, nice 213 ppi on that thing. This makes Sony's move even worse now.

09-03-2011, 07:12 PM	#1
zardoz73 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nook	Difference between the PRS-650 and the PRS-350? I was recently in a retail shop that sold both the PRS-650 and the PRS-350. I like them both, they're about the same price, so I'm torn. Obviously the PRS-350 is smaller--much smaller. Which makes me think it's a good thing, but maybe it's TOO small. But then the 650 is small, too, it's just large in comparison with the 350. Anyway, I currently have a Nook and am pretty much sick of it. The touchscreen sucks and the battery life sucks (because of the touchscreen). Either the 650 or the 350 will be an improvement over the Nook, I just wonder which one I should get. Thoughts?

09-04-2011, 05:50 AM	#7
Analogus Fanatic Posts: 568 Karma: 2170348 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: 2x Sony PRS-350; PRS-300 (†), Paperwhite (†), Voyage	Mine is the 350. Reason for buying the smaller one: Money Portability Screen resolutíon (same amount of pixels as the 6"). Put the screen a bit nearer to your eyes, and the 5" looks larger ;-) A.

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09-03-2011, 07:57 PM	#2
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	The 650 has an SD expansion slot, the 350 doesn't. They both have the same base memory though and will hold the same amount not counting the expansion card. The 650 can play some audio formats and has a headphone jack, the 350 doesn't, it's strictly a reader. The 650 is a 6" screen, the 350 is a 5" screen. They both have the infrared touch screen. Neither has wi-fi, you need to sideload your books. None of those points are an issue for me. I use my reader strictly for reading and have a very tiny mp3 player if I want to listen to music or audio books, no need to carry around the reader then. And the base memory is enough to carry around up to 1200 ebooks, more than I'd ever need. For myself, I love the smaller 350. Since it fits into just about any pocket, I take it with just about every time I leave the house. Those who have both the 650 and 350 say the screen looks sharper on the 350 since they're both 800x600 res, but it's packed into a bit smaller screen, so it seems to appear darker text.

09-03-2011, 09:17 PM	#3
zardoz73 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nook	thanks for the info, Ripplinger. I am this close to choosing the 350, but wonder if the screen is too small. Do you ever feel like the screen--and the unit in general--is too small? As for your other points, I agree. I don't need extras like wifi and an mp3 player and all that. I just want to transfer my books on my computer via Calibre and USB.

09-03-2011, 10:36 PM	#4
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 used to read on my PDA screen (screen size similar to an iPhone, for the youngsters on the board) and didn't think it was too small. However I have to admit as I've moved up into another age bracket and find myself increasing the font - again - I think that today I would find the 350 a little small. Hey, if someone gifted me with one, I'd gladly keep it, but it would be my "on the go" reader, rather than one I read at home.

09-04-2011, 12:42 AM	#5
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I love the size of the 350 and don't find the screen is too small for me at all. My eyes are pretty bad too and in dimmer light I even read at medium font quite often and I'm still not bothered by the screen size. So you have a few less lines of text per page meaning a few more page flips... it takes just the slightest thumb movement on the screen to turn the page so I don't even realize when I'm doing it, it's not an issue at all. Originally I thought I wanted the 6" screen, but they were hard to find at the time. Then the 350 went on sale and I bought it thinking I was going to end up returning it for the 650. Instead I fell in love with the size of it, it's very comfortable to hold for long periods of time as well. I don't leave home without it.

09-04-2011, 04:57 AM	#6
Flip Martian Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 45512 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS 350, iPad, Sony PRS-T1	I looked at both too, and did wonder whether the 5" screen would be too small. But its actually not, its perfectly fine and the 350 is that much more portable. No need for mp3 or expansion - it holds more books than I will probably ever read anyway! The price difference was a factor too - 350s were more numerous on ebay where I got mine from (as new condition).

09-04-2011, 10:18 AM	#8
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,467 Karma: 3865860 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	I haven't actually played with the 650 so I can't compare the two of them. I have however played with many other 6" readers, and the 350 is doing really, really well compared to them! Especially now that I finally dares installing PRS+ (alternative firmware) and was able to use another font I can read on the "S" setting if the light is good, and on "M" when light isn't as good. I never, ever thought I'd be able to read that size lettering, and if it wasn't for the great screen contrast in the 350 I wouldn't be able to!

09-04-2011, 02:03 PM	#9
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	Where is this retail store with 650s in stock? I would REALLY like to get another 650.

09-04-2011, 03:48 PM	#10
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	Between the two models I'd choose (I actually did) the 650 because the 350 is too small for serious reading methinks. But If I did not own the 650 I'd wait a few weeks and get the T1, It's not much of an improvement but it's cheaper and a little better (as in not better to dump the 650 over it if you already have it)

09-07-2011, 05:10 PM	#12
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I have 3 readers. Nook Classic, Kindle3 & the Sony 350. I'm not young (63) and do not have any trouble reading on the 350. In fact is is my preferred reader. For most of the books I read on it I do change the page mode to margin cut & it seems to help if the fonts are too small. I seldom go out of the small font size.. BUT I am near sighted so I don't have trouble reading up close.

09-10-2011, 10:55 AM	#13
brbubba Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 668 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: PRS350	PPI (Pixels per inch) is what made me choose the 350 over every other device out there. It has 200 ppi vs 160 ppi on most devices. I actually had a kindle initially and thought I was going blind because all the text was blurry. Returned it and got the 200. Even with 200 I think there's room for improvement, but it's the best you can get in e ink right now.