So how does everyone feel about SONY now?

[jersysman]

As a new Sony customer, I have found that they are no different than any other big company in this market. No more no less. As tho their product - I am very satisfied with my T1. It is everything and more that I have wanted in an eReader. Sure there are things that I wish for them to improve upon, but given that the product has been released for less than a month, I am willing to see what direction they go.

As others have well stated on this thread, if the product does not live up to the expectations that one gives it, just don't buy it. I usually wait for a product to go through its paces and be give the once-over before I buy it. But, I decided that this time I would be on the forefront and I have been greatly fulfilled with my purchase. I can understand the frustration that others feel, but understand not all of us feel the same way.

[ring0_event]

I am VERY disappointed with the T1's PDF support, which is NOT usable in reflow mode. I do have a T1, but have not decided whether to return it or not. It works very well with my EPUBs, but I *need* good PDF support like my 950. *sigh*

[vxf]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

V, Sorry, but you come across as having ingrained grievances with Sony and wanting to hurt Sony!

Ingrained grievances? Well, certainly, there are things I am not happy about, but, overall, SONY's reader have given me many hours of fun - so no, I wouldn't say I am somehow 'hostile' to them. If anything, I was certainly hoping they would resurrect their ereader business line - especially considering that I have invested in their system.

Wanting to hurt SONY? I think you are being a bit dramatic here - and off the mark. As I said, I have invested in SONY's system - I have three of their ebook readers plus accessories, hundreds of papers annotated in their closed annotations system, many books purchased from their store - and three active subscriptions. I truly hope they turn this business around...

Really, I don't want to rain on anybody's parade (I know people get defensive when you criticize their recent purchases) nor am I here to bash SONY. Simply, I see SONY's reader has been on a rollercoster ride and I see lots of conflicting signals - a new line, but bugs - more communication (they even posted here) but also denial. So, I am simply, honestly, asking how does everyone feel about their future?

It's not just curiosity. Even if you buy non protected books and strip them, even if you use Calibre - to some extent, you are buying into a closed system. In my cases, that has to do with the fact that a lot of my reading involves annotations. So the question is deeper than 'should I buy a T1'? The question is - should I move to a whole new brand/system - or at least give it a try?

[Ozric]

I've never used annotations myself, although lately I've been thinking I might benefit from doing so. I would've hoped that their annotation system was more universal and portable--simple .txt files or something.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

My black metal 650 has pretty much the same problem.

I have a black 650 and I don't have fingerprint issues. I think maybe you need to wash your hands much more then you do. Maybe you have greasy fingers that just need more washing.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by vxf

Really, I don't want to rain on anybody's parade (I know people get defensive when you criticize their recent purchases) nor am I here to bash SONY. Simply, I see SONY's reader has been on a rollercoster ride and I see lots of conflicting signals - a new line, but bugs - more communication (they even posted here) but also denial. So, I am simply, honestly, asking how does everyone feel about their future?

I'll answer that question once I actually own a T1 and know what the product is like. And until you do as well, perhaps severe complaints about it should wait?

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by ring0_event

I am VERY disappointed with the T1's PDF support, which is NOT usable in reflow mode. I do have a T1, but have not decided whether to return it or not. It works very well with my EPUBs, but I *need* good PDF support like my 950. *sigh*

I was hoping to use a T1 specifically for books that were only available in PDF format, no Epub possible. I assumed it would be possible to pinch and zoom the small size to make it larger, for instance? Or crop those gray side margins altogether?

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I was hoping to use a T1 specifically for books that were only available in PDF format, no Epub possible. I assumed it would be possible to pinch and zoom the small size to make it larger, for instance? Or crop those gray side margins altogether?

I think trying to expect an ereader to be able to display PDF documents well is a little misguided. Unless formatted specifically for a 6" screen, no PDF will display well, though some ereaders handle them better than others. Pretty much all ereaders on the market are primarily designed to read ebook formats other than PDF. The PRS-T1 is no different from any other ereader in this regard.

I decided to go down the tablet route (Apple iPad2) for PDF reading. My iPad2 display A4 formatted PDF documents (the majority of PDF formatting) very well indeed, and in colour. I can now have my extensive reference library at my hobby bench, where it is needed.

If you truly want PDF display, then there is a beaut tutorial located in the Sony forum explaining how to reformat for ereaders, plus software such as Briss.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I was hoping to use a T1 specifically for books that were only available in PDF format, no Epub possible. I assumed it would be possible to pinch and zoom the small size to make it larger, for instance? Or crop those gray side margins altogether?

SeaBookGuy, the cropping and zoom features are nice. However, the T1 has a lag issue with PDF's that have text reflow. For some reason, the last screen of the reflowed page is slow to move forward (a noticeable pause). So if you use lots of graphics in your PDF's it's a good choice. However, if you have mostly text PDF, then your 650 is probably equal or better in comparison. It's something that needs to be fixed with a firmware update in the future.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have a black 650 and I don't have fingerprint issues. I think maybe you need to wash your hands much more then you do. Maybe you have greasy fingers that just need more washing.

Oh sure ... blame it on the Fritos!

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

SeaBookGuy, the cropping and zoom features are nice. However, the T1 has a lag issue with PDF's that have text reflow. For some reason, the last screen of the reflowed page is slow to move forward (a noticeable pause). So if you use lots of graphics in your PDF's it's a good choice. However, if you have mostly text PDF, then your 650 is probably equal or better in comparison. It's something that needs to be fixed with a firmware update in the future.

Thanks for the clarification!

Originally Posted by sabredog

I think trying to expect an ereader to be able to display PDF documents well is a little misguided. Unless formatted specifically for a 6" screen, no PDF will display well, though some ereaders handle them better than others. Pretty much all ereaders on the market are primarily designed to read ebook formats other than PDF. The PRS-T1 is no different from any other ereader in this regard.

I decided to go down the tablet route (Apple iPad2) for PDF reading. My iPad2 display A4 formatted PDF documents (the majority of PDF formatting) very well indeed, and in colour. I can now have my extensive reference library at my hobby bench, where it is needed.

If you truly want PDF display, then there is a beaut tutorial located in the Sony forum explaining how to reformat for ereaders, plus software such as Briss.

I fear I'm not nearly adept enough to Briss a book! Perhaps, for the cost of a T1, I should go a bit more and just get a tablet!

[Running Man]

I looked at the new T1 last week, the font resizing is a bonus and WIFI is there for those that want it. Otherwise, I am very happy with my PRS-350. I also picked up a 650 for $149. I am very satisfied with the older models. I actually preferred the brush aluminum and the quality of the product. Sony had to introduce a low price ereader. I think they should have supplement their line with a higher quality ereader for those that are willing to pay for it. As for any trouble with my ereader - nothing. I have loaded over 200 books onto the ereader and have no problems with it.

[vxf]

As a side note - I also used the 950 as a PDF reader for a while. Then settled on an iPad. For PDFs, nothing beats the larger screen...

[Ashjuk]

I too have a black 650 which I use on a daily basis and so far I have not noticed any finger prints on the bezel. I have cleaned the screen a few times but that it to be expected as I use touch all the time and rarely go anywhere near the buttons.

As for the theme of this thread I am pleased that I bought a 650 when they were still available. From what I've read here in the past couple of weeks I get the feeling the T1 is a step backwards in quality.

Maybe if I was still using my 600 I would be prepared to put up with the crashing/freezing of the T1 just to have the better screen.

As for the future I will be sticking with my 650 for as long as it lasts, and unless Sony has come out with a reader with better quality than the T1 then I will probably look elsewhere. After all there is no point paying a premium price for a device that is no better than the others out there. The Kindle is still cheaper than the T1.

[malifact]

Originally Posted by sabredog

If you truly want PDF display, then there is a beaut tutorial located in the Sony forum explaining how to reformat for ereaders, plus software such as Briss.

Could you link to the tutorial please? I can't seem to find it.

I have mixed feelings about my T1. On the one hand I don't want to return it, but I think for the price it's unacceptable for a device to have to be hard reset just because the user wants to highlight some text or make a note. Sony should not have included these features if the hardware or software was not capable of handling it. I'm convinced this is a software issue though which makes it more frustrating.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by malifact

Could you link to the tutorial please? I can't seem to find it.

I have mixed feelings about my T1. On the one hand I don't want to return it, but I think for the price it's unacceptable for a device to have to be hard reset just because the user wants to highlight some text or make a note. Sony should not have included these features if the hardware or software was not capable of handling it. I'm convinced this is a software issue though which makes it more frustrating.

Try here

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=133924

and here

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...pdf+formatting