Question for those who've received the Sony 700

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by johnnyr

Possibly....

What reader do you own Bob?

I own a Kindle and a PRS500.

BOb

[johnnyr]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I own a Kindle and a PRS500.

BOb

How does the 500 compare to the kindle speed-wise?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by johnnyr

How does the 500 compare to the kindle speed-wise?

The 500 is certainly slower.

BOb

[johnnyr]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The 500 is certainly slower.

BOb

I would have thought so. Thanks.

[DerHund]

I finally decided what to buy... my highest priority was the screen and the visibility. That fancy stuff (light, touch screen) are nice to have, but not a must for me. Especially if I look at the price. I can purchase the 505 for 240 Euro incl. shipping cost. the 700 whould cost me 460 Euro at least (VAT, shipping costs etc.).
I ordered the 505!
Thanks to Jonnyr :P .. his pictures are just too convincing.
Hope I would not regret it.
Cheers,
Andreas

[amabbi]

Tomorrow, Sony is getting a call and it will be returned. It's a shame; if not for the screen, it would be a kickass unit. It's very disappointing.

I'm debating between the PRS-505 or waiting for the PRS-707. I hope that the negative feedback that Sony gets from the multitudes of returned units will convince them to work harder on the screen issue

[igorsk]

If you don't want it, you should consider selling it on our flea market - there are some people outside US who would like to get one.

[ShellShock]

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

Regarding slowness - even the normal page turning in the 505 is slow in my opinion in the sense that is noticeable and pulls you away from the book train of thoughts. When I read a paper book and turn a page I do not have time to be distracted from the book. Similarly with the 770, iTouch, or the 700, but on the 500 and from my tries 505 it's just too distracting and unbearable over time - I tested the 505 10 times easily in stores the past year since I *really* wanted an eink.

I own a PRS505 and the speed is fine to me. I've found that I automatically press the page turn button before I get to the end of the last line on the page - somewhere in the middle of the last line - and by the time my eye scans to the end of the line the page is turning. It feels to me very much like turning a page in a p-book - your brain seems to interpolates between one page and the next so they become a seamless whole, and you no longer notice the join (the page turn).

[Liviu_5]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

I own a PRS505 and the speed is fine to me. I've found that I automatically press the page turn button before I get to the end of the last line on the page - somewhere in the middle of the last line - and by the time my eye scans to the end of the line the page is turning. It feels to me very much like turning a page in a p-book - your brain seems to interpolates between one page and the next so they become a seamless whole, and you no longer notice the join (the page turn).

I think it's all up to what you are comfortable with. For me, the 505 is way too slow, but I rarely read a book page after page. I tend to speed read a whole page/screen at least on the 770 or on the 700 and turn page, and sometimes things happen in the book that seem strange, so I turn back see if I missed something or just that's the way the book is, so I tend to flip a lot of pages back and forth

I also move a lot between books - when a book hooks me, yes I tend to finish it, but usually I have maybe 10 started books - both p and e - and I read from at least 3-4 until I decide which I finish.

This is why speed is essential for me and the 505 just does not cut it. I am pretty happy with my 770, just that it's getting old and it feels a bit. But with the 700 I am really very happy.

I already finished 2 novels on the 700, a 320 and a 672 page one print equivalent, and to my surprise I read most of the 672 page one in the original pdf review arc I received from the publishers rather than in the - decent - lrf obtained from extracting text, since the pdf reflowed nicely in M size and was very readable on the 700 even vertically at full page

I have 3 *must read - waited impatiently for them since previous series books* print books and at least 2 more are coming, and I cannot let the 700 aside for now to read those, so I am moving to another 2 novels on it for now

[Tattncat]

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

I am exactly the opposite.

The 505 is such a slow poke for me - not only in turning pages which is bad as it is when you read fast - but in moving between books, moving back and forth - in ergonomics - once you use the buttons on the 700 you wonder how you could use those small buttons on the 505, leaving aside touch which I love

Then 505 is without integrated light which I started loving more and more on my 700 once I got used to its slightly eerie feeling, and that is quite important for me.

I would not buy the 505 unless almost free, while I was willing to spend 400+tax+2 year plan on the 700 on sight, and while the first time I saw it in the store it was not available, the second time it was and I bought it...

So think what is important. If you are a fast reader and read a lot, the slowness of the 505 may annoy you a lot.

I find that if I begin turning the page slightly before I finish reading the page makes the page turning run much more smoothly. The trick is learning when to anticipate the need for the next page.

[Tattncat]

Originally Posted by Tattncat

I find that if I begin turning the page slightly before I finish reading the page makes the page turning run much more smoothly. The trick is learning when to anticipate the need for the next page.

Hey, do I get a Dollar for each time I said page?

[Trek]

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

I would not buy the 505 unless almost free, while I was willing to spend 400+tax+2 year plan on the 700 on sight.

Interesting how different we see it. After using it for a day, I find that I wouldn't buy the 700 if it were 20$. I'd much rather pick up an "old-fashion" paper book. I would still gladly pay the $300 for 505 - it's screen is a marvel to look at.

My fiancee looked at 700 and her first reaction was to ask if I am sure the screen is not defective =) ."Why would they make an unreadable reader?". I can't say I have a good answer. Perhaps if you use of the built-in light very often? She's using a Red 505 and likes that one a lot.

[dhbailey]

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

I think it's all up to what you are comfortable with. For me, the 505 is way too slow, but I rarely read a book page after page. I tend to speed read a whole page/screen at least on the 770 or on the 700 and turn page, and sometimes things happen in the book that seem strange, so I turn back see if I missed something or just that's the way the book is, so I tend to flip a lot of pages back and forth

I also move a lot between books - when a book hooks me, yes I tend to finish it, but usually I have maybe 10 started books - both p and e - and I read from at least 3-4 until I decide which I finish.

This is why speed is essential for me and the 505 just does not cut it. I am pretty happy with my 770, just that it's getting old and it feels a bit. But with the 700 I am really very happy.
[snip]

I am very happy with my 700, too. Speed is terrific, the finger-swipe page turn is terrific, the built-in light is wonderful (no heavy add-on light to worry about!) the UI is fast and easy, the ability of the unit to cope easily with a huge library, including a Memory Stick Pro Duo, is unbelievable.

And I have no discomfort reading the screen at all -- I was practically crapping my pants before it arrived, with all the negative reactions to the screen I had read about, thinking I had foolishly ordered too quickly.

I was sure wrong, and I am delighted with the 700 and wonder how poor people's eyesight must be if they can't read easily on it.

[lisreed]

Well I am glad you like it but to say there is something wrong with other's eyesight if they had trouble reading on the 700??

I have 20/20 vision. I have the 505 and I am always also reading a paperback. The screen is considerably dimmer than the 505 and that extra layer for the touchscreen clearly causes it not to be as sharp. I personally don't want to see my reflection and lights and other things glaring at me while I try to read. It destroys the reading experience for me. e-ink should be about emulating a paper book rather than feel like I am reading off a dimly lit computer monitor.

I am glad you like your purchase, but those of use who do not like it don't need to be all but told there is something wrong with our eyesight!

[Zen-Diego]

I haven't received one but have played with it in the store (twice now!) The new features are certainly great improvements. Just playing with the touchscreen interface in the store was completely intuitive, and quick. If I used one for any length of time I'd guess the buttons of the 505 would quickly seem disappointing. The built in side-lights are a great idea (though not as evenly dispersed as they should be). Reading on these forums how the 700's clarity is being compared to the 500, I can completely understand how someone who reads on a pocketpc and a Sony 500 would love the new features, find the 700's screen perfectly acceptable, and embrace the device. One person's feature is another's deal-killer.