If I want a Pocket style Sony reader which one is best?

[Scoob]

I read a blog post the other day of peoples oldest usable ereaders and a few mentioned their Sony's. As someone that likes old tech and bringing it back into use I now kinda want one too. I'm not sure which one(s) is(are) worth trying to find though so suggestions are very welcome.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Scoob

I'm not sure which one(s) is(are) worth trying to find though ...

So, let's have a look
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_devices
The first e-ink reader EVER was Sony Librie. Not worth it. Available only in Japan, with Japanese only user interface, originally you couldn't even load your own books, only those *rented* from Sony. I wonder why it wasn't successful ;-).

Next one was PRS-500. It was the first ever e-ink reader available to buyers outside Japan for sane price. - There was iRex Illiad before that, but that was 8" and more expensive than a high-end notebook at the time.
I had PRS-500 and I do not think it is worth owning NOWADAYS. It had a full-metal body and a clip at the back to attach bulky and heavy cover. You had to use LRF format by Sony or rtf format for ebooks. Please note that in comparison to the modern devices these screens have much lower resolution, aren't front-lit and appear much more fuzzy and grey. Plus it is really old now and it will show. When I got a new device (at the time I still owned PRS-500) I was very surprised how much better the new displays looked. Mind you, when I got PRS-500 I was blown away by a quality and legibility of e-ink display in comparison to the other devices available at the time. The device when connected to a PC does not behave like an UMASS USB device, so you need a special program from SONY to connect to it, or an old Calibre. The Calibre software was originally developed so that Kovid could connect his Linux PC to his e-ink reader.

PRS-300 was one of very few 5" models that were ever available on an e-ink reader market. That one might be interesting to buy and try to revive. (*)

PRS-505 was a meh model, I think. It did support e-pub and some other formats.

PRS-700 had touch screen and a very bad front-light, if I remember correctly.

PRS-900 - Daily edition was a 7" with a weird aspect ratio of sides, if I remember correctly. The display had width of a 6" display and was just taller. Not worth getting, IMHO.

(*) please note that many modern 6" devices have smaller overall dimensions than those ancient 5" devices. Look at specs before buying.

[kacir]

Is that you at Reddit?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ereader/com...re_to_find_it/

[Scoob]

Originally Posted by kacir

Is that you at Reddit?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ereader/com...re_to_find_it/

Sorry for delay. Thats not me but a fellow old tech appreciation guy.

[Scoob]

I have noticed a lot of the readers have a PRS-X50 version made. Are those just revamped versions of the base model?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Scoob

I have noticed a lot of the readers have a PRS-X50 version made. Are those just revamped versions of the base model?

They are now old and probably need a new battery,

The PRS-650, PRS-350, & PRS-950.

The 650 is a standard 6" screen.
The 350 is a 5" screen,
the 950 is an oddball. It's a 7" screen. But it's the same width as a 6" screen just that it's taller..

[Scoob]

I'm handy with a screwdriver and pry tools so battery swaps aren't too troublesome. I have seen some places say that the replacement batteries don't always have a specific or analogous resistor that the original Sony battery had. Is that specific to certain models or is that all of them?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Scoob

I have noticed a lot of the readers have a PRS-X50 version made. Are those just revamped versions of the base model?

There are quite a few differences. First they all have good touch screens and all use micro-USB (instead of mini-USB) ports for charging and connecting (no alternate barrel charging slots in the x50s). The 650 and 950 retained the headphone jack and the micro-SD plus Pro Duo card slots. The software was updated considerably. The 950 had both WiFi and 3G, but only to connect to Sony. (They called the 950 the "Daily Edition" because you could subscribe to daily news and have sent directly to your eReader.) These had metal styluses (metal with plastic tips on the 650 and 950, plastic on the 350). Styluses weren't really needed as the touch screens were good and bright (I believe of the Pearl vintage).

The Sony PRS-350 is the sleekest 5" eReader that I've ever seen. Overall, I think the quality and build of the x50 series was the best I've seen in eReaders. So I can see why people are interested in finding these. Kind of like finding a vintage car.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Scoob

I'm handy with a screwdriver and pry tools so battery swaps aren't too troublesome. I have seen some places say that the replacement batteries don't always have a specific or analogous resistor that the original Sony battery had. Is that specific to certain models or is that all of them?

I don't know what the battery replacement issue is like with Sonys. Like you I've read that some batteries don't work, but a lot of people still advertise replacement batteries. What I can't understand is how or why Sony batteries have lasted so long in the first place. All Sony readers are at least 12 years old now (I think the T3 came out in 2013), so it's amazing that so many of them are still up and running.

I have (at least) one of every Sony reader model (except for the exotic ones, like the original Japanese only model, and the one(s) that came out as an E-Ink tablet after the T-3). So, if you have any specific questions about Sony models, I might be able to answer them.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by kacir

PRS-505 was a meh model, I think. It did support e-pub and some other formats.

"Meh" is in the eye of the beholder. These are very popular as collector's items now (probably because they've become rare in the last couple years). Very thin, nice quality metal feel. I still read on mine. Clip a Glocusent reading light on it (choosing the warm light option) and you've got a nice eReader. I just sold one of these to a guy on Reddit, who was looking for one, who it turned out lived about four or five miles from me. Weird coincidence.

[Scoob]

I think what drew me to them was that they don't look like ereaders. There are numerous Oasis clones and after that body shape it's all just plastic squares. Not Sony. They're curvy and metal. To me a kid raised on a steady diet of science fiction they're right out of the future.

[Scoob]

Originally Posted by rcentros

"Meh" is in the eye of the beholder. These are very popular as collector's items now (probably because they've become rare in the last couple years). Very thin, nice quality metal feel. I still read on mine. Clip a Glocusent reading light on it (choosing the warm light option) and you've got a nice eReader. I just sold one of these to a guy on Reddit, who was looking for one, who it turned out lived about four or five miles from me. Weird coincidence.

The 505 is what I eventually want to find. It's the button placement for me. They're in both places my thumbs naturally go to when I hold things one handed.

[Scoob]

Some questions for rcentros:
1) I order Gundam kits from Japan via an intermediary so if I or they happen to find one in Japan can I change the language on it or is the language region locked?
2a) I'm aiming to find the 650 and 350 and in my reading I saw that in the beginning Sony didn't support epub. Do those two support epub out of the box or do I need to track down really old software?
2b) If I ever get my mitts on a 505 what format does it natively support?
3a) For the 650 is it either the sd card or the pro duo card or can it be both?
3b) What is the max size of expandable memory?
4) Is the plastic strip on the right side (the strip you have to remove to replace the battery) a hard plastic or is it a soft rubbery kind?
5) Are the buttons pretty solidly built like will they be okay to keep using?
Sorry for this barrage and you don't need to answer all at once. When you have time is fine with me thanks rcentros

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Scoob

Some questions for rcentros:
1) I order Gundam kits from Japan via an intermediary so if I or they happen to find one in Japan can I change the language on it or is the language region locked?

I think most of the early Sonys were "regional," so I'm guessing (only guessing) that changing languages will not be easy. (But others may know better.) It looks like there was software that would do this, but I don't know if that software is still available.

Originally Posted by Scoob

2a) I'm aiming to find the 650 and 350 and in my reading I saw that in the beginning Sony didn't support epub. Do those two support epub out of the box or do I need to track down really old software?
2b) If I ever get my mitts on a 505 what format does it natively support?

650 and 350 support ePub "out of the box."

According to this Wiki, the PRS-505 supports the following formats...

PDF, TXT, RTF, LRF, LRX, ePUB, MP3, AAC, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP.

I've only ever used ePubs on them.

Originally Posted by Scoob

3a) For the 650 is it either the sd card or the pro duo card or can it be both?

Both.

Originally Posted by Scoob

3b) What is the max size of expandable memory?

I'll have to look that up. I've never used expandable memory on any of them. The 350 has no expansion slots, so that one's easy, maximum memory is 2 GBs.

It looks like both the Pro Duo and microSD Card can hold 16 GB cards (it may be higher, but that's the "official" specs — so 34 GBs total) for the 650, including the 2 GBs of RAM onboard.

The PRS-505 has 192 MBs built in and each card can hold up to 16 GBs per card (so the same as the 650 there).

Originally Posted by Scoob

4) Is the plastic strip on the right side (the strip you have to remove to replace the battery) a hard plastic or is it a soft rubbery kind?

I presume you're speaking about the PRS-350. The rubber strip is flexible, not exactly rubbery. I'm guessing, originally they more "rubbery" than they are now. I just tested one and it came off cleanly. I would be gentle when removing one, though. BTW, that strip goes around three sides.

Originally Posted by Scoob

5) Are the buttons pretty solidly built like will they be okay to keep using?

Yes. These are built well. The only real issue I've had with these is on the PRS-350, the "knob" on the stylus is made of plastic and it is the kind that gets brittle with age. I've had one crumble on me. The 650 uses a metal stylus with a plastic tip, so no issues with the 650s. (At least not that issue.)

Originally Posted by Scoob

Sorry for this barrage and you don't need to answer all at once. When you have time is fine with me thanks rcentros

No, not a problem. Some of the stuff I had to look up because 1) I've never used a memory card in any of them (may have tested it once or twice) and 2) I've only ever used ePubs. (I think I have listened to the sample .mp3 file a couple times.)

[Scoob]

First of all thank you for your thorough answers and how quickly you responded

It was a little bit of a bummer to hear they might have the language locked as I found many well taken care of 350 and 650 and other Sony ereaders on mercari Japan. (I have read your PM however so I will get in contact later today for that).

A question that did arise when looking at units was: 1) Whats the material for the buttons?