PRS-900 PRS 900 SHIPPED FED EX: ARRIVAL 12/23/09

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by AmonRaa

So you're saying that screen is NOT the same as the one on prs 600 unit and in fact is even better than the one on 505?

Sure sounds like it. I'm waiting to hear clarification on this too.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Originally Posted by AmonRaa

So you're saying that screen is NOT the same as the one on prs 600 unit and in fact is even better than the one on 505?

Definitely sounds that way, but if the poster has an older 505 it could just be new screen versus degraded screen since we know these screens do degrade over time. Hopefully that is not the case and Sony figures out a way to implement touch without the screen degradation.

[dsvick]

There is a short video and another person also saying the screen is nicer than the 600 in this thread.

[Citation4444]

The screen is an updated design from the others per Sony.

[Citation4444]

I got mine yesterday and had no problems whatsoever. Mine came with the battery cover packaged separately from the reader, so I only had to install the battery and slide on the cover until it clicked. Also had no difficulty taking the soft cover off: just followed the directions pulling the top lock off and sliding it down. Easy to do once you get the hang of it. I prefer it with the soft cover on as it feels more like a book.

This is my first ereader, but I have researched them a lot. One thing I don't like is it takes more light to read than with a paperback. This might not bother younger folks, but I'm 68 and need more light for my eyes to work well. I don't know if the other ereaders are any better in this regard. I suspect they are the same.

I've done about everything it's capable of doing and everything seems to work as advertised. I downloaded the new Jeffrey Archer book from the online store and it downloaded very fast. In fact, the signal I get is better on the ereader than on my cellphone. I live in the mountains and most people around here use Verizon due to coverage, but no problem with this ereader. It does take a while to access the reader store, though, and because of this I'll undoubtedly use the PC application to download most of my books.

There is one potentially disastrous thing that happens when I plug mine in to the PC via USB. I'm using Windows 7 64bit and a window pops up that the drive needs to be formatted. A couple of keystrokes and it seems you could wipe out the contents, so be careful when you see this message.

All in all, it's about what I expected.

Bob

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Citation4444

I got mine yesterday and had no problems whatsoever. Mine came with the battery cover packaged separately from the reader, so I only had to install the battery and slide on the cover until it clicked. Also had no difficulty taking the soft cover off: just followed the directions pulling the top lock off and sliding it down. Easy to do once you get the hang of it. I prefer it with the soft cover on as it feels more like a book.
Bob

Mine was also packed separately but I wanted to see if I could get the battery cover off in case I needed to take out the battery or install a new one. That little screw driver helped there. I also THOUGHT I was following directions to remove the soft cover but panicked when I thought it should have come off. Those connectors do break easily - be careful.

I do most of my reading on my PC (Dell 24" HD Monitor) which is the best of all. Thus, I read with the eReader when away from my house waiting for my wife or in some other place. There the Cushioned Cover is the best to prevent accidents. The only defect there is one must remove it to power on and off. Sony should have provided space for a finger to be inserted to operate the power button. Maybe they will do this in the future.

Originally Posted by Citation4444

There is one potentially disastrous thing that happens when I plug mine in to the PC via USB. I'm using Windows 7 64bit and a window pops up that the drive needs to be formatted. A couple of keystrokes and it seems you could wipe out the contents, so be careful when you see this message.

All in all, it's about what I expected.

Bob

Windows XP SP3 does install its own driver for the PRS 900. One then has to reboot and start from where one leaves off.

For others,

The fonts are far better than the PRS 505 and mine is only 2 years old and I thought that was the best until now.

In the book, "Retribution," by Max Hastings, the lines are fully justified. In the latest Zondervan NIV Bible the fonts are only left justified. Both are ePub books and I am not sure why justification is different between them. However, the NIV Bible has links on the first verse of every Chapter which goes back to the Book. Each Book has links back to the Chapter and also to the Table of Contents. My 505 could not link back from the Book to the Chapter directly. One had to move the cursor very SLOWLY. Here just tapping on the Chapter number takes one there directly.

I finally found where my Wish List was located. Go to Account details and a link to it is in the upper right. Also, all books can be re-dlownloaded there as well as all invoices reviewed.

Don't forget, when deleting the BBeB books on PC and replacing them with ePub books, all the bookmarks are GONE. Make manual notes instad.

Due to the great fonts - an all time first for me - I actually may make the PRS 900 my default reader over the PC and I may buy direct from the store rather than through the PC.

I still have not gone through all the features but it looks great to me at the moment.

[Kolenka]

The commentary on the screen quality is rather strange. Either the prototype I saw was using a screen they aren't using in other prototypes and the shipping versions... or the 600/900 do pretty much have the same glare.

Maybe you can comment on reflections on the 900?

[mxgamon]

Got my 900 yesterday. I'm first time user, so can't compare with other readers or the 600. Screen does seem reflective to me, doubt that it's any better than the 600. Otherwise my impressions about same as Citation4444 - I'm also 68 & the need for light may necessitate a clip on light. More impressions later.

[Kolenka]

It's one of the drawbacks of having a touch-screen over the eInk. Low light situations drive people to use reading lights on the 600 where the 505 would be able to eek by without one (barely though).

I've got a lamp to use as a reading light these days, which seems to negate that downside. I had pretty spotty light coverage though, and so it was hard to recline with any book and read comfortably.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Kolenka

The commentary on the screen quality is rather strange. Either the prototype I saw was using a screen they aren't using in other prototypes and the shipping versions... or the 600/900 do pretty much have the same glare.

Maybe you can comment on reflections on the 900?

If one holds the screen to directly reflect a bulb, yes it reflects the bulb. However, just angling it slightly and there is NO GLARE. I cannot compare to the 600 since I never owned one.

Fonts, however, are substantially better than the 505. I just tested the 505 in front of a bulb and it also relfects the light. Again, angling is necessary.

I do notice that the 505 has a lighter background than the 900. That may be because the latter has the touch screen. That doesn't bother me, however.

[Kolenka]

Well, the question is: what about reflections from other sources? (Face, lit walls from a bulb, etc)

Direct glare from a lamp happens on all readers, but what makes the 600 frustrating for some is that it reflects more than the 505 does, so you can 'see yourself' in it and the like...

Oh well, mine's supposed to arrive today, I just hope it arrived before I have to book it out the door.

[mxgamon]

The 900 is supplied with an extra case, from Case Logic, with a hard shell that zippers shut. The Sony soft cover must be removed to use the hard case. Then the 900 sits down in it so that the top and bottom ends are covered.

Guess I don't see the logic of this design - anytime you charge it or hook to computer, you must dig it out of the case. I suppose it gives great protection, but I much prefer the Sony soft case. Too bad Sony didn't include a custom fit light instead.

[intelchiq]

Mine is under my parents' Christmas tree, probably the only thing for me under the tree. I can't wait until tomorrow! I am 32 and I feel like a little kid waiting for it to be Christmas morning. I know as soon as I get to their house I am making a beeline for it.

[wifish]

waiting for your pictures

[SeniorSeau]

Waiting for your comments about how it manages PDF files...