505 Light wedge and Reviewed the 700

[=X=]

Originally Posted by asabz

That sounds really great! Thanks for your response in my topic as well.

Did you get a chance to try out the highlighting, searching and on screen keyboard?

I did not test the highlighting, but I did try the searching. There are two ways to search. You can highlight a word, by double clicking on it and hit the search button. The search window will pop up with the word already entered and you just hit the search.
Or you can just hit the search button and do a manual search.

Originally Posted by johnnyr

Hmmm...Thats odd, since in all the videos of the 700 there is still the "black" flicker.

I did not mention not seeing a "black flicker" because that was something I was not conscientiously testing for, as a result I was not actively paying attention to the flicker or lack of.

However shortly after evaluating the 700, I started to read with my 505. On the first page turn, I instantly recalled not seeing a page flicker when turning pages.

Maybe I subconsciously filtered out the page flickers on the 700 like I do on the 505 after I start reading.

At any rate folks please disregard my no "black flicker" until I can re-confirm it.

=X=

[johnnyr]

Originally Posted by =X=

I did not test the highlighting, but I did try the searching. There are two ways to search. You can highlight a word, by double clicking on it and hit the search button. The search window will pop up with the word already entered and you just hit the search.
Or you can just hit the search button and do a manual search.


I did not mention not seeing a "black flicker" because that was something I was not conscientiously testing for, as a result I was not actively paying attention to the flicker or lack of.

However shortly after evaluating the 700, I started to read with my 505. On the first page turn, I instantly recalled not seeing a page flicker when turning pages.

Maybe I subconsciously filtered out the page flickers on the 700 like I do on the 505 after I start reading.

At any rate folks please disregard my no "black flicker" until I can re-confirm it.

=X=

Thanks for following up. In case it came off that way, I wasn't accusing you of "lying", but was just curious about that. I don't own a reader yet, and I'm trying to decide between the PRS-505 and 700. I thought I had decided on the 505 because of the contrast issues people were reporting, but with your comments, I'm just not sure anymore.

So, thanks for the impressions!

[Sonist]

On the "flicker" issue, I found where I had read it:

http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/20...-700-part-two/

Quote:

"...
3) A new swipe and hold gesture that allows incredibly rapid page flips.

This is where I must stop to comment about eInk. Anyone who has ever tried a Sony Reader (or any eInk eBook reader) is familiar with the “black flash” that accompanies turning a page. That’s still here on the new Sony Reader PRS-700, but it’s greatly reduced.

But get a load of this: When using that new gesture I described above to rapidly page through a book, there is no flashing whatsoever! ..."

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Sonist

"...
3) A new swipe and hold gesture that allows incredibly rapid page flips.

This is where I must stop to comment about eInk. Anyone who has ever tried a Sony Reader (or any eInk eBook reader) is familiar with the “black flash” that accompanies turning a page. That’s still here on the new Sony Reader PRS-700, but it’s greatly reduced.

But get a load of this: When using that new gesture I described above to rapidly page through a book, there is no flashing whatsoever! ..."

Thank you Sonist, for a minute I thought I was losing it.
I'll still double check for safe measures

=X=

[=X=]

I went to the SonyStyle store yesterday to re-eval the "black flash".

The 700 still has a "black flash". However there are some operations that do not use a "black flash" such as zooming and fast pagination.



=X=

[Sonist]

Thanks for the additional info, =X=.

So, it sounds like in normal page changes, there is a black flash.

But in rapid paging through, using hand-gestures, there is no black flash.

If this is so, then it's not as useful in normal use. But at least it shows, that the black flash may be banished as some point in the future (maybe even with a firmware update.)

Playing with the 505 for a few minutes, the pronounced flashing did bug me, but perhaps it's a matter of getting used to it.

[RandallFlagg]

Originally Posted by =X=

Yes, not only did I compare their 505 sitting next to the 700. But I also had my 505 on hand.

It's the plastic layer covering the screen that gives the illusion of inferior screen quality in photographs.
It's like reading the 505 with the light wedge cover.

Speaking of which, it would be interesting if somebody with the 505, a light wedge and a digital camera posted some pictures of the 505 with and with out the light wedge. To see just how different the screen looks.

=X=

I hope this looks okay. The first is without the light wedge, the second is with it, the third is on full bright and the last is on low. The book I used was from the sony store and set on medium. I tried to keep the camera at the same position while working the wedge with my free hand. The pics were taken with a Canon S2IS with macros turned on.

[johnnyr]

I have to disagree with =X=.

I just went to the Sony store (again) and had the sales guy show me a 505 with the light wedge, and compare it to the 700. The 700 was still signifigantly worse then the 505. I dont understand how anyone, after seeing the 700 and 505 side by side, could think the 700 is anywhere near as clear or crisp as the 505, even with the lightwedge on.

Just my two cents. BTW, all the pictures on here of the 700 are EXACTLY what it looks like in real life.

[guguy]

Originally Posted by johnnyr

I have to disagree with =X=.

I just went to the Sony store (again) and had the sales guy show me a 505 with the light wedge, and compare it to the 700. The 700 was still signifigantly worse then the 505. I dont understand how anyone, after seeing the 700 and 505 side by side, could think the 700 is anywhere near as clear or crisp as the 505, even with the lightwedge on.

Just my two cents. BTW, all the pictures on here of the 700 are EXACTLY what it looks like in real life.

Maybe it's a pre-production issue ? Anyway, i consider really unlikely that
after seeing twice the PRS-505 and 700 side by side (and having in
mind to check this screen contrast problem), =x= couldn't see such a blatant
difference between them as the one you described, don't you think so?

I guess the best thing to settle this question would be to have =x= going
one more time to his local sonystyle store and take a side by side picture
of both the PRS-505 and this strange 700, what do you think about it =x= ?

[johnnyr]

Originally Posted by guguy

Maybe it's a pre-production issue ? Anyway, i consider really unlikely that
after seeing twice the PRS-505 and 700 side by side (and having in
mind to check this screen contrast problem), =x= couldn't see such a blatant
difference between them as the one you described, don't you think so?

I guess the best thing to settle this question would be to have =x= going
one more time to his local sonystyle store and take a side by side picture
of both the PRS-505 and this strange 700, what do you think about it =x= ?

Thats what i was hoping, but a forum member has already recieved his 700, and posted side-by-side pics. The difference is obvious.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=31623&page=2

post #22

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by guguy

...I guess the best thing to settle this question would be to....

... or, to just wait for the already shipped units to arrive early next week, and then see what the lucky/unlucky recipients have to say

[=X=]

I would take a picture in a heart beat. The problem is I don't have have a camera with a macro lens, so the images would be blurred just like those that have been posted here.


Okay lets get a little background here. The question that was posted here was how good was the screen quality based on some of the comments and concerns some posters made.

The comments I have seen is folk make was on how the 700 had an "inferior resolution", "inferior contrast" and "smaller screen".

Now I have a technical back ground and those terms mean something to me. Resolution means: What is the smallest level of detail you can see with your eye before something gets lost in obscurity.

Contrast means how many different shades of gray are seen and how far apart the shade are.

In my test, not scientific, remember I loaded my books and started to read them there. I maintain that the contrast and resolution of the 505 and 700 are the same. (The PDF books I read have very tiny fonts and where just as readable on the 700)

What johnnyr is pointing out is the loss in image quality caused by the plastic screen layer that is shipped with the 700.

For johnnyr this is a huge problem. For me the loss was negligible. (You would think that a person who has read with his 505 for over a year would have a bigger problem with this than a person who doesn't have either )


The fact that there is such a polar view on the effects of the plastic layer I think it will be prudent for the person purchasing the product to check for themselves. I would however suggest that people not rely on the photographs posted here. Here I hold a firm position that those photos are not representative to how the 700 looks. At least wait until professional quality photographs are taken.)
=X=

[Liviu_5]

I think that it is misleading a bit to argue that the 505 is NOT crisper than the 700. There is a clear difference in crispness - whatever technical terms you want to use for that.

But the 700 is so much faster and with so much better ergonomics and you still get a pretty good e-ink screen btw, that it's a big step forward.

The integrated lightning - which has 2 levels btw, not sure if it was mentioned- is decent to good and I read quite a lot last night in pitch black on my 700, though it helps to memorize the 7 buttons since you definitely cannot see them in darkness.

Regarding the black flash, it's there but since the page turning is so much faster, it's almost negligible. If you go in a store try and turn pages on the 505 and on the 700 and you will see the difference immediately. And search/go to page is so fast you have to try it to believe - I did and do lots of searches on my Nokia 770, or on my former Ebookwise and the one on the 700 is the fastest noticeably so.

So again it comes down to what you want. The perfect e-ink screen, yes 505 is better. The much better machine, the 700 wins hands down

[astra]

I wonder how quick integrated light drains battery.

[johnnyr]

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

I think that it is misleading a bit to argue that the 505 is NOT crisper than the 700. There is a clear difference in crispness - whatever technical terms you want to use for that.

But the 700 is so much faster and with so much better ergonomics and you still get a pretty good e-ink screen btw, that it's a big step forward.

The integrated lightning - which has 2 levels btw, not sure if it was mentioned- is decent to good and I read quite a lot last night in pitch black on my 700, though it helps to memorize the 7 buttons since you definitely cannot see them in darkness.

Regarding the black flash, it's there but since the page turning is so much faster, it's almost negligible. If you go in a store try and turn pages on the 505 and on the 700 and you will see the difference immediately. And search/go to page is so fast you have to try it to believe - I did and do lots of searches on my Nokia 770, or on my former Ebookwise and the one on the 700 is the fastest noticeably so.

So again it comes down to what you want. The perfect e-ink screen, yes 505 is better. The much better machine, the 700 wins hands down

I agree with this almost to the letter. The 700 is overall a much better unit, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 700 has the exact same screen (or een better) then the 505. The issue is just that dang touchscreen overlay, which makes it appear less crisp. Otherwise, the 700 is better in every other way. (except for battery life, which is much worse on the 700 then the 505)

My problem is, how enjoyable it is to read, is my biggest concern and I don't really care about the touch screen, highlighting, notes, etc. I just want something to read with. The light is great on the 700, but I will just have to settle for the Lightwedge with the 505, since to me, the 505 is so incredibly better looking. (screen wise)

John