Review – Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-700

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by ColdSun

Looks fine, except my 505 screen looks better. Nuff said.

Agree. I just tested PRS-700 and I don't like the screen. It looks like the screen for 505 protected by ultra-thin plastic bag ...

[Kris777]

I just made this picture to compare the Sony PRS-700 screen with Kindle and jetBook screens. If you don't have Sony reader you can see the quality:

[Server]

Thanks for the photos.

Unfortunately it does not accurately justify the real deal. The angle at which
the photo was taken does not take into consideration the 700 is the ONLY
one with a touch screen so naturally the viewing / reading pitch will be
different hence the glare / and clarity on certain angles.

The truest way to see, is seeing for yourself. Up close and IN person. Otherwise,
people will have to rely solely on someone else's objectivity.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by Server

Thanks for the photos.

Unfortunately it does not accurately justify the real deal. The angle at which
the photo was taken does not take into consideration the 700 is the ONLY
one with a touch screen so naturally the viewing / reading pitch will be
different hence the glare / and clarity on certain angles.

The truest way to see, is seeing for yourself. Up close and IN person. Otherwise,
people will have to rely solely on someone else's objectivity.

I put 3 units on the floor and kept camera above units without any angles.
The touch screen is a good feature but the quality of the screen MUST be perfect if you read books but it is far from perfect ...

[splanchnic]

Hi,

I have also seen the 700 in person and these photos accurately reflect my experience of it. I saw it next to the 505, which has the same screen as the Kindle pictured here. This is the way it looks. Thanks for the photos - good reference.

[Andybaby]

thanks for the Picture. that Jetbook does look pretty good and tiny, i would love to actually hold one for a few days.

i read 8000 pages on my PRS 500
i read 10000 pages on my Kindle when i had it
and aive Read 3000 Pages on my PRS 700 so far (print lenth pages, probably double-quadruple all thse for actual page turns on the device)

the Kindle was easier to read than the 500,

but for me, the 700 and the kindle are just as readable in the same lighting conditions. but as it gets darker, the 700 is a joy, i can keep the font small and just hit the light on.

Ive read the 700 in the Sun (finally had a warm last two days.. was in the 30s the last 2 weeks since ive had it) suprisingly the glare is gone in the sun totally (except for the glare from the actual sun if you hit just the right angle.. which makes it un readable. but the same held true for the kindle too)

I love my 700.

as for the light affecing battery life. If i have to use the light that day, i will charge it that night. no light, no charge. many days i dont need the light. some i do. I bring it everywhere with me... this was the main problem with the kindle.. it was so darned big i couldnt fit it in my pocket, the 500 and the 700 fit in perfectly..

[Server]

I'm not an expert in photography but given my equipment, this
is the best I could come up with in 2 minutes of shooting.
I used an old Sony camera with fixed lens stop and no flash.
Lighting was incandescent, and taken at normal reading distance.
ie. eye to focal point ie. 12-16inches

Seeing is Believing

Notice the difference when viewing angle and lighting is unbiased
- the fuzzy image looks like it was taken with a phone camera


This shot was taken close up steep angle.

This image was taken at steep angle to show that it was still
readable under the right lighting conditions and pitch or angle.
Touch screens will always demand a different reading angle than
those without one. With lights turned on, readability increases
20 fold.

[Dedale]

Thanks guys for these pictures.

The touch screen is a real plus for me and I'm still asking myself if the glare and the contrast is a real deal.
These photos tend to make think it's not that bad.
I asked a friend (who never had an electronic reader) in Canada to check the PRS-700 and to tell me what he thinks.

[Kris777]

Touch screens will always demand a different reading angle than
those without one.
Yes, that is true. I tried to read 20 pages and each time I have to catch the right angle to make screen readable. There is no problems like that when I read with Kindle or jetBook. You can change the angle and read the text without any problems on these units.
Sony 700 can be a good choice for people in case if touch screen is more important for them than quality screen ...but not for me. I think I will play with this unit 1-2 days and send it back to Sony.

[micks_address]

i've still to decide which to buy for christmas.. but as the 505 is available locally (ireland) and id have to source the 700 from the states i'm more and more tempted by the 505... if people were saying the screen on the 700 was equal to the 505 then i'd be all over it

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by Kris777

Touch screens will always demand a different reading angle than
those without one.
Yes, that is true. I tried to read 20 pages and each time I have to catch the right angle to make screen readable.

This sounds like you're walking while your reading.

Originally Posted by micks_address

i've still to decide which to buy for christmas.. but as the 505 is available locally (ireland) and id have to source the 700 from the states i'm more and more tempted by the 505... if people were saying the screen on the 700 was equal to the 505 then i'd be all over it

I have both the 505 and the 700. I haven't picked up the 505 since I got my 700. The image is just fine for my eyes and, yes, you do have adjust the angle to find that sweet spot, but only once.
The lighting, touch screen, speed, ergonomics and just plain uncluttered look of the 700 won me over. Someone else in the family is equally enjoying the 500. It's a matter of personal choice, and the choice was easy for me.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by Server

I'm not an expert in photography but given my equipment, this is the best I could come up with in 2 minutes of shooting.
I used an old Sony camera with fixed lens stop and no flash.
Lighting was incandescent, and taken at normal reading distance.
ie. eye to focal point ie. 12-16inches

Thanks for the pics too. I also tried to take photos of my new PRS700, but I'm useless with a camera, the flash just bounced back from the screen and I was afraid to post a non-flash yellow looking pic with perfectly readable text in case everyone would think that the screen was yellow. I believe you have captured a good likeness.

[Kris777]

[QUOTE=Wetdogeared;300112]This sounds like you're walking while your reading.
QUOTE]

No, I was reading in my bed but when I changed the angle of reading I was forced to move Sony reader in order to make screen readable all the time.
It is not necessary to do when I read books on Kindle or jetBook units.