Any of these Sonys worth buying?

[pdurrant]

Then again, $29.99 for a PRS-300 if a very good price, even though the display is an older version of E-Ink and is a discontinued model.

It's a lot better than no E-Ink reader, and will allow Greg to see how he gets on with an ebook reader, and hell be able to decide what features he wants for his next reader.

I shall be interested to hear how he gets on with it once it's arrived.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Then again, $29.99 for a PRS-300 if a very good price, even though the display is an older version of E-Ink and is a discontinued model.

It is a very good price, I agree, but although the PRS-300 was an excellent reader in its day, that day was now long ago, and it doesn't give an accurate impression of what using a modern reader is like.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It is a very good price, I agree, but although the PRS-300 was an excellent reader in its day, that day was now long ago, and it doesn't give an accurate impression of what using a modern reader is like.

Maybe not what a newer model today can do. It does have a high resolution though with 200 ppi. My very first eink reader was a prs300 - got tons of use out of it, until the battery slowly gave out. At the end it wouldn't charge long enough to get through the boot process to finish charging. Otherwise no complaints - not sure if the battery issue is typical or not for this model. Both our 2 year old PW1 show no signs of degraded battery.

[Gregg Bell]

You know, you're all kind of right. But the thing is I've got like 500 regular books sitting around my apartment waiting to be read so there was no real urgency to get an ereader. I think Paul hits closest to home with the idea that I can play with this one, see how I like it, and go from there. Heck, I see all kinds of you have four or five. For me, the $29 was a can't miss. At the very least I'll learn a lot and have a ball.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

You know, you're all kind of right. But the thing is I've got like 500 regular books sitting around my apartment waiting to be read so there was no real urgency to get an ereader. I think Paul hits closest to home with the idea that I can play with this one, see how I like it, and go from there. Heck, I see all kinds of you have four or five. For me, the $29 was a can't miss. At the very least I'll learn a lot and have a ball.

I just wish I could see your face as you "have a ball" with a newer model unit, from whatever company.

When (if?) you decide to buy a newer model Kindle or Kobo, your eyeballs will drop out - you'll be that amazed in seeing the difference between a newer model and something 4-5 years old.

[Gregg Bell]

Hey, this Sony PRS-300 I just bought says it comes with a usb cable. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-079-_-Product Is that cable just for charging the battery or will it work for sideloading as well? ('Cause if it doesn't work for sideloading, then I can get a jump on things and order a cable from Newegg so they arrive kind of around the same time.)(Which leads to another question. If I need an additional cable for sideloading, would this cable (see below link) be the proper kind?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812423068

Thanks!

P.S. Dr. Drib, I think Rootabaggers all use PRS-300s.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Hey, this Sony PRS-300 I just bought says it comes with a usb cable. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-079-_-Product Is that cable just for charging the battery or will it work for sideloading as well? ('Cause if it doesn't work for sideloading, then I can get a jump on things and order a cable from Newegg so they arrive kind of around the same time.)(Which leads to another question. If I need an additional cable for sideloading, would this cable (see below link) be the proper kind?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812423068

Thanks!

P.S. Dr. Drib, I think Rootabaggers all use PRS-300s.

The cable will allow you to connect it to your computer to add ebooks to it.

I'm sorry, but I can't remember much about these early Sony units. (I was an early adopter of them, but left them about 4-5 years ago.)

The USB cable may charge it - and probably does.

I had to have a special charger [produced by Sony] when I bought my PRS-500 new about 7-8 years ago.

There will be plenty of members here who will give you more specific info. [Sorry.]

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Where's that sale at, JS?

Kobo and Chapters both have the Kobo Aura on sale for $99. I bought the H2O from Chapters and it arrived here in 4 days.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Thanks rcentros. I bought this to play with in the meantime.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-079-_-Product

I simply couldn't resist the price.

I am seriously hoping you didn't just say you bought a PRS-300. It's not what you want. It uses a really old version of ADE and it's very slow. You won't like it. Please say that if you did buy it that you can return it.

The Kobo Aura from Chapters is $99 with a free sleep cover. It's well worth it. I also suggest you get a Kindle as well. You might be able to get a refurbished PW from Amazon for $99 (without cover).

By having both a Reader that handles ePub (with a recent enough version of ADE's RMDSK) and a Kindle, you have all you need to test out your eBooks.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Kobo and Chapters both have the Kobo Aura on sale for $99. I bought the H2O from Chapters and it arrived here in 4 days.

Additionally, Chapters is holding a 1-day sale offer for today (good until just before midnight EST, Dec 13th) on the Kobo Aura for $99.99 CAD + a free "Classic Cover" ($30 value, doesn't seem to be similar to the "Sleep Cover" available during Black Friday).

That said, if the OP or anyone else interested can hold out until after Christmas, they'd probably get at least as good or even better a deal, since traditionally Canada isn't big on Black Friday/pre-Xmas sales and the really good prices on stuff come out during Boxing Week and New Year's, in my experience.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

The cable will allow you to connect it to your computer to add ebooks to it.

I'm sorry, but I can't remember much about these early Sony units. (I was an early adopter of them, but left them about 4-5 years ago.)

The USB cable may charge it - and probably does.

I had to have a special charger [produced by Sony] when I bought my PRS-500 new about 7-8 years ago.

There will be plenty of members here who will give you more specific info. [Sorry.]

To charge the 300, you will need to find a Sony PSP type charger. That's the one with the barrel type plug.

The best way to deal with a 300 is to return it whenever possible. It doesn't matter who else uses one. It's old (old software) and it's slow. Plus, it's possible that the battery could be wonky given the age of the 300. You do want something more up-to-date in order to properly test your ePub. I believe the 300 is so old, that the ADE used doesn't support full justification. I think that didn't happen until the x50 line (350, 650, 950). The thing is, don't jump on a Reader just because its chap. Get one that fits your needs and the 300 is not it. The 300 is a 5" version of the 500 and I would not use a 500 today because it doesn't work well enough any longer. It's obsolete, slow and the ADE is never going to be updated to be good enough.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Thanks JS. I hung with everything you wrote except:

Don't forget to set the correct guides though. Kindle users expect that.

What "guides" are you referring to?

The guide section in the ePub OPF is used to get the links when you go to the Kindle's eBook menu. It handles things like Star Reading and Table of Contents and anything else you want to include there.

Have a read about the <guide>.

http://epubsecrets.com/where-do-you-...e-opf-file.php

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Hey, this Sony PRS-300 I just bought says it comes with a usb cable. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-079-_-Product Is that cable just for charging the battery or will it work for sideloading as well? ('Cause if it doesn't work for sideloading, then I can get a jump on things and order a cable from Newegg so they arrive kind of around the same time.)(Which leads to another question. If I need an additional cable for sideloading, would this cable (see below link) be the proper kind?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812423068

Thanks!

P.S. Dr. Drib, I think Rootabaggers all use PRS-300s.

The usb cable that comes with it will charge and sideload the prs300 (see below for the linked cable). The other option to charge is with a universal power supply. Sony used to sell a dedicated charger (not USB) that plugs into the round hole with 5.2 volt. I never tested the charging with a universal charger (or the expensive Sony one), but I believe if I remember right that you could read while charging. If charging over usb you cannot read - unless you install PRS+ software on it. PRS+ is kind of like hacking (not official software from Sony). PRS+ has an option to read while charging and adds more control over sorting and displaying your library among other things. Fair warning, PRS+ makes the prs300 even more prone to crashes.

The inability to read while charging may not sound that bad, but it is the worst that can happen to you. Especially if the "low battery" warning pops up in the middle of your reading session with a book you can't put down. The age of the prs300 will show - and makes you appreciate little things everybody now takes for granted on newer devices.

Edit: oh forgot to mention, the usb cable you linked will not work with the prs300 - it uses tthe older style plug (mini-usb?) instead of the micro-usb that everything uses nowadays. So if you travel with your prs300, don't forget the cable since more than likely nobody will have a mini-usb plug for you to borrow.

[Matth79]

Yes, charges via USB or by dedicated charger connection - looked up the online manual.
Devices that predate the charging port standard (D+&D- shorted) may not recognize a USB charger. Apple chargers follow their own NON-standard for multi-signalling of charging rate.

Only loads via USB - it does not have wifi - making it a very dated device

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

The cable will allow you to connect it to your computer to add ebooks to it.

I'm sorry, but I can't remember much about these early Sony units. (I was an early adopter of them, but left them about 4-5 years ago.)

The USB cable may charge it - and probably does.

I had to have a special charger [produced by Sony] when I bought my PRS-500 new about 7-8 years ago.

There will be plenty of members here who will give you more specific info. [Sorry.]

Thanks Dr. Drib

Originally Posted by ATDrake

That said, if the OP or anyone else interested can hold out until after Christmas, they'd probably get at least as good or even better a deal, since traditionally Canada isn't big on Black Friday/pre-Xmas sales and the really good prices on stuff come out during Boxing Week and New Year's, in my experience.

Thanks ATDrake. So is Xmas-->New years or after New Years the bigger sale?

Originally Posted by JSWolf

To charge the 300, you will need to find a Sony PSP type charger. That's the one with the barrel type plug.

Most people are saying the USB cord that comes with it will charge it.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The best way to deal with a 300 is to return it whenever possible. It doesn't matter who else uses one. It's old (old software) and it's slow. Plus, it's possible that the battery could be wonky given the age of the 300. You do want something more up-to-date in order to properly test your ePub. I believe the 300 is so old, that the ADE used doesn't support full justification. I think that didn't happen until the x50 line (350, 650, 950). The thing is, don't jump on a Reader just because its chap. Get one that fits your needs and the 300 is not it. The 300 is a 5" version of the 500 and I would not use a 500 today because it doesn't work well enough any longer. It's obsolete, slow and the ADE is never going to be updated to be good enough.

But do you think it's a good one? (I'm kidding.) Come on, JS, the thing is $29. How bad can it be? So the battery isn't brand new. What do you mean by it being so slow? And what do you mean by 'the ADE is never going to be updated to be good enough'? (I don't care if it has full justification. I don't like it.) It'll probably cost me half the price of the unit just to return it. Don't you think you're over-reacting a bit? I was feeling good about buying it.

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

The usb cable that comes with it will charge and sideload the prs300 (see below for the linked cable). The other option to charge is with a universal power supply. Sony used to sell a dedicated charger (not USB) that plugs into the round hole with 5.2 volt. I never tested the charging with a universal charger (or the expensive Sony one), but I believe if I remember right that you could read while charging. If charging over usb you cannot read - unless you install PRS+ software on it. PRS+ is kind of like hacking (not official software from Sony). PRS+ has an option to read while charging and adds more control over sorting and displaying your library among other things. Fair warning, PRS+ makes the prs300 even more prone to crashes.

The inability to read while charging may not sound that bad, but it is the worst that can happen to you. Especially if the "low battery" warning pops up in the middle of your reading session with a book you can't put down. The age of the prs300 will show - and makes you appreciate little things everybody now takes for granted on newer devices.

Edit: oh forgot to mention, the usb cable you linked will not work with the prs300 - it uses tthe older style plug (mini-usb?) instead of the micro-usb that everything uses nowadays. So if you travel with your prs300, don't forget the cable since more than likely nobody will have a mini-usb plug for you to borrow.

Thanks for the good info, Tigger. And you saved me from buying the wrong cord.

Originally Posted by Matth79

Yes, charges via USB or by dedicated charger connection - looked up the online manual.
Devices that predate the charging port standard (D+&D- shorted) may not recognize a USB charger. Apple chargers follow their own NON-standard for multi-signalling of charging rate.

Only loads via USB - it does not have wifi - making it a very dated device

Thanks Matth. Not to concerned about wifi. Never in that much of a hurry to get a book. Sideloading will be enough for me.