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Old 09-02-2010, 11:33 AM   #781
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It looks, however, as if, just like the PRS-900, it will be a US-only product.
Yes, and it's a shame
If Sony had problems with 3G in europe they should remove (disable) 3G from
PRS-950 Europe-Edition. I would buy even without 3G. Well already using the 900 in europe with 3G disabled.
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Old 09-02-2010, 03:21 PM   #782
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And what is your impression of the new models introduced by Sony on September 1st? The PRS-950, in particular, looks like a very nice hardware upgrade.
I guess I'll skip them.
Sony 950 by far would be the most interesting one for me. I love the form factor of Sony 900.
But, from what I've heard so far, 3G won't be working here in Germany. And WiFi really isn't worth the upgrade for me.
I'll see whether they've really improved the display quality that much. Problem in the past hasn't been the eInk screen, but the touch layer. If it's now "pure" PEARL quality without any degradation, maybe...
But quite frankly, I'm totally fine with my Kindle DX Graphite for reading and iPad/iPhone4 for all the web based stuff. I already have about 15 readers in my closet collecting dust...
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Old 09-02-2010, 03:52 PM   #783
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I might upgrade from 900 to 950 depending on what's really new.
The display and touchscreen should be much better; no glare anymore.
Not sure if that's enough for me. Hopefully there are more features but i'll wait until the manual is available.

First i need to checkout the 9-10" devices shown at IFA Berlin as i want a reader with a big (9.7") screen which isn't labeled Kindle.
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Old 09-03-2010, 12:11 AM   #784
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New question:

Could you evaluate your readers from the standpoint of a mostly blind user who wanted to use them for listening to audio books (in mp3 form)? Can you set font size to large for the library pages so that it's easy to choose a new book? (assume that all distracting material is removed, ie. only audiobooks are present)

My mother is legally blind, and listens to lots of audiobooks. For her, a cassette tape is the easiest, because the controls of the player are easiest to handle. There are specific cd players that work, but they're not really as portable as she would like, and most others are difficult to see/manage. iPods and similar devices have screens and controls that are just difficult enough to discourage her from trying.

I wonder if one of the touch-screen models would have a combination of large enough fonts that she could touch the correct book and start/stop/pause play.

Also, do they recognize the standard audiobook formats, or just straight mp3 files?
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Old 09-03-2010, 08:46 AM   #785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darqref View Post
New question:

Could you evaluate your readers from the standpoint of a mostly blind user who wanted to use them for listening to audio books (in mp3 form)? Can you set font size to large for the library pages so that it's easy to choose a new book? (assume that all distracting material is removed, ie. only audiobooks are present)

My mother is legally blind, and listens to lots of audiobooks. For her, a cassette tape is the easiest, because the controls of the player are easiest to handle. There are specific cd players that work, but they're not really as portable as she would like, and most others are difficult to see/manage. iPods and similar devices have screens and controls that are just difficult enough to discourage her from trying.

I wonder if one of the touch-screen models would have a combination of large enough fonts that she could touch the correct book and start/stop/pause play.

Also, do they recognize the standard audiobook formats, or just straight mp3 files?
Hi,
tough questions.
I have to admit, I've never used audio capabilities on any of my eReaders (except of the first few days of checking out all features).
I find the features way too limited, any € 50 MP3 walkman/iPod has way more to offer. And I find audio while reading distracting.
But I didn't check out from your mother's perspective of course.

Maybe half of my readers can be used for Audible AudioBooks. MP3 shouldn't be a problem for any of them.
Finding the audio book of choice within the library shouldn't be a problem, you can blow up the fonts quite significantly.
It's more difficult within the audio player application itself. I don't remember any reader being able to change the layout of the audio player to "button/interface oriented". So, on 5" and 6" readers, the button placement is kind of cramped. The manufacturers seem to focus on cover graphic, book title and such instead of having huge buttons.
For the majority of users this probably does make sense. Most of them probably would complain about wasting screen estate, if there'd be only 3 buttons and nothing else.

My spontaneous reaction to your post was: iPad.
You can't install any 3rd party audio applications on dedicated eReaders. Even on the softrooted/hacked ones I don't remember any audio book oriented application (there have been MP3 apps for iRex iLiad for example, but targeting for background music with non-intrusive overlay = tiny interface).

On iPad you easily can install Audible audio books, right from within iTunes. And standard MP3s of course.
The screen is huge, button placement shouldn't be a problem at all.
Of course, iPad is a bit less mobile. But I guess the difference to 6" readers isn't that big.
And of course battery consumption isn't perfect. But without WiFi and such, iPad will do 10+ hours.
Of course it's 5 times the price of low-end ePaper readers. But maybe you can find additional use for it? Maybe when your mother isn't using it, for yourself as a very nice gadget.
And just a thought: Personally, I love the GPS capabilities of iPad (although I use them way more often on iPhone). There even are voice activated apps, for example for navigating while driving you car.
Might come in handy for your mother when being on her own.

And of course iPad can do, whatever all the other readers can do. Even more, as you can install various applications (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ...) on it.
And: Lots of users complain about a single downside of iPad in comparison to ePaper readers: Less contrast respectively more glare.
Your mother won't bother, so she should be absolutely enthusiastic about iPad.
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Old 09-03-2010, 08:57 AM   #786
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darqref View Post
Could you evaluate your readers from the standpoint of a mostly blind user who wanted to use them for listening to audio books (in mp3 form)?
There are some excellent products on the market that are specifically geared to your mother's needs that are far better than screen-based ereaders.

You can find out more about them here:
A Look at Portable Digital Talking Book Players: A Comparison
http://access4.us/2010/04/comparedtb/
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Old 09-03-2010, 12:26 PM   #787
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Originally Posted by Darqref View Post
iPods and similar devices have screens and controls that are just difficult enough to discourage her from trying.
An iPod is going to be much superior to any ebook reader device for listening to audio books. I actually think the interfaces are a bit easier for listening to Audiobooks then the tacked on MP3 players in ebook readers.

BOb
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Old 09-07-2010, 01:37 PM   #788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darqref View Post
New question:

Could you evaluate your readers from the standpoint of a mostly blind user who wanted to use them for listening to audio books (in mp3 form)? Can you set font size to large for the library pages so that it's easy to choose a new book? (assume that all distracting material is removed, ie. only audiobooks are present)

My mother is legally blind, and listens to lots of audiobooks. For her, a cassette tape is the easiest, because the controls of the player are easiest to handle. There are specific cd players that work, but they're not really as portable as she would like, and most others are difficult to see/manage. iPods and similar devices have screens and controls that are just difficult enough to discourage her from trying.

I wonder if one of the touch-screen models would have a combination of large enough fonts that she could touch the correct book and start/stop/pause play.

Also, do they recognize the standard audiobook formats, or just straight mp3 files?
Maybe someone with a K3 can answer this. My understanding is that the K3 is suppose to have the TTS feature enabled to work on the menus pages now which would help someone legally blind.

If this is the case, then the K3 would be available to read many books where there is no audio book available, although not all since Publishers can chose to turn off TTS for a book, or the MP3 player on the K3.
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Old 09-17-2010, 05:42 AM   #789
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Mgmueller,if one is to consider a new reader in your opinion he should choose Irex Iliad 2 or Sony prs 650?
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Old 09-17-2010, 01:57 PM   #790
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In which order did you buy these readers? And why so many??[url]
yep. why
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Old 09-17-2010, 02:01 PM   #791
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8 Readers?
If you've got too much cash on your hand, I'm happy to help ;-)
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Old 09-17-2010, 03:31 PM   #792
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Mgmueller,if one is to consider a new reader in your opinion he should choose Irex Iliad 2 or Sony prs 650?
I love my iRex iLiad 2. Has been my very first ePaper reader and I still love its UI.
But it's really outdated now.
I'd choose iRex 800 over iLiad.
And for the Sonys: I don't have any of the new ones. But by far I prefer Sony 900 over Sony 600. I love Sony 900's form factor. So I'd probably choose Sony 950 over Sony 650.

Last edited by mgmueller; 09-17-2010 at 03:46 PM.
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Old 09-17-2010, 03:39 PM   #793
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yep. why
I've always collected "stuff".
As a child, I've bought maybe 8.000 comics.
As a teen, I've bought about 4.000 paper books.
As a student, I've bought about 800 CDs.
Then I've bought about 1.000 DVDs.
(I've skipped Blue-Rays, as I hate "moving parts").
Now I have about 2.000 iTunes movies, 6.000 iTunes TV shows and 1.500 iPad/iPhone apps.
(Just to mention: I don't have rich parents, I've always had several jobs while in school or while being a student).
This may seem a lot and awfully expensive. It certainly would be expensive, if I bought such amounts at once.
But I've bought most of the eBook readers over a period of about 18 months. Maybe 1 reader per month on average. Is € 300 per month a lot for one's hobby? I totally understand, € 300 in lots of countries is a huge amount. But given the "average EU citizen", I'm pretty sure there are millions of people with way more expensive hobbies.
I've met people, who spent € 10.000 on a single vacation. Or who buy a new car (and I'm not talking about a car worth € 2.000, more in the range > € 100.000) every 1 or 2 years.
My hobby obviously is way cheaper.
Does it make sense? To me, it does.
Is it necessary? Definitely not. I've used most of my readers for less than 20 hours. But 20 hours means 2 days of fun - sometimes that's worth a lot.
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Old 09-17-2010, 08:02 PM   #794
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.
As a student, I've bought about 800 CDs.
I'm pretty sure there are millions of people with way more expensive hobbies.
Well I got you beat in something. I have over 3000 CDs. Mostly jazz but also rock, blues, rhythm and classical. And I stopped buying CDs on a regular basis some years ago.

I have a 2 1/2 year old $20,000 Harley that I added close to $5000 in extras since I've had it and I will be adding more. I did the same with other motorcycles I owned in the past and don't let me get started on the boats I use to own. No your hobby is not that expensive compared to others.

~eddie
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Old 09-18-2010, 02:02 AM   #795
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Well I got you beat in something. I have over 3000 CDs. Mostly jazz but also rock, blues, rhythm and classical. And I stopped buying CDs on a regular basis some years ago.

I have a 2 1/2 year old $20,000 Harley that I added close to $5000 in extras since I've had it and I will be adding more. I did the same with other motorcycles I owned in the past and don't let me get started on the boats I use to own. No your hobby is not that expensive compared to others.

~eddie
I still remember your email about 6 months ago.
You've been joking that "boat" actually is an acronym for "boost out another thousand" (or something similar)
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