PRS-350 To buy or not to buy (at $120 on Best Buy)?

[LucidDreams]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

If the font size bugs you, just convert your books to LRF. The gaps between font sizes are considerably smaller.

Sadly, LRF doesn't support advanced formatting like ePub does. So not all books converted to LRF will be formatted correctly. But with firmware hacks and ePub to ePub conversion you can change font types/etc. but that requires forethought and reviewing. Not something that's changeable on the fly while reading.

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

That's more so now that the new Nook came out. Since for $139 you get pretty much everything the PRS-650 offers but with Wi-Fi.

I didn't say you get everything the PRS-650 offers. Rather you pretty much get most of what the PRS-650 offers at a lower price and with Wi-Fi. Audio support on an eReader is subjective, to me it's a useless feature. Foreign language dictionaries is a nice feature but one that most will not use (most other eReaders don't support this either, I think Sony is the only exception). There are other features that the PRS-650 has that the new Nook Touch doesn't but the same can be said about what the PRS-650 doesn't have that the new Nook Touch does (font selection). The social network feature isn't something I'd use but it's good to see manufactures adding new and innovative features to eReaders. But for the masses most of what the new Nook Touch has feature wise is comparable to the PRS-650. And from what I can see in the demonstration videos the new Nook Touch has performance that is on par or better than that of the PRS-x50's.

Design and construction is a personal taste. To me, I'd rather have something that feels less metal/plastic like when I'm holding it for long periods of time. The rubber shell on the new Nook Touch is there for a reason - holding comfort. I don't know why you label the rubber as being "cheapo", it's just a different design and construction. Sort of like handlebars on a bicycle, you can grip bare metal or use rubber grips. Most prefer rubber grips for comfort.

I think most overlook that the new Nook Touch runs on Android 2.1. That could greatly "open" up the device if hacked. Allowing for new features to be added by the public (hackers/developers) vs. the company that makes the device.

[slieveen]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I thought that the Pearl e-ink displays are identical, whether in a Kindle or in a Sony, they're made by the same people.

I have both a Kindle 3 and a 350. I do find the 350 to be not quite as clear. My understanding is that the touch screen Sony's have an added layer(?) on the screen to support the touch function which the other eink devices do not other than the new Nook and Kobo ereaders announced this week and coming in mid June.

I personally love the 350 for its portability. Men don't use purses so the benefit of being able to drop an ereader into your shirt or coat pocket cannot be understated.

[Asawi]

[QUOTE=slieveen;1556676My understanding is that the touch screen Sony's have an added layer(?) on the screen to support the touch function [/QUOTE]

That is not correct for the current Sonys. The PRS-600 had this layer, but the current ones have the same IR technologu the new Nook and Kobo have.

[Prestidigitweeze]

It seems to me, Lucid Dreams, that there's a point at which fisking every single statement an opponent makes begins to look indiscriminate, and doing so on a thread where people are excited about their (relatively) new purchase seems a tad uncivil.

I was with you on your initial points. But when you tap-danced around the argument that the Sony is better constructed than the Nook's various iterations, essentially wrote Poppaea off as too invested, and finished with the claim that metal is no better than rubber or plastic, your other reasonable arguments seemed less credible.

Yes, someone's aesthetic preference for metal over plastic might be subjective. But the superiority of metal to plastic, like that of PRS construction compared to various Nooks, is not. Plastic equally good? Tell that to anyone shopping for a laptop.

Your Android 2.1 point, like those about competitive features, is better. I appreciate the information. But telling another user that "Audio support on an eReader is subjective" is unhelpful because you're implying that other kinds of support (i.e., features) are not subjective.

That said, the PRS series are end-of-cycle readers and the Nook Touch is an end-of-gen budget reader with a lot of good features and perhaps a few fin-du-processor innovations. For a lot of people, it would be a good purchase and you're right to recommend it.

Still, I'm increasingly curious as to why you're championing its virtues -- repeatedly -- on a Sony thread in a Sony forum. Wouldn't your advocacy be more useful and better appreciated on a help-me-decide thread? Wouldn't your information stand a better chance of being read by the undecided users you're trying to reach?

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

But telling another user that audio "is a subjective feature in a reader" is ridiculous.

Your attack on Lucid Dreams seem entirely unwarranted, IMHO. And in this point in particular, either you are nitpicking on the words used (because he didn't explicitly say that "the individual's value placed on the audio feature is subjective") or you don't understand what the word "subjective" means. The value of audio on a reader IS subjective-- I could not possibly give a smaller fraction of a rat's ass about audio on an ebook reader, and would never have any interest in wasting space on a reader with audio files.

[Poppaea]

But the point if not if you care for it or not but that he compared the products. When comparing them there are features the Nook and Kobo don't have. So you can't compare their price to the price of the Sony.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Your attack on Lucid Dreams seem entirely unwarranted, IMHO. And in this point in particular, either you are nitpicking on the words used (because he didn't explicitly say that "the individual's value placed on the audio feature is subjective") or you don't understand what the word "subjective" means. The value of audio on a reader IS subjective-- I could not possibly give a smaller fraction of a rat's ass about audio on an ebook reader, and would never have any interest in wasting space on a reader with audio files.

No one has been "attacked," least of all, LD. [Edit: However, on the strength of your comments, I decided not to rule out the idea that my irritation at my smartphone on the way home (and the tension created by its sudden resizing of text windows and erasure of their contents) had an effect on my tone and scrutiny of the text to which I responded. I had a second look and can see how I might have sounded abrasive. For that, I apologize.

Beware premature versatility in a handheld that translates to a lack of user control. It will change you into a werewolf in mid-sentence.]

I sincerely enjoy your desire to educate me on the meaning of the word subjective. If you can compile a list of non-subjective preferences for me, I might still sign up for the course.

However, you seem to be using objective as if it were a synonym for unnecessary. "Aluminum is more durable than plastic" might be an opinion, but it is also true objectively (for now). "Audio is a subjective feature" is only true if other features are also subjective -- i.e., conditioned by taste -- which they are, of course.

Is your sense of objectivity inseparable from your preferences as a user? If so, is it really objectivity?

[addheat]

Any real life battery report from new users? Mine needs to be recharged every 2 days, even if I'm not using it.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

I sincerely enjoy your desire to educate me on the meaning of the word subjective. If you can compile a list of non-subjective preferences for me, I might still sign up for the course.

Thank you for tossing back at me the exact point I was trying to make.

"Aluminum is more durable than plastic" might be an opinion, but it is also true objectively (for now).

Please point out to me where anyone-- ever-- said that aluminum was NOT more durable than plastic? That is indeed an objective fact-- what is a subjective opinion is that "aluminum is better than plastic", which would only be true if the only criterion for "better" is "durability." And if durability is the only factor, then why are you willing to settle for this aluminum junk and not instead insist on a titanium shell? If a plastic case shields the screen and electronics of a reader by a reasonable amount from flexing and by a reasonable amount from impacts (given that no amount of shielding from any material can protect from all possible "injuries") then I see no reason to conciser plastic to be an inferior choice to aluminum.

"Audio is a subjective feature" is only true if other features are also subjective -- i.e., conditioned by taste -- which they are, of course.

Ah, so you are going for pedantic nitpicking about language! You know very well that what he obviously meant was that the value of audio in a reader is subjective. You know very well that he didn't mean that whether or not audio existed on a given reader depended on your opinion on it.

What you and I both know that he meant was that the presence of audio on an ebook reader (along with what material the case is made from) is not going to be a factor in everyone's decisions on which ebook reader to buy, and therefore makes no difference to them. If you have no interest whatsoever in audio-- and no concern for plastic-- then that extra price you'd pay for something you don't need or care about isn't justifiable.

[barium]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

But with firmware hacks and ePub to ePub conversion you can change font types/etc. but that requires forethought and reviewing. Not something that's changeable on the fly while reading.

Do any other readers allow you to specify custom CSS code on the device? I just experimented with this today, and I'm impressed by how much control pepak's hack gives you over epub formatting.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

No, you don't. No MP3s, no audio feature at all, no foreign language dictionaries, no collections or comparable feature. You will get a couple of gimmicky social stuff for those who have no real friends and a cheapo rubber case with a pearl screen that will be just the new standard screen from now on. The only thing they do better with their reader is the 6 different fonts. But they can't compare to the x50 in performance.

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Your attack on Lucid Dreams seem entirely unwarranted, IMHO. And in this point in particular, either you are nitpicking on the words used (because he didn't explicitly say that "the individual's value placed on the audio feature is subjective") or you don't understand what the word "subjective" means. The value of audio on a reader IS subjective-- I could not possibly give a smaller fraction of a rat's ass about audio on an ebook reader, and would never have any interest in wasting space on a reader with audio files.

Originally Posted by Poppaea

But the point if not if you care for it or not but that he compared the products. When comparing them there are features the Nook and Kobo don't have. So you can't compare their price to the price of the Sony.

I think it's unfortunate to use disparaging words like cheapo when discussing the relative advantages of one reader over another. It's rude and implies an element of economic snobbery. Price is a legitimate consideration, always.

I agree that a feature like audio is subjective (and of no potential interest to me, either). Ditto for social networking, but I won't assume that people who want it are friendless (some people spend a whole lot of time online, apparently, even posting on internet forums).

The Sonys have features the Nooks/Kobos dont, and vice versa. You can't make a one-sided case. And I didn't realize there won't be folders on the new Nook. I find the folders on the current Nook more convenient than the collections on the Sony.

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by addheat

Any real life battery report from new users? Mine needs to be recharged every 2 days, even if I'm not using it.

Your Sony 350? (You don't have a 350 listed in your profile, but since the 350 is what the topic should be about...) If that's the case, there is something wrong with it! Go back to where you bought it!

[slieveen]

Originally Posted by Asawi

That is not correct for the current Sonys. The PRS-600 had this layer, but the current ones have the same IR technologu the new Nook and Kobo have.

Of course your are right and I stand corrected. Perhaps my belief in the reduced comparative brightness between my K3 and 350 relates back to the earlier discussions about the pixel and font size relative to less background space. In which case this is the price I am willing to pay for the reduced overall footprint of the 350.

[Palladin]

Thanks for this post and for not buying all the 350s. I have bought each generation of Sony Readers and this is by far the best.

[LucidDreams]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

It seems to me, Lucid Dreams, that there's a point at which fisking every single statement an opponent makes begins to look indiscriminate, and doing so on a thread where people are excited about their (relatively) new purchase seems a tad uncivil.

I thought this was a forum where people can have an open discussion. Perhaps I was wrong and should have read the etiquette rules for posting. I also own the PRS-350 so I'm speaking to my experience with the device. So I don't know what's so uncivil about that. But at least my postings were done in a non-condescending way. Sadly, I can't say the same with regards to your last posting.

The majority of keyboards are made of plastic, even on laptops. The point I'm making is that for things that we hold/touch companies use materials that are comfortable. That's why some premium keyboards and mouses include the use of rubber to make the devices more comfortable to use. The problem with eReaders is they're a standalone solution where the device and interface/screen are integrated. And unlike a laptop people hold the devices for hours. It's important to note that not all Sony PRS devices are made the same. Only the front bezel which also covers the left side is aluminum on the PRS-350, the rest of the device is plastic. That doesn't add much in quality of construction or durability.

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

But telling another user that "Audio support on an eReader is subjective" is unhelpful because you're implying that other kinds of support (i.e., features) are not subjective.

eReaders are mainly single purpose device. But this line might get more blurred going forward as companies add more features to outdo their competition. But with regards to audio support on an eReader, it doesn't add any value to the reading experience. That's why I consider it subjective. Features that enhance the reading experience are less subjective (font selection, display adjustment, formatting control, etc.) and could be a deal breaker.

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

That said, the PRS series are end-of-cycle readers and the Nook Touch is an end-of-gen budget reader with a lot of good features and perhaps a few fin-du-processor innovations. For a lot of people, it would be a good purchase and you're right to recommend it.

Last I checked Sony doesn't yet have a replacement for the PRS series. Nor do we know when the replacement models will be available. It could be 5-6 months before we see a new Sony eReader model which would put the current PRS series about midway through it's life cycle. I also don't consider the Nook Touch a "budget" eReader. It's positioned at the same level as the Kindle 3 and most don't consider Amazon's device a budget eReader. The original Kobo that's now $99 is what I would label a budget eReader.

I'm not championing the new Nook Touch. As I stated before if a small form factor is #1 then the PRS-350 is hands down the best and pretty much the only choice, no one else has a 5" eReader. Sadly, the PRS-650 is in limited supply and those places that have it for sale are charging MSRP or higher. With that said, it's hard to recommend the PRS-650. More so now that the pricing level and Touch feature has been challenged by the new Kobo/Nook Touch eReaders.