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

[Prestidigitweeze]

Weekend obligations still linger, but I'm back to answer a few posts.

Originally Posted by ardeegee

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

In fact it was you who "tossed back" the point I made in the first place:

Originally Posted by prestidigitweeze

[T]elling 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.

Next:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

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."

In consumer parlance, the phrase better materials happens to mean more durable with regard to cases. The objectivity of durable is implied in the word if not one's preference: better specifically in the sense of better made, more lastingly constructed. Other materials might seem better to some consumers in the sense of more comfortable or easier to carry (especially in a portable device or case), but no one uses better-made as a synonym for that. More portable, lighter, easier to hold and/or carry -- those are the kinds of things we'd say about such a preference.

Yes, it is subjective to prefer metal to rubber. However, it is not subjective to say that metal is better for a casement in the sense of more durable when the inference of durability is implied by the context.

In your words, "thank you for tossing back at me the exact point I was trying to make."

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?

So far as I know, no one makes a titanium eReader, which would make my insistence academic.

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.

Yet that choice on your part has nothing to do with the application of the phrase better made and everything to do with your decision that stronger protective materials are unnecessary because ultimate protection is impossible.

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.

. . . and here's where your own politeness comes into question.

Though I have apologized for any possible unintended impoliteness in two of my previous posts, even in those posts, I did not accuse Dreams or you, Phonetics, of dishonesty. Questioning someone's motives is different from presuming one's guess about them is correct.

Besides which, my "pedantic" point remains inviolate: subjective is not a synonym for lesser perceived value any more than objective is for consensus. You're still suggesting that poppaea's preference for audio in an eReader is somehow insufficiently normative -- that other features are somehow more "objective" because they have more "value" (to whom exactly?).

I would argue that no one who praises one reader over another should bother entering into the guessing game of what the normative consumer prefers. As I've said elsewhere, the idea of a normative person is inherently flawed and the past fifty years of anti-discrimination activism have largely been devoted to pointing this out: People are disincluded by the mistake of omission as often as the intention of malice.

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 . . .

There I agree with you.

and therefore makes no difference to them.

And there you've lost me. In one phrase, you've gone from correctly assessing that preferences are subjective to asserting that a given feature lacks value in general based on "not everyone's" preference.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

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.

Yes, of course the forum is open. However, I made two points -- one about civility and one about the appropriateness of a forum for information about a given product.

1. My point about civility, in retrospect, seems unfair: my understanding of what you were saying was conditioned by my seeing it through an elusive slit of a text field on a Samsung Epic amid numerous force quits and imminent train and subway stops -- all after having worked for twenty hours straight. I've apologized for that already, which should at least reassure you that I'm more interested in being fair than being right.

2. My point about the appropriate thread still stands in the sense you were giving extensive product information on a Nook in a forum about the PRS. Even in my most abrasive moment, I thanked you for that information. But I also suggested your research would be more helpfully placed in the which-should-I-buy forum, and that lists of features would be less likely to devolve into a mine-is-better tough-off.

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.

And there the civility ends. Either you refrain from calling people condescending or you don't. (I do, however, appreciate your level tone.)

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.

Good and thoughtful argument in favor of rubber vs. metal. However, I'm not sure it applies to ULs like the Samsung Series 9 and the MacBook Air. And carefully placed rubber on strategic surfaces is not the same as rubber all around.

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.

I'm surprised you're making that argument, since your previous one about the strategic placement of rubber seems to refute it. I can't speak to the Touch, but previous versions of the Nook have felt decidedly less durable than their Sony counterparts, including the 350.

But with regards to audio support on an eReader, it doesn't add any value to the reading experience.

Tell that to a person who's experiencing eye fatigue, hates text-to-speech and needs to switch to audiobooks.

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.

With sincere respect, I must point out you're using the word subjective incorrectly. Unnecessary, of lesser value, less relevant to the purpose of the device -- all of these words and phrases might better serve your meaning. I don't mean to be "pedantic" in saying this, as ardeegee presumed. I mean only to give exact words and other people the importance both deserve. Better to take the trouble of finding another word than risk the appearance of devaluing other posters or advancing preference as fact.

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 meant to say the same thing, actually, which is why I mentioned the cycle in the first place. If we were certain Sony were coming out with a new reader in the next few months, let alone, at all, I doubt we'd be buying up 350s and 950s. However, I don't really see the PRS series as "midway though its life cycle" -- particularly since Sony has occasionally listed the 950 as discontinued, and stores are clearly liquidating their PRS stock.

I also don't consider the Nook Touch a "budget" eReader.

Yes, that was an unfortunate choice of words on my part. I meant latest-feature-inclusive and relatively inexpensive. It's the kind of product you see after an idea has been out for awhile and can prove to be the best of the lot in that sense.

[ardeegee]

Edited because the clash of personalities makes it clear that there is no room for agreement here.

[ColdSun]

Ooookkeeeeee, now that we have gone past this other stuff, I just want to chime in and say I purchased 3 of these at Best Buy today. There was 1 left. They had the PRS-950 on display, but it doesn't even show up on their web site. The 950 was for sale for $199 but they said "Good luck finding one." Anyhow, I have 2 happy kids and myself with new 350s.

[LucidDreams]

Originally Posted by ColdSun

Ooookkeeeeee, now that we have gone past this other stuff, I just want to chime in and say I purchased 3 of these at Best Buy today. There was 1 left. They had the PRS-950 on display, but it doesn't even show up on their web site. The 950 was for sale for $199 but they said "Good luck finding one." Anyhow, I have 2 happy kids and myself with new 350s.

Congrads on your PRS-350. The PRS-350 should be a great eReader for kids given it's form factor (better for smaller hands). I don't know what you got the PRS-350 for but Borders is selling them for $109.99. Don't know if Best Buy will price match or not. But it's worth a try if you paid more.

[Pomtroll]

Congratulations ColdSun. I think you are going to be pleased with your purchases. I know I like mine.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

I don't know what you got the PRS-350 for but Borders is selling them for $109.99. Don't know if Best Buy will price match or not. But it's worth a try if you paid more.

What a great thing to say in a thread called:

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

[anabolina]

I really liked the PRS-350 it it would be totally worth it at either $119 or $109 :-) It's been a withdrawal sort of a weekend for me. I sold my prs-350 to my sister since she really wanted an ereader and I really want one with a larger screen, but it;s been hard not having it to read on this holiday weekend.

On the whole 950 thing, good luck finding one is correct. None of the DFW area stores had any in stock when I called around looking for one on Thursday and one even admitted that they were supposed to have one, but couldn't find it and think they probably sent it back. There are some stores that are supposed to have it, but I balanced the cost of time a gas to drive more than an hour each for the closest one and decided the cost was too high. That and I have a lot of bills due to tomorrow and really should not buy a new toy until next pay period.

[LucidDreams]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

I don't know what you got the PRS-350 for but Borders is selling them for $109.99. Don't know if Best Buy will price match or not. But it's worth a try if you paid more.

The thread was created on 5/14 so Best Buy could've lowered or increased the price some two weeks later (ColdSun purchased them on 5/29). I mentioned Borders price since he bought 3 of them. In this economy everyone can use some extra cash, more so if one has two kids.

At least my posting added value for those looking to purchase a PRS-350, yours not so much. But hey, I guess it's my fault for trying to help someone out.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

The thread was created on 5/14 so Best Buy could've lowered or increased the price some two weeks later (ColdSun purchased them on 5/29). I mentioned Borders price since he bought 3 of them. In this economy everyone can use some extra cash, more so if one has two kids.
At least my posting added value for those looking to purchase a PRS-350, yours not so much. But hey, I guess it's my fault for trying to help someone out.

+1. If I had known Border's would be carrying it for $110 with free shipping, I certainly wouldn't have gone out of my way to get it from a farther Best Buy store. As it is, I bought a back-up PRS-350 from Border's so I certainly found the info useful.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

+1. If I had known Border's would be carrying it for $110 with free shipping, I certainly wouldn't have gone out of my way to get it from a farther Best Buy store . . . so I certainly found the info useful.

I feel the same way.

Can't possibly justify buying a backup 350, though -- just bought a 950 I don't actually need (though it's a really fun toy).

I don't think BB price-matches retroactively. What you'd have to do (assuming you bought it in the last thirty days) is take it back for a full refund and then buy the one from Borders. If you bought it earlier than that, as I did, then you're out of luck.

But you probably knew that already.