Reader with physical controls?

DarkWorld · 06-08-2019, 09:53 AM

I've had a Kobo Aura for a bit before, touchscreen was ok but much much prefer physical buttons, so ended up returning it.

Then used a PRS-T1 from a second hand store fore a long time, and tho it's slow sometimes, the presence of physical buttons made it wonderful to use. I also prefer buttons to touchscreen, as I am usually reading wile mobile (walking, on the train) where swiping/tapping the screen ends up being way more awkward, and I cannot operate it single handed.

Since I am less monetarily gifted, I will most likely buy a device second hand, so whether it's in production or not doesn't really matter, since I'm gonna be on ebay anyway.

in advance!

BookCat · 06-09-2019, 04:29 PM

If a frontlit screen isn't important, maybe look for another Sony. These are no longer supported, but many still use them.

slkissinger · 06-09-2019, 10:45 PM

For Physical buttons, consider a kindle voyage, or a pocketbook. Or a Sony T1/2/3

4691mls · 06-10-2019, 10:01 AM

fyi in case the OP is thinking of getting another Sony - unlike my old Sony PRS-T1, my T3 hardly ever locks up and is still able to get Overdrive library books directly, if that is something you are interested in. From what I've read on the boards here, I think the T2 also still has library access.

HarryT · 06-10-2019, 01:16 PM

Can the battery of a Sony be easily replaced? Any device this age is going to have a battery which is approaching end of life. I wouldn’t get one unless it’s possible to replace the battery.

4691mls · 06-10-2019, 01:46 PM

The T series battery is not user replaceable. However, I used my PRS-T1 for approximately 5 years before giving up on it and the battery was certainly still usable at that point. (I quit using it due to frequent dictionary freeze and the fact it was no longer able to directly download Overdrive books.)

I had bought my T3 to have as a reserve and had it in a drawer for probably a couple of years before I started using it. Been using it for a couple years now and battery is still OK.

Over in the Sony section of the Mobileread forum there are several people (RCentros being the first who comes to mind - he is quite the collector!) who have bought used Sonys from ebay, Goodwill etc. and been happy with them. So if the OP could get one cheap it may be worth the risk regarding the battery.

BookCat · 06-10-2019, 05:44 PM

A techie friend changed the battery of my old prs 505. It's not an easy job, but it's doable.

Hemmi · 06-10-2019, 06:33 PM

I have quite the collection of Sonys. Mostly from Shopgoodwill.com.

My daily use reader is my T2 and it's still in great shape. Holds a charge for weeks before I need to charge again. My T1 was always buggy and my T3 is my backup. I have a drawer full of other Sonys too. Got a little obsessed with having them all at one point.

DarkWorld · 06-14-2019, 10:19 AM

I'd love to get another sony but unfortunately being in australia people are selling them at $40.

Everything is super expencive here, a used kindle gen4 which I was considering would cost me $25.

pocketbook doesn't exist here either, and anyting here appears to be either ovrpriced or super outdated :\

HarryT · 06-14-2019, 01:55 PM

$25 doesn’t sound “super expensive” at all to me. Entirely the opposite.

BookCat · 06-14-2019, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

$25 doesn’t sound “super expensive” at all to me. Entirely the opposite.

If it works, that's a very reasonable price.

davidfor · 06-14-2019, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkWorld

I'd love to get another sony but unfortunately being in australia people are selling them at $40.

Everything is super expencive here, a used kindle gen4 which I was considering would cost me $25.

pocketbook doesn't exist here either, and anyting here appears to be either ovrpriced or super outdated :\

Kobo is not "super outdated" and easily purchased here. And comparing the US and UK prices with the local prices, they are in the same ballpark.

As to $40 for a Sony Twhatever, if I saw one at that price, I'd own one. But, of course, "expensive" is not an absolute, it is different for different people.

MarjaE · 06-14-2019, 11:40 PM

I currently use a Kindle Dx. Nice big screen, but slow. Good for game rules, journal articles, and short stories. I tend to move articles and journals into another collection as I read them, either "To Log" or "To Cut" depending what I plan to do with the corresponding book in Calibre. Got it used and scuffed up.

I also have a iRiver Story HD. Much smaller screen, faster. Good for novels. I can't move articles or stories as in the Kindle. Got it new.

I also tried an Icarus Illumina. I had a lot of trouble with accidental zooming. I had it break after a few weeks, and couldn't get it repaired, due to customs issues.

All of these have problems with certain pdf and djvu renderings--

I use either Ghostscript with -dCOMPATIBILITYLEVEL=1.4 or Willus's k2pdfopt with -mode copy -dev dx to pre-process pdfs for my Kindle. Many older e-readers will require similar conversion for newer pdfs.

DarkWorld · 06-15-2019, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

$25 doesn’t sound “super expensive” at all to me. Entirely the opposite.

$25+$10 shipping for one locked into demo mode

DNSB · 06-15-2019, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkWorld

$25+$10 shipping for one locked into demo mode

Quite a bit of advice about unlocking demo mode ranging from soldering and using a serial terminal to entering ;demo in the search bar.

06-08-2019, 09:53 AM	#1
DarkWorld Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2018 Device: Kobo H2O (1st gen)	Reader with physical controls? I've had a Kobo Aura for a bit before, touchscreen was ok but much much prefer physical buttons, so ended up returning it. Then used a PRS-T1 from a second hand store fore a long time, and tho it's slow sometimes, the presence of physical buttons made it wonderful to use. I also prefer buttons to touchscreen, as I am usually reading wile mobile (walking, on the train) where swiping/tapping the screen ends up being way more awkward, and I cannot operate it single handed. Since I am less monetarily gifted, I will most likely buy a device second hand, so whether it's in production or not doesn't really matter, since I'm gonna be on ebay anyway. in advance!

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06-09-2019, 04:29 PM	#2
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	If a frontlit screen isn't important, maybe look for another Sony. These are no longer supported, but many still use them.

06-09-2019, 10:45 PM	#3
slkissinger Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 2177726 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Multiple Kindles, Pocketbook Touch HD3, Kobo Clara HD, Xiaomi InkPalm	For Physical buttons, consider a kindle voyage, or a pocketbook. Or a Sony T1/2/3

06-10-2019, 10:01 AM	#4
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	fyi in case the OP is thinking of getting another Sony - unlike my old Sony PRS-T1, my T3 hardly ever locks up and is still able to get Overdrive library books directly, if that is something you are interested in. From what I've read on the boards here, I think the T2 also still has library access.

06-10-2019, 01:16 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Can the battery of a Sony be easily replaced? Any device this age is going to have a battery which is approaching end of life. I wouldn’t get one unless it’s possible to replace the battery.

06-10-2019, 01:46 PM	#6
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	The T series battery is not user replaceable. However, I used my PRS-T1 for approximately 5 years before giving up on it and the battery was certainly still usable at that point. (I quit using it due to frequent dictionary freeze and the fact it was no longer able to directly download Overdrive books.) I had bought my T3 to have as a reserve and had it in a drawer for probably a couple of years before I started using it. Been using it for a couple years now and battery is still OK. Over in the Sony section of the Mobileread forum there are several people (RCentros being the first who comes to mind - he is quite the collector!) who have bought used Sonys from ebay, Goodwill etc. and been happy with them. So if the OP could get one cheap it may be worth the risk regarding the battery.

06-10-2019, 05:44 PM	#7
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	A techie friend changed the battery of my old prs 505. It's not an easy job, but it's doable.

06-10-2019, 06:33 PM	#8
Hemmi Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,378 Karma: 15987608 Join Date: Apr 2015 Device: Sonys, Nooks, Kobo Libra, Forma, Mini, Paperwhite	I have quite the collection of Sonys. Mostly from Shopgoodwill.com. My daily use reader is my T2 and it's still in great shape. Holds a charge for weeks before I need to charge again. My T1 was always buggy and my T3 is my backup. I have a drawer full of other Sonys too. Got a little obsessed with having them all at one point.

06-14-2019, 10:19 AM	#9
DarkWorld Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2018 Device: Kobo H2O (1st gen)	I'd love to get another sony but unfortunately being in australia people are selling them at $40. Everything is super expencive here, a used kindle gen4 which I was considering would cost me $25. pocketbook doesn't exist here either, and anyting here appears to be either ovrpriced or super outdated :\

06-14-2019, 01:55 PM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	$25 doesn’t sound “super expensive” at all to me. Entirely the opposite.

06-14-2019, 11:40 PM	#13
MarjaE Guru Posts: 924 Karma: 53902736 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: multiple	I currently use a Kindle Dx. Nice big screen, but slow. Good for game rules, journal articles, and short stories. I tend to move articles and journals into another collection as I read them, either "To Log" or "To Cut" depending what I plan to do with the corresponding book in Calibre. Got it used and scuffed up. I also have a iRiver Story HD. Much smaller screen, faster. Good for novels. I can't move articles or stories as in the Kindle. Got it new. I also tried an Icarus Illumina. I had a lot of trouble with accidental zooming. I had it break after a few weeks, and couldn't get it repaired, due to customs issues. All of these have problems with certain pdf and djvu renderings-- I use either Ghostscript with -dCOMPATIBILITYLEVEL=1.4 or Willus's k2pdfopt with -mode copy -dev dx to pre-process pdfs for my Kindle. Many older e-readers will require similar conversion for newer pdfs.