Screen size, for a Sony device.

DeFunes43 · 11-14-2010, 11:07 AM

Hello world.

Xmas is getting quite close, and I decided to buy an e-reader.
I'm French, ans as you know, we don't have a Kindle Store. So i focused on Sony Readers, available in France, and which look quite good.

My main problem now is to choose screen size. From what I can see, all other devices are 6'' wide. What are the pros and cons of both 5 and 7 inches screen?

Is a 5'' screen wide enough? (Cause, if i could, I'd like to save money

)

Thank you in advance for your help, and have a good Sunday!
If you don't understand me, say it, I know my English is quite lame

tyche · 11-14-2010, 12:24 PM

The two modern Sony readers are the PRS-350 (5") and PRS-650 (6").

I use a 6" screen and I'm not sure I would want to go smaller. The 350 looks really nice and if I plan to upgrade from my 505 I will go look at both and see myself. The 350's price certainly is nice and using the small font a 5" screen would probably be fine.

DeFunes43 · 11-14-2010, 12:26 PM

What about the PRS-950?
I thought it was released this days, isn't it?

wallcraft · 11-14-2010, 12:37 PM

The size is a diagonal measurement, e.g. 5" diagonal is 3" wide by 4" high.

Since ebooks are viewed in a reflowable format (e.g. like a web page, where you can make text larger or smaller), the difference between 5" and 6" is how much text can be displayed per page at a font size you are comfortable with. If you use a large font size you might have to use the 5" in landscape mode to get enough text per line but in general either screen size is OK for reading. With the 5" you will turn pages more often (less text per page) than with the 6".

The 7" is the same width as the 6", so the 7" gives you more lines per page in portrait orientation. In landscape, the 7" in principle can display PDFs with more magnification than the 6". I don't know if Sony's PDF handling is good enough to take full advantage of this, but 7" is definitely better for PDFs when viewed by magnifying the original page layout (rather than reflow, i.e. converting to text and images, which the Sony's also support for some PDFs).

Make sure you are buying the new 350/650/950, because they are much better than the older 300/600.

neilmarr · 11-14-2010, 01:52 PM

In my experience, DeFunes, the difference betwen 5" and 6" makes so little difference that it doesn't matter. As Wallcraft says, what's important is the font size that's comofrortable on your eyes more than the actual number of words presented per screen-page. Good luck. Neil

DeFunes43 · 11-14-2010, 03:15 PM

Ok, thank you all for your answers.
A question about shops now, cause I think i'm gonna buy to a US online store. Indeed current $/€ rates makes readers very cheap.
Is adorama.com a good, reliable one?

mazzeltjes · 11-14-2010, 03:19 PM

remember import duty ?

DeFunes43 · 11-14-2010, 03:35 PM

I guess it is taken in account in the delivery fees isn't it? The website says $44, is it realistic?

krish · 11-14-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeFunes43

I guess it is taken in account in the delivery fees isn't it? The website says $44, is it realistic?

No, it is normally only the delivery charges. You would have to pay customs duty seperately when you receive the product. This is charged by your country.

Here there are many customers with positive feedback for both Adorama and B&H. Also check B&H photo video, as they have very good deals for sony reader for the next two weeks.

DeFunes43 · 11-14-2010, 05:06 PM

If I have to pay VAT in France, I guess a better choice will be to order to the French Sony store. Moreover, it partially solves my problem since prs-950 isn't available in France yet.

Thank you all.

11-14-2010, 11:07 AM	#1
DeFunes43 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Reader. Don't really know what size.	Screen size, for a Sony device. Hello world. Xmas is getting quite close, and I decided to buy an e-reader. I'm French, ans as you know, we don't have a Kindle Store. So i focused on Sony Readers, available in France, and which look quite good. My main problem now is to choose screen size. From what I can see, all other devices are 6'' wide. What are the pros and cons of both 5 and 7 inches screen? Is a 5'' screen wide enough? (Cause, if i could, I'd like to save money ) Thank you in advance for your help, and have a good Sunday! If you don't understand me, say it, I know my English is quite lame

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11-14-2010, 12:24 PM	#2
tyche Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 2530 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	The two modern Sony readers are the PRS-350 (5") and PRS-650 (6"). I use a 6" screen and I'm not sure I would want to go smaller. The 350 looks really nice and if I plan to upgrade from my 505 I will go look at both and see myself. The 350's price certainly is nice and using the small font a 5" screen would probably be fine.

11-14-2010, 12:26 PM	#3
DeFunes43 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Reader. Don't really know what size.	What about the PRS-950? I thought it was released this days, isn't it?

11-14-2010, 12:37 PM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The size is a diagonal measurement, e.g. 5" diagonal is 3" wide by 4" high. Since ebooks are viewed in a reflowable format (e.g. like a web page, where you can make text larger or smaller), the difference between 5" and 6" is how much text can be displayed per page at a font size you are comfortable with. If you use a large font size you might have to use the 5" in landscape mode to get enough text per line but in general either screen size is OK for reading. With the 5" you will turn pages more often (less text per page) than with the 6". The 7" is the same width as the 6", so the 7" gives you more lines per page in portrait orientation. In landscape, the 7" in principle can display PDFs with more magnification than the 6". I don't know if Sony's PDF handling is good enough to take full advantage of this, but 7" is definitely better for PDFs when viewed by magnifying the original page layout (rather than reflow, i.e. converting to text and images, which the Sony's also support for some PDFs). Make sure you are buying the new 350/650/950, because they are much better than the older 300/600.

11-14-2010, 01:52 PM	#5
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	In my experience, DeFunes, the difference betwen 5" and 6" makes so little difference that it doesn't matter. As Wallcraft says, what's important is the font size that's comofrortable on your eyes more than the actual number of words presented per screen-page. Good luck. Neil

11-14-2010, 03:15 PM	#6
DeFunes43 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Reader. Don't really know what size.	Ok, thank you all for your answers. A question about shops now, cause I think i'm gonna buy to a US online store. Indeed current $/€ rates makes readers very cheap. Is adorama.com a good, reliable one?

11-14-2010, 03:19 PM	#7
mazzeltjes Addict Posts: 242 Karma: 177 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Amsterdam Device: sony 505	remember import duty ?

11-14-2010, 03:35 PM	#8
DeFunes43 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Reader. Don't really know what size.	I guess it is taken in account in the delivery fees isn't it? The website says $44, is it realistic?

11-14-2010, 05:06 PM	#10
DeFunes43 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Reader. Don't really know what size.	If I have to pay VAT in France, I guess a better choice will be to order to the French Sony store. Moreover, it partially solves my problem since prs-950 isn't available in France yet. Thank you all.