Why Such High Sony E-reader Prices? - Page 3

rem736 · 12-19-2017, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

The PRS-500 and 505 displayed a blank screen when powered off, so they are not fit for your purpose.

on the 500, i believe that if you leave the unit powered on and turn off auto-power settings, when the battery runs out completely, the image will remain on screen. i've seen this happen.

ZodWallop · 12-19-2017, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

but the sony has one built-in feature that others have to be hacked for it to work. this feature is the ability to use your own images as the standby screen. i actually planned to use one older device (prs-500) for a door sign or a static photo display with this feature.

the other use for this, especially the smaller prs 300/350, is to hold images of shopping cards with bar codes so that i don't have to carry all these cards.

seriously, what is the problem with this feature that kobos/nooks/kindles don't include it built-in?

My Nook ST had this built in. So did the original Kindles. What they learned over time is that customers would screw things up (image file types or dimensions for instance) and call to complain.

My guess would be if Sony was still making readers, they wouldn't have this any more either.

ZodWallop · 12-19-2017, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatGIV

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so I disagree w/you. Have a T1 bought in 2011 @ Walmart for $100, still working. Also purchased a T2 refurb unit for $35 from Tiger Direct in 2012 which I'm presently using. Guess the bargains are in the eyes of the beholder.

Yes, but that was 2011 and 2012. Would you buy them today for $100 when you can get the Glowlight 3 or the current Paperwhite for the same price?

rkomar · 12-19-2017, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

on the 500, i believe that if you leave the unit powered on and turn off auto-power settings, when the battery runs out completely, the image will remain on screen. i've seen this happen.

That's bad for the battery, and will kill it eventually. So, I'd only do something like that on purpose if I never wanted to change the image again.

Richwood · 12-19-2017, 03:51 PM

Sony always made good looking e-readers but IMO were late adopting the ability to buy and receive ebooks directly without going through a computer. Also never updated the firmware for the Nook store apparently on some of their earlier readers such as the PRS-950 as near as I can tell. The T1 and T2 still styled nicely but with plastic bodies and a cover that followed the design of the Kindle snap-in cases as introduced with the K4 and KT Kindle e-readers. Sony never adopted a lighted screen for their readers either, sticking with the cases with a integral light. Most users apparently preferred the integrated light design adopted by the competition.

rem736 · 12-19-2017, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkomar

That's bad for the battery, and will kill it eventually. So, I'd only do something like that on purpose if I never wanted to change the image again.

bad for the battery is correct. but this device has such a poor e-ink screen compared to the modern screens that i don't use it for reading anyway. the battery issue is moot because i could just plug it in to change the image when needed, set the newly uploaded image as the static image each time i need to change it. then unplug for it to remain static. in this sense, it may even be better not to have a battery installed. but i'm not sure it will even power on without a battery to go through.

JSWolf · 12-20-2017, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatGIV

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so I disagree w/you. Have a T1 bought in 2011 @ Walmart for $100, still working. Also purchased a T2 refurb unit for $35 from Tiger Direct in 2012 which I'm presently using. Guess the bargains are in the eyes of the beholder.

That was then, this is now. Now a Sony Reader is not worth $100.

JSWolf · 12-20-2017, 05:49 AM

Sony Reader....

1. Older eInk screesn with less contrast and less resolution,
2. Slow processor
3. Old versions of RMSDK
4. No hyphenation except for the T3
5. No front light
6. 600, 700, & 900 are awful

Given what you can get these days, $100 for a Sony Reader is not worth it. I know newer Readers can cost more, but you get a lot more.

gingerbeardman · 12-20-2017, 06:08 AM

My PRS cost

T3 £25 (boxed, new, unused)
T2 £20
650 £20
500 £15

None of them were from eBay. All fit my needs perfectly and perform admirably.

If I'd have been patient I'm sure I could have found them for less.

Look at sold prices, not the prices people are asking. Look elsewhere than eBay.

JSWolf · 12-20-2017, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingerbeardman

My PRS cost

T3 £25 (boxed, new, unused)
T2 £20
650 £20
500 £15

None of them were from eBay. All fit my needs perfectly and perform admirably.

If I'd have been patient I'm sure I could have found them for less.

Look at sold prices, not the prices people are asking. Look elsewhere than eBay.

You did get cheated for the 600.

rcentros · 12-20-2017, 09:50 PM

EDIT: Both sold now.

In case someone is looking for a T2, there's one currently on sale at eBay for $20.99 (Buy It Now) and $7.95 s/h. My brother has bought Kindle Fires from this seller in the past and they were as advertised. I can't personally vouch for this listing, however.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-e-Read...cAAOSwjlBaOo0y

Same seller has a T3 (in standard case) for $50 plus $6.25 s/h.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-E-Read...0AAOSwQlJZw7ZZ

(T3 now sold.)

Richwood · 12-21-2017, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

In case someone is looking for a T2, there's one currently on sale at eBay for $20.99 (Buy It Now) and $7.95 s/h. My brother has bought Kindle Fires from this seller in the past and they were as advertised. I can't personally vouch for this listing, however.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-e-Read...cAAOSwjlBaOo0y

Same seller has a T3 (in standard case) for $50 plus $6.25 s/h.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-E-Read...0AAOSwQlJZw7ZZ

Thanks for the info. I have bought from this seller too. I got a Kindle Voyage with 3G and Wi-Fi for about half price. Item looked to be new except not in original packaging. Not a visible scratch on it. They still have a bunch of them for the same price I paid if you visit their ebay store.

Richwood · 12-26-2017, 10:05 AM

I have now watched three PRS-950 units actually sell on ebay. The first, with some small dead spots on the screen, went for $50 with shipping. The second, from Russia, went for $88 with shipping and the latest, from Canada, with Sony accessory original case and shipping went for $120. I suspect that the higher price listed units sell very slowly if at all at the asking prices.

Hemmi · 12-26-2017, 08:18 PM

Crazy! I got my 950 from Shopgoodwill.com and it was $8.99 plus shipping of $12.99. No dead spots, original box and charging cable too. They don't come up often but if you watch on there, you'll find them.

JSWolf · 12-27-2017, 03:54 PM

Does anyone know how to change the battery of a 950? What battery does it take?

If you buy a 950, you risk getting one with a battery that's on it's way out if not already and if you cannot change the battery, it's not worth the risk. My 650 needs a new battery and if I still used it, I'd have changed the battery. But chances are it may never get used again.

12-20-2017, 06:08 AM	#39
gingerbeardman Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1001024 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cornwall, UK Device: Various Sony Readers, Kobo Touch Edition, iPhone	My PRS cost T3 £25 (boxed, new, unused) T2 £20 650 £20 500 £15 None of them were from eBay. All fit my needs perfectly and perform admirably. If I'd have been patient I'm sure I could have found them for less. Look at sold prices, not the prices people are asking. Look elsewhere than eBay. Last edited by gingerbeardman; 12-20-2017 at 06:16 AM.

12-20-2017, 09:50 PM	#41
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,441 Karma: 48453105 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Tolino Vision 4, Voyage, Clara HD	EDIT: Both sold now. In case someone is looking for a T2, there's one currently on sale at eBay for $20.99 (Buy It Now) and $7.95 s/h. My brother has bought Kindle Fires from this seller in the past and they were as advertised. I can't personally vouch for this listing, however. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-e-Read...cAAOSwjlBaOo0y Same seller has a T3 (in standard case) for $50 plus $6.25 s/h. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-E-Read...0AAOSwQlJZw7ZZ (T3 now sold.) Last edited by rcentros; 12-21-2017 at 09:30 PM.

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12-19-2017, 03:51 PM	#35
Richwood Astronomy Nut Posts: 519 Karma: 3700000 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Reno, NV Device: Kindle (All), Kobo (Multiple), Sony (most) and Nook Glowlight Plus	Sony always made good looking e-readers but IMO were late adopting the ability to buy and receive ebooks directly without going through a computer. Also never updated the firmware for the Nook store apparently on some of their earlier readers such as the PRS-950 as near as I can tell. The T1 and T2 still styled nicely but with plastic bodies and a cover that followed the design of the Kindle snap-in cases as introduced with the K4 and KT Kindle e-readers. Sony never adopted a lighted screen for their readers either, sticking with the cases with a integral light. Most users apparently preferred the integrated light design adopted by the competition.

12-20-2017, 05:49 AM	#38
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Sony Reader.... 1. Older eInk screesn with less contrast and less resolution, 2. Slow processor 3. Old versions of RMSDK 4. No hyphenation except for the T3 5. No front light 6. 600, 700, & 900 are awful Given what you can get these days, $100 for a Sony Reader is not worth it. I know newer Readers can cost more, but you get a lot more.

12-26-2017, 10:05 AM	#43
Richwood Astronomy Nut Posts: 519 Karma: 3700000 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Reno, NV Device: Kindle (All), Kobo (Multiple), Sony (most) and Nook Glowlight Plus	I have now watched three PRS-950 units actually sell on ebay. The first, with some small dead spots on the screen, went for $50 with shipping. The second, from Russia, went for $88 with shipping and the latest, from Canada, with Sony accessory original case and shipping went for $120. I suspect that the higher price listed units sell very slowly if at all at the asking prices.

12-26-2017, 08:18 PM	#44
Hemmi Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,366 Karma: 15987608 Join Date: Apr 2015 Device: Sonys, Nooks, Kobo Libra, Forma, Mini, Paperwhite	Crazy! I got my 950 from Shopgoodwill.com and it was $8.99 plus shipping of $12.99. No dead spots, original box and charging cable too. They don't come up often but if you watch on there, you'll find them.

12-27-2017, 03:54 PM	#45
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Does anyone know how to change the battery of a 950? What battery does it take? If you buy a 950, you risk getting one with a battery that's on it's way out if not already and if you cannot change the battery, it's not worth the risk. My 650 needs a new battery and if I still used it, I'd have changed the battery. But chances are it may never get used again.

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