PRS-300 One-handed operation?

simplyparticular · 06-06-2010, 10:18 PM

Just wondering how one-handed friendly the Pocket Edition is? My Target has them on display, but so locked down that I couldn't tell how ergonomic it was to hold in one hand and use the center 5 way.

I found the PRS-700 way too top-heavy to operate one-handed using the buttons. Just wondering if the Pocket can be balanced more easily in one hand, since it weighs less.

elmago79 · 06-06-2010, 10:33 PM

It all depends on which hand your using, and the size of your hand. If you're right handed, and have medium sized hands, it's a bliss. If you have very big hands, it's a little hard to manipulate, and with small hands, your thumb misses the sweet spot.

AprilHare · 06-06-2010, 11:05 PM

One handed operation.. get it?!??

ReD · 06-07-2010, 03:01 AM

I have a 700 and a 300. Because of its size, the 300's centre of gravity is much closer to your palm so it is extremely easy to hold one-handed using either hand. I find that my thumb sits quite naturally in the middle button of the arrow pad. In fact, I love the ease of use and clarity of the 300 so much that I've barely given my 700 a glance in the past three months!

simplyparticular · 06-07-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReD

I find that my thumb sits quite naturally in the middle button of the arrow pad.

This is encouraging.

Quote:

with small hands, your thumb misses the sweet spot.

This gives me pause. My 13 yr old niece has bigger hands than I do.

Quote:

One handed operation.. get it?!??

I think I may just buy one on eBay for testing. That's what I did with the PRS-700, but I had no choice since it was discontinued.

Elton Noway · 06-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

Just wondering how one-handed friendly the Pocket Edition is? ... how ergonomic to hold in one hand and use the center 5 way.

Just wondering if the Pocket can be balanced more easily in one hand, since it weighs less.

Very easy. I read mine in bed every night. Easy to hold, good balance, one hand, thumb controlled. FYI: I'm right handled. If you are left handed I would think one handed operation would be a stretch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

I think I may just buy one on eBay for testing.

Now might be a good time to look on eBay. Woot.com just sold 3,361 of them (factory refurbished) for $114 - delivered, back on May 19th... and another 123 of them on May 26th.

http://www.woot.com/blog/viewentry.aspx?id=12826

Quite a few woot buyers put their Woot buys on eBay with the hopes of making a few bucks.

simplyparticular · 06-07-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elton Noway

Quite a few woot buyers put their Woot buys on eBay with the hopes of making a few bucks.

That explains why there was an influx of refurbished listings over the weekend. I vaguely remember the woot offer being posted in the deals forum. Some of the sellers are crazy - they've got it listed at $170-199, which is crazy given that the Pocket is selling for $169 new, and the Touch is $199 right now.

I am right-handed, but I switch between my right and my left when I'm reading on my iPhone - nursing baby is in the other arm.

Decisions, decisions.

FizzyWater · 06-07-2010, 09:48 PM

I have a 300, have not large hands, and am left-handed. I generally read one-handed. I do tend to use my right-hand when making selections on the 0 - 9 buttons, though.

doog_smith · 06-07-2010, 10:32 PM

Funny enough, I was one of the recent Woot.com purchasers. I was traveling last week and used the Sony PRS-300 quite a bit for the first time. I have medium-sized hands and am right-handed. It was fairly comfortable to operate using just one hand. It was not too heavy. And, although I am right-handed, I frequently held it in my left hand, resting my left thumb across the bottom of the device to stabilize it and to change pages using the center directional button.

ludovicus · 06-07-2010, 11:01 PM

I also have small hands, and have no problems reading my 300 with one hand. I'm also left-handed and find holding it with either hand equally comfortable.

One thing to note is that on the center directional button you can advance pages by pressing either the right or bottom arrows. (To go back a page the right and up arrows.)

You may want to see if there is a Sony Style store nearby, where you can see them untethered.

Good luck!

rudyt · 06-08-2010, 12:15 AM

I have no trouble holding the 300 one-handed using either hand. If you're not too queasy about reflashing, you can get the 7-8 keys on the right-hand side of the 300 to page up/down as well.

/rudy

DoctorOhh · 06-08-2010, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elton Noway

Now might be a good time to look on eBay. Woot.com just sold 3,361 of them (factory refurbished) for $114 - delivered, back on May 19th.

I bought two so they cut me a break $112.50 a piece. Shipping for two was the same cost as one.

I tried not to buy them, I got off shift at 8am and somehow resisted the temptation. I went to bed and didn't check the Woot site again until around 5pm and they still had stock. Most of the time they seem to be sold out by noon. I never had a chance. On the bright side my two kids have new ebooks.

ngrant · 06-08-2010, 04:44 PM

I also got two units in the Woot deal, just to have a comparison with my jetBook Lite (that's my excuse, I have so little willpower when it comes to gadgets). The JBL and Sony e-ink screens are different, but equally pleasant to read. I like to alternate them so as to give my eyes a change and a rest as I spend all day looking at a computer screen. I find the Sony 300 works well in either hand, but the jetBook Lite I prefer to hold in my left hand (by its battery bump which provides a nice firm grip) and use the slider control to change pages. My hands are small, and I find these 5 inch readers perfect for reading; not that I would mind if someone GAVE me an iPad... (smile) but being a frugal sort of person (read = cheap) the $100 price point works better for me. My JBL cost me $115 at Newegg and the Sony Pocket $113 at Woot.

simplyparticular · 06-08-2010, 10:46 PM

Thanks everyone! I'm going to take the plunge and pick up an eBay one. I've gotten really tired of individually adding books to my iPhone.

dorino · 06-09-2010, 04:16 PM

Since it hasn't been brought up, and you haven't brought it up, the prs-600 is very one-hand friendly too. I only use two hands to take notes on it. I use my thumb to do the page turn gesture to flip the pages, and it's very easy. Not top heavy.

06-06-2010, 10:18 PM	#1
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	One-handed operation? Just wondering how one-handed friendly the Pocket Edition is? My Target has them on display, but so locked down that I couldn't tell how ergonomic it was to hold in one hand and use the center 5 way. I found the PRS-700 way too top-heavy to operate one-handed using the buttons. Just wondering if the Pocket can be balanced more easily in one hand, since it weighs less.

06-07-2010, 10:32 PM	#9
doog_smith Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 100 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Sony PRS-300	one-handed use Funny enough, I was one of the recent Woot.com purchasers. I was traveling last week and used the Sony PRS-300 quite a bit for the first time. I have medium-sized hands and am right-handed. It was fairly comfortable to operate using just one hand. It was not too heavy. And, although I am right-handed, I frequently held it in my left hand, resting my left thumb across the bottom of the device to stabilize it and to change pages using the center directional button.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Right or Left Handed?	RWood	Lounge	81	02-09-2009 02:44 AM
Any one handed readers out there?	radius	Which one should I buy?	41	02-08-2008 10:42 AM
What about left handed people?	Icarusbop	Amazon Kindle	4	11-21-2007 01:59 PM
Right handed page turning	donovanh	Sony Reader	18	03-08-2007 06:10 PM
Left handed issues	Pitchfork	iRex	2	07-20-2006 10:44 AM

06-06-2010, 10:33 PM	#2
elmago79 Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: PRS-300	It all depends on which hand your using, and the size of your hand. If you're right handed, and have medium sized hands, it's a bliss. If you have very big hands, it's a little hard to manipulate, and with small hands, your thumb misses the sweet spot.

06-06-2010, 11:05 PM	#3
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	One handed operation.. get it?!??

06-07-2010, 03:01 AM	#4
ReD Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 5752 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: BC, Canada Device: Sony PRS-700, PRS-300, PRS-T1, Kobo Arc	I have a 700 and a 300. Because of its size, the 300's centre of gravity is much closer to your palm so it is extremely easy to hold one-handed using either hand. I find that my thumb sits quite naturally in the middle button of the arrow pad. In fact, I love the ease of use and clarity of the 300 so much that I've barely given my 700 a glance in the past three months!

06-07-2010, 09:48 PM	#8
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I have a 300, have not large hands, and am left-handed. I generally read one-handed. I do tend to use my right-hand when making selections on the 0 - 9 buttons, though.

06-07-2010, 11:01 PM	#10
ludovicus Member Posts: 112 Karma: 611901 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: FL, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5, Fire HD 10, Sony PRS-T1	I also have small hands, and have no problems reading my 300 with one hand. I'm also left-handed and find holding it with either hand equally comfortable. One thing to note is that on the center directional button you can advance pages by pressing either the right or bottom arrows. (To go back a page the right and up arrows.) You may want to see if there is a Sony Style store nearby, where you can see them untethered. Good luck!

06-08-2010, 12:15 AM	#11
rudyt Sony Reader Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PRS-300 and PRS-505	I have no trouble holding the 300 one-handed using either hand. If you're not too queasy about reflashing, you can get the 7-8 keys on the right-hand side of the 300 to page up/down as well. /rudy

06-08-2010, 04:44 PM	#13
ngrant Gadget Lover Posts: 422 Karma: 4501290 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MS, USA Device: Oasis 2, Mobiscribe Origin, Fire HD tablets	I also got two units in the Woot deal, just to have a comparison with my jetBook Lite (that's my excuse, I have so little willpower when it comes to gadgets). The JBL and Sony e-ink screens are different, but equally pleasant to read. I like to alternate them so as to give my eyes a change and a rest as I spend all day looking at a computer screen. I find the Sony 300 works well in either hand, but the jetBook Lite I prefer to hold in my left hand (by its battery bump which provides a nice firm grip) and use the slider control to change pages. My hands are small, and I find these 5 inch readers perfect for reading; not that I would mind if someone GAVE me an iPad... (smile) but being a frugal sort of person (read = cheap) the $100 price point works better for me. My JBL cost me $115 at Newegg and the Sony Pocket $113 at Woot.

06-08-2010, 10:46 PM	#14
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	Thanks everyone! I'm going to take the plunge and pick up an eBay one. I've gotten really tired of individually adding books to my iPhone.

06-09-2010, 04:16 PM	#15
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	Since it hasn't been brought up, and you haven't brought it up, the prs-600 is very one-hand friendly too. I only use two hands to take notes on it. I use my thumb to do the page turn gesture to flip the pages, and it's very easy. Not top heavy.

Advert

Advert