Store has two Sony Reader's NIB - should I buy one?

thetommyboy2k · 11-01-2015, 09:42 AM

Hey there!

There's a store not too many miles from me that's selling two Sony Reader Pocket Edition's in Silver, new in the box. From what I could look up on the internet, I don't know if it's the PRS-300 or 350. I want to think it's the 350. They've been on clearance for $79, but I think I could get them to go lower. Should I buy one or is it not a good buy at this point?

Thanks!
Tommy

Barbara1955 · 11-01-2015, 10:01 AM

Have you considered they may need new batteries? Even new that long on the shelf.... so add that to the cost & if you can change them & wont need to pay some one.

HarryT · 11-02-2015, 04:43 AM

$79 is a lot of money to pay for an obsolete device. You can buy a new reader with a significantly better screen for that price.

Also, as Katie rightly says, the battery may well be in a poor state after all these years. A lithium battery has a typical lifetime of around about 5 years, and the PRS-350 was released in 2010.

JSWolf · 11-02-2015, 05:08 AM

I say no. The Sony is going to be slow and the version of ADE/RMDSK used is old and not all that good these days. Best bet is to buy a Kobo Glo HD.

thetommyboy2k · 11-02-2015, 10:00 AM

I went back to the store and decided to get one of them just to see what it was like. Turns out, it's a PRS-300, and not a 350. I really like how well built the 300 is! Battery life has been good so far! The main thing I've noticed... PDF books are very slow as far as turning pages. Epubs are pretty good. I like it pretty well, but I'm thinking about whether or not to take it back. If I do take it back, I've got my heart set on the Nook Glowlight Plus. The main reason I didn't pull the trigger on it? The problems I've read about ADE not recognizing the Glowlight Plus. I only use an eReader for checking out digital library books from my local library and especially from Open Library - openlibrary.org. I don't buy ebooks at all.

I've been very loyal to B&N and their Nook. I bought a 1st Gen Nook when it was new and still have it. That was the first eReader I bought. I eventually snagged a deal on a Kobo Wireless (not touchscreen, with the D-Pad). I like Kobo well enough, but I've always been a Nook fan. I've never owned a Kindle, but I've played with a few of them. Thanks, but no thanks. The Nook Glowlight Plus is the one I've got my eye on. If the ADE problem can be sorted out, I'll eventually pick one up. Just in case anyone brings up, "Why not use Calibre, as it will see the Glowlight Plus?" I've used Calibre and it's really good for what it does, but I'm more of a, "Plug it in and transfer the eBook on it" kind of guy.

Just my two cents...

Tommy

Shopaholic · 11-03-2015, 07:17 AM

You paid $80 for a reader that came out in 2009??? New in box or not, why??

HarryT · 11-03-2015, 07:29 AM

Your decision, obviously, but it's not a choice I would have made personally. Best of luck with it.

Hemmi · 11-03-2015, 08:55 AM

You can buy them NIB on ebay for less than half the price you paid.

Glad you're happy with your purchase, I love Sony ereaders myself.

JSWolf · 11-03-2015, 09:02 AM

Can you return the 300 and get your money back?

dordale · 11-04-2015, 08:07 PM

If you are in the US or Canada (I think), you can get a Kobo mini with sleep cover for $49.00 right now. The one being advertised has a much better screen the the Sony 300.
Here's the link for the US site:

https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-mini

dordale · 11-09-2015, 02:58 PM

Just wanted to update--think my last post suggesting looking at the Kobo mini isn't such a good idea. Their US website now lists them as sold out--but worse than that in the Kobo forum here at mobiread members have reported receiving "demo models" without the advertised sleep cover. The demo models have probably been upgraded to remove the "demo" state, but these are obviously older devices and not a new production run.

cane · 11-09-2015, 03:13 PM

They are Sold Out

JSWolf · 11-09-2015, 10:22 PM

The 300 is slow. PDF is awful on a 5" eInk screen. Even ePub is going to be slow. Also you don't get hyphenation and the default font is awful. Without embedding a good font family, you will get a poor reading experience. Please, go back to the store and return it.

solitarywolf · 11-11-2015, 08:21 PM

If you're happy with it, I say keep it. But you have been warned (wisely so) by all the replies. My concern is if the battery dies, can you easily replace it? Its too bad it was not of the PRS-x50 Readers. I felt those were miles ahead of the PRS-x00 ones.

11-01-2015, 09:42 AM	#1
thetommyboy2k Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 66552 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: Nook Glowlight	Store has two Sony Reader's NIB - should I buy one? Hey there! There's a store not too many miles from me that's selling two Sony Reader Pocket Edition's in Silver, new in the box. From what I could look up on the internet, I don't know if it's the PRS-300 or 350. I want to think it's the 350. They've been on clearance for $79, but I think I could get them to go lower. Should I buy one or is it not a good buy at this point? Thanks! Tommy

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11-01-2015, 10:01 AM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Have you considered they may need new batteries? Even new that long on the shelf.... so add that to the cost & if you can change them & wont need to pay some one.

11-02-2015, 04:43 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	$79 is a lot of money to pay for an obsolete device. You can buy a new reader with a significantly better screen for that price. Also, as Katie rightly says, the battery may well be in a poor state after all these years. A lithium battery has a typical lifetime of around about 5 years, and the PRS-350 was released in 2010.

11-02-2015, 05:08 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,998 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I say no. The Sony is going to be slow and the version of ADE/RMDSK used is old and not all that good these days. Best bet is to buy a Kobo Glo HD.

11-02-2015, 10:00 AM	#5
thetommyboy2k Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 66552 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: Nook Glowlight	I went back to the store and decided to get one of them just to see what it was like. Turns out, it's a PRS-300, and not a 350. I really like how well built the 300 is! Battery life has been good so far! The main thing I've noticed... PDF books are very slow as far as turning pages. Epubs are pretty good. I like it pretty well, but I'm thinking about whether or not to take it back. If I do take it back, I've got my heart set on the Nook Glowlight Plus. The main reason I didn't pull the trigger on it? The problems I've read about ADE not recognizing the Glowlight Plus. I only use an eReader for checking out digital library books from my local library and especially from Open Library - openlibrary.org. I don't buy ebooks at all. I've been very loyal to B&N and their Nook. I bought a 1st Gen Nook when it was new and still have it. That was the first eReader I bought. I eventually snagged a deal on a Kobo Wireless (not touchscreen, with the D-Pad). I like Kobo well enough, but I've always been a Nook fan. I've never owned a Kindle, but I've played with a few of them. Thanks, but no thanks. The Nook Glowlight Plus is the one I've got my eye on. If the ADE problem can be sorted out, I'll eventually pick one up. Just in case anyone brings up, "Why not use Calibre, as it will see the Glowlight Plus?" I've used Calibre and it's really good for what it does, but I'm more of a, "Plug it in and transfer the eBook on it" kind of guy. Just my two cents... Tommy

11-03-2015, 07:17 AM	#6
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1812695 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	You paid $80 for a reader that came out in 2009??? New in box or not, why??

11-03-2015, 07:29 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Your decision, obviously, but it's not a choice I would have made personally. Best of luck with it.

11-03-2015, 08:55 AM	#8
Hemmi Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,371 Karma: 15987608 Join Date: Apr 2015 Device: Sonys, Nooks, Kobo Libra, Forma, Mini, Paperwhite	You can buy them NIB on ebay for less than half the price you paid. Glad you're happy with your purchase, I love Sony ereaders myself.

11-03-2015, 09:02 AM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,998 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Can you return the 300 and get your money back?

11-04-2015, 08:07 PM	#10
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	If you are in the US or Canada (I think), you can get a Kobo mini with sleep cover for $49.00 right now. The one being advertised has a much better screen the the Sony 300. Here's the link for the US site: https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-mini

11-09-2015, 02:58 PM	#11
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	Just wanted to update--think my last post suggesting looking at the Kobo mini isn't such a good idea. Their US website now lists them as sold out--but worse than that in the Kobo forum here at mobiread members have reported receiving "demo models" without the advertised sleep cover. The demo models have probably been upgraded to remove the "demo" state, but these are obviously older devices and not a new production run.

11-09-2015, 03:13 PM	#12
cane Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 2023190 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Right Here ! Device: Kindle Oasis 3,Kindle Oasis 2016,2022 Basic kindle	They are Sold Out

11-09-2015, 10:22 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,998 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The 300 is slow. PDF is awful on a 5" eInk screen. Even ePub is going to be slow. Also you don't get hyphenation and the default font is awful. Without embedding a good font family, you will get a poor reading experience. Please, go back to the store and return it.

11-11-2015, 08:21 PM	#14
solitarywolf Ink Drinker Posts: 217 Karma: 347666 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle 2021, Ipad Pro, iPhone Pro	If you're happy with it, I say keep it. But you have been warned (wisely so) by all the replies. My concern is if the battery dies, can you easily replace it? Its too bad it was not of the PRS-x50 Readers. I felt those were miles ahead of the PRS-x00 ones.