Considering moving to a 350 from a nook

[octoberdana]

I was not a fan of new nook and the organization on the original nook is making me crazy.

What benefits does the 350 have? I am worried about losing 1 inch of screen size.

[FizzyWater]

Just FYI - any of the ebooks you bought at B&N would have to have the DRM stripped to be readable on that Sony. That might be cool with you, but since you're a newbie, I thought I'd point it out.

[elizilla]

I own both the original Nook and the 350. I like the 350 better. I have a friend who has borrowed them both and tried them for several weeks apiece, and he too likes the 350 better. I also have a 650 which I use the most, but that's mainly habit since I have had it the longest - when I use the 350 I am just as happy with it.

I don't like the LCD touch screen at the bottom of the original Nook - you really have to touch like you mean it. The alternative is to use the buttons but they need more force than I think is comfortable. All of it just takes more effort, which pulls me out of my reading trance; I don't like it.

The Nook makes you load and look at content differently depending on whether it came from B&N or not - this is annoying. The Sony doesn't do this - all content is in the same place and is not segregated by source. However, like Fizzy says, the B&N DRM blocks you from using their content on other devices, unless you strip it.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by elizilla

The Nook makes you load and look at content differently depending on whether it came from B&N or not - this is annoying.

This is true on the classic, but on the touch both B&N and sideloaded content are displayed in the library, there's no distinction.

[dordale]

I have a nook classic and a Sony 650--I much prefer the interface of the 650 and agree with everything elizilla said above. The interface of the 650 (which is the same as the 350) seems so much more intuitive to me. I do get out my nook from time to time, but always go back to the 650.

[delphin]

The PRS-350 is much more compact than the Nook, but you should not worry too much about the slightly smaller screen, because the screen itself is at least as readable as the original Nook.

The 350's screen is eInk Pearl, which has slightly better contrast than the original nook, plus the 350's screen is still 800x600 resolution, despite it's smaller size, so it has an even higher DPI resolution. These two factors combine to make it noticeably sharper and clearer vs. the original nook classic.

So most have found that the 350's screen readability is, if anything, BETTER than the Nook Classic
(in a device that is literally HALF the size and weight.)

As far and the user interface goes . . .

I agree with the sentiments already expressed by several others; compared to the original Nook, the PRS-350 has a more logical, more consistent, easier to use, and just flat out better designed user interface. Even when compared to the newer Nook touch versions, the 350's interface is a still a bit more internally consistent and easier to use - and with the older Nook classic, it's no contest at all.

The PRS-350 doesn't have WiFi, a Web Browser, a MP3 player, a Can Opener, or a Bumper Jack - and it can't make Julian Frys . . .

- but what it will do is make it really convenient for you to carry around an entire library of books in your pocket, and a read them easily anywhere, anytime.

[Poppaea]

You won't miss the inch. I have both and I read a font size smaller on the 350 as I read on the 650 due to the 350 sharpness (higher dpi as delphin already stated). This way I end up with the same amount of text on both devices. If I were forced to choose between them I'd go for the 350 any day!

[Ditchleyportrait]

i bought my amazon device before nook so i missed the boat on it. however, i was looking at the original nook, and i saw some features i liked

user replaceable battery
set your own screensaver

those two features the kindle doesn't have, nor the sony, afaik.

wow.

the original nook is underrated!

[Poppaea]

Of course you can set your own screensaver with the Sonys.

And for the user-replacable battery. A battery will last at least 3 5o 4 years. With all the exiting new readers out each fall you will want to have a new gadget before the battery is done.

[carpetmojo]

Get A 350 AND a 650 - get the best of both worlds !

But I'd advise not letting your son find out you have a 350 .......

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Get A 350 AND a 650 - get the best of both worlds !

But I'd advise not letting your son find out you have a 350 .......

Or your friend

[issybird]

I have both and use both. The 350 lives in my purse. I use the Nook for reading at home.

The 350 is a terrific reader, light, compact, with very clear text. But I still read on the Nook because of the font sizing issue on the 350. I can get more text on a page and better adjust the font to my requirements. I admit I also have a lot of B&N content and haven't looked at the options in regard to that yet. Also, the B&N ebookstore is the second-best out there.

The two libraries on the Nook don't bother me, nor do I have issues with the touchscreen. The swipe works quickly with a light touch and the navigation is easy. I like being able to keep much of my B&N content on the cloud. WiFi is handy. I agree with Ditchley that the original Nook is underrated.

I don't like how the 350 doesn't remember my preference for listing books inside folders, nor how it lists authors by first name! And a handy feature of the Nook listing is that a book that's not in a folder shows up as unshelved. I'm always afraid I'll overlook tagging a book on the Sony and never realize it's languishing in my book list, since I only check the collections.

I don't know why you have to switch; it doesn't seem like an either/or proposition to me. Have both. If you can find one of those $99 350s, go for it. (I caved at $129).

Neither device is perfect....

[graycyn]

I can't speak to the 350, but I have the original Nook and a Sony 950 and I really love the Sony! It's much easier to organize my books, I just tag them appropriately in Calibre and load to the Sony from there, where my tags become instant collections. I also love the touchscreen interface. Making notes or highlights or bookmarks is much easier.

I find the LCD touchscreen on the original Nook is somewhat "touchy" and sometimes when I swipe to turn pages, I accidentally turn the screen on, which is a distraction. So swiping is a better experience on my Sony. Battery life is also better on the Sony.

What I miss is that I feel the Nook has a better range of font sizes, the jump between small and medium on the Sony is rather large. And I feel the Nook font is more easily readable for me on the small size setting than the Sony font. However, on medium, they are more or less equal for me. Of course, I gained an inch of screen size with the 950... and I really prefer the 7" screen!

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by issybird

I don't like how the 350 ... lists authors by first name!

If you're a Calibre user you can fix that very easily. There is also an option for defining exactly how books in your Sony Collections will be ordered.

[JSWolf]

Moving to a 350 will give you one very important thing. A much better font rendering engine. I tried the nook STR today and found the font rendering engine to be very noticeably inferior to my 650 when using the same font. Enough so that I could not recommend the nook.

I'm waiting to see how the Kobo does when I can actually get to try one.