new PRS-600 owner disappointed and returning it

Bismarck · 11-01-2009, 11:25 AM

Got this 3 days ago as a birthday gift from my wife.

I had experience reading eBooks 6 years ago on an iPAQ pda when I was in a hospital for 4 weeks. It was an OK experience but I didn't get hooked on the concept. When my wife surprised me with this, she was excited and so I wanted to be excited too. Immediately downloaded some public domain books - old H.G.Wells that I had not yet read.

But as I investigated the process of buying books, I was disappointed with all the DRM hassles.

It would be great to have digital versions of stacks of technical books I use. The publisher offers print/digital bundles at reasonable prices, but no option for those who already spent $1000+ on print copies to get digital versions at any kind of discount similar to what bundles would have been.

Last straw was PDF handling. I tried a couple and one worked fine. Reflowed everything except images and tables. But the second was nothing but blank pages. Cover image was there, and grey shadows of hyperlinks in the TOC and index which functioned but wen to blank pages. Same thing in the library software. Sony tech support was of no help. Blamed it on the PDF, though the PDF was fine in Mac or Windows Acrobat reader, or Mac Preview, and it was created in Acrobat 5, which sets the standard.

In the end, eReaders are still a work in progress.

Hated to tell my wife we should return it because it was a wonderful thought, but better to do that than never use it. Either way would be a letdown.

Bismarck · 11-01-2009, 11:41 AM

Also:

My wife added a Sony reader "cover with light" to the gift. A cover is nice, I added one to my iPod, but why should it need a light? The dumb thing ought to have a better contrast ratio. No light should be needed, I haven't read in the dark since I was 8 years old with a flashlight under my blanket.

FragFrog · 11-01-2009, 11:57 AM

Some of us do read in the dark. Personally, I use it extensively when reading in bed at night while my partner sleeps. Additionally, the coverlight gives off a bright white light which enhances contrast compared to normal "yellow" moodlighting.

I have no experience with the DRM hassle though, since I use mine exclusively with DRM-free books in combination with Calibre. A lot of those can be found on Project Gutenberg.

As for PDF's, you got me there: those rarely work flawless for me too. Sometimes converting them (again using Calibre) to a more compatible format works, but a technical manual with images etc is no picknick to read on a 6" device anyway - you're better of buying one of the bigger readers for that.

At any rate be sure to inform Sony why you are returning it, eg. the DRM trouble. If enough people do that, who knows, perhaps they will finally give up on that notion some day.

Meemo · 11-01-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bismarck

Also:

My wife added a Sony reader "cover with light" to the gift. A cover is nice, I added one to my iPod, but why should it need a light? The dumb thing ought to have a better contrast ratio. No light should be needed, I haven't read in the dark since I was 8 years old with a flashlight under my blanket.

Do you read at night while your wife is sleeping? Maybe she was giving you a hint....

gwynevans · 11-01-2009, 06:28 PM

Well, as far as technical books or PDF books go, you're correct - having said that, you might want to check that you're not going to get the use out of it as far as leisure titles go, as that's really where they're currently targeted with the 5"/6" screen sizes at the moment.

TGNY · 11-01-2009, 10:35 PM

I think you should live with it longer, for reading ebooks, it really does work well

DoctorOhh · 11-02-2009, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bismarck

Also:

My wife added a Sony reader "cover with light" to the gift. A cover is nice, I added one to my iPod, but why should it need a light? The dumb thing ought to have a better contrast ratio. No light should be needed, I haven't read in the dark since I was 8 years old with a flashlight under my blanket.

The contrast ratio is great. As others have pointed out the light is used for courtesy when reading in bed, just as a book light would be used on a printed book.

For technical books eReaders are still a work in progress, but for recreational fiction it is an outstanding device.

Do make sure to convey your frustrations with DRM to Sony. Every disgruntled customer means lost revenue.

Try again in a year they might have exactly what you want by then.

wolfshades · 11-04-2009, 04:05 PM

Geeks like me buy these things (I have a PRS-600 too) like we buy iPods - always knowing that a better one is coming out next year, and so we plan to buy that one to replace this one.

It's an expensive habit.

A little less expensive that that pesky crack habit I used to have though.....

The Alternative · 11-14-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bismarck

Also:

My wife added a Sony reader "cover with light" to the gift. A cover is nice, I added one to my iPod, but why should it need a light? The dumb thing ought to have a better contrast ratio. No light should be needed, I haven't read in the dark since I was 8 years old with a flashlight under my blanket.

Why a reading light IS NECESSARY!
Try flying cross country at night with the lights on when everyone else is trying to sleep!
Back seat of a car at night on a long road trip.
When the wife is trying to sleep but can't because the lights are on.
(I could list more but you get the idea!)

P.S. Even perfect contrast can't be seen in the dark!

aceflor · 11-14-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfshades

Geeks like me buy these things (I have a PRS-600 too) like we buy iPods - always knowing that a better one is coming out next year, and so we plan to buy that one to replace this one.

It's an expensive habit.

A little less expensive that that pesky crack habit I used to have though.....

So true for the first part, and hopefully only so funny (and not so true

) for the second part of your post

charleski · 11-14-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bismarck

Last straw was PDF handling. I tried a couple and one worked fine. Reflowed everything except images and tables. But the second was nothing but blank pages. Cover image was there, and grey shadows of hyperlinks in the TOC and index which functioned but wen to blank pages. Same thing in the library software. Sony tech support was of no help. Blamed it on the PDF, though the PDF was fine in Mac or Windows Acrobat reader, or Mac Preview, and it was created in Acrobat 5, which sets the standard.

Some PDFs are more equal than others. This is why Adobe set up the various PDF/A and PDF/X standards. I've seen ghastly PDFs that were nothing but huge image scans of the printed page with no actual text - those probably won't render on an ereader.

MerLock · 11-14-2009, 11:43 PM

I don't think the 600 is a bad reading device but I don't think it was designed for users like you in mind. I don't think there is a good reader out there that can handle PDF's and technical books well. Sorry that you didn't enjoy your gift and I expect that your wife was a bit disappointed by it. Is she into reading leisure books? Perhaps she would want it?

And I would have to agree that the multitude of DRM's out there is bad. However, I don't expect to get a digital version from books where I bought in paper version many moons ago. It's like expecting to get a DVD or BR version after buying a VHS version in the past.

narbeauchamp · 11-15-2009, 10:37 AM

Alot of excellent points from previous posters....and yes perhaps your wife may want it..and I would think the booklight may have been a hint.I even vividly remember,when we were having trouble reading with the 505s in bed,and I went to buy a clip on light...I don't see as well,and still ended up sometimes with the brighter room lights on-and when my 505 broke...and I considered the 700-there was a slightly snarky remark about the lights on when reading....

One of the best things I enjoy about the reader,is that I don't need to read with all the lights on-which is especially important if you have a partner/spouse that has different sleeping habits...of course I could sit in the living room or something,with the laptop,or full lights on...but as someone who likes to read in bed,especially just before I fall asleep,or when I randomly wake up at night...this is a MUCH better alternative than what I used to do...and I know he's grateful for it (and I went one better and got him a reader too..LOL )

As for digital versions.It might be nice for things I buy now-ie I would pay a premium to buy something today,and be able to download a digital version.I would not expect to be able to download a digital version of something I previously bought.(I'm currently thinking of all the LPs I have bought and inherited,and gladly with pleasure went out and bought CDs of...so now I can hear Celibidache conduct Bruckner on my ipod...or from the turntable...)

As to PDFs,I think that's a different market segment and device.For leisure reading,I love my sony readers-to read technical pdfs,its not a device I would look to for that...imho

11-01-2009, 11:25 AM	#1
Bismarck Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-600	new PRS-600 owner disappointed and returning it Got this 3 days ago as a birthday gift from my wife. I had experience reading eBooks 6 years ago on an iPAQ pda when I was in a hospital for 4 weeks. It was an OK experience but I didn't get hooked on the concept. When my wife surprised me with this, she was excited and so I wanted to be excited too. Immediately downloaded some public domain books - old H.G.Wells that I had not yet read. But as I investigated the process of buying books, I was disappointed with all the DRM hassles. It would be great to have digital versions of stacks of technical books I use. The publisher offers print/digital bundles at reasonable prices, but no option for those who already spent $1000+ on print copies to get digital versions at any kind of discount similar to what bundles would have been. Last straw was PDF handling. I tried a couple and one worked fine. Reflowed everything except images and tables. But the second was nothing but blank pages. Cover image was there, and grey shadows of hyperlinks in the TOC and index which functioned but wen to blank pages. Same thing in the library software. Sony tech support was of no help. Blamed it on the PDF, though the PDF was fine in Mac or Windows Acrobat reader, or Mac Preview, and it was created in Acrobat 5, which sets the standard. In the end, eReaders are still a work in progress. Hated to tell my wife we should return it because it was a wonderful thought, but better to do that than never use it. Either way would be a letdown.

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11-01-2009, 11:41 AM	#2
Bismarck Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-600	Also: My wife added a Sony reader "cover with light" to the gift. A cover is nice, I added one to my iPod, but why should it need a light? The dumb thing ought to have a better contrast ratio. No light should be needed, I haven't read in the dark since I was 8 years old with a flashlight under my blanket.

11-01-2009, 11:57 AM	#3
FragFrog Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 32 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Device: PRS-600	Some of us do read in the dark. Personally, I use it extensively when reading in bed at night while my partner sleeps. Additionally, the coverlight gives off a bright white light which enhances contrast compared to normal "yellow" moodlighting. I have no experience with the DRM hassle though, since I use mine exclusively with DRM-free books in combination with Calibre. A lot of those can be found on Project Gutenberg. As for PDF's, you got me there: those rarely work flawless for me too. Sometimes converting them (again using Calibre) to a more compatible format works, but a technical manual with images etc is no picknick to read on a 6" device anyway - you're better of buying one of the bigger readers for that. At any rate be sure to inform Sony why you are returning it, eg. the DRM trouble. If enough people do that, who knows, perhaps they will finally give up on that notion some day.

11-01-2009, 06:28 PM	#5
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	Well, as far as technical books or PDF books go, you're correct - having said that, you might want to check that you're not going to get the use out of it as far as leisure titles go, as that's really where they're currently targeted with the 5"/6" screen sizes at the moment.

11-01-2009, 10:35 PM	#6
TGNY Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 376 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: PRS-600	I think you should live with it longer, for reading ebooks, it really does work well

11-04-2009, 04:05 PM	#8
wolfshades Member Posts: 10 Karma: 28 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: iPad 2	Geeks like me buy these things (I have a PRS-600 too) like we buy iPods - always knowing that a better one is coming out next year, and so we plan to buy that one to replace this one. It's an expensive habit. A little less expensive that that pesky crack habit I used to have though.....

11-14-2009, 11:43 PM	#12
MerLock Evangelist Posts: 411 Karma: 1034889 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I don't think the 600 is a bad reading device but I don't think it was designed for users like you in mind. I don't think there is a good reader out there that can handle PDF's and technical books well. Sorry that you didn't enjoy your gift and I expect that your wife was a bit disappointed by it. Is she into reading leisure books? Perhaps she would want it? And I would have to agree that the multitude of DRM's out there is bad. However, I don't expect to get a digital version from books where I bought in paper version many moons ago. It's like expecting to get a DVD or BR version after buying a VHS version in the past.

11-15-2009, 10:37 AM	#13
narbeauchamp Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 98 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York,NY Device: PRS700BC/PRS505/TZ350N/MacBook/Aspire One/iPad/iPhone/BB 9630	Alot of excellent points from previous posters....and yes perhaps your wife may want it..and I would think the booklight may have been a hint.I even vividly remember,when we were having trouble reading with the 505s in bed,and I went to buy a clip on light...I don't see as well,and still ended up sometimes with the brighter room lights on-and when my 505 broke...and I considered the 700-there was a slightly snarky remark about the lights on when reading.... One of the best things I enjoy about the reader,is that I don't need to read with all the lights on-which is especially important if you have a partner/spouse that has different sleeping habits...of course I could sit in the living room or something,with the laptop,or full lights on...but as someone who likes to read in bed,especially just before I fall asleep,or when I randomly wake up at night...this is a MUCH better alternative than what I used to do...and I know he's grateful for it (and I went one better and got him a reader too..LOL ) As for digital versions.It might be nice for things I buy now-ie I would pay a premium to buy something today,and be able to download a digital version.I would not expect to be able to download a digital version of something I previously bought.(I'm currently thinking of all the LPs I have bought and inherited,and gladly with pleasure went out and bought CDs of...so now I can hear Celibidache conduct Bruckner on my ipod...or from the turntable...) As to PDFs,I think that's a different market segment and device.For leisure reading,I love my sony readers-to read technical pdfs,its not a device I would look to for that...imho

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