PRS-900 Thoughts on 900 vs. Nook so far

Towerblock · 09-12-2010, 02:22 PM

I'm a relative noob to eReaders. Got a nook about 3 months ago and a Sony prs-900 two weeks ago. I thought I'd post because my experiences with the Sony are a little different than everything I read in all of the "reviews" and comparisons online.

While the nook has a more white screen, I find the Sony much more readable at any font size. This is because the Sony typeface itself is much easier to read than any of the fonts in the nook. The typeface is so good it makes up for the dimmer screen for me. The nook is not a bad device except for it's annoyingly slow touch screen (which I expect will be fixed once their programming team gains some more experience with Android) and it's barely useful web browser.

Regarding screens, in direct sunlight to me the Sony looks BETTER than the Nook because they both look equally bright and the Sony just has a more readable font. Granted, this is the Sony in it's best lighting and when you move to more varied lighting conditions the Sony does not look as white as the nook, but it's STILL more easily readable to me.

Regarding the overall operating system of the two, the Sony wins hands down. The touch screen just makes more sense to me. The Sony also turns pages faster, actually has the ability to go to a particular page number (the nook does not) and the size factor is a big plus for my needs.

On another note, I played with a friends Kindle 2 and while it looks like it has a really well designed operating UI the fonts on the Kindle were not as readable as the Sony at any size. I've got a Kindle 3 on order, so when I get that I may follow up with more thoughts.

At this point though, the Sony 900 is easily more readable to me than anything else I've tried...which is not what I expected. I will most likely return the Sony 900 (30 day policy) and pick up the 950 when it's available...unless the Kindle3 changes things!..

dordale · 09-12-2010, 03:39 PM

Interesting post Towerblock!

I have a nook and my husband has a 900 so I've done a little comparing myself. For me--I find that I like the nook's default font-amasis easier to read than the default Sony fonts. Personally, I like it much better than the Sony font. We are all different, aren't we?

I do agree with you about Sony's operating system/interface. It's very intuitive and easy to use. To me it makes the nook seem very clunky in comparison. I especially like the way the Sony has integrated their dictionary support. One of the main reasons I bought the nook (to replace my Sony 505) was that it had a dictionary. Unfortunately, I find that accessing the dictionary on the nook is so tedious that I find myself not looking up words--so really no different than my 505. Now on the Sonys, all you have to do is double click on the word and the definition appears at the bottom of the screen--super simple!

I'll be interested in your take on the Kindle 3. A lady I work with just got one a week ago and she really likes it. I've briefly compared it to my nook--and I will say the K3 has a little better screen--but not significantly better.

dordale

Towerblock · 09-12-2010, 09:01 PM

Hi dordale...

I guess that's what makes the world interesting! I think Amasis is a pretty readable font but I've read about 2000 pages on each reader and I just "feel" less fatigued after reading the sony. I know I'm splitting hairs as the differences between ALL of the readers in terms of readability is slight I'd say.

I agree with you completely regarding the dictionary on the nook..too much trouble! It works great on the Sony. It's interesting that you say the K3 is only a slightly better screen. From all the raving about the pearl screens online I'm expecting a substantial difference..if it's not I'm going to be disappointed..

To be honest, I'm happy with any of the eink screens thus far. What I REALLY want is a useful web browser..which no one seems to have. If the K3 screen isn't miles better than the 900 screen I may just stick with the 900 instead of returning it and waiting for the 950.

Anyway, thanks for your response!

09-12-2010, 02:22 PM	#1
Towerblock Semi-Noob Posts: 32 Karma: 47 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350, Kindle 3, Nook Color	Thoughts on 900 vs. Nook so far I'm a relative noob to eReaders. Got a nook about 3 months ago and a Sony prs-900 two weeks ago. I thought I'd post because my experiences with the Sony are a little different than everything I read in all of the "reviews" and comparisons online. While the nook has a more white screen, I find the Sony much more readable at any font size. This is because the Sony typeface itself is much easier to read than any of the fonts in the nook. The typeface is so good it makes up for the dimmer screen for me. The nook is not a bad device except for it's annoyingly slow touch screen (which I expect will be fixed once their programming team gains some more experience with Android) and it's barely useful web browser. Regarding screens, in direct sunlight to me the Sony looks BETTER than the Nook because they both look equally bright and the Sony just has a more readable font. Granted, this is the Sony in it's best lighting and when you move to more varied lighting conditions the Sony does not look as white as the nook, but it's STILL more easily readable to me. Regarding the overall operating system of the two, the Sony wins hands down. The touch screen just makes more sense to me. The Sony also turns pages faster, actually has the ability to go to a particular page number (the nook does not) and the size factor is a big plus for my needs. On another note, I played with a friends Kindle 2 and while it looks like it has a really well designed operating UI the fonts on the Kindle were not as readable as the Sony at any size. I've got a Kindle 3 on order, so when I get that I may follow up with more thoughts. At this point though, the Sony 900 is easily more readable to me than anything else I've tried...which is not what I expected. I will most likely return the Sony 900 (30 day policy) and pick up the 950 when it's available...unless the Kindle3 changes things!..

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09-12-2010, 03:39 PM	#2
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	Interesting post Towerblock! I have a nook and my husband has a 900 so I've done a little comparing myself. For me--I find that I like the nook's default font-amasis easier to read than the default Sony fonts. Personally, I like it much better than the Sony font. We are all different, aren't we? I do agree with you about Sony's operating system/interface. It's very intuitive and easy to use. To me it makes the nook seem very clunky in comparison. I especially like the way the Sony has integrated their dictionary support. One of the main reasons I bought the nook (to replace my Sony 505) was that it had a dictionary. Unfortunately, I find that accessing the dictionary on the nook is so tedious that I find myself not looking up words--so really no different than my 505. Now on the Sonys, all you have to do is double click on the word and the definition appears at the bottom of the screen--super simple! I'll be interested in your take on the Kindle 3. A lady I work with just got one a week ago and she really likes it. I've briefly compared it to my nook--and I will say the K3 has a little better screen--but not significantly better. dordale

09-12-2010, 09:01 PM	#3
Towerblock Semi-Noob Posts: 32 Karma: 47 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350, Kindle 3, Nook Color	Hi dordale... I guess that's what makes the world interesting! I think Amasis is a pretty readable font but I've read about 2000 pages on each reader and I just "feel" less fatigued after reading the sony. I know I'm splitting hairs as the differences between ALL of the readers in terms of readability is slight I'd say. I agree with you completely regarding the dictionary on the nook..too much trouble! It works great on the Sony. It's interesting that you say the K3 is only a slightly better screen. From all the raving about the pearl screens online I'm expecting a substantial difference..if it's not I'm going to be disappointed.. To be honest, I'm happy with any of the eink screens thus far. What I REALLY want is a useful web browser..which no one seems to have. If the K3 screen isn't miles better than the 900 screen I may just stick with the 900 instead of returning it and waiting for the 950. Anyway, thanks for your response!

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