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"The Kindle's the future of book reading. It'll be everywhere".
Michael Lewis Moneyball and Liar's Poker Author
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Sony Digital Reader Touch Edition – Black (PRS600BC)
Product Description
Product Details
Video Reviews
Customer Reviews
I have been following the e-book readers for some time, and I wanted several things for me to "jump on the bandwagon."
1) I have a number of PDF reference books, so a Reader needs to handle these well. Since my books are text, these reflow well on the Sony.
2) Because I will use (and now am using) the Reader for reference books, it was important that I be able to access my notes directly from my computer to use in other documents. I actually began using the software on my desktop several months before I purchased the 600, and was pleased with its capabilities.
3) I enjoy the free epub books from my library. The Sony accesses these easily. There are also a number of locations besides Sony selling the epub or Adobe digital books (usable by the Sony Touch) giving me more choice in my decision.
4) The Touch handles my regular documents well - as a public speaker, I love having my speeches available to study on the reader, without having to print them out!
But for those looking for the points I already love (thus the 5 stars)
1) I love having the touch turn capability, just a brush of my thumb!
2) I enjoy the sideways and zoom features for PDFs that you want to keep "standard"
3) After only a couple of minutes, I forgot I was even using a reader and I got involved in the book.
*** I live in an isolated area - so neither Whispernet for the Kindle nor the upcoming 3G connection on the more expensive Daily model would be helpful - I'm just as happy to order my books "in advance" and carry them with me.
Some people have mentioned the glare - since my previous reading was on my laptop - this isn't an issue for me. I keep my lighting at my side, and it is not a problem at all. It is more noticeable in a dark room with a single light source. My favorite reading location is outdoors.
Another issue I have encountered isn't with the reader - but with the interaction between Windows and the software. It is pretty touchy, and I have had to use Sony Support to adjust settings on Windows to make it work correctly.
*** Edited after 2 months -
A recent update in the software has removed some of the software connection problems I originally experienced. So, that's a plus!
However, I have recently added some PDF files that did NOT flow the same way as my original "professional" files reflowed. After checking with those more knowledgeable, I have been told that the problem is not with the Sony, but with the way the PDF files have been set up. The PDF is supposed to include "tags" that will help the pages to reflow correctly. My recommendation is that anyone with PDFs they need to carry on the reader download the free computer software and attempt to read them using this software. If it works on your computer, it will reflow correctly on the Sony. If it does not - then it will not do so on the Reader either.
What I like:
The expandable memory - I can carry 100s of books and documents on the huge collection of SD cards I have laying around the house. The design - lightweight, sleek. Large, clear display with a responsive touch screen. Extras: the mp3 player, photo viewer and a stylus come in very handy. MP3: for when I'm in a crowded area and need to listen to something other than chatter while reading. Photos: just to view photos on a whim. And the stylus for writing on pages, highlighting and double tapping small text. Features: the built in dictionary - I have used it more than once on one book alone! The adjustable font size: some days my eyes need larger text and with the Touch its a button push away. The note taking function - either on the pages or as a seperate document. The ability to dog ear pages. The internal memory is wonderful. A fast responding touch screen which makes page turning natural and such a breeze. The easy to navigate menus. I can go on and on.
What I don't like: other than the price, I do have an issue with the lack of managing my books on the devce itself. If I want to create a new collection and/or move a book, I have to plug in the USB cord and manage everything in the eBook Library Program. It's not too much of a hassle but would have been nice to be able to make such addjustments.
Bottom Line: Love it!: I have a much easier (and greener!) way to enjoy my books!
First of all, the hardware is slick - it just looks and feels very well designed and manufactured. I bought the silver version and got a black cover to compliment it. Secondly, Sony finally got it right this time by matching the quality of the software with their hardware. The Sony Reader software and store interface is streamlined, elegant, and just works; it is very similar to iTunes in fact. Other things I really like - the screen is very legible, I love double-tapping on a word and having the dictionary definitions pop up, and I love swiping the screen with the stylus or my finger to turn the page. Note-taking is very simple, and I like drawing in the notes section (like an etch-a-sketch but with a stylus, fun!) I also like having access to the free Google classics which are optimized for the Sony Reader.
So, if you're still debating about the PRS600, I can tell you that it is a very well engineered and crafted device with streamlined software and a very good online bookstore to support it.
Updated 1/18/10
In the last 10 days, I have started using Calibre software in addition to the Sony Reader software. Calibre is an free open-source library manager to view, convert and catalog e-books. I mention this because about 30 percent of my time is spent reading documents as opposed to books. Creating compatible documents and getting them on the PRS-600 is very simple using Calibre. My method is cutting and pasting from the source into Wordpad (Windows text editor) and then using Calibre's converter to create an EPUB file format to load onto the reader. EPUB provides very good viewing at different font sizes. This might sound complex but it's very fast and simple. Calibre's tagging feature can target your documents into a custom-titled collection category. My compliments to Sony for opening the hardware/firmware to the open source community. It is the wave of the future.
I had favored the Sony Reader for the most part although the Kindle had intrigued me when it came out and I was tempted. However, the Kindle is DRM encrusted and limited in what you can put on it. The Sony isn't (at least not yet anyway). I have already taken a transcript, formatted it a little in Word for readability and created a PDF to load onto the Reader. Simple. With support for the ePub format I can even check out books from my local library (which does support ePub ebooks. If this is a feature you like, check with your local library to make sure they support it or find one that does and see if you can get a card from them). Aside from the DRM issues (and the potential to reach in and erase books as they did recently with Orwell's 1984 without the consent of owners) the Kindle and also the Nook from B&N, reportedly "call home" to report what you're reading and what's on your reader (presumably to market targeted items you might like...a nice thought but this can be used in other dubious ways I just don't care for. Plus, I want to read, not be marketed to.)
The interface is simple to understand, especially for those who have fancier phones. There's really nothing to it. I like the reader software, but prefer to use Calibre as it has a few more features I like. Either works fine though and the one benefit of the Sony provided software is it has direct access to the ebook library Sony maintains. From their store you can get books at fairly reasonable and competitive prices (I'm a cheapskate, I checked around).
The e-ink technology is nice although you do need to have adequate light to read it. That is kind of the point as backlighting on a phone or netbook can be a strain on the eyes. The text sizing works great and although it sometimes jacks with the formatting, it's not all that troublesome or annoying and is easy to get used to. I am thinking the Small setting is useless because I don't know anyone who can read text that small. Aside from that, the text is well rendered at any size. And the thing about e-ink is that once the page is "written" it's doesn't use any more juice. So battery life, depending on use and if you have a reading light plugged in or not, last for quite a while. I have had to charge it only once in three weeks of fairly constant reading.
The Sony Reader doesn't have wireless connectivity but I didn't really care about that. With 26 books on the thing and connectivity to a PC or Mac, why do I need wireless. That just seemed to be a feature that was put in because it was an expectation and not really germane to what the reader is (for me anyway).
OK, some negatives. The refresh time could be shorter but I understand why it's not. I am already used to the page turn/refresh rate that some others have mentioned as troublesome, but there is a long delay in getting to the main screen and over to another book (I read three to five books at a time so switch around a lot.) But this is only, what, maybe 5 seconds or so total? Come on people...breath. Not everything has to move at the speed of light. The thickness is a little bit of a problem, too. I wish it was actually thicker. I have big hands and it's a little hard to hold such a thin "book" pinched between thumb and forefinger for long periods. I'd actually entertained designing a protector like what you can get for cellphones that had padding on the back to thicken the depth and make it more like a paperback....easier to hold. If someone wants to make a lot of money on that idea, go for it and let me know.
Overall, this is the reader I wanted. It has the features I *need* and not any that I don't nor anything that gets in the way. It's not the most fancy one out there and I may run into limitations I didn't expect, but it's enough to read with and read a lot with. And for the price, I'm sold (obviously). That's what I wanted and in the Sony Reader I got it.