The PRS-700 is Sony’s 3rd generation ebook reader. It comes with some fancy new features, like a touch screen, side lighting (for reading in the dark), and a much improved user interface. It retails for approximately $349 USD.
Some of the other improvements from previous Sony Reader generations include: increased speed for page turns, faster CPU (now 532 MHz, like the Amazon Kindle 2), larger font sizes, and better PDF viewing. Unfortunately not everything can be seen as an improvement. The new touch screen functionality requires a layer on top of the eInk display, as well as frame-mounted LED side lights. This all adds up to worse contrast and glare and takes away from the eInk viewing experience.
Features of the Sony Reader PRS-700
Advanced Design
- Small size – 6.8″ x 5.2″ x 0.4″
- Light weight - only 10 ounces!
- Both internal and expansion memory – 512 MB internal, up to 36 GB SDHC expansion card
- Long battery life - Li-Ion battery provides up to 7500 page turns between charges
Enhanced Reading
- Touch screen – allows users to annotate by way of a virtual keyboard
- LED lighting – better reading in low light conditions
File Formats Supported
- DRM-free Text - LRF, PDF, TXT, RTF, ePub
- DRM Text – LRX, Secure PDF, ePub
- DRM-free Audio – MP3, AAC
- Images – GIF, PNG, JPG, BMP
- RSS – limited to 20 featured blogs
Sony Reader PRS-700 Recommendation
The Sony Reader PRS-700 is a big improvement over Sony’s previous ebook readers (PRS-500, PRS-505), but it still leaves a bit to be desired. Some folks may find the touch screen useful and trendy, but we think it’s ahead of its time if it conflicts with the readability of eInk technology.
Considering that its nearest competitor is the Amazon Kindle 2, Sony has definitely thrown down the gauntlet, as it beats the Kindle 2 in the areas of PDF viewing and having a touch screen (if you consider that a good feature, of course). On the other hand, the Kindle 2 is arguably easier to read and has more internal memory (more storage for books). So in our opinion, it’s a toss-up as to which of these two devices is better. We’d recommend that you try to find a friend who has each device and take them for a test drive to make your own decision.
Rating:
(1 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)
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I have to tell you guys, that I’ve been reading all those reviews about Kindle and SONY for a while and still could not make my mind. Luckily, we have a Sony Style store in Annapolis, MD, which is 40 minutes drive from Baltimore. I am so-o-o-o glad that together with my wife we’ve decided to take a drive to Annapolis. We came prepared with memory stick cards, containing the files of papers and documents, which we wanted to test simultaneously on both PRS-505 and PRS-700 readers. Well, I can tell one thing for sure: If you have a chance to test it in Sony Style store near you, then you better do it, because NO review is going to help you until you PUT your own hands and FOCUS you own eyes on this ‘NEW’ and ‘IMPROVED’ SONY device. To tell you the truth, this is another example of wasting a good idea and ruining a perfectly good product.
I am glad I came across your review. I have been waffling back and forth between the Kindle and the Sony, just about deciding on the Sony Touch model because it is running the Android software and would let you run ‘Droid aps. Now I have to rethink my position.