Sony eBook Reader Touch Edition (Black) PRS-600

I took some convincing to get one of these things. I love books - the feel, the look, the sheer tactile pleasure of a new and unopened volume, the smell of the ink and paper, the physicality of knowing how far through the piece you are, seeing them lined up in no particular order on the bookshelves. So reading on a slick piece of Japanese technology didn't seem a great idea, even if the theory of it - potentially hundreds of books all tucked into something the size of a pamphlet - had its attractions.

But I borrowed one of these machines from a friend for the weekend, and had a go at "Great Expectations". A day and half and a third of the book later, I realised that I had discovered no great problems, had found the physical experience entirely comfortable, had enjoyed the convenience and simplicity, and really concluded that my only complaint was, well - it wasn't a book.

So I bought one.

I've downloaded a whole heap of free classic literature, all of which so far seems nicely formatted and eminently readable, and I reckon after 20-30 of those I will have written off the cost.

So what about the screen and the interface? I was very dubious about the touch screen, being concerned about the shininess (an oft aired complaint), grubby finger marks, low light performance, clarity etc. In practice, the screen is a little reflective, but in general a slight adjustment of angle - easy, because the machine is light and easily handleable - resolves the issue. It isn't a bright screen, not being backlit, and that is actually a key to it being a comfortable paper replacement. So no, you can't read with the lights out. But I can't read a book with the lights out either. I've been reading in bed entirely comfortably with a well shaded and not terribly bright lamp. If it was backlit I believe it would be unuseable, and I fully expect Apple's iPad to be an e-book disaster because of that.

Interface wise, it is a little sluggish on occasions - needing a deliberate touch or the stylus - but is simple and clear. Page turning is simple with button or gesture, and the refresh speed is very good. I read quite quickly, so I do turn pages rapidly - I would like a slightly larger reading area, even at the smallest font size - but I've had no "lag" issues or frustration. It's just like turning a paper page.

Battery life seems fine and being able to use it as a simple MP3 player will be very handy.

One of the top scoring features is the integrated dictionary: this is simply wonderful. It's a pretty good Oxford dictionary as well, coping remarkably well with Dickens, and I absolutely love the feature. You could only improve on it by loading up the Shorter Oxford really.

Overall, I'm very surprised by the quality and practicality of the PRS600. What seem like compromises are actually often typically good Sony design features, and I see myself reading a lot of classic literature this way. How much I buy is another matter, and the joy of a bookshop browse and a few unplanned purchases made of real paper and ink will never be replaced. As an adjunct to "normal" reading and as a great way to save some space and read some great works for no extra cost - it's very good indeed.

I would suggest that you should try before you buy, because it won't work for everyone, but you might be pleasantly surprised.
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Supplement from extended use:
- the MP3 facility is not very good
- buying ebooks from Waterstones is clunky and irritating, particularly because there is DRM in place, but also because the prices are criminally high. It's frquently cheaper to buy the hardback version of a book rather than download the e-version. Blatant profiteering, which personally I won't be falling for. They could easily kill the market for the devices. And DRM ... has nobody taken note of what has happened in the music market? Books have always passed from hand to hand, so exactly what are they afraid of here?

Otherwise, all of my other points re the functionality of the machine still stand. Very enjoyable.

It would be true to say the Sony Touchscreen eReader has come in for a lot of bad publicity. Not so much from the tech press who universally liked it but from those that have used it. I admit I was put off. A colleague swore by hers and it seemed to work a dream in the Sony shop. The alternative was an expensive Kindle and I wanted something with better support for open standards. I didn't want to be locked into one wholesaler. So I brought the Sony. Three months down the line it has changed the way I read and of how I consider reading. There are a few issues but none with the product itself.

The first issue is the software that comes with it, it's rubbish and I highly recommend you install Calibre as the free eBook manager. It does a whole bunch of useful stuff like downloading newspapers and converting documents to use on your Sony. You will of course additionally need the Adobe digital rights management software for when you buy books online, which is freely downloadable. You just drag them into the Adobe Management software after downloading, plug in your Sony and once it pops up in Adobe drag your book to the eReader. Simples. Registering my Sony eReader to get my free 100 books has been traumatic and still not accomplished. The Sony site does not have my serial number recorded it would seem.

So onto the product, the first stop has to be the touchscreen. Folks! This is not a iPhone or iPad, not all touchscreens are equal. This works extremely well as a touchscreen for what it needs to do. The key presses need to be firm but you don't need to hit it. It just works. The only slight niggle was the master books view. I always find myself wanting to scroll down the list of books but you have to touch a rollerdex type index which can be fiddly. As you only do this between books not a great issue.

Onto glare. It's a screen folks! Not a piece of paper. It is reflective but nothing a slight movement of the wrist does not resolve. I am never aware of the glare other than to make adjustments. I'm never sat there during a read thinking: 'Damn that glare'. If I never read about it on other reviews it would never occur to have written about glare here. I adjust the screen just as I would my laptop screen on bootup, that's it. I read in daylight often with no issues.

The text is brilliant. I have not seen an eReader where the text does not look good. The PS600 screen is about the size of a page of a paperback book and the technology is great. With ePub products you can resize the text to make it bigger if you need. I would highly recommend you buy or use ePub books wherever you can as resizing PDF can sometimes have unusual results.

The screen is not backlite! I know! Nor is the page on a book, nor can you read a book in the dark without another source of light. The eReader uses a technology that literally prints text to the screen, a backlight would mess it all up and result in your battery lasting one third the time. (This battery lasts ages between charges). Sure you can read no problem on a iPhone/iPad/laptop screen, but I doubt you'll curl up on the sofa and read three hundred pages back to back on those devices. The backlight would kill your eyes, which is why eReaders don't backlight as a rule.

Another good thing is the stylus and the touchscreen combined allow you to annotate the pages of the book you are reading. I write an awful lot. So I use Calibre (mentioned above) to export what I write to the Sony and literally read and mark and adjust on the Sony. Seeing my text in this different format and being able to highlight and edit text is a real winner for me. I also got one of the (non-Sony) cases with the pop out flap at the back that works like the stand on a picture frame, so when back at my disk I sit it on the desk and just work through the pages and edit on my computer.

In summary - I love this. It only gets four stars because of the rubbish software it comes with and the issues with registering to get my free books. Apart from that, if you are looking for something to replace carrying books, to replace the page by page reading experience, this is it for me. Reading is totally immersive and never am I ever aware that I am reading from a device, rather than a book. Other than to stop and think, wow!

UPDATE: Nov 2010 - Okay. This review in context now there is also the Kindle 3 to consider. I have a kindle 3 and I have to say I love it. Here is what you need to think about when deciding on a eReader. This eReader (Sony PRS600) is a touchscreen, with a very usable stylus. The kindle is not. But the kindle is a far better reading experience. That starts with a much broader selection of available books that download straight to the device, that are often cheaper than ePub books. The bottom line. If you want an eReader, dedicated to reading only, then in my opinion the kindle is better. If you also want to edit and review your own text or other texts, then the Sony is the one for you. If only there was a Kindle App for the Sony, the world would be perfect. I happen to have both of these and use them all the time. The Sony for editing my own writing and the kindle for reading. I hope this update was helpful.

I've gone with the Sony instead of the Kindle and I'll explain in the second half of the review the reasons why.
But I'll start with my impressions of the Sony.
The first thing you notice is how soild it feels,its smaller than I imagined but in a good way.
The unit feels comfortable..just like a book really which goes along way to explaining the design choices Sony
have gone with.
The layout of the controls are logical.I was able to start using it without reading the instructions from the word go.
Its said to be touch sensitive..its not ..it TAP sensitive.
I like the fact they have a dictionary built in..TAP a word in the text and it comes up with the Dictionary definition.
Something I find myself using when reading older works of victorian fiction.You can also make notes and with
the styleless that locks into the side of the pad,secure and out of the way.
The screen can show a little glare on it..but I find it small,a tilt of the hand and its gone.
Now I don't even notice it.Once you start using it to read its nice and easy on the eyes.
The machine has Expansion to spare(2 card slots).
I have a 8 Gig SD card clicked in and half a dozen Audio books on them.The Sony can play MP3's.
Not a big feature but I like a little classical music and sometimes on the train I don't feel like reading.
I just lay back close my eyes and play a audio book.Its not a dealbreaker function,but its there if you
want it.

Downsides I found ?

Software could be better,it works and it is OK but it could have more functions.
You can go RIGHT round it and get the files on and off the Sony by drop and click.The computer treats the Sony and its
SD and Sony Card slots as Mass Storage Drives.Nice to know if you get software problems.Your not slave to a peice of software and can stil get your "read on".I moved books on and off the sony without using any software.
I know others that are using Freeware 3rd Party software that they like better.The Sony a open Book so to speak when
connected to a PC so you really are in control.

Not the case with the Kindle..its a closed loop.

I thought hard about the Kindle,I like the way you could buy books over a wireless or cell phone network anywhere you are.
But the Alam bells started to ring when I say that it had no way for YOU to back up your own books.
No copying them to a SD card..hell NO SD CARD or PC link backup.
It turns out that Amazon can yank your license to read a book if they desire. And of course it is true that if Amazon folds, or gets bored with the Kindle idea, that all the books I "purchased" will disappear.Now I'm not saying
thats going to happen.
But the fact of the matter is clear,while Amazon (and music vendors) portray the transaction as a "purchase", it is really a "lease".
It may be the control Freak In me but my books are MY books when I pay for them..not YOURS lol.
I just like to own the books I have,and be able to make hard copys of them(Burn My collection to a DVD) or put them onto a SD card.With Kindle you are leasing FROM THEM ONLY.And your choice of Vendor is...THEM.
With the Sony your a free agent.You buy from who ever you like in the market.

So were that leave me?

So summing up,after 3 weeks I go EVERWERE with it.I carry 45+ book and my comic collection,even some music(the last bit surprizing me).Sony have updated their software and its got slight'ly better and I have to say I'm happy with my choice.
Good Buy..Nice one Sony.