Sony PRS-650 worth buying at this price?

[uppon2]

Before I start, I will mention that I am interested in buying either the h20 or the Inkpad as my dedicated reader.

I was at my local second hand shop and I came across a Sony PRS-650. I have never seen one of these but I had a play with it, and wow, it is way nicer to use than my iRiver Story (original). I like the hardware buttons and the touchscreen.

Anyway, the guy at the shop said it comes with a case and charger and 2 GB SD card and he wanted $30 AUD ($25 USD) - I decided to put it on hold until tomorrow. I am wondering if after I get my dedicated reader, if there is any real point in owning this device at this price. I am assuming it is a good deal

[soulfuldog]

Well you won't really have much need for it once you get your H2O or Inkpad, except perhaps as a back-up reader, or perhaps you might be someone who will use their dedicated ereader at home, but use their less expensive ereader as a portable device?

The PRS-650 might be quite a few years old now, but it was an excellent device in its day, and for such a low price, why not.

[Dr. Drib]

The battery will be the issue.

It might not hold a charge.

ADDED: Once you get a current state-of-the-art ebook reader, I predict the Sony 650 will be history - which is exactly what it is at this point in time.

[JSWolf]

You can get a new battery for the 650. But that will add to the cost.

[dordale]

I love my 650...admittedly, it doesn't get much use any more now that I have a Kindle PW2 and a Kobo Aura H2o, but that price, with a case for I'd probably snatch it up anyway

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dordale

I love my 650...admittedly, it doesn't get much use any more now that I have a Kindle PW2 and a Kobo Aura H2o, but that price, with a case for I'd probably snatch it up anyway

My 650 has sat unused for a good while. I've been using a T1 and now the H2O. The 650 is actually heavier then the H2O.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by uppon2

Anyway, the guy at the shop said it comes with a case and charger and 2 GB SD card and he wanted $30 AUD ($25 USD) - I decided to put it on hold until tomorrow. I am wondering if after I get my dedicated reader, if there is any real point in owning this device at this price. I am assuming it is a good deal

Sounds like a good deal to me. PRS-650s seem to retain their value well.

[uppon2]

I think I want a secondary reader for university. I have the option to get the Kindle DX for $40 or the Sony for $30. I guess I want to be able to add notes, check dictionary, bookmark, etc. I was wondering if the touchscreen of the Sony beats the large display of the DX.

Has anybody used these devices for study purposes?

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by uppon2

I think I want a secondary reader for university. I have the option to get the Kindle DX for $40 or the Sony for $30. I guess I want to be able to add notes, check dictionary, bookmark, etc. I was wondering if the touchscreen of the Sony beats the large display of the DX.

Has anybody used these devices for study purposes?

There were two Kindle DX readers:

1) Kindle DX
2) Kindle DX-G [Graphite]


Both are out-dated, but very utilitarian units for reading (most, not all) PDFs and for those who (like me) often enjoy reading novels with larger screens.

The second Kindle DX-G screen is much more preferable than the 'older' model DX, due to improved screen contrast.

In my opinion, the Kindle DX-G is ideal for use in and around the house. I would NEVER take it out with me somewhere.

If you are certain that the model for sale is NOT the more desirable 'G' model, then it's mainly your call on how you read, on whether or not it's worth $40 to you.

Pay particular attention - before you buy one - to the life that is left in the battery.

These are old units.


ADDED: Often, when individuals talk about ebook readers, passions begin to fly. Pay specific attention to how people come across on these posts.
Are they fanatical?
Do they have a bias?
Are they angry because they destroyed a screen due to carelessness?
I would add that you should also ask those same questions when examining my posts.

[uppon2]

I ended up getting the DX and it's the darker coloured one (I'm guessing that's the graphite). I'm going to look around for hacks now

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

There were two Kindle DX readers:

1) Kindle DX
2) Kindle DX-G [Graphite]


Both are out-dated, but very utilitarian units for reading (most, not all) PDFs and for those who (like me) often enjoy reading novels with larger screens.

The second Kindle DX-G screen is much more preferable than the 'older' model DX, due to improved screen contrast.

In my opinion, the Kindle DX-G is ideal for use in and around the house. I would NEVER take it out with me somewhere.

If you are certain that the model for sale is NOT the more desirable 'G' model, then it's mainly your call on how you read, on whether or not it's worth $40 to you.

Pay particular attention - before you buy one - to the life that is left in the battery.

These are old units.


ADDED: Often, when individuals talk about ebook readers, passions begin to fly. Pay specific attention to how people come across on these posts.
Are they fanatical?
Do they have a bias?
Are they angry because they destroyed a screen due to carelessness?
I would add that you should also ask those same questions when examining my posts.

Thanks, mate. Luckily, it also came with the genuine Amazon leather case.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by uppon2

I ended up getting the DX and it's the darker coloured one (I'm guessing that's the graphite). I'm going to look around for hacks now

If the color of the plastic is darker colored, then you now own a DX-G. (That 'G' is very important; don't leave it out.)

If it is cosmetically intact (re: beautiful condition), and fully functional, then you can easily sell it here or on ebay for approx. $100.

Watch the performance of that battery as you use it.

[uppon2]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

If the color of the plastic is darker colored, then you now own a DX-G. (That 'G' is very important; don't leave it out.)

If it is cosmetically intact (re: beautiful condition), and fully functional, then you can easily sell it here or on ebay for approx. $100.

Watch the performance of that battery as you use it.

I did not realise it sold for that much. The genuine Amazon leather case and the actual reader itself look brand new. So far I have used it for 3 hours and the battery has not dropped

[uppon2]

Here are some pictures. Sorry about the size.

[Images violate guidelines for size - MODERATOR]

[Dr. Drib]

Be very careful with opening the case from the backside - it CAN happen, if you're not careful.

When opened wrongly (and with force), the plastic case can crack.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Be very careful with opening the case from the backside - it CAN happen, if you're not careful.

When opened wrongly (and with force), the plastic case can crack.

With my Kindle Keyboard (which had the same problem in the Amazon case) I used a bit of double-sided sticky tape to fix the back half of the case to the back of the Kindle, so that if opened the wrong way, the Kindle stays on the back half of the case.