Earlier this month I was asked by some wonderful people at gather if I'd be interested in trying out and reviewing a Sony® Reader PRS500. My first thought was "Who wouldn't?!" and I immediately signed on. Then I visited the SonyStyle.com website and really got jazzed.
This slim, sexy portable reading system was just what I needed after toting the three plays which comprise Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia to and from New York City. The thought of boarding an airplane with a compact library weighing in at less than nine ounces and only half an inch thick was a dream come true. Only six inches in diameter the Sony® Reader would be easy to take anywhere - perfect for those of us who are rarely seen without a book in hand.
The more I browsed SonyStyle.com, the more excited I got about this lean, mean reading machine. I learned that you can load pdf files, jpegs, podcasts and even mP3 music onto it; recharge the lithium-ion battery from a regular outlet or a computer; and that it held a minimum of 128MB of RAM. Oh yes - I eagerly awaited the arrival of my package from gather.
But as I browsed a long list of books I could download to the Sony® Reader, I started to feel vaguely disloyal to the seven (and counting) full floor-to-ceiling bookshelves I have in my home.
I found myself avoiding the far wall in the dining room where I keep the newer releases as well as the Iris Murdoch collection which I swear I'll finish some day. (A Fairly Honourable Defeat ranks as my favorite so far.) When my husband and I stopped at the bookstore (one of many, many - many - visits) he asked, "Aren't you buying anything today?" and all I could think about was getting my hands on that slim, smooth Sony Reader. Almost guiltily I replied, "Not today," much to the pleasure of his pocketbook.
The stack of books at my bedside lay dormant (although I thought I once heard a little voice say "Read me!") and the door to our library remained unopened all week. I even pulled a few books off the bedroom shelves and moved them downstairs to my husband's bookshelves of legal texts and obscure titles. They were clearly out of place but I wanted them out of sight. Somehow, I felt as if I was about to cheat on my collection of hard covers, first editions and coveted autographed copies.
Then my Sony® Reader arrived!
To be continued...
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Comments: 33
I have a question. On my home desktop, I increase the font on my screen when reading, as I find it too small.
Is there a way to increase font size on a reader? I love holding books in my hand and I find hand held readers so small...I've stayed away.
As for your print books, don't lose heart. I am always reading at least two books now. A print book in the day and a an ebook at night. And yes it is so nice to stick your device in your pocket or purse and always have a book with you. Best wishes.
I would prefer a larger reader. I'm getting worried by all the Gather reading I'm doing. When one reads from a screen one kind of squints a liitle. There is a minute strain on the eyes but it is there...and it has a cumulative effect.
OK to read a reader when you're on a trip is fine...but many hours a day I think is too much.
I'll stick largely to paper books as far as possible as they don't have a back light impinging on my retina for almost 20 % of every day 6 days per week.
So: keep us (me and Thoreau) posted. Does this object really simplify your life? Or is it just one more seductive little toy? And most importantly: is it cooler than an iPod?
It seems like an incredibly fun toy, but I wonder if I would always read books from it, or grow tired of having to deal with it.
Update on the way soon!
I can't wait to hear how you liked it.
But -- if I changed to something like the ebook reader -- I wouldn't be able to use any of the books I've already purchased because it doesn't support Mobipocket secured books.
Bit of an issue for me, but I look forward to reading your review. The Sony reader does look pretty hot!
It says on their website that it actually only has 64 MB of internal RAM, although it does have the option to accept Memory Stick or SD cards - since a 1 GB SD card only costs $20, though, that isn't too bad.
10 4 u