Sony PRS-600BC Touch Edition E-Book Reader

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 2 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• ASIN: B002MWYUFU
• Item model number: PRS600BC
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,545 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2003

Product Description

The Reader Touch Edition features a 6"display with simple, easy-to-use touchscreen navigation. Turn pages with the swipe of a finger and enjoy fast and intuitive navigation of your favorite books. Take freehand notes and highlight sections of text you want to revisit later, just as you would in a real book, using the included stylus. If you prefer, a virtual keyboard is also available for entering quick notes or searching your eBooks. If you want, you can even export your notes to your computer using the eBook Library software. Enjoy access to a wider number of books from a wider number of places. By supporting both industry standard formats, ePub and PDF, you can access books at Sony's eBookstore, check out books from public libraries, access over 500,000 free public domain titles from Google, as well as sharing sites, online aggregators and personal publishers (Internet access is required). Not sure which books to bring on your trip? With the Reader Touch Edition, you will never have to make that choice again. 512MB of onboard memory lets you carry up to 350 of your favorite books at a time. Whether you're venturing across town or across the country, the Reader Touch Edition makes an ideal travelling companion. Measuring just 0.4" thin and weighing less than 9 ounces, the Reader Touch Edition is thinner and more lightweight than almost any book, and even many magazines. The Reader Touch Edition utilizes E-Ink screen technology to deliver an amazing, paper-like display that's more like ink on paper and fully readable in direct sunlight. Enjoy up to two full weeks of reading (7,500 continuous page turns) on a single battery charge. Paper-like display for easy, natural reading Two full weeks of reading on a single battery charge; Built-in Oxford American English eDictionary; Intuitive eBook Library software for PC and Mac 5 adjustable font sizes to customize your

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

258 of 262 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First day, September 3, 2009

By 

Mike "internetfloppy" (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony PRS-600BC Touch Edition E-Book Reader (Electronics)

Nothing is perfect and this reader is no exception.
Pros
What I like is that I can get any book I want from Google library or internet and I can read any of my 2000 pdf's easily. When you open pdf it allows you to increase and decrease font. If you increase font from small to large all pictures go away, but you can always go back to small font and even zoom in on pictures. I don't have to convert text files or MS Word documents on this thing. It allows you to add SD card(I have 2000 plus books and magazines on it now). This thing is fast and software that Sony created for it is very easy to use(I was surprised by that). Now, with all these books I don't need wireless :)
It's shorter than Kindle 2 by two fingers.
Screen is readable outside and I actually like the black letters against gray background as it's not as blinding as a real book on the very sunny day, but there are cons, see below.

Cons
Compare to Kindle 2 that my friend has at work it has more glare, because of the touch screen. Is it a showstopper? Not sure as adjusting the angle resolves the issue, but you do have to adjust the angle. Also, I find that contrast is not as good as a real book, but it is comparable to Kindle 2.


Verdict, I am keeping it for another 3-4 days to see if the glare gets to me, I will post an update if it does. Also, I think I do like it better than Kindle 2, because of the open format and expandable memory.

Update: Decided to keep it. It really grew on me. Surprisingly the glare is less of an issue outside and inside slight adjustments to the angle resolves it. Also, I like how it's built like a tank. I am really not afraid of breaking it.

410 of 421 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Sony?, August 28, 2009

By 

Roberta Karchner (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony PRS-600BC Touch Edition E-Book Reader (Electronics)

Length:: 3:24 Mins

The video includes a few of my favorite features on the Sony, but misses things like the dictionary and audio options - since you can use up to a 16g SD chip - it is also possible to carry some of your albums with you, permitting the reader to substitute as an mpg player as well.

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.

Final edit ... I eventually purchased an iPad. I was able to transfer all of my ebooks, including the Sony ones to the iPad, using the Bluefire reader.

85 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent purchase, September 9, 2009

By 

M. Walker (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony PRS-600BC Touch Edition E-Book Reader (Electronics)

First digital book I've owned and I am blown away. I've already torn through two books and have downloaded several free books that I was delighted to find. Amazed out how easy it is to use and read. Glare is a bit bothersome but i've adapted and don't really notice it so much. In full sunlight the contrast is the best. Will this replace real books in my life? No, but it does make reading and carrying multiple literary items around much more convenient!