Sony PRS-900BC Reader Daily Edition Digital Book Kit

2011-11-26T19:00:00

I have had my Daily Edition reader for 2 years now and it's wonderful. Buying books is easy. My biggest complaint about the book selection is that Sony rarely has discounts. I hate paying $7.99 for an ebook when I can buy a paper one for $5.99 at Wal-Mart. I realize that the publishers have more say than Sony on pricing, but really, can't you negotiate a discount? I'm not paying for paper, ink, glue, manufacturing or transportation costs. I shouldn't have to pay MORE for an ebook. I have 255 books loaded on it. That could be the reason that it takes up to 30 minutes to load after I have had it off for several days. If I turn it on every day for just a couple minutes, I don't have that problem. My eReader has traveled all over the world with me. No, I can't wirelessly buy books with it outside the USA, but I can buy them on my laptop and load them onto my reader. Usually, before I travel, I will buy several books to last me. I have dropped it a couple times on our stone tile floor and there has never been any damage, thankfully. Its rugged and durable. I love the built in cover, but it would be nice if it came in something besides black. I have never had a problem with the screen, other than glare. The glare. Yes, it is a problem. I had to learn how to angle the book so that I don't see myself. It took a couple of days to retrain myself, but now it;s automatic. However, for finger swipe page turning, I'll put up with the glare. Others complain that they can't use this to read at night. Duh! It's not backlit. It's not supposed to be used in very dim light or at night. You can't read a paper book in the dark, can you? I use a computer all day long, and at the end of the day, my eyes are tired. The e-Ink screen allows me to read without further straining my eyes. If I want to read at night, I use a light. I researched ereaders long and hard before I decided on this one and I feel I made a great choice. Now that the anti-glare 950 is out, I might just upgrade to that, but since it doesn't come with a built-in cover like the 900, I'm still weighing my options.

Keliandra

Originally posted at

2011-11-02T21:00:00

this reader has been unsatifacotry from day one. Sony replaced the original with a refurb which was no better.

SAMUEL S.

2011-10-01T20:00:00

Great product, but only used it for 2 months before the screen got a black streak across it. Sony refused to replace or fix, after only 2 months

StellaBlue

Originally posted at

2010-11-30T19:00:00

I like my Sony Daily Edition but it is limited as far as what I can obtain in regard to books and newspapers. Also it is impossible to read in the dark. I have used an I Pad and they are great in the dark. The 3 G can be slow. I would go with a Wi Fi anytime. Overall good product but it should be a lot cheaper for what it offers. I have had mine for about a year.

GeekQueen

Originally posted at

2010-09-29T20:00:00

I upgraded to this product after the battery died in my 5.0 model. The battery is not replaceable easily and I would have had to essentially pay again to have a "refurbished" model sent to me simply because I needed a new battery. I have had this new Reader 2 weeks and regret my purchase. I cannot read at night without getting up, going to another room and turning on a light to read or attaching an external light source like a paper book. With the older model, I could actually read in a dark airplane, in bed, etc. without disturbing anyone. I just compared my book yesterday on a plane in daylight hours with a gentleman's Iphone (he had downloaded reader software on his phone and was reading from there) -- and found that his phone even though quite smaller, was MUCH better to read from than my new Reader. Yes, you can read in daylight, however the glare from the screen is extreme. I am constantly shifting my Reader to find a place on the screen to read without glare. My reading tiime is not on the beach or by a pool, so having a reader that you can read in the daylight outside is not helpful for me. It is also heavier than the older model, taller, and I am having a slight problem adjusting to the size. Wait until better products arrive on the market.

KeyWestFL

Originally posted at

2010-09-22T20:00:00

I love this product. It came with everything I need; Cover attached, extra battery, works beautifully. Touch screen for that turn the page feel we all love so much. I travel a great deal, for long periods of times, and carrying several 600 plus page books makes no sense. The only thing It didnt come with and I now realize I need is the light. Buy you wont regret!

MiaNYC

Originally posted at

2010-09-15T20:00:00

I had the PRS-900 for one day before deciding to send it back. What a letdown after doing so much research before deciding to buy. Rather than order online I chose to head out to Best Buy instead. The Sonystyle store was too far to drive. They did have the 900 at Best Buy, but their display model was nonfunctional. The fake screen image on the display model was beautiful, which showed great contrast and as such I figured the unit would have great readability. So I purchased one. I couldn’t wait to get home now and play around with it. As mentioned, what a letdown. The image that I got on the screen was a far cry from the fake advertised image on the display model, not to mention the imaged shown on the unit displayed on Sony’s website. I couldn’t believe that Sony would go to the trouble of developing a product with outstanding features and fail on the most important of all features of a reader, the screen image, especially in light of the fact that much of the competition out there far exceeded Sony in this area. So back it went to Best Buy. After further research I found out that Sony had newer models in the works which supposedly addressed this issue, and address it they did. I ordered and just recently received the new PRS-350. The screen is incredible. I guess Sony finally made good, but why didn’t they use the technology on the previous models when it was apparently available. Case in point . . . the Nook , of which I feel has great screen image quality, but falls way short of the features offered in Sony’s readers.

Videographer

Originally posted at

2010-09-14T20:00:00

I love my Reader! I've read two books on it so far, and I'm VERY glad I bought it. I really like the larger screen size, and that's the only reason I didn't go with the Kindle. I'm very satisfied with everything EXCEPT a reading light is required in dimmer ambient light. Reads well for me in sunlight. Battery life is excellent...I've only charged it once after the initial charge, so for me, I can read a 700 page book without even thinking about charging. The touch screen works well, both for turning pages and for choosing items.

bvaughan

Originally posted at

2010-08-27T20:00:00

I received this yesterday as a birthday gift and am just now sitting down with it and so far it is a fantastic item!

NAAuthor

Originally posted at

2010-08-17T20:00:00

I've had my Reader since Mother's Day and I've read more books since then than I have in years! It is lightweight, convenient and I can read for hours or for just a few minutes. It makes waiting in Dr's offices so much more pleasant! I recommend this product without any reservation. Good job Sony!!

Gercio

Originally posted at

2010-08-16T20:00:00

overall I love it. Would be great to have a back light and also to download from other sites.

Sonshine

Originally posted at

2010-08-15T20:00:00

I've owned my reader for 8 months now and after months of denial and gnashing of teeth can finally come to terms with the fact that I just should have waited for the new Kindle. I chose sony reader for larger screen size and more sleeker design vs. late'09 kindle + non proprietary book format. I have done hundreds of hours of reading on the sony and over time the screen glare and simple inability to read in anything but strong (directly sunlight or powerful reading light) increasingly irritating. Glare is a nuisance, but you can work around it. Not being able to read (at ALL) in many environments where you could otherwise read any other book or magazine (or a kindle) without a dedicated reading light is annoying. My other gripe is the abysmal periodical selection. I bought early assuming that many of the publications that are available on nook/kindle/now ipad (e.g new yorker, economist, any other major newsweekly!) would become available with time. So far the only periodicals that are available that I regularly read are the NYT and WSJ (formats on these are nice, when you can find enough light to be able to read them). Sony's magazine selections are a joke.... now that the next kindle is out I'm going to try and sell my reader second hand and hope to pocket enough to buy the cheaper kindle. The Reader store is just ok - clunky and slow but gets the job done if you have some patience. My biggest complaint is that the store makes it very difficult to browse for books the interest you - apparently no matter what you've read previously or may be looking at in the store (Dave Eggers? Jonathan Letham?) , Sony store thinks "you may like" something by Dan Brown - no thanks. Sorry Sony I wanted to love my reader and probably could have stuck with the dark screen if you offered more of what I actually want to regularly read.

pcamy

Originally posted at

2010-08-08T20:00:00

I have Optic Nerve Damage, which has left me legally blind. I haven't been able to properly read a book in over ten years. It used to be that I had to have a magnifying glass, and it took at least five minutes to decipher what was written on the page. My hisband gave me the Sony Daily Edition in March, and it has opened a new world for me. The larger fonts are wonderful. I don't have to use a magnifying glass, and can rip through pages. It's August, and I am on my 83rd book. My love of reading was taken away from me, and now thanks to Sony, my world has once again opened up. I actually cried when I found I could read again. Thank you for a wonderful product.

Cher

Originally posted at

2010-08-03T20:00:00

I am really glad that I choose the Sony Daily Reader. The quality is far superior than the other readers on the market. I did not like the Kindle as I do not want to be married to Amazon for my book choice and I do not want to be e-mailing files back and forth to be converted. The Nook came in as a 2nd choice but the quality was not anywhere near the Sony and it is not fully compatible with the public libraries. There lots of e-book stores out there to buy books from and the Sony Store has an excellent choice. I bought mine from Sony and got a free 2nd battery and I also bought the cover with a light and it is great for reading at night. The Sony reader is solid and it has a good feel to it. The Kindle and Nook both looked and felt cheap compared to the Sony. The note taking feature is very nice and I use it a lot. Some have noted that they did not like the screen glare but I find that there is very little glare and it is not noticeable to me. I really like the cover that comes with the unit and also Sony includes a nice hard case for storage or when traveling. Considering the new lower price, built-in cover, large screen, free 2nd battery and Sony quality I could have not made a better decision. I have not had a problem downloading books from my local library and I have downloaded lots of free books from the Sony Store.

RTRider

Originally posted at

2010-08-03T20:00:00

I have not found much not to love about my Sony Reader. I do use the buttons at bottom to turn pages, though; otherwise, suface may contain smudges from fingers. Love the ability to mark pages and return to same page when Reader turned on again. Dictionary accessibility is wonderful!! Have to purchase cover with light to make reading in the dark or dim light possible. I did an extensive comparison also before purchasing and for me I think the dual page option won me over. Thus far, the only complaint I have is the short battery life of The Reader and the need for more choices of books to download from the Reader Store. Wonderful technology and a great space saver for me as bookshelves were at capacity!!

Aurorer

Originally posted at

2010-08-03T20:00:00

My reader is only 2 months old and I am sending it back to be replaced. I could have bought a Kindle for about half of what I spent on this. I have come to expect good quality from Sony and this unit has had system issues and now the screen is broken. Think twice before buying the Sony Daily Edition.

jsfsofjsdjfsojfsdjifsdjsd

Originally posted at

2010-08-03T20:00:00

I bought this product at end of April. The reader tends to freeze when you change print sizes. If you use the typing memo function for awhile, it also freezes. This is my second e reader. First one was sent back. You have to either re set or turn the computer on/off to read or type once again. If use memo function and reader freezes you lose your latest work Very frustrating

Bubba73

Originally posted at

2010-08-01T20:00:00

I'm thinking of getting the sony daily edition but i wanted to know if u need to find wifi or is there built in wifi???

Cheergurl

Originally posted at

2010-07-27T20:00:00

I waited quite awhile before plunging into the e-reader market, trying to decipher the differences between all of the brands and options available. My sister and nieces all have the Kindle and encouraged me to go in that direction, but I didn't want a system that was as limited as the Kindle. I wanted to be able to get books from more than just one place and I'm so glad I chose the Sony Daily Reader. I love being able to change the size of the text to make reading easier. Taking notes while reading the book or jotting a memo to myself is a breeze with this model. I haven't used the audio features yet, as I really like to do my own reading, but I like having that option available. So far I've only downloaded/borrowed e-books from my local library, but that in itself is a great, cost saving feature. My sister can't do that with her Kindle! The larger screen is great and so far, I could not be happier! I am a voracious reader and my husband frequently complains about all the books I have stored at the house. With my new e-reader, that should no longer be a problem and I will feel like I'm helping the environment by saving a few trees! Thanks, Sony, for a great product. Now, if you could just add an application that can convert the books purchased through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, it would be perfect!

NVRENUFBooks

Originally posted at

2010-07-26T20:00:00

I like this eReader a lot, I've used the Kindle amongst others and come back to this every time. The screen's not bad and the feel of it is solid yet lightweight.

CraigFerrara

Originally posted at

2010-07-24T20:00:00

Even though I love my PRS-900 there are a few things not to like about it. I have upgraded from the 505 reader and the first thing that I noticed was that the screen is a lot darker making me have to use a light at all times in my house in order to read the font on the XXL setting. I think sony is lacking here in this department. Did they take into consideration that some people don't have a lot of windows for natural light? Also, the glare on the screen is a little disappointing. There is also a heaviness that is considerably notible compared to the 505. Also, I noticed that my battery life does not last as long as indicated in the specs (and yes the wireless is off). I read Stripped Away by Sydney Somers and battery was half way drained. I do spend about 10-12 hours per day reading so this was disappointing. I do like the touchscreen even if I have to press on the screen a little firmer than I wanted to but this can also be a hinderance for someone with big hands that has to hold onto the side and it overlaps onto the screen. I was surprised with the couple of extra added font sizes for the reader. Even though most books in the large font are adequate, some of the e-books purchased on large font are stilll small and llook like micro print so this was a plus for me, Having the larger screen was also a positive for me too, If sony could fix the problems with the glare, and keep the weight to a minimum and reduce the dark screen and have a lighter screen as the do on previous e-readers I think I would have given them 5 stars all the way around. I apologize if I sound disappointed in the reader. Truly I'm not, but after owning the 505, I had high spectations. Overall this reader is worth keeping!!

erose3577

Originally posted at

2010-07-12T20:00:00

I was wanting to try an ebook reader. I told the wife and family I wanted to get a Sony. I have ALWAYS been very satisfied with Sony products. If I want a quality product, I would look at Sony first. Wow...my thinking was so very wrong in this case. The reader seems to be well built, but it locks up constantly. But the ebook store is just HORRIBLE. I cannot believe Sony can promote a 'fair' product and then couple it with an outright abysmal ebook store. It is almost useless! It is very difficult to look for particular books, it is VERY slow, and it, too, fails to load many times. Look elsewhere for a reader...Sony has a lot of work to do.

roholm

Originally posted at

2010-07-02T20:00:00

I received my Sony eReader two days ago. The excitement and anticpation of getting it in my hands made my face light up as bright as fireworks on the 4th of July. I had visions of myself downloading books, reading on the go, carrying it in my purse and looking really high tech. I came home on day three after being informed it was shipped. There it was on the kitchen counter in less than 4 days. I ripped open the box, announced to everyone in the house that my eReader had arrived, pulled it out of the box, immediately charged it up and........ The screen was dark. I am use to the screen quality of my Samsung Moment Android (very iPhone like). I looked for a backlight button, but could not locate one. My next stop was at the Reader Store. It seemed like 2 to 3 minutes just to load the Reader Store. By this time, the thrill of my new toy had evaporated. Yes, evaporated like when you place a pan of water next to the heater vent and leave it there for several days only to find the water has disappeared. I was simply speechless at this point. I confess, I am so disappointed. Am I really suppose to be able to read from this screen without straining my eyes. I can read from my Samsung Moment in the dark. I welcome hearing from others. Am I doing something wrong? I will volunter to be a member of Sony's customer focus group. We can save Sony a lot of not so positive reviews. I received my eReader with rewards points at work, otherwise I would take it back. Evaporated In Missouri LTS

Shamella

Originally posted at

2010-06-30T20:00:00

I love everything about the daily edition, except the screen. Thus all the great features and beautiful design are a moot point, because the screen is what matters. I have a 505, and the difference is staggering. I can read the 505 just fine in the regular lighting of my house, while the daily edition requires bright light (and even then there are many angles which produce glare that obstructs the entire screen), the 505 reads almost like paper. I am so disappointed to have spent 350 dollars on this. I expect so much more from Sony, as I have owned and been satisfied with a large number of their products (TV,DVD,mp3 player,prs505...). I thought the glare couldn't be that bad, but I was wrong! Now that the kindle and nook have been lowered in price, there is no reason to buy the daily edition... Sony get your act together!

coryfar

Originally posted at

2010-06-30T20:00:00

I paid quite a bit for this device, and over all I'm quite satisfied. I do not like the fact that there is no backlighting that I've heard is on other devices similar to this. Loading and reading books is quick and easty. Also, this works with your local library to download books for free. :)

susu

Originally posted at

2010-06-19T20:00:00

As an owner of the original Reader (PRS-500), I take the Sony Daily as a fantastic leap forward for myself and people new to eBooks. The. Wireless. Is. Fabulous. Most of the newspapers on Sony's website are heavily discounted. I am leaving for college in a few weeks and will rely on the Reader for my breakfast reading. Having the newspaper beamed through aether and into the Reader will be a happy change from legging it to the newsstand. Most of the reviews here have issue with the glare on the touchscreen- however, glare is very minimal, and is outshined (pun) by the touchscreen, ability to make notes, and wireless. Sony's redesign is very functional and pretty; it's hard to see in the photo, but the back of the Reader is slightly textured- which solves the problems having to do with grip and oil that are noticeable on the iPad and others. The cover, textured in the same way, cleverly snaps into the back of the Reader- a pleasant change from trying to weasel the case into the circular peg on the PRS-500. Finally, the biggest advantage Sony has over the Kindle is its open source format, .epub . I have already downloaded many free eBooks from feedbooks.com. There are also many other third party organizations such as the Von Mises Institute, which offers many of its economic/political commentaries in .epub : http://mises.org/literature.aspx?action=MediaType&Id=9 My brother had to special order the books, I get them for free!

Bridgy

Originally posted at

2010-06-07T20:00:00

According to the specifications, and I quote: "Memory Size : User available capacity: Up to 1.6 GB Dual Memory Card Expansion Slots for Memory Stick Duo™ and SD Card up to 32 GB". I have found that only 8GB cards are accepted reliably - I managed to have the system accept a 16GB Memory Stick but it was not always available and often lost collections. While a 16GB total storage is very acceptable, I believe the specifications need to reflect reality. The only other problem I have is, as reported by another reviewer, the Reader does not handle PDF files very well. I find I have to use them in landscape mode with a small font. Otherwise. I enjoy using the system very much.

elcee

Originally posted at

2010-06-04T20:00:00

I love my Sony PRS-700 and got this to have more options. I really like the larger size, MP3, and picture features plus having a replaceable battery. I wish there were a larger selection of periodicals to choose from, and I miss the built-in light the 700 has. Otherwise, very happy with it. Purchased a Delta 6 Bookarmor case for it, and that provides easy access to the power switch and stylus as well as the charging port.

TnVol

Originally posted at

2010-06-01T20:00:00

I got this for my dad's birthday, and first of all, it was a pain getting it, no Sony Store nor Best Buy or Office Max in Puerto Rico carried it, plus I couldn't order it from the website because it didn't ship to PR... Come on, Sony, we have Playstations here, PSPs, VAIOs, cameras, phones, the other two models of the reader, and you couldn't sell the Daily Edition here? Why not if we have US zip code like any other state, we pay in USA dollars and our postal service is USPS just like the states. Not to mention that UPS, DHL and FedEx work here extremely well. So, what's the problem? I had to spend a lot of extra money sending it to a relative and bothering him to send it to me and that took double the time and money it would have if shipped directly here. Secondly, what's up with the extreme slowness? It's so slow to the point of annoyance. It takes virtually forever for it to load, and not even mentioning when connected to the PC, it can take up to an hour for the "status" to stop, then anything else you click on, you better go do something else why it thinks about it.... It's surprising that at this point in technology advancement and speed, a new device could be this slow. My third complain is the darkness and hard to read screen. I was surprised it didn't come with an adjustable back light or a "brightness/contrast" level option. Its very hard to focus and it reflects light horribly. You have to set it to an specific angle so you can actually get a good look at the text. I am very disappointed with this model. I wanted it because I thought would be THE best of the three... but now I'm not too sure it worth the $350+ I paid for it. Sony can do WAY better than this....

brioche

Originally posted at

2010-05-28T20:00:00

This is my 1st ebook reader. My husband go the kindle for Christmas. I liked it but did not like the keyboard or the small screen size along with the fact that you can only buy books from Amazon. I chose the sony digital reader because of the larger reading screen, touch screen and the fact that you can borrow books from the library. All of these are great options for me. There is one con to the reader and it is a HUGE one in my opinion. The glare on the screen is horrible. Plus you cannot adjust the contrast of the eink which may make the difference with the glare. This is where the kindle has the market on their screen looking like a page from a book. If Sony fixes their screen so it does not have glare then this product would be worlds above the rest.

dmcmom

Originally posted at