Find tech advice for business hereSony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600BC (black)
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: PRS-600BC
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- While it's an improvement to the company's previous touch-screen model, Sony's Reader Touch Edition PRS-600 is saddled with a screen that's short on contrast and prone to glare--and it lacks the wireless convenience of Amazon's identically priced Kindle.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock Order Now-Ships Today | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
 Over 1,000 Sony products. Direct from Sony | | In stock No Interest, No Payment Financing | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Once you know, you Newegg! | | In stock Free Three Day Shipping | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Savings, Selection & Service since 1971 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 PREMIER SOURCE of cutting edge electronics since 1973. | | In stock FREE Fast Shipping! Top Rated Auth. Sony Dealer w/Warra | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 Dell Home and Home Office | | In stock Free Shipping! | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock Order Now-Ships Today | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 "Your customer service is the best I have ever encountered' | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
| The WIZ | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
| Sears | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 |  | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 |  | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 |  | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600BC (black) price range: $282.97 - $306.99
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 09/11/2009
The good: The PRS-600 is sleeker than the Kindle; touch screen is more responsive than last year's Sony Reader; interface offers better ergonomics and is mostly easy to use; with the addition of an optional memory card (SD or Memory Stick Pro), it's capable of storing thousands of electronic books; five font sizes; decent battery life; displays Word and PDF files (with zoom), shows most image files, and plays MP3 and AAC audio; Sony's eBook Library software is now both Windows and Mac-compatible, with bestsellers costing $9.99 (just like Amazon); EPUB file compatibility lets you access thousands of free classic Google Books and loaner files from many local libraries; built-in dictionary now included.
The bad: Screen is still glare-prone; screen contrast (how dark the letters are) isn't as good as what you'll find on competing models; lack of wireless access means all files must be dragged and dropped from a PC; battery is sealed into unit; notation and markup functions can be cumbersome; USB charging only works from PCs.
The bottom line: While it's an improvement to the company's previous touch-screen model, Sony's Reader Touch Edition PRS-600 is saddled with a screen that's short on contrast and prone to glare--and it lacks the wireless convenience of Amazon's identically priced Kindle.
When Sony released its touch-screen PRS-700 Reader last year, it had a few noticeable flaws. First, its contrast--or how black the letters appear on the screen--wasn't as good as that of the Amazon Kindle or even Sony's earlier PRS-505 Reader. Secondly, its screen reflected light and created a glare issue if you didn't hold the device at just the right angle when viewing it. Thirdly, the side-lit screen theoretically allowed for reading in dark environments, but it was more trouble than it was worth. And finally, the touch screen wasn't quite as responsive as it should have been. Those flaws were especially disappointing because the PRS-700 was otherwise a pretty good e-reader, and we found the touch-based interface to be more intuitive than navigating on the Kindle.
Enter the Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600. At first glance, it looks very similar to the PRS-700, but upon closer inspection you'll notice that Sony has removed the LED sidelights from the edges of the display and slimmed the device a bit. The lighting on the PRS-700 wasn't great and the root of several of the device's flaws, as it added another layer of glass to the device, making the screen more reflective and less responsive at the same time.
So lights gone, the problem is fixed, right?
Alas, not exactly. The PRS-600 is definitely an improvement over its predecessor, but it, unfortunately, retains two of its major flaws. While the screen is clearly more responsive to your touch, it still has some glare issues and the letters simply don't appear as black and distinct as the letters on the step-down PRS-300, which doesn't offer a touch screen.
No, these flaws aren't fatal. And if you picked up an e-reader for the first time and had nothing to compare the PRS-600 with, you'd probably think it was just fine. But it's our job at CNET to compare products to one another, and thus we can tell you that you'll notice a clear difference between this screen and that of the Amazon Kindle and Sony's Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300--which offers slightly better contrast than Amazon's e-reader. It's a shame, because in most other regards, the PRS-600 is a very good e-reader.
First off, let's get the wireless issue out of the way: the Reader Touch Edition doesn't have it. Sony has tapped its upcoming Reader Daily Edition to go toe-to-toe with the Kindle, so you'll want to wait for that one if the dearth of cellular wireless is a deal breaker. Otherwise, the PRS-600 is fairly loaded with features. Beyond its 440MB of usable built-in memory--good for storing about 350 e-books--there's a set of dual expansion slots on the top of the unit for both SD and Memory Stick Duo memory cards. Also, you get annotation and note-taking capabilities (you can write directly on the screen with the included stylus), MP3 audio, and JPEG image viewing. And its use of the EPUB file format opens the door to a variety of free content, including public domain Google Books downloads and titles that can be electronically checked out from many local libraries.
Measuring 6.9 inches tall by 4.8 inches wide by 0.4 inch thick and weighing 0.63 pounds, the PRS-600 has a 6-inch screen (diagonal) and looks to be about 20 percent bigger than the 5-inch Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300. To protect your investment, the device ships with an inexpensive yet functional neoprene black slip cover. Fancier covers, such as the leather-styled one that comes with the PRS-700, are also available, but they'll cost you extra (it seems as if Sony had to cut corners on the cover to keep costs down).
This model comes in black, silver, and red and retains the look, feel, and interface of the PRS-700 with a clean, minimalist styling and only a handful of buttons.
The PRS-600's 6-inch screen has an 800x600-pixel resolution and eight levels of grayscale (color e-book screens won't be available anytime soon). Like most other electronic paper products, the PRS-600 uses "e-ink" technology that serves to make the letters and words on the screen look more printlike in their appearance. One of the characteristics of e-ink is that when you turn a page or scroll from one onscreen menu item to another, there's a slight delay as the screen refreshes. That's true of this model of this model, too, but we found it to be zippier than the PRS-300 and turned pages a fraction of a second more quickly. Its faster processor also is helpful when accessing PDF files, particularly larger ones, and using the zoom feature on those documents. (Note: Larger screen e-readers are more suitable for viewing PDF files, but while this one doesn't do a great job with them, it does significantly better than the PRS-300 and the Kindle 2).
The PRS-600 may have a speed advantage, but the PRS-300, as noted, does offer better contrast. Comparing the PRS-600 with the PRS-300 side by side, the first thing you notice is that the letters and icons on this model appear lighter while the background on the PRS-600 is slightly darker (read: a darker shade of gray). You'll also notice that when you hold the two units together and tilt them, the PRS-600's screen is much more reflective. At certain angles, with normal overhead lighting, the glare is so bad that you can't read the text on parts of the screen. Needless to say, the combination of these drawbacks renders your reading experience not as good as it could--and should--be.
In case you're wondering, there's no way to adjust the contrast. Also, there's also no backlight, but--considering that it didn't really work that well in the PRS-700--we're not complaining. However, you can adjust the size of the letters. With the Size button, you can choose among five font settings: small, medium, large, extra large, and extra-extra large. While the absolute sizes vary from title to title, a 6-inch screen (diagonal) doesn't give you a ton of real estate but as long as you stick with the small, medium, and large font sizes, it's adequate (the medium setting will be best for most people). This model doesn't have a built-in accelerometer that automatically flips the screen when you turn it, but you can manually set the screen to display vertically or horizontally.
Like the iPhone and other next-generation touch-screen phones that have been appearing lately, the PRS-600 incorporates some gesture-based commands. You can swipe your finger across the display to page forward or back (you can choose between a left or right swipe to advance pages in the settings menu). Swiping and holding your finger down at the end of the swipe allows you to advance or rewind through pages at a fast clip. The swiping is a nice way of giving you the feeling of turning pages in a book--and as we mentioned earlier, the touch screen is more responsive to your touch. But don't expect the touch screen to be anywhere near as responsive as that of the iPhone or iPod Touch--selecting stationary menu items is fine, but the gestures require you to press pretty hard. A lot of folks will continue to use the well-placed hard buttons at the bottom of the screen to page forward and back.
The PRS-600 also has an annotation and notes feature, as well as a newly introduced embedded dictionary (the Kindle had an integrated dictionary form the start, but this is Sony's first model to feature one). On a basic level, you can turn the Reader into a notepad, creating single notes that aren't tied to any books or documents. For example, you can type out a text memo reminder using an onscreen keyboard or write a note freehand by using the stylus (you can draw anything you want, in fact). That all works fine and is simple to do.
Things get a little more complicated when you move to annotations. With the included stylus--or your finger--you can highlight words and add annotations via a virtual keyboard or just draw freehand on the page/screen using the stylus. The whole process is somewhat intuitive, but we had trouble figuring out how to add a note to a highlighted sentence or paragraph (you can also add notes to bookmarks). You first have to highlight the section, then tap on it to pull up a separate menu that asks whether you want to add a note using the keyboard or handwriting it via the "drawing" method. Unfortunately, we found that when you tap on the highlighted section, it didn't always pull up the note-taking menu. It was a bit frustrating at times.
After annotating a book on the Reader, you can "merge" those annotations with annotations you may have already added to the same book using your computer (from within the eLibrary software). Viewing--and reviewing--text, notes, and any markups using a larger computer monitor is preferable to viewing them on a dull, 6-inch screen, so if you're a big annotator, you'll probably find yourself reading a lot more on your computer than you think.
While this all sounds quite sophisticated and potentially useful, we'll warn you that to get the hang of the markup features, you're going to have to do some digging in the user manual (it's available as a PDF file). And even then, you may run into some snafus.
As for more mundane items such as battery life, these devices are designed to go several days or even weeks without needing a recharge. According to Sony, you should get up to 7,000 page turns or about two weeks of usage from a single charge. However, like the PRS-300, the included lithium ion battery isn't user replaceable--you have to send the unit back to Sony if the battery dies.
We were disappointed that this e-reader doesn't ship with an AC adapter (it's an optional accessory that costs $30); instead, the default charging option is limited to connecting the Reader to your PC with the included USB cable. If you happen to own a Sony PSP, the charger from that device works with the Reader. It's also worth noting that we couldn't charge the Reader with a standard USB cable connected to a 5V power adapter, such as the standard iPod wall charger.
On the content side, Sony has made efforts to catch up with Amazon in terms of the number of books it has available and on competitive pricing--like Amazon, Sony now charges $9.99 for bestsellers. With the addition of thousands of free public domain titles from Google (which includes many pre-WWI classics), Sony boasts more than 1 million titles in its e-book store, and that number continues to grow.
Sony's also upgraded its eBook Library PC software (it's up to version 3.0), and--hallelujah--it's now available for both Windows and Mac machines. While the process of transferring content to the device isn't as convenient as downloading books wirelessly to the unit as you can with the Kindle (as long as you can get a signal), Sony's improved its software to the point where it's become fairly easy to use and is not the liability it once was. Still, there are some small quirks you'll discover that make you think there's room for additional tweaks.
Downloading a purchased book is a two-step process. You launch the software, connect the Reader via USB, and browse the e-book store, which in some ways is better organized and superior to the e-book store built into the Kindle. After you purchase a title, it goes into a special folder; you then drag the title onto the icon for the device and it transfers to it. Overall, it's pretty simple. And adding nonencrypted files isn't hard either. After downloading a file to your computer, you import that file to your library using the "import" function and drag it over to the "Reader" icon on the left side of your screen.
In fact, as we've said before, one of the Reader's strengths is its capability to read other formats besides encrypted Sony e-books from the store. The Reader is capable of displaying text, RTF, Word, BBeB Book files, and EPUB files, as well as PDFs. The zoom functionality on PDFs is more robust on this model than the PRS-500, but those who are looking for stronger PDF support should probably check out a larger format e-reader like the 9.7-inch Kindle DX or the 8-inch Sony Reader Daily Edition.
Another big plus is that the PRS-600 and other Sony Readers are compatible with digital books from local libraries, which have just begun lending out e-books using an EPUB file format with 21-day expiration. The selection is currently very limited, but anything that's available, is free to download. There's a lot to like about the Sony Reader Touch Edition. It's slim, relatively lightweight, more compact than the Kindle 2, and it is classy looking. We also continue to be fans of the touch interface for e-readers and its feature set is quite good, despite lacking a wireless option.
All told, it's hard to ignore the fact the PRS-600 is hampered by screen issues. While they may not be complete deal breakers, they're definitely something you should be aware of and we recommend that you check this product out in person before buying it.
User reviews
-
-
A great device on its own merits, its not a Kindle -DUH
by paul.bates on October 15, 2009
Pros: Nice package. Easy to use. Flexible. Powerful. Fast. Great for research.. highlighting, book marking plus freehand and/or typed notes. Books can be downloaded from many sites in many formats. Great integration with the desktop.
Cons: Not quite as bright or sharp as other units
Its not a Kindle. If you want a Kindle, stop here. Go buy a KindleSummary: The CNET review goes about telling you how this is not a Kindle. Ok.. guilty! Its not! Whew. Good, we got that over with. Here is what I think is ...
Summary: The CNET review goes about telling you how this is not a Kindle. Ok.. guilty! Its not! Whew. Good, we got that over with. Here is what I think is important for you to know:
Its been just over a week that I got my 600. It is still all good news and a few clarifications that only come from hands on experience.:
All readers provide the ability to read ebooks of various formats re-drawn to fit their various screen sizes. With that as a basis, I can tell you what functionality / requirements that the 600 supports.
* Its 6" screen gives you a page that is about the size of a paperback.
* Despite the comments, its not fuzzy or hard to read.
* Its easy to change the type size. There is a button with + on it. Press it and touch the size character that works for you.
* It supports the majority of ebook formats except Amazon's Store's proprietary format and the mobi format normally used with Palm books. It also can also convert and read MS word documents if you have word on your PC.
* In addition its a non-drm mp3 / aac player and can play audio books, or music while your read.
* It has a touch screen for operating the menus of the unit. I really like that, its easier than lots of buttons for me. It has a few buttons for critical functions like home menu, options, font size and page flips.
* You CAN delete books on the unit.
* You can touch words and instantly look them up in the built in dictionary. Very cool.
* THE MOST IMPORTANT touch screen functions are for those that are doing research or need markup features. You can:
- bookmark pages
- Write on and mark up content in a book like you would a regular book
- Type in notes on a easy to use touch screen keyboard
* Notes and markups are backed up on the PC and can be viewed there too
* The PC is a content management companion. You can use Sony's site buy books, integrate with Google's site of public domain ebooks or download ebooks from your library.
I *like* using the PC's full size screen and browser to shop for books at multiple stores like sony, ebooks.com, etc. I'm not bothered by connecting a cable to my PC to download many books into the unit. I detach the cable, and read a variety of content.
Here is my quick decision guide:
* If you want to read books as well as do research editing your books, get this Sony PRS 600
* If you don't need the markup features, but want the flexibility of multiple formats, get the PRS 50x or look at the Kindle. Other trade offs here for someone else;s review.
* If you want a smaller, simpler cheaper reader.. there is the PRS 300, the BeBook, Elonex, Cool-er, the kindle, others
* If you want to be able to download books over the air only from Amazon Books without a cable and like hard keys and a larger unit, get the kindle
Updated on Oct 25, 2009
Refined good news:
* I have downloaded library books from my library using my library card.
* I downloaded purchased and free books from sony
* I bought books from non-Sony ebook sites
* I downloaded .pdf files on topics I am researching
* I use the heck out of the markup features. As someone with 25 years of work books marked up on bookshelves, I have made the leap and 100% functional with it.
Clarifications:
* Amazon and Barnes & Noble both have proprietary formats for their products. Not compatible. If you prefer either one of those, pick their reader and live with the features. B&N have a new reader coming out that touts markup but there's no manual to see how it really works.
* When using non-Sony ebook stores, check each book to validate that its .EPUB of .PDF. Some stores are one format only. Some are mixed.
These WILL NOT work: .PDB, Mobi.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
CNET has it all wrong...AGAIN
by Rod Roddy on September 22, 2009
Pros: Stylish aluminum casing, razor thin, touch screen, free EPUB book downloads, included stylus, very good battery life
Cons: I'll be the first to admit there is a bit of a glare issue, expensive
Summary: I bought the Sony PRS 505 for my girlfriend more than a year ago, good device when compared to the first gen Kindle. Recently she upgraded to the second gen ...
Summary: I bought the Sony PRS 505 for my girlfriend more than a year ago, good device when compared to the first gen Kindle. Recently she upgraded to the second gen Kindle solely because Amazon had better prices on the ebooks.
Enter the new PRS 600, she bought it on Sunday and I have to say after going through the menus and reading a chapter in one of the books--this thing is pretty cool. The reason she went back to Sony is because Sony now offers the same pricing for ebooks as Amazon. PLUS the Sony Reader supports a lot more formats including Adobe's EPUB, which means free books to borrow(for 21 days) from your local libraries website. The touch screen is responsive and when turning pages it's more like having a real book in front of you as you swipe the pages to advance. Although you can use the buttons if you prefer.
The one factor that some may find as a deal breaker is the glare on the screen--which honestly is not as bad as CNET makes it out to be. This is an unbiased review as the Reader isn't mine, and I've had a change to really fiddle with both the 2nd gen Kindle and now the Sony Reader 600.
Do your self a favor if your planning on buying an e reader in the near future, first off don't take what CNET says as the gospel truth, and secondly go out to your nearest Borders books and demo the new Sony readers (there are 2 of them)for yourself, this way you can make the best informed decision.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best eReader on the market
by l_bristow on October 24, 2009
Pros: Expandable memory, sleek/lightweight design, large/responsive touch screen, mp3 player, photo viewer, stylus, built-in dictionary, note taking function, easy to navigate menus.
Cons: the lack of managing my books/documents on the device itself.
Summary: I recieved the Sony Reader Touch Edition as a birthday present from my husband. He had noticed that I was in need of a better way to carry around my ...
Summary: I recieved the Sony Reader Touch Edition as a birthday present from my husband. He had noticed that I was in need of a better way to carry around my heavy books to and from work. Lugging around heavy hardcover books on a commute that was 2 hours long was starting to become a huge problem. Out shopping one day, hubby decided to pick up this little beauty. I was planning on buying the PRS 505 but he saw how I was eyeing the Touch Edition. The only issue that made us both stop to think about purchasing the Touch Edition was the PRICE! But I left the store with the Touch and a huge smile on my face.
What I like:
The expandable memory - I can carry 100s of books and documents on the huge collection of SD cards I have laying around the house. The design - lightweight, sleek. Large, clear display with a responsive touch screen. Extras: the mp3 player, photo option and a stylus come in very handy. MP3: for when I'm in a crowded area and need to listen to something other than chatter while reading. Photos: just view at a whim. And the stylus for writing on pages, highlighting and double tapping small text. Features: the built in dictionary - I have used it more than once on one book alone! The note taking function - either on the pages or as a seperate document. The ability to dog ear pages. The internal memory is wonderful. A fast responding touch screen. The easy to navigate menus. I can go on and on.
What I don't like: other than the price, I do have an issue with the lack of managing my books on the device itself. If I want to create a new collection and/or more a book, I have to plug in the USB cord and manage everything in the eBook Library Program. It's not too much of a hassle but would have been nice to be able to make such adjustments.
Bottom Line: Love it!: I have a much easier (and greener!) way to enjoy my books!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Most universal ebook reader out there!
by jaffreywali on November 18, 2009
Pros: - As close to a universal format support as possible for an eReader today
- Styling (very elegant)
- Touch screen UI
- Huge available library (a LOT that is FREE!)Cons: - Touch Screen UI (since it does add a little glare)
-No wireless connectivty (with wireless, this truly would be a killer eReader)Summary: - epub support means you can rent books from almost any public library and download to your eReader. Huge feature that the KIndle does not support (surprisingly)
-Access to hundreds ...Summary: - epub support means you can rent books from almost any public library and download to your eReader. Huge feature that the KIndle does not support (surprisingly)
-Access to hundreds of thousands of Google ebooks for free. These are mostly classics, but I have found excellent books and classics this way.
- .pdf support. This is another huge feature. I use this feature to store ALL my product manuals (which are usually in pdf format from the online support sites) on my eReader. I find it most handly to have it available that way. PDF files like manuals are unreadable on even the best mobile phone (I have the ATT Tilt2 - which easily out resolves the iphone, but the eReader is superior as a pdf reader). I don't believe Kindle supports PDF either.
- Replaceable SD memory card. Another huge for me. Without this I would not be able to store as many books, music and manuals as I do today. -
High glare and low contrast are big drawbacks.
Pros: Open to various formats.
Cons: Surprising glare under all types of lighting. Poor contrast is hard on the eyes.
Summary: I also own an iPhone and frankly find that even with the smaller screen I can read a book more enjoyably on the iPHone than my eReader. I just bought ...
Summary: I also own an iPhone and frankly find that even with the smaller screen I can read a book more enjoyably on the iPHone than my eReader. I just bought the eReader, so I will give it a little while to see if the experience improves.
-
A good reader, with most of the features.
by edwfuentes on November 1, 2009
Pros: Sleek functional design, allowing the user to provide inputs of highlighing, writing, and bookmarking, while providing a reviewable list of user markups. Expandable memory card slots, allowing multiple down loads. Touch screen page turning.
Cons: To much Glare. Contrast is terrible. Does not allow WMA downloads. Does not meet expectation on battery life, ( couple hours of reading, and listening to the mp3 will empty your battery gage. Going through the menu options the unit is sluggish.
Summary: This is a great tool. Quite possibly the best $300 that i have spent. If Sony improves the features of their book I would go with an upgrade. I would ...
Summary: This is a great tool. Quite possibly the best $300 that i have spent. If Sony improves the features of their book I would go with an upgrade. I would still choose the Sony over the other models that i have researched, due to the features that Sony provides, Sonys reputation, and design.
-
Look elsewhere for Quality or Customer Support
by davetrevor on October 22, 2009
Pros: Cool, trendy, yada ... yes, but when you have two other products on the market, you may want to consider long-term quality and customer service and support, both of which Sony seriously lacks. See below and see how Sony "Thanks [YOU] for waiting"
Cons: The screen goes out and Sony's solution is to charge you a $99 fee to replace it with a refurbish unit of the same model you own. So, if improvements are made to your current unit, you'll get stuck paying a hundred bucks for the same subpar e-reader
Summary: A conversation w/Sony Support: "Thanks for Waiting"
Email sent at: 7:19:42 PM, 10/22/2009
S> Hi David. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm George. ...Summary: A conversation w/Sony Support: "Thanks for Waiting"
Email sent at: 7:19:42 PM, 10/22/2009
S> Hi David. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm George. Please allow me a moment to review your concern. Thanks for waiting, David. I'm sorry that the display window of the Reader is not being able to display. I?ll be glad to assist you with this.
When did it last work normally?
ME > last week when it was last used
S> Please let me know if you are using a fully charged battery.
M> yes it has been charged overnight but currently there are no lights coming on either on the side or the front. The unit is currently hooked to a computer via USB
S> Is there any error message displayed?
Me> no the screen is blank except there is a black rectangular display ion the upper left had corner and several verticle lines on the screen
S> Did you press the RESET button when the Reader is connected to the Computer?
Me> yet, I have unplugged it from the computer now
S> Please disconnect the Reader, then press the RESET button and check if it helps.
M> I did and reset again==nothing happens
S> To reset the Reader, please press the RESET button using the tip of a ball point pen or any sharp pointed object. The RESET button is located at the rear of the Reader.
Me> yes I have used a paper clip several times and hear the reset button click but the unit does nothing
S> I'm really sorry to hear that the issue still persists after performing the troubleshooting steps.
Me> I have plugged the unit to the electrical outlet and an amber light is flashing on the side
S> David, unfortunately the Reader requires service.
S> Shall I forward a link where you can initiate a repair?
Me> I would be willing to perhaps buy a new Sony eReader if I had a credit for the broken unit. are you still there George?
S> Please give me a moment while I get this information for you. Thanks for waiting, David.
Me> David, there is an exchange program available.
S> Please initiate a repair for the Reader to avail the exchange options.
M> Ok George, please tell me all about it--It sounds exciting!
George_ > I would like to forward a link to a page where you can initiate a repair.
S> When you receive the link, please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it. http://eservice.sony.com Are you able to view the page?
Me> it just says I can pay $99 and get a refurbished unit--I actually want to buy a new unit but at least get some credit for the broken one
S> David, the Reader can be exchanged and only a refurbished unit will be provided to you. I'm sorry, David. There are no options to exchange the unit for a new model. You too! I'm sorry for the typo. You're welcome. Bye and take care.
Me> Well, is there any way to talk to a manager
ME> I want to continue to buy Sony products but if they just break well there are other options
S> Sure, David. I'd like to transfer this chat to our next level of support. They can review what we've discussed and will assist you from here.
S> Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst
S> Hi David. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm Lindsey. Please allow me a moment to review your concern. Thanks for waiting, David. I'm sorry that the display window of the Reader is not being able to display. I?ll be glad to assist you with this. I checked for the information and the Reader can be exchanged and only a refurbished unit will be provided to you. I'm really sorry for the difficulties you're experiencing with the Portable Reader as it is not working.
David > When I bought this unit it was over $400 and it is just not right that now I have to accept an out of date unit--I mean I am offering to purchase a new unit if there can be some price reduction on the new one--I can't see buying a new unit
David > from Sony if it is just going to break and then what I get in replacement is not even a new unit
Me> Help me continue to buy Sony.
S> May I know the date of purchase of the Portable Reader?
ME> It was last year but I don't have the exact date at hand right this minute. Don't get me wrong--I don't want to think ah my unit is broken i want the newest one available without paying anything--I am willing to pay for a new unit--I just think it is fair to have a credit from Sony toward that unit due to the broken unit. I mean I paid twice for this unit of what the new ones cost.
Me> So even a credit of $100 toward a new unit would make me purchase it
S> The original Sony limited warranty covers your Portable Reader for a period of twelve months from the original date of purchase for both parts and labor.
Me> Well, I can't see paying $99 to exchange the broken unit for a refurbished one
S> I'm really keen to help you. However, this is the only available option at this moment.
Me> I am sorry to hear it and my friends in the industry will be sorry to hear about it.
S> I really tried to help you.
Me> You do get points for that but I will need to include this in my review for Cnet0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
aside from hardware, software issues ruin experience
by brevityverb on October 12, 2009
Pros: native pdf, dictionary, touch screen
Cons: can't delete/manage books from reader, double book entries, glare, low contrast/gray background, can't read purchased epub books in reader but only in pc!
Summary: Aside from the hardware issues like glare and low contrast, bugs in the software make owning the reader a nightmare experience. Imagine purchasing expensive books that you can only read ...
Summary: Aside from the hardware issues like glare and low contrast, bugs in the software make owning the reader a nightmare experience. Imagine purchasing expensive books that you can only read in the pc, not in the reader itself! You also cannot manage the books from the reader; you have to connect it to the pc and delete/manage/add collections using the pc. Sony has always had problems with software (like SonicStage for its walkmans) and very poor support. You always have to charge the reader by connecting it to the pc.
0 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: PRS-600BC
- Description: The Reader Touch Edition features a responsive, menu-driven six-inch touch screen panel that enables quick, intuitive navigation, page turning, highlighting and note taking with the swipe of a finger or by using the included stylus pen. Users can take handwritten notes with the stylus pen or type with the virtual keyboard. All notes can be exported and printed out for easy reference. The Touch Edition also offers five adjustable font sizes, as well as expansion slots for both Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD card, making your portable library virtually limitless.
General
- Product Type eBook reader
- Width 4.8 in
- Depth 0.4 in
- Height 6.9 in
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 4.8 in x 0.4 in x 6.9 in
- Color Black
- Weight 10.1 oz
- Color Black
Display
- Display Type 6 in E Ink
- Display type 6 in E Ink
- Image 3-bit (8 gray levels)
- Display Resolution 800 x 600
Audio
- Supported Digital Audio Formats AAC, MP3
Telecom
- Modem None
GPS System
- GPS Navigation None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces 1 x USB
Power
- Battery installed (max) 1 Lithium ion
Input Device
- Type Touch-screen
EBook Reader
- Supported Text Formats DOC, PDF, RTF, TXT, BBeB, EPUB, BBeB DRM
- Supported Still Image Formats BMP, GIF, PNG, JPEG
- Battery Life (pages) 7500 pages
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x USB cable
Battery
- Installed Qty (Max Supported) 1
- Technology / Form Factor Lithium ion
- Run Time (Up To) 14 day(s)
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 41 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
Product series
-
Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600BC (black)
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs:
-
Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600RC (red)
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs:
-
Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-600SC (silver)
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs:
Manufacturer info
- Sony
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.sonystyle.com
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
%20-%20Compare%20prices,%20reviews,%20user%20opinions%20-%20Shopper.com&srcUrl=http://shopper.cnet.com/e-book-readers/sony-reader-touch-edition/4014-3508_9-33743850.html){kind=small}