Anyone ever use a Sony PRS-500 Reader?

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The discussion centers on the consideration of purchasing an e-reader primarily for reading PDFs, highlighting several key concerns. Users are curious about the visual comfort of the device, questioning whether the screens are easy on the eyes and if the display size is adequate for comfortable reading. Compatibility with various PDF formats is a significant concern, particularly regarding complex documents that may contain embedded elements. The e-reader's lightweight and battery-efficient design, attributed to its non-LCD screen, is noted as a positive feature compared to traditional small form-factor PCs. Overall, the main focus is on the device's usability for reading academic papers and ensuring it can handle diverse PDF content effectively.
cogito²
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I'm considering getting one, since more and more of the papers I need to read are PDFs and it's just easier not to have to constantly print them out. What I wonder is:

  1. How do they look (i.e. are they easy on the eyes)?
  2. They look a little small in the promo pictures...are the displays small for normal reading?
  3. Are they cumbersome?
  4. Are they compatible with all PDFs? An example PDF that I might read can be downloaded here (that's a math paper). What I'm wondering is if all the embedded stuff would screw crap up with the reader.

There are obviously better sources for these questions, but I was just wondering if and TWers might have any experience with this thing.
 
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I'd never heard of it before, so I looked it up on wiki and I'd say it looks pretty sweet if it worked well. I've never had any "easy on the eyes" problem (I'm assuming you're talking about "easy on the eyes" like that small legal print, not Salma Hayek "easy on the eyes") on my computer, and I've read entire books of computer screens and am completely oblivious to what eye strain feels like.
 
Yeah that's not really my largest worry...I can always go look at them (since they're supposedly available at bookstores). What I'm more worried about is question 4...whether or not I'll be able to read all the PDFs I want.
 
cogito² said:
Yeah that's not really my largest worry...I can always go look at them (since they're supposedly available at bookstores). What I'm more worried about is question 4...whether or not I'll be able to read all the PDFs I want.

why don't you just get a pocket pc a small form factor pc?
 
Well one of the things that interests me about the reader is that it doesn't have a conventional lcd screen which is supposedly what makes it so easy on the eyes (and light on batteries).
 
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