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Sony PRS 900 Daily Edition Review
The Sony PRS 900 is also known as the Sony Reader Daily Edition. The PRS 900 is impressive, to say the least, and it truly can rival the very popular Kindle models.
There is a reason why Sony calls this model the Daily Edition Reader. One of its main benefits is that the PRS 900 can automatically (or manually) download a variety of newspapers. These include not only the big hitters such as The NY Times and Wall Street Journal, but also several local papers. For those who opt to leave the wireless function ON, the papers will be downloaded automatically for you.
Users can buy a single newspaper or they can purchase a monthly subscription. Some magazines are also available. Check with the Sony e-book store for latest updates on availability of both newspapers and magazines as the list is still growing.
On the physical side of things:
One of the first things you notice about the PRS 900 is its large screen. The screen measures 7.1 inches; this compared to the 6 inch screen on the Barnes & Noble Nook, Kindle 2, and Sony PRS 600. In terms of resolution, the PRS 900 displays a 600 x 1024 resolution, while the 6 inch screens mentioned above display 600 x 800. In practical terms, this results in a sharper, clearer image.
The PRS 900 screen supports 16-level grey shades which can make for much better imaging of grayscale graphics. Another feature is that the screen can be used in either landscape or portrait orientation. By using the landscape function, the PRS 900 shows a nifty and clear two-page layout. For easier reading, the device has 6 font sizes to choose from.
The amount of content that you can carry is impressive as well. Users have about 1.6 GB of internal memory which is enough to carry hundreds of books. For more memory, the device has dual memory expansion card slots. More content can be loaded by using the side-load USB input port.
To manage your reading material, and a few other things, the PRS 900 comes with Reader Library software that makes it very fast and easy to download e-books, organize your library, and send titles to your device. The Reader Library software is compatible with PC and Mac.
By using the included stylus, users can easily make notes and highlight portions of text. Users can also make notes by using the virtual keyboard, which also serves as the main Search input area. For those who need to transfer their notes to their PC or Mac, the Library software can make short work of that. The PRS 900 also comes with an installed dictionary: The New Oxford American Dictionary, Second Edition.
The PRS 900 supports a variety of formats, which makes getting content a snap. To start, the PRS 900 supports e-PUB and PDF files. By supporting e-Pub format, the device is able to read the vast library of content that is now being offered by Google Books and other open sources such as public libraries.
The device continues to support Sony's original BBeB format but only for non-DRM books. For those who may have already bought books in the old format, a free download replacement service is available from the Sony e-book store.
A major benefit to the PRS 900 is that it also reads text files, rich text (RTF) and Word documents (once they are converted).
The device will also play back unsecured MP3 and AAC audio files. The unit does not ship with headphones, so you will need to buy those on your own. Headphones are connected via a 3.5 mm stereo input jack
Because the PRS 900 is wireless, you can browse, purchase and download your reading material via its free 3G mobile broadband network. Those who are new to 3G should check local availability before purchasing any 3G enables device as service is not available everywhere just yet.
The battery life on the PRS 900 is decent. With wireless ON, users will average about one week before a charge is needed. With wireless OFF, you can get up to two weeks or longer. According to the Sony website this is about 12,000 continuous page turns (e-Pub).
The PRS 900 is available in black. The device is shipped with a very nice built-in leather cover, along with zippered case, AC charger, AC adapter for reader, USB cable, stylus, and User's Guide. Personalized engraving is available at an added cost.
The pricing on the PRS 900 has come down and can be found in the neighborhood of $250 or so.
Overall, the Sony PRS 900 is one of the most functional and impressive e-readers on the market today. With its ability to automatically download periodicals and magazines, it sets itself up as a true competitor to the Kindle models that are currently on the market.