After much thought and debate I took the plunge a few months ago and bought the PRS 600 Touch Edition. I decided to use it for a bit and then make the final decision on whether to keep it of stay with my beloved PRS 505. I went back and forth for the first few weeks, there are features on both that I dislike and features that I like, as with anything. Neither is perfect. I have finally decided that I am sticking with the PRS 600. (So that means you can definitely have my PRS 505 April lol) The things that I miss from my PRS 500 in comparison to the 600 are probably more a matter of personal taste than real problems.
THE CONS
First off, the bookmark feature on the 600 sucks ass. On the 500 you just clicked a button and tada! bookmark. With the 600 you have to click the option button, select the create/edit notes button on the screen and then touch the little bookmark symbol, then exit out of that screen. PAIN IN MY ASS! When i'm ready to stop reading for whatever reason I want something simple. not a process that takes 45 seconds (yes I timed it) Obviously you don't have to use the bookmark feature on either reader as it automatically will open back up on that page, unless of course, you are clumsy, absent minded, or a multi tasker like myself. I tend to switch back and forth between books. I have books that I have for review, books for pleasure, and textbooks. I need the damn bookmark feature.
Secondly, I liked the old booklight cover that was available for the 595. the light was similar to the bookwedge. It was attached to the sturdy cover and fliped over onto the screen. The 606 cover is just as sturdy but the light raises up and can be adjusted to shine over the screen. Not usually a problem but therein lies the another issue with the 600.
THirdly, THE GLARE. The screen glare is a bitch on the PRS 600. Not unmanageable but, when used with the book light or when outside in the sun. You have to tilt it to find the right angle. Now i'm a creature of habit and I like to read while doing...well everything. That includes while cooking, a feat that was simple with the 505 because I could lay it on the counter and read it. With the 600 laying flat doesn't work in my kitchen, the lights hit is just right making it impossible to read. So I bought a cookbook holder LOL.
Forthly, and most importantly for me, is the battery life. I read constantly. If i'm not at work or being with my family I'm reading. I don't like to have to charge things. The 505 battery life lasted for days and days and days. I took it on vacation to Florida. Read for most of the 10 hours down, read for several hours everyday, read the trip back and still had one bar of life left. The 600 lost all battery life on me in 3 days with heavy use like that. (yes I could plug it in while I sleep but the majority of the time I'm reading myself to sleep and the cord gets in the way).
THE PROS
The design is much sleeker on the 600. It has rounded corners, it has a smoother back and it is a bit thicker which improves how it feels in your hand.
I love the touch feature. I like turning the pages with just a swipe. I like being able to change the direction of the swipe so that it doesn't matter which hand i'm using as well. Which is great when lying in bed so i can be comfortable on either side.
Second. The notes and highlitght feature. I can mark up the books for when I write my reviews. For example: I was reading one for review just this morning and it was annoying the piss out of me. The child of the female lead changed names in 4 different spots. Seriously, I was completely confused, I kept thinking who the hell is this person? Where did they come from? It normally wouldn't have taken me that long but the book is written in a disjointed manner anyway and this just added to the hot mess.
Third. Font size. Oh how I love this little gem. The PRS 505 had this feature but the added advantage with the 600 is that it goes up to XXL. A much needed size when certain publishers (ahem ... TORQUERE PRESS) have books that refuse to convert to the appropriate format. Oh you can read them...with a magnifying glass. They start out fine when you bump them up to your preferred size ( I like Large because i'm blind lol) but you turn the page and WHAM teeny tiny. They now have a Sony pdf format available which seems to have fixed the problem but I have a zillion older pdf format books that are languishing in my TBR mountain.
Fourth, I love the search option. You can type in a book you want to search or you can sort by date, author, tag etc. You could sort like that on the 505 but i really like being able to just type the name or keyword in to get right to the book.
So my final decison is to stick with the 600 for now. At least until the next best thing arrives. LOL That iPad looks cool as fuck and after the bugs get worked out i'm going to take a closer look. I do so love my iPhone and something I could read on that has a big screen? AWESOME!
