Obviously the impressive touch screen replaces many of the buttons and keys of the Reader PRS-505 so aesthetically and ergonomically the 700 is a stunning piece of equipment. This Reader now has 5 font sizes (up from 3 with the 505), along with a built in front light so greater accessibility for those with poorer eyesight.

Overall, this eBook reader is a pleasure to use. It just feels like a more natural way to read books with greater control and easy navigation. Storing and managing your library of books, especially for those bookworms out there with hundreds of them, is just a breeze. And with the support of an array of formats including support of ePub and native PDF, as well as both DRM and non-DRM, Sony gets the thumbs up.

One stumbling block for some will be the display though. The Sony Reader PRS-700 with its touch screen display has a more matt finish – probably because of the touch screen surface that affects the contrast of the e-ink paper appearance.

The Ups:

The first ‘Up’ obviously has to go to the touch screen that eliminates the need for a keyboard. The screen is very responsive, making the control and navigation a walk in the park. Switching between ebooks and notes where you last left them isn’t a frustrating hassle at all and all can be done very quickly.

For those who thrive on being seen with the sexiest bit of kit in their hands, the design will impress all those around. Complemented with a very nice cover, it has to be said that it’s a better-looking device than the Amazon Kindle and appears and feels more like a real book than the Kindle 2. Also, the front sidelights will come in very handy for those night owls who love to read in bed.

The Downs:

Whilst all the excitement revolves around the touch screen and its benefits, it’s also the source of the few downsides of the Sony Reader PRS-700. Due to the surface layer that enables effective touch screen functionality, you have a noticeable set back. Firstly, the contrast is not as good as some of the others including Sony’s previous PRS-505. Furthermore, you get the glare from ambient light that can be very annoying whether indoors or out. Added to this, some of us report problems controlling and navigating using their finger and so it looks like the stylus could be more than just a nice to have. It might actually be essential.

Manufacturer: Sony

Release Date: October 2008

RRP: £

Screen size: 6”

Editors’ rating:

Members’ rating:

Sony Book Reader PRS-700 Specifications:

•    Size: 5.0 x 6.8 x .4 inches approx (127.6 x 174.3 x 9.7 mm)
•    Screen: 6″ diagonal touch screen. 167-ppi 800×600 (4.8″ x 3.6″) 8 level greyscale screen
•    Weight: 10 oz.
•    Fonts: 5 available font sizes
•    Buttons: hard buttons available for page changing. Press and hold to skip ahead. Also a back button, main, search, zoom, and option
•    Light: front light built in – 2 levels of brightness
•    External memory: SD card slot plus Sony memory stick duo card slot.
•    Keyboard: on screen virtual touch keyboard
•    Memory: eBook capacity: 320 in approximately 420 MB internal user memory
•    AC Power: Optional AC Charger requires 120 Volts 60Hz
•    Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion 3.7 V
•    Battery Life (Approx.): Up to 7,500 continuous page turns (or up to two weeks worth of reading)
•    Battery life with light on: Low – 8 hours, High – 4 hours
•    Recharging Time: 4 Hours approx with USB charging from powered Computer or approx. 2 Hours when using optional AC wall charger (5.2V)
•    Ports: USB 2.0 (1.1 compatible), 3.5″ stereo audio jack, power input
•    CPU: Free scale i. MX31 (L?), ARM1136JF-S core, 400-532MHz
•    EPD controller: Broadsheet (Epson S1D13521)
•    Real-Time Clock /Sound/ /Battery/Power Management IC: Wolfson WM8350
•    USB: MX31 USB OTG controller w/ High Speed Philips ISP1504 transceiver
•    Linux kernel: 2.6.23 (compiled with gcc 4.2)
•    Operating temperature: 41 to 95 °F (5 to 35 °C)
•    Flash cards: MX31 SDHC controller, MX31Memory Stick controller
•    RAM: 128MB
•    Flash: 512MB NAND + 2MB NOR

Other info:

Sony has been in the game of e-book readers now for some times so are one of the main players. Launching their first ebook reader in 2003 with the Librie, Sony learnt the hard way and have since made good progress from the days of that first reader that unsuccessfully launched only in Japan.

Since then Sony have launched the Sony Reader PRS-500 and more lately the PRS-550 (October 2007). This new PRS-700, launched in October 2008, but most will agree is not a replacement for the very popular Sony Reader PRS-505.