While Best Buy still lists the Sony PRS-950 as backordered on their website, and Sony Style.com still shows the release date as November 14th, some Best Buy stores are now carrying the PRS-950.
To see if the stores in your area have them, hit the link above and select the “check stores” link over at Best Buy to bring up a list of the stores in your area. You might have to call to confirm since they may not have them out on the floor yet.
As for first impressions, the PRS-950 is just like the PRS-650 and 350 as far as features and functions go. It has all the same menus and touchscreen operations. The main difference is the fact that the PRS-950 has a larger 7-inch screen and comes with WiFi and free 3G for downloading ebooks from the Sony Reader store.
There is a web browser that works over WiFi. I found that the browser works well and loads pretty fast. I used Gmail without a problem and even sent an email. It says it is best for text-based sites and all the bookmarked pages are for mobile sites, but I think Sony is selling themselves short because it seems to work okay on many regular sites as well.
The biggest drawback with the browser, however, is that it cannot download any ebooks and only works over WiFi. One thing Sony added to the online store is a section for Google books, so at least you can download some free ebooks from there if not with the browser.
My favorite thing about the PRS-950 is the 2-column landscape mode. This is much better than Sony’s regular landscape mode that overlaps sections of the page. Nothing overlaps with 2 column mode and holding the device on its side is very comfortable. Having the page broken down into two sections is a lot easier on the eyes and easier to keep your place.
Unlike the PRS-900, it does not come with a cover or a case. There’s an AC charger and USB cable included in the box.
I will post the full review and video in a day or two when I get it finished up.
Great info! First, the good one is to know that can use internet via wifi and second, the sad one, is that doesn’t come with the cover and case. That what make the price look not so high!
One question though, the devices in the stores of best buy are only to display or you can take it home rigth away?
I am so looking for your complete review!!
You can take it home, or at least that was my case. They weren’t on display yet. I called ahead and they had to go check “in back” to find it. They only had 2. Best Buy is starting to ship pre-orders now as well.
Hooray! it’s out! Can’t wait for the review. 🙂 According to BestBuy.com, it’s available for store pick-up in my town as well.
Could this be the best e-reader for pdfs that is on the market?
No. It’s up there, but there are limitations.
Does the PRS-950 still have removable battery?
No. It is designed like the other Sony Readers with a metal back. Battery is probably not very easy to get to.
I’m interested in how the PDF reading experience of the PRS-950 compares to the Kindle DX Graphite, especially in landscape mode. Crucially, is highlighting text within PDFs possible with the PRS-950?
Aside: I’m shocked that Amazon still hasn’t implemented such functionality within the Kindle DX Graphite software, yet the Kindle 3 supports PDF highlighting. May have to return my Kindle DX Graphite and replace it with the PRS-950 — if it supports this crucial feature — or for the even smaller screen Kindle 3.
Yes. Highlighting text is possible with PDFs. I’m shocked Amazon still hasn’t added more features to the DX too–makes no sense to give the smaller, less expensive device more functionality.