Sony Reader Pocket PRS-300 ebook reader

Sony has been leading the charge of ebook readers in the UK (while Amazon’s Kindle has been popular in America, the launch was delayed here – our review of the Kindle is coming soon).

The PRS-300 is its third model, using the same e-ink technology as its predecessors. The other current model is the Touch edition, which has a touch-sensitive screen for turning the pages and switching between books.

This model is a more stripped-down affair, with a smaller 5in screen that allows it to fit more comfortably in a pocket. It’s about the same size as a small paperback book and smaller than a DVD case. It’s available in either silver or bright pink.

It was easy to set up and use, and the software required is loaded onto the Reader itself. As soon as it’s plugged into the computer you will be prompted to install it. The software can be used to load free or paid-for ebooks downloaded from the internet (links to ebook shops are included in the software).

Paid-for ebooks tend to be formatted well, so the lines of text do not split up in strange places, but the device can also read documents in text, PDF or Microsoft Word format, as long as they are first converted by the software. The 512MB of memory should hold around 350 books and the battery will last for 6,800 page turns (the power-saving e-ink screen means the device only uses electricity when pages are being turned).

The screen was impressive, with good contrast of text against the greyish colour of the screen. There are buttons along the bottom for moving between pages, zooming in and out and adding bookmarks, as well as down the side for selecting menu options. It did suffer from the effect that mars all current e-ink readers though: the screen flickers for a second when the page is turned. When you zoom in, the device reformats the text so that the line lengths fit the screen.

Unlike the more expensive Touch edition, the Pocket Reader cannot be used to annotate books, listen to music or audiobooks, or display pictures, but it’s still a great device. Cheaper readers are available, but we would recommend the PRS-300 because the small screen makes the device easy to carry and it does its job well.