Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-650

Touch interface, fast refresh rate, excellent contrast, glare no longer a problem, compatibility with loan books from libraries, build quality

Price, relies on using a computer to transfer content

As it is we’d recommend the Sony Reader Touch edition to anyone who feels they want to stay out of Amazon’s Kindle empire, but with Amazon’s prices looking so appealing, it’s difficult not to be drawn in

Great build quality, two memory card slots, good picture viewer, touchscreen actually works

No Wi-Fi, slightly overpriced, skimps on bundled extras

The Sony Reader Touch Edition (PRS-650) is a handsomely crafted eBook reader that impresses on almost every level. However, with no Wi-Fi or bundled accessories, it's perhaps a teensy bit overpriced (Australian RRP: $299).

Good touchscreen ; Great E-ink display ; Dictionary integration

Expensive ; Back is plastic ; No Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity

The PRS-650 is a king among ereaders, but it also comes with a royal price tag. If you can stomach the extra expenditure though, its screen is top-notch, not dulled at all by the addition of touchscreen tech. Light, comfortable-to-hold and at least as...

You can snag a Wi-Fi-only Kindle, with its access to Amazon's huge and good-value bookstore, for just £109. To get the Reader, which doesn't come with a dedicated store and needs to be tethered to a PC to be of any use at all, Sony is asking for...

It’s incredibly smooth to use and the handling of documents is superb, but it’s expensive and the Kindle has a wider range of new books.

The Sony Reader Touch Edition (PRS-650) is a handsomely crafted eBook reader that impresses on almost every level. However, with no Wi-Fi or bundled accessories, it's perhaps a teensy bit overpriced.

Lightweight and pocketable ; Responsive touchscreen ; Built-in dictionaries ; Sleek design ; Takes memory cards

Bad positioning of headphone jack at the bottom

The Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-650 is definitely one of the best ebook readers going. It's lightweight and packs a decent-sized screen. It's bursting with extra features, from music to built-in dictionaries. However, unless you're desperate for that...

Sharp, high-contrast display. Responsive touch screen. Easy-to-use interface. Good file support

Expensive. No Wi-Fi or 3G

But aside from these niggles, the PRS-650 is an accomplished eBook reader. Its handling of PDFs in particular, plus the potential to borrow books for free from local libraries, begins to make it (and its smaller sibling, the Pocket Edition PRS-350)...

Unlike a traditional book, which allows you to begin reading immediately it is opened, there is almost a 30 second delay following the switch on before you are greeted by the Home page and can select what to do next. This action could involve selecting...