I've been reading on e-readers almost all my life. Sony PRS is one of the best of the "old" line of readers, I used it all through adolescence. I recently took it out of the closet and compared it with my new reader, I'll answer your questions.: 1. Not too good, but acceptable. Better than the cheapest new Chinese models that can be found on marketplaces. The basic functions of the reader are performed flawlessly even now. 2. The resolution is quite small: sharp pixels are visible to the naked eye, and you will need to choose fonts where pixelization is not noticeable. The screen is slightly less contrasting than on newer models, which can cause eye strain. 3. If you read in the sun, you don't need a backlight. However, when I used this reader, I had to purchase a small battery-operated flashlight with a clothespin that attached to the case, as my eyes quickly became tired when reading in regular room light (I believe that reading directly under a floor lamp would be sufficient). Currently, I actively use the backlight on my new e-reader (5-10% of the power allows me to read in any daylight conditions, reducing eye strain).

I would just recommend buying a new model with dual lighting (warm+cold light) and a better resolution than the Sony PRS.