Customer Reviews

Sony Portable Reader System Red - Sony PRS505RC

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

EDIT as of 12/26/2009

The Sony Reader Daily Edition PRS-900BC - eBook reader 7.1" E Ink ( 1024 x 600 ) has now been released and I believe is an excellent upgrade to the PRS-505. The Touchscreen issues that made the PRS-700 an abomination have largely been corrected and the larger format is great for larger fonts and minimizing page turns.

However, my current preferred reader is now the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation) because of the availability of content and large screen.

However, I still love my PRS-505 and it still works great despite heavy use by myself and my son! A true classic ereader.

----------------------


This past fall, I bought the Sony PRS-505/LC Blue Digital Book Reader a few weeks PRIOR to finding out that Sony was going to be releasing a new model. At first, my inner gadget-aholic was crushed -- I wouldn't have the latest and greatest.

However, after now being able to compare and contrast -- I'm convinced that the PRS-505 is still a better reader.

-- The PRS-505 screen is a non-glare screen so that it doesn't show fingerprints and smudges.
-- I believe the buttons make for a much more user-friendly interface than the touch screen. I just don't really see the value of the touch screen.
-- The screen (and more importantly, the print) is significantly clearer on the PRS-505. This is due to the fact that in an effort to appease the "why isn't there backlighting" crowd, Sony has added LEDs around the frame to try to facilitate reading in the dark. This has had the effect of significantly reducing the contrast and clarity of the type.
-- From a tactile perspective -- I really don't like the ridges on the left hand side of the device. I'm left-handed so I tend to hold the reader with my left hand and it is not a nice feeling.
-- The PRS-505 is nearly 150.00 bucks cheaper than the 700. This will buy a lot of ebooks! And the trade off -- having to push buttons rather than having a touch screen is not worth the money.

It is clear that Sony has put the PRS-700 out to compete with the iRex iLiad Book Edition which has a touch screen and is twice the price. But it just doesn't cut it because the wireless capability is still not there.

If you would like to download newspapers etc, I would suggest checking out Calibre -- though, come to think of it, not sure if it works with the 700.

Calibre is a free/shareware book management utility and it also has a feature that allows you to "Fetch News". The list includes the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Wired, CNN, BBC, LA Times, and many foreign news sources as well. You can set up a schedule to have them downloaded auto-magically to your computer and to your Sony Reader.

Here is the link for Calibre:

[...]

Also, the MobileRead Forum is a very useful place to get information on where to get additional content any reader that exists today:

[...]

[[ standard disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with either of these sites or organizations -- I just found them to be EXTREMELY useful if you are new to the world of eReaders, DRM issues, device management etc.]]

When you compare the Sony PRS-700BC against the PRS-505 -- you are MUCH better sticking with the 505.

That said, if you are trying to decide between the Kindle or the Iliad, Sony, in my humble opinion still has the advantage.

-- Cost: The Sony PRS-505 is much less expensive than the Kindle and has a much better build and aesthetic quality (no cheap plastic here).
-- Supports a wider variety of formats than the Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device (though the Iliad is best from that respect -- but not 300.00 bucks better).
-- you can buy from a wide range of stores with Adobe Digital support. Today, I purchased a new fiction book that cost about 6.00 US (it costs 19.00 US via the Sony bookstore!!!)
-- better response time and page turns

No, the Sony still doesn't have wireless -- but again, that is not a limitation for me. If you really want to read newspapers on the eReader, you can get Calibre (a shareware format conversion and library management program) and download periodicals onto your PC and then use the USB connection to get them onto the reader.

For me, the thing that I really like about the Sony readers is that they are solidly built -- they use a metal case as opposed to cheap plastic. This makes the device heavier but to me, that is a bit like reading a hardcover vs a paperback. I personally prefer the more substantial feel.

The upshot -- if you are trying to decide whether to get the "latest Sony Technology" -- don't. Save your money and stick with the PRS 505. However, if you are trying to decide between Sony and one of the the main competitors (Iliad, Kindle, Ectaco jetBook e-Book Reader - Red), then go with the Sony.

NCJAR

My 16-year old daughter has a neuromuscular disease that leaves her with weak arms and hands. Reading actual books can be difficult due to the weight and bulk of a hardback or the thinkness of a paperback. This reader is the perfect solution for her.

My avid reader now enjoys reading independantly without the burden of handling an awkward book. She is able to operate all the reader's functions and can easily handle the unit itself due to its light weight.

There are many reviewers out there who speak of the technical side of this product. For me, it is more emotional. If your loved one finds difficulty in handling books, please consider this as an option. It has opened the doors of greater independence for my daughter.

PROS: Least expensive e-ink ereader, easy to set up, works with secure Adobe epub ebooks.

CONS: Somewhat annoying flash when changing pages.

Before I purchased the Sony PRS-505, I investigated all the other e-ink ereaders on the market: Kindle 2, Sony PRS-700, iRex iLiad, Cybook and BeBook.

Although I liked the idea of wirelessly downloading ebooks instantly with the Kindle 2, I was put off that I would only have one source for purchased ebooks, that being Amazon.com. I was also put off by the high price for newspaper and magazine subscriptions (which would have been a plus if they were more reasonably priced).

I was leaning towards the Sony PRS-700 because it has a touch screen. It also has a faster processor and higher memory capacity than the PRS-505. However, the negative reviews about the touch screen and how it degrades the e-ink page made me think twice about spending an extra $100+ for this ereader. And the David Pogue review in the NYT put the nail in the coffin for me.

The iRex iLiad is the most expensive e-ink ereader I considered and also the most feature rich, with built in wi-fi and a large 8 inch touch screen. However I read some very negative reviews about its reliability and the fact it needs to be shipped back to Germany for repairs.

The Cybook and BeBook are comparably priced to the Sony PRS-505 and are probably good choices if you prefer purchased ebooks in the secure Mobipocket format. These ereaders are not so well known and have mixed reviews.

I have had the Sony PRS-505 ereader for 2 weeks and I am very pleased with it. I like the sleek metal finish and the dark red color (the only ereader that comes in red). It was very easy to set up and works flawlessly with the Sony software and Adobe Digital Editions software (which is required for secure Adobe Digital Editions ebooks or Adobe epub ebooks). I connect the PRS-505 to a HP laptop that is running 64 bit Windows Vista. I have a 2GB memory stick in the PRS-505 and I have loaded most of the ebooks I have on it. There are a lot of free ebooks readily available from sites such and manybooks.net, gutenberg.org and now the Sony bookstore with free Google ebooks. I found the controls on the PRS-505 to be quite intuitive. The e-ink display is very nice too and does look very much like actual paper. The only thing I don't like is the flash when I turn a page, which does distract from the reading experience.

I highly recommend the Sony PRS-505 to anyone who is looking for a reasonably priced e-ink ereader.

I wasn't sure I wanted a book reader. But my sister and boss convinced me to try one. I did a lot of research before settling on the Sony PRS505 and I am extrememly pleased with my choice. My reasons for buying the Sony were the price, the screen resolution, the built-in capacity, ability to add SD cards, and the availablity of books from a wide variety of sites. The Kindle was nice but not worth the extra money for the backlight (I didn't care about the wireless feature) nor could I add extra memory (although 16 GB is a lot). My critera was good value and features for the price I was willing to pay. The Sony PRS505 fit that bill nicely, plus the red color is a very nice touch. My boss has the Kindle and was very impressed with the feel of the Sony (metal case versus plastic). I am also planning on utilizing the SD card slots to keep collections of books on different cards. I made a great choice!

Sony PRS-505/RC Digital eBook Reader - Red I purchased this reader back in Oct, 2008. Sony software did not support any 64 bit Windows software at the time and neglected to so inform buyers. After a month of fiddling around, I contacted Sony Technical Services who told me to either get an older computer system or wait until Dec for the upgraded software. This was an unconscionable business response from a supposedly responsible marketeer. I tried to return it; but, later communications were impossible. The customer telephone line was always not working - I finally received a generic email with a respond within 14 day limit - but the return email address was not valid. Trying to get a hold of someone who could do something was impossible. At this time, I have to reboot the computer each time I want to get out of EDS as it won't shut down and exit properly. The reader works as advertised; but, Sony software support is absolutely nonexistent - and their supposed customer support doesn't exist. I've left bad reviews which were basically ignored. At the end of this exercise, I'm left with a bad taste about Sony customer service and cannot recommend their products.

I am really satisfied with this reader. It is thin, light, easy to read, easy to add music, books and photos.
I compared several different readers before deciding on the Sony 505 Reader.
For the price, for me, this was my choice over the Kindle and others.
The Kindle has some advantages that the Sony doesn't, like downloading books without a computer, but that was of no interest to me. I am in a no service area for cell phones and that wouldn't be something I would need or could use or was interested in. I would rather have an extra copy of the books on my computer anyway, as a backup.
The Sony 505 is almost $100.00 cheaper than the Kindle and it has the capability of downloading PDF books also. (Must download Adobe Digitals.)
With the purchase of the Sony 505 Reader, you can get up to 100 classic books, FREE, from Sony ebooks, until the end of March or April.
As a recommendation in "Classics", try George MacDonald. I like his books and FREE is a hard bargain to beat.

Light, very easy to use, more comfortable to read in bed than a paper book, holds many books (in all kinds of formats, rtf and pdf included), and most importantly - the e-ink technology does not strain the eyes, unlike reading from a regular screen. It looks like someone stuck a piece of real paper behind the glass :-) Since buying it, I've just been reading more. There is something very addictive about being able to search for the book you want and get in instantly.

And also, of course, red and gorgeous!

This is quite possibly the best electronic purchase I've made in years. The screen is clear, easy to read, and the refresh rate is only slightly longer than turning a page. The space savings and convenience factors alone make this a must have for any travelers, I'm in a sandy hostile environment and the screen has held up without a scratch so far.

I read extensively daily and the battery time is measurable in weeks not days or hours.

My primary use for this is PDF documents and images. The PDF text reflow works extremely well and the image viewer often looks better than a normal LCD for gray scale images.

I'm 30 and because I have no kids, I spend a lot of money on tech toys. I'm not sure how the Sony Reader stacks up against my other electronics... it isn't used as often as my iPod and isn't as cheap as my DivX player... so for its cost, I expect to be able to use it for years to come. Thankfully, with its sturdy aluminum housing and beautifully readable screen (and protected by the BookArmor), this seems very possible.

Although PDFs are possible, I recommend sticking to more vanilla file formats like RTF and LRF. I've started with free books from Manybooks and Gutenberg Project... it hasn't replaced paper in my daily life - yet - but it has already eased my load on a long trip.

This is truly a great device. My red Reader has provided me with new companion during my travels. This reader is portable and convenient to carry in my purse, so I am never far from a book. I love Sony's Reader site and I have downloaded over 20 free books and purchase a few too. I had considered a Kindle but Sony's size and portablity was the deciding factor on my purchase. Books download within seconds and I have found several websites with free magazines and other periodicals.