Sony PRS-505/LC Blue Digital Book Reader

List Price: $299.99 Discount Price: $279.00

Features:

• Easy to read display - e-paper display with quicker page turns
• Premium design - Simple, yet sophisticated with easier navigation
• Compact and lightweight
• Integrated eBookstore with 20K titles
• Up to 7,500 page turns on full charge

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Product! [Posted on 2008-07-01]
I have had my PRS-505 for almost 2 months now and overall I love it. Although I have not used any other ereaders (e.g. Kindle) I can highly recommend the Sony PRS-505 with no reservations.
Pro's:
A) Display is very easy to read and easy on the eyes
B) Solid - case is made out of metal, not plastic
C) Virtually unlimited storage using memory card slots
D) An INCREDIBLE # of titles available. Just do a search on the web. Although I do NOT advocate pirating books, I have been able to find an ebook version of EVERY hardcopy book I own. There are also many free ebooks available.
E) Freeware programs available to convert other formats (lit, html, text, rtf, etc) into .lrf format - In particular I highly recommend Calibre

Cons:
A) A little awkward to hold compared to an actual paperback - page turning keys could have been located better. Hands can get tired after a couple hours of reading.
B) Despite what Sony says, actual battery life is around 2000 to 2500 page turns. In reality this is plenty, marketing lies just irritate me.
C) Limited warranty - the PRS-505 only comes with a 90 day labor/12 months parts warranty. The first PRS-505 I received died within one week. Sony promptly replaced it with a brand new (non-refurb) unit, but considering how much the unit costs, and the many negative reviews of Sony's support on the web, the limited warranty doesn't inspire me.
D) PDF support STINKS! Only works with the smallest PDF files. Basically unusable. This is a shame because a lot of my work manuals and books are in PDF format and it would be nice to be able to use the PRS-505 to get work done when I am traveling.
E) No option to turn pages automatically. I love this thing so much I use it at the gym. It would be nice (although I admit this is being picky) if I could set it to automatically turn the page after 5 or 10 seconds. Other e-readers have this functionality.

Other thoughts. Some people have complained about no internet access or wireless support. Personally I don't find the lack of either of these items a big deal. I already use my cell phone to get email or look up directions on the internet, and I always have my cell phone with me. Downloading books to my computer and then transferring them to the PRS-505 isn't a big deal either. Blue tooth support for headphones would be sweet - especially at the gym - but isn't a big deal either.

So to finish, if you are looking for an e-reader, I personally give the PRS-505 a big thumbs up. Although I have never used the Kindle, the PRS is quite a bit cheaper and there is a ton of books available for it without having to go through Amazon or for that matter the Sony ebook store.

a word for the supplier [Posted on 2008-07-03]
I am writing primarily to praise the company that carries this product on the Amazon website. The company is DataVision.

I purchased the Sony 505 e-text reader from them. Unfortunately I suffer from a disease that renders my hands almost useless, so that I can no longer hold a book or turn a page. I'd hoped that the Sony would help eliminate these problems. Unfortunately I did not have the strength to activate the side tabs at all, and could use the wheel only with great difficulty. Reluctantly,I decided I had to return the reader. I contacted Amazon and was told I would have to go through the seller, DataVision. Since I had expected Amazon's easy return process, I was dismayed that I would have to deal with someone else.

My concerns were entirely unfounded. I cannot believe how gracious and understanding the DataVision representative was. The way he treated me, you would think I had called to purchase something rather than to return. He was sympathetic to my condition, and patient as I struggled to write down the return authorization number. He also made an exception that allowed me to save a few dollars on the return. I had expected a cold reception; instead, I got a warm response. So, for excellent customer service, I highly recommend DataVision [...]

Anthony Prete
Haddonfield, New Jersey

Sony Reader in Germany [Posted on 2008-07-07]
I bought the Sony Reader knowing full well that it was not supported in Germany. Still, first the horse, then the carriage. The Sony Book Store does not support purchases in Europe. Up to now, I have not found any
E-book stores with a good selection whose titles suppport the Sony Reader.
I would like to use the Reader to read German, but there are very few interesting legal E-books in German to support the Sony. For European use, which it was not made for, I would not recommend it.
The Reader itself is satisfactory, though page turning needs patience.

Sony Reader [Posted on 2008-07-09]
I really like this gadget. I can have hundereds of books at my fingertips without any cluttered shelves. It is very portable, light weight, and best of all...it reads just like a paper page. If you like to read, this may be just the ticket for you. After using this electronic reader for a couple of months now I can honestly say prefer it to a traditional book; so light and easy to handle, and very easy to carry around.

The Sony ebook store has a very large and good selection of books to choose from. The pricing seems reasonable to me.

The sony reader is not a PDA. It does one thing. It allows you to read elctronic books and does it well. the e-ink is just like reading a paper book. I highly recomend it.

Sony EBook reader [Posted on 2008-07-13]
I currently own several (3) of the PRS-505 Ebooks by Sony, and am generally very pleased. I have purchased many ebooks in the last few months (love to read, any chance I get), and love to brag to others about my ebooks. The book is lightweight, about the same size as a regular (printed) book, and easy to transport in a pocket or backpack. The selection of book on the Sony ebook site is generally OK, with a few authors that are cutting edge, and many that were completely unknown to me before I took a chance on their books. The "Free" 100 classic ebooks is not very valuable, as all of these books are available for free on many internet sites, however you do save a small amount of money and help the environment by buying ebooks verses printed books.
I would love it if SONY had installed a backlight, but they didn't. I have had some issues with the Sony Ebook though. One of my books had a screen failure, so have had the unpleasant experience of dealing with their customer service department in Larado, Texas. They neither care to hear from you, want to talk with you, or care what your issue is. I sent the broken book to them June 8th ($29.00 + shipping), recieved a recycled ebook from them 2 weeks later that did not work (error 3-013), and sent it back for repair again. As of today, July 13th, the ebook replacement is still not back yet.
In summary, I love my Sony Ebooks, can't wait for the PRS-510 if it ever comes out (backlight, better book selection, improved customer interface), and personally believe their customer service department is poorly managed and run.

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