Well, my 500 died a violent death. Lets just say that when they hit a concrete wall, bad things happen. Anyway, I can't live without it now so I am shopping.

My options are to get another 500 from eBay or a 505, which will be available in Canada and I can get it sent over here.

500 - Pro: I have a cradle for the 500. Cheaper. I like the joystick to change pages. The buttons on the bottom seem to be in a good place.
Con: Older technology.

505 - Pro: Better screen, newer model.
Con: Not familiar with it. Don't know about no joystick, buttons in side seem to get in the way. More expensive.

I am leaning towards another 500. My question is, should I get a 505? I use my joystick to change pages (I have the hack) and I wonder if the lack of a joystick and the buttons on the side will irritate me. Also, it is about twice as much money.

So, experienced members, any suggestions?

The "VizPlex" screen on the 505 really is dramatically better than the 500's screen. Much better contrast and hence better readability in poor light conditions, and doesn't suffer from the "ghosting" than the 500 does. I'd go for the 505.

What about ergonomics? Is it as easy to use as the 500?

I have both. I like the 505 much better. I at first missed the joystick hack but with the page turn buttons on the right side of the 505 I found that I really do not need the Joystick to turn the pages. I have not found the buttons on the side to get in the way at all.

What about the colour? It looks like the 505 is only available in silver. I would think that a darker reader would provide a better contrast. Or am I just being picky?

It's available in silver and blue. The colour seems entirely irrelevent to me.

What about the colour? It looks like the 505 is only available in silver. I would think that a darker reader would provide a better contrast. Or am I just being picky?
Also available in dark blue, e.g. http://www.mobileread.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10971&d=1204127137 or http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/524807-REG/Sony_PRS505LC_PRS_505_Reader_Digital_Book.html (Ooh - they've got the Premium cover in stock... Hmmm... :-))

What about the colour? It looks like the 505 is only available in silver. I would think that a darker reader would provide a better contrast. Or am I just being picky?
I have the blue and I have seen the silver. Either would do fine. You won't get any better contrast from the blue then the silver. The ergonomics of the 505 is better then the 500. The page turns are faster, the screen has more contrast, no ghosting, and you won't need the joystick hack. I find the 505 is easier to hold in my right hand and use the right side page tun buttons to turn the page. Plus, Sony is coming out eventually with a new 505 firmware that may very well make PDF viewing on the 505 better. And finally, the 505 has 8 shades vs. the 500's 4 shades and because of the better contrast, the 505 is nicer for viewing graphics. And you already have the AC adaptor from the 500 so you won't need to get another.

Actually, in Canada it seems to be only available in silver.

Yeah, i know it is picky.

So the 505 is a better deal, huh? From the comments so far, it seems to be the better product.

Oh, can I use my cradle with the 505?

Plus there is also an unsupported hack on the 505 to use the joystick for page navigation. I use it all the time.

I thought there was no joystick on the 505?

Actually, in Canada it seems to be only available in silver.

Yeah, i know it is picky.

So the 505 is a better deal, huh? From the comments so far, it seems to be the better product.

Oh, can I use my cradle with the 505?
The cradle is only for use with the 500. The 505 will not fit in. I just compared my wife's 500 with my 505 and the plug placement at the bottom is different. Plus, the 505 is a tad wider too. No need for the cradle really. I just lay my 505 on it's back and plug in the AC adapter and let it charge.

I thought there was no joystick on the 505?
There is no joystick. It's been replaces with a flat round four-way button with enter in the middle.

And is it easy to use to move the pages forward? Usually, when I read, I just flick the joystick with my right thumb while holding the book in my right hand. Will I have to find a different method of holding it?

Man, I wish I could try one before I get a 505, if I do.

And is it easy to use to move the pages forward? Usually, when I read, I just flick the joystick with my right thumb while holding the book in my right hand. Will I have to find a different method of holding it?
When I read using my 505, I hold it in my right hand and my right thumb pushes the right side page turn buttons. It's very easy. In fact, it's nicer to hold in one hand then the 500 was. The fact that the cover sticks out to the right when folded back is actually an advantage. I use the cover as a thumb rest. Works quite nicely.

Okay, you guys have sold me. I am going to go for the 505. Thanks for talking me into spending more money. :)

Glad to help spend your money.

Besides being more comfortable to hold, the 505's new Vizplex screen is something you'll really enjoy more then the 500's screen.

The thing is that I never had a problem with the 500's screen. Probably take one look at the 505 and realise that the 500 was crap?

I was looking at the picture of the 505 more closely. If I hold it in my left hand, how do you change the page? With the 500, I could use either hand.

The 505 has page turn buttons on the bottom left much like the 500.

The thing is that I never had a problem with the 500's screen. Probably take one look at the 505 and realise that the 500 was crap?

Not necessarily, but if you used the 505 for a week and then went back to reading on the 500, then I think you would realise just how much better the 505's screen is.

The thing is that I never had a problem with the 500's screen. Probably take one look at the 505 and realise that the 500 was crap?

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=123285&postcount=73
This link may be of help.

Please stop - you're all killing me!! I love my 500, but I'm really tempted by the 505. I went to the 'big city' this weekend and when I asked the guy behind the counter at Barnes & Nobles if they had the Sony Reader so I could look at it, he didn't have a clue what I was talking about (he asked me if it was a magazine - still didn't have a clue when I said 'kindle'), so I thought I was going to be safe from temptation.

Mobileread is a dangerous place to be.....
Kathy

Yeah, what was going to cost me about $150 used is now going to cost over $300 new. Oh well. Considering my 500 cost about $300 and it is now lying on my floor with a destroyed screen, what is $300 more? (gad, think of all the books I could have bought with that money)

Again, thanks everyone for all the assistance.

I will not discuss ergonomics because it is very personal issue. But a new screen.....it is so much better than 500 that I would not hesitate one moment but buy 505.

Even my wife, who is very remote from gadgets and PCs, recently told me that now she can see the difference between 500 (I russified [there is no such a word in English, is there? :)] it for her) and my 505 and she would like to have the same screen. If she notices the difference, it says a lot!

It is very noticeable in-doors. Actually, what Harry_T said in the beginning of this topic.

Last month, I bid a 500 from ebay for US$142. Everything is beyond my expectation, especially there are so many wonderful hacks. The only problem is the screen. It is only marginally readable under dim room light, the contrast isn't good enough. It is OK under bright light though. So I think it depends very much on your reading habit and reading environment.

Anyway, I paid only half price so can't complain too much.

I considered the 500 a lot but, in the end, delayed till the 505 came out and am glad I did. I got the dark blue because I thought the contrast would be better. But the fact is, it really doesn't make any difference.

I find the ergonomics just fine and easily fall into reading it as though it was a book. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

easily fall into reading it as though it was a book.

I believe it is one of the most attractive features of Sony Reader. At least for me.

Okay, you guys have sold me. I am going to go for the 505. Thanks for talking me into spending more money. :)

I think you should buy the 500 and send me the extra money that it would have cost you to get the 505.

Actually, buy a 505, and send it to me, and I will send you my 500. :rofl:
BOb

After using the 500 for a long time, I couldn't quite justify the 505 for screen differences until I actually saw one in a SonyStyle store. The pictures we have here, on the forum, didn't do justice to the improvement, in my opinion. I got to work on E-bay, and now own both.

Until I tried it myself, in my varied lighting conditions, I would have never believed the difference! As said by others, particularly in low light.

I am only sorry I waited so long.... Now, what to do with the 500?

I had a 500, until it had an unfortunate accident. I went to replace it with another 500 when I discovered that the 505 was out. I purchased the 505 (silver) and have no regrets.

I have only partial use of my left thumb, and find the new page turn buttons much more comfortable than those of the 500. And the screen contrast is better as well. I also prefer the way the book cover attaches better than the 500.

All in all it is a personal choice, but for me there was little doubt. The 505 is a better reading experience.

I can't really speak with the authority of those who have had both, since I only just got a 500 and haven't ever seen a 505 in person, but I'm going to argue for arguments sake that a replacement 500 might be the better option.

Since Tom Swift has owned a 500 before and has been fine with it, and there is such a price difference, it might make sense to go back to something that Tom Swift already knows and likes, and save the $150 that he would have spent. There are a lot of ebook readers coming out in the next few months, and there is a likelihood that we'll see a Kindle II by x-mas this year. And even if we don't, the number of 505 owners who will be switching to Kindle and dumping their 505 will increase by post-xmas. In other words, if Tom Swift can just manage with what he's got for another 6 months, he'll be $150 closer to a third-gen ebook reader.

That's the reason I decided to get a 500 for myself.

I've got both, and the 505's improved screen is worth the extra money, imo.

I read a lot about the 500, decided to wait for the 505 to come out (and at a reasonable price). I was pretty happy with getting my 505 for around $280.

I generally read with the reader in my left hand, with the original faux(?)-leather case still attached. My thumb rests fairly naturally right where the page turn buttons are in the lower-left. Or I might reach up with my right hand and push the buttons along the side.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the 505s design.

It would be nice if color was irrelevant, but people do make choices based upon color preference. Just look at cars or houses or TVs or anything on the market that has a variety of colors to choose from.

Color, of course, makes no differnce in terms of performance or features on the PRS-505. It's all the same; just choose among the two colors available.

It's really just marketing, in my opinion.

I bought the blue, which I understand was somewaht "rare" for awhile. When I bought my unit at Borders about 3 weeks ago, they had a silver unit on display but the only ones in stock were the blue ones (which I wanted, anyway). They told me that their first shipment was the silver model and that this current shipment was the blue model.

Don

notice the sudden popularity of "pink" electronics, cell phones, laptops, mp3 players.


It would be nice if color was irrelevant, but people do make choices based upon color preference. Just look at cars or houses or TVs or anything on the market that has a variety of colors to choose from.

Color, of course, makes no differnce in terms of performance or features on the PRS-505. It's all the same; just choose among the two colors available.

It's really just marketing, in my opinion.

I bought the blue, which I understand was somewaht "rare" for awhile. When I bought my unit at Borders about 3 weeks ago, they had a silver unit on display but the only ones in stock were the blue ones (which I wanted, anyway). They told me that their first shipment was the silver model and that this current shipment was the blue model.

Don

So I finally got my new 505. My sister and brother-in-law came to visit me in China, bringing along a new silver 505 for myself and another teacher. Very nice. The build quality seemed stronger and the metal case is nice. I don't like the buttons on the right as much as the 500 and I miss the joystick.
Anyway, yesterday I opened my 505 to find that the external case had come off. The top arm had been bent and was cracked. Worse, it would not turn on. The power switch was floppy and did not turn the device on. Great. Had it for four days and it broke. I phoned my brother-in-law and he still had the receipt so I felt better but it still bugged me, especially since I had missed my 500 for a month and now I would have to wait again. So i decided to fix it myself. I took out the screws and popped the top out. I discovered that the little plastic switch had become dislodged. I put it back in place and reassembled the device and it worked! Yay! I will need a new cover but I think they are available, even though nothing is showing up in Sony Canada. I am going to check out the accessories forum to see if i can find a good case, since they seem to to be a bit too fragile.
Anyway, it worked out for the best. Whew.

Anyway, yesterday I opened my 505 to find that the external case had come off. The top arm had been bent and was cracked. Worse, it would not turn on. The power switch was floppy and did not turn the device on.

What on Earth had you done to it to cause that? I'm sure that it didn't just fall to pieces spontaneously, did it?

I have no idea. I have no recollection of dropping it or anything. It was in my packsack and when I took it out yesterday, I discovered the problem. It worked when I put it in and I didn't even wear the packsack but put it on my scooter. Hopefully it was just a fluke.