Is the 505 for me?

jrl007 · 02-04-2010, 05:44 PM

I really like what I've read about the 505 and I'm trying to convince my wife that I need one for school, several of our textbooks came out in PDF form. But I'd like to have more than that to justify the purchase for myself. Being a student I was wondering if the 505 would let me take notes, and/or edit the PDF's that I've viewing? Also, I know that I could borrow books from the library to read on it, but is it possible on the 505 (or any reader for that matter) to read newspapers, periodicals, etc? Are these things available for e-readers? Complete novice here, appreciate any and all advice. TIA!

RCR · 02-04-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrl007

I really like what I've read about the 505 and I'm trying to convince my wife that I need one for school, several of our textbooks came out in PDF form. But I'd like to have more than that to justify the purchase for myself. Being a student I was wondering if the 505 would let me take notes, and/or edit the PDF's that I've viewing? Also, I know that I could borrow books from the library to read on it, but is it possible on the 505 (or any reader for that matter) to read newspapers, periodicals, etc? Are these things available for e-readers? Complete novice here, appreciate any and all advice. TIA!

No, no, no!

The Sony 505 handles pdf's poorly. There's heaps of threads on this forum discussing that. It won't let you take notes or edit, either. The 505 is only suitable for entertainment reading - novels and popular non-fiction without tables, footnotes or illustrations.

For student purposes, you'd be much better off with a laptop.

As my mother would say: "You don't NEED it. You just WANT it."

desertgrandma · 02-04-2010, 06:56 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, jrl007

jrl007 · 02-04-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCR

No, no, no!

As my mother would say: "You don't NEED it. You just WANT it."

Excatly. But I would use it for other things as well. I *have* a laptop, and I'm going to school for computers, so there's one on eveery desk. I want it mostly for other reading, the fact that I could use it to store some of my textbooks is an added benefit but not the only reason I'm getting an e-reader.
Thanks for your reply!

jrl007 · 02-04-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Welcome to MobileRead, jrl007

Thanks!

JanetCinNC · 02-04-2010, 10:01 PM

jrl007, you should look at the 600 and 900 readers. They have touch screens and allow you to take notes.

just_jeepin · 02-05-2010, 09:25 AM

Maybe just a linux netbook is what you need... you can get one for about the same price.

Lirael · 02-05-2010, 10:45 AM

I love the 505, but for textbook reading, I wouldn't recommend it. It doesn't have note-taking capability, and from what I understand the screen size is likely to make reading PDFs of your textbooks difficult. I believe larger-screen readers are generally recommended for textbook/technical reading, but I've never used one, so I can't say.

I do believe the Sony 600 and 900 support note-taking, though screen size is still an issue. You can read periodicals on e-readers, but having never tried that I'm unsure how well it works.

MerLock · 02-06-2010, 12:02 AM

I can't imagine using the 505 for school. It's nice for casual reading but for textbooks and such, I would stay away from it.

I remembering having to flip back and forth through my textbook and that seems a bit hard to replicate in todays e-readers due to slow refresh rates.

jrl007 · 02-12-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerLock

I can't imagine using the 505 for school. It's nice for casual reading but for textbooks and such, I would stay away from it.

I remembering having to flip back and forth through my textbook and that seems a bit hard to replicate in todays e-readers due to slow refresh rates.

Thanks all for the replies and advice. I haven't been able to find a 505 in my price range, so I'll have to get something else. I was looking on E-bay and the 300 is going for about $150 so I may have to get that one. There are a few other brands in that range that I might look into as well.

Thanks again!

lilac_jive · 02-12-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrl007

Thanks all for the replies and advice. I haven't been able to find a 505 in my price range, so I'll have to get something else. I was looking on E-bay and the 300 is going for about $150 so I may have to get that one. There are a few other brands in that range that I might look into as well.

Thanks again!

The 300 is actually going to handle PDFs pretty much the same, if not worse, than the 505. It's a great device for pleasure reading, or reading books formatted for the device, but textbooks and other PDF books are just not going to work well on either.

Honestly, it looks like your price range pretty much excludes you from any device capable of handling these, except for maybe a refurb netbook.

02-04-2010, 05:44 PM	#1
jrl007 Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: Jetbook Lite	Is the 505 for me? I really like what I've read about the 505 and I'm trying to convince my wife that I need one for school, several of our textbooks came out in PDF form. But I'd like to have more than that to justify the purchase for myself. Being a student I was wondering if the 505 would let me take notes, and/or edit the PDF's that I've viewing? Also, I know that I could borrow books from the library to read on it, but is it possible on the 505 (or any reader for that matter) to read newspapers, periodicals, etc? Are these things available for e-readers? Complete novice here, appreciate any and all advice. TIA!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Broken PRS-505; any place to buy chrome bottom piece? Or anyone with broken 505?	erikk	Sony Reader	1	12-09-2009 06:51 PM
My 505 is Dead, Long Live the 505	megasad	Sony Reader	11	10-22-2009 04:21 AM
PRS-505 Lost!! Buy 300, 600, Kindle or 505? have a lot LRF/LRX files	erikk	Which one should I buy?	13	10-01-2009 12:01 PM
Buy Looking for Sony PRS-505 blue cover (comes with the Dark Blue 505)	seajewel	Flea Market	0	07-17-2008 03:53 PM
505 E: drive window opens when I connect my 505	DrMoze	Sony Reader	7	03-26-2008 09:10 PM

02-04-2010, 06:56 PM	#3
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, jrl007

02-04-2010, 10:01 PM	#6
JanetCinNC Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 256928 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Sony 650 in red, Sony PRS-600 in red, Sony PRS-505 in red, iPad 2	jrl007, you should look at the 600 and 900 readers. They have touch screens and allow you to take notes.

02-05-2010, 09:25 AM	#7
just_jeepin Addict Posts: 297 Karma: 1010848 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Maybe just a linux netbook is what you need... you can get one for about the same price.

02-05-2010, 10:45 AM	#8
Lirael Moomin Posts: 137 Karma: 202147 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Sony PRS-350	I love the 505, but for textbook reading, I wouldn't recommend it. It doesn't have note-taking capability, and from what I understand the screen size is likely to make reading PDFs of your textbooks difficult. I believe larger-screen readers are generally recommended for textbook/technical reading, but I've never used one, so I can't say. I do believe the Sony 600 and 900 support note-taking, though screen size is still an issue. You can read periodicals on e-readers, but having never tried that I'm unsure how well it works.

02-06-2010, 12:02 AM	#9
MerLock Evangelist Posts: 411 Karma: 1034889 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I can't imagine using the 505 for school. It's nice for casual reading but for textbooks and such, I would stay away from it. I remembering having to flip back and forth through my textbook and that seems a bit hard to replicate in todays e-readers due to slow refresh rates.

Advert

Advert