500 vs. 505?????

SillyBear80 · 12-23-2008, 01:51 AM

I have the option to buy a Sony 500 for $130, or wait to see if I can find a cheap 505. I would like to know the differences, or at least the major differences, between the 500 and the 505.

tech_au · 12-23-2008, 03:29 AM

Unless you get a really good deal I would suggest you forget about the 500 as it is no longer supported by Sony and instead go for the 505 as it supports more formats(eg DRM PDF and EPUB) and has much better contrast(8 gray levels vs 4 on the 500)

Patricia · 12-23-2008, 08:23 AM

Here's a useful page on our wiki:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_devices

pilotbob · 12-23-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SillyBear80

I have the option to buy a Sony 500 for $130, or wait to see if I can find a cheap 505. I would like to know the differences, or at least the major differences, between the 500 and the 505.

The major differences are:

1. Screen. The 505 has a newer screen with better contrast and a bit faster page turn times.

2. Memory. The 505 has more internal memory to store ebook files.

3. Formats. The 505 supports the ePub format. It also supports Adobe DRMed ePub and PDF ebooks.

4. PDF support on the 505 includes reflow.

That's about it. The 500 is a great device to get started with.

BOb

Amalthia · 12-23-2008, 12:59 PM

Pilotbot listed all the reasons I got a 505 when it came out. Though my husband still uses the 500 for reading and he doesn't want to upgrade though I'm really trying to convince him it'll be better for his eyes.

gardenstate · 12-23-2008, 06:43 PM

Because I wanted the improved screen, I sold my 500 and bought a 505 with a $150 credit for getting a Sonystyle visa credit card.

The current offer (ends on 12/31/08) will allow you to save $100 on a new 505 from sonystyle.com. Net cost is $200 plus shipping and tax.

Act fast before the offer ends....

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921644595898

jakeluck · 12-23-2008, 10:14 PM

the 500 has more ghosting of the text after the page turn than the 505,
also the 500 doesn't support Collections(folders) on external memory cards.

IMO the 505 is a worthy upgrade.

volwrath · 12-23-2008, 11:35 PM

I'd buy the 500 if you dont want to spend alot more for the 505. The screen is worse, but still looks fantasitc with a direct light source. Save up money while using the 500 and sell it or trade it in in the future. You wont lose much if any money and you might even make some

JSWolf · 12-24-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volwrath

I'd buy the 500 if you dont want to spend alot more for the 505. The screen is worse, but still looks fantasitc with a direct light source. Save up money while using the 500 and sell it or trade it in in the future. You wont lose much if any money and you might even make some

The problem with buying a 500 now to later on sell it off to get something new is that the 500 will lose value and not be worth all that much.

pdurrant · 12-24-2008, 05:24 AM

Isn't another difference that the 505 uses the USB Mass Storage device protocol, so will mount as a disk drive on Mac and Linux, while the 500 uses some proprietary scheme, and so only works with Sony's Windows software? (Or Calibre, I think).

Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The major differences are:

1. Screen. The 505 has a newer screen with better contrast and a bit faster page turn times.

2. Memory. The 505 has more internal memory to store ebook files.

3. Formats. The 505 supports the ePub format. It also supports Adobe DRMed ePub and PDF ebooks.

4. PDF support on the 505 includes reflow.

That's about it. The 500 is a great device to get started with.

BOb

BlackVoid · 12-24-2008, 10:17 AM

I had a 500. Then I got a 505. My initial plan was to keep the 500 for commute, however the 505 is so much better that I sold the 500 right away.

The 505 is MUCH better in every way. Its slimmer, better contrast, faster page turn. I liked the button placements a bit better on the 500, but it is no big deal.

megacoupe · 12-26-2008, 02:42 AM

I have the 500 and I love it.

I will eventually upgrade to the 505, but I got the 500 cheap and I don't see why I shouldn't wear it out entirely before switching up.

volwrath · 01-02-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megacoupe

I have the 500 and I love it.

I will eventually upgrade to the 505, but I got the 500 cheap and I don't see why I shouldn't wear it out entirely before switching up.

I somewhat agree with you. I got the PRS500 for $100 from tiger direct . Sold it about a month ago for $175 on ebay, and picked up a prs505 for $250, so feel pretty good about the entire deal

ProDigit · 01-02-2009, 01:47 PM

505! Definitely!

No regrets so far!

12-23-2008, 01:51 AM	#1
SillyBear80 NEWBIE!!!!!!!!! Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orange County, CA USA Device: Sony PRS 500	500 vs. 505????? I have the option to buy a Sony 500 for $130, or wait to see if I can find a cheap 505. I would like to know the differences, or at least the major differences, between the 500 and the 505.

12-23-2008, 11:35 PM	#8
volwrath Guru Posts: 713 Karma: 1001739 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Device: SGS3/PW2/Nexus72	I'd buy the 500 if you dont want to spend alot more for the 505. The screen is worse, but still looks fantasitc with a direct light source. Save up money while using the 500 and sell it or trade it in in the future. You wont lose much if any money and you might even make some Last edited by volwrath; 12-23-2008 at 11:39 PM.

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12-23-2008, 03:29 AM	#2
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 516 Karma: 4056 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650	Unless you get a really good deal I would suggest you forget about the 500 as it is no longer supported by Sony and instead go for the 505 as it supports more formats(eg DRM PDF and EPUB) and has much better contrast(8 gray levels vs 4 on the 500)

12-23-2008, 08:23 AM	#3
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Here's a useful page on our wiki: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_devices

12-23-2008, 12:59 PM	#5
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,158 Karma: 32196 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	Pilotbot listed all the reasons I got a 505 when it came out. Though my husband still uses the 500 for reading and he doesn't want to upgrade though I'm really trying to convince him it'll be better for his eyes.

12-23-2008, 06:43 PM	#6
gardenstate Groupie Posts: 195 Karma: 1069472 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago,IL USA suburb Device: Sony PRS-T1 and PRS-950	Because I wanted the improved screen, I sold my 500 and bought a 505 with a $150 credit for getting a Sonystyle visa credit card. The current offer (ends on 12/31/08) will allow you to save $100 on a new 505 from sonystyle.com. Net cost is $200 plus shipping and tax. Act fast before the offer ends.... http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921644595898

12-23-2008, 10:14 PM	#7
jakeluck Groupie Posts: 193 Karma: 3252 Join Date: Dec 2004	the 500 has more ghosting of the text after the page turn than the 505, also the 500 doesn't support Collections(folders) on external memory cards. IMO the 505 is a worthy upgrade.

12-24-2008, 10:17 AM	#11
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	I had a 500. Then I got a 505. My initial plan was to keep the 500 for commute, however the 505 is so much better that I sold the 500 right away. The 505 is MUCH better in every way. Its slimmer, better contrast, faster page turn. I liked the button placements a bit better on the 500, but it is no big deal.

12-26-2008, 02:42 AM	#12
megacoupe Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 8682 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kindle Voyage	I have the 500 and I love it. I will eventually upgrade to the 505, but I got the 500 cheap and I don't see why I shouldn't wear it out entirely before switching up.

01-02-2009, 01:47 PM	#14
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	505! Definitely! No regrets so far!