I just pulled the trigger on getting the PRS-505 while your post was on its way :-)
One aspect that affected my decision quite strongly is that I never had a chance to check any of the devices in person as I'm located outside the US (in Thailand). I relied heavily on reading other people's experience shared on this forum. The 700's screen was a major concern. The screen readability is a crucial part of this kind of device so I wasn't going to take chances on this, returning and replacing it would have been too much of a hassle.
I think I'm going to enjoy the 505 for quite some time and if I really want to replace it in the future then maybe with a 705 when they sort out the screen.
Had the BeBook been priced more competitively then I would have had a harder time deciding but coming in at above the Sony made it a lot less attractive. If you're in the US you can also get great deals through buying on eBay via a link in live.com and get 20-30% off rebate from M$.
Good luck with your purchase.
P.S. I also ordered the PRS-ACL1, for two reasons: I like reading in bed before going to sleep and was looking for something that won't shine in my wife's face. Plus I think the extra layer on top helps protect the screen, see the other thread in the 505 sub-forum about the lady's experience with the Sony ending in tears after putting her elbow on top of the device and cracking the screen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonWalton
I'm in a very similar boat. I'm looking to buy a reader for my wife for the holidays (although her reading material of choice is fantasy/sci-fi), and am debating between the 505, the 700, and the BeBook. I had a 700 on preorder, and it actually arrived today, but before I open it I'm going to drop by the Sony Store and have a look at their demo model (which they just got in, too), and see how bad the screen is for myself. I may return it.
When I dropped by the Sony Store and picked up the 505, I noticed right away that my right thumb fell right over top of the page turn buttons on the right side. The BeBook has more or less the same page turn buttons as the Sony, but reversed, so I imagine my lefty wife might prefer the BeBook for that reason.
On the other hand, as you mention, the Sony is a fine looking machine, with it's extruded aluminum case, whereas the BeBook is plastic. Also, not sure where you are, but here in Ottawa, there's at least 3 Sony stores, so I have somewhere I can return it to if I have warranty problems, whereas the BeBook I'd have to ship somewhere. Minor consideration, perhaps.
I also understand that the Sony lists all the books on it in one giant list, whereas the BeBook can be organized into folders? (Maybe someone with a Sony or a BeBook can comment futher here?)
The BeBook certainly supports more formats than the Sony, but now that Sony supports epub there's very few formats you couldn't convert to work on the Sony. The open source "Calibre" tool automates a lot of conversions for you if you have a Sony reader (and I'm working on a little project that should make it easy for any other reader).
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