Life after 505

yacoob · 08-02-2009, 07:38 PM

Some time ago I got PRS505, and I must tell I'm pretty happy with it. After years of reading stuff from a Palm device, Sony Reader is a salvation to my eyes. But I've started to think recently what I can replace my Reader with. Provided of course there's a device that would solve the problems I have with my device

My main gripe when it comes to 505 is the way it handles PDFs. Reflow is great, but sadly it doesn't solve the problem when the book you're reading is technical. Any programming book that has some code in it is problematic - after reflow code snippets are either messed up (lines smashed together). When I look at those pictures of Kindle, I'm wondering whether just getting larger screen would solve my problems. Rotating the reader to landscape is another solution, but it isn't exactly convenient thing to do when you read while walking.

"Read while it's dark outside" is another nuisance. I got myself Sony's light wedge, and it does the trick, more or less (at the expense of making the reader "package" much thicker). I understand that because of way eInk screens work, it's very hard to solve that problem, but perhaps there's some device that managed to do so?

Apart from the above, I'd like the next $device to be "as good as" 505. I'm happy with page turning speed, battery life, and set of features of my 505 - don't need annotations, hell, I don't even need mp3 player. Fulltext search would be a neat thing, but I'm kind of afraid that with puny CPU search is not that useful. For the same reason I don't think I need any kind of wireless connectivity, as the web browsing would most likely be a painful experience

On the other hand, some access to reformatted Wikipedia might give me the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...

The question goes out to you, dear forum users. Can you recommend any other device basing on the constraints above?

Elsi · 08-02-2009, 09:38 PM

The device that is the best at handling PDFs and allowing you to read while it's dark outside is a laptop (or netbook) computer. Of course, it has its own problems when it comes to reading in full sunlight.

If I were looking for an e-Ink device for academic and technical reading, I'd go with one of the large-format devices from Amazon or iRex.

But for the time being, my use of a reader is for recreational/fiction reading. And a 6-inch device is just fine. I am keeping an eye on the various 5-inch devices that are coming out this summer and may add one more reader to my collection.

dordale · 08-03-2009, 01:09 AM

I have to agree with Elsi--a netbook may be what you're looking for. You can pick one of those up for $350 or less.

The Sony 700 (which may have been discontinued and is getting harder to find) is better for viewing technical PDFs than the 505. Although the screen contrast suffers some in comparison with the 505, it does a much better job IMO of viewing PDFs. (My husband has a 700 and I have a 505.) The 700 has real zoom and search capabilities, and it also has a built in light, so you don't need the wedge.

There are rumors that Sony will be releasing a couple different units, so you may want to hold off to see what's coming down the pipeline.

Good luck!

dordale

yacoob · 08-03-2009, 07:43 PM

Thanks for the opinions

I doubt I'll use netbook as a reading device - just because of the size/weight. While I can read from 505 while walking, it'd be (I think) bit cumbersome with a keyboard equipped device...

I guess I'll wait and see what the future will bring.

richman · 08-04-2009, 07:39 AM

I too have the 505 and like it and for tech pdf's haven't found a good way to format them in epub or other way yet.
Really both of us have both ways to go , learn better ways to reformat the pdf's to fit the altered pdf's for the 505 or find a good way to convert them to LRF or epub to a way that works.
If there would be a way to change the page in pdf format to fit 6 inch screens that would be great for me, it could be out already and I just don't have the info .
Anybody have a way to convert tech pdf's to epub or LRF format so diagrams,pictures, charts, etc to it works on 505?
It would be nice if adobe came out with a pdf to ereader conversion to 6 inch or 5 inch ereaders. Then the program could do the magic to make it fit on the 505.

EowynCarter · 08-04-2009, 08:49 AM

I wish publishers would drop pdf and use proper e-book format...

Juliette · 08-08-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

I wish publishers would drop pdf and use proper e-book format...

Plus some niche papers I use. A4 PDFs

yacoob · 01-20-2010, 04:25 PM

I'm sorry for bringing up this old thread... but almost a year has passed. And I'm still happily using my PRS505 - and my requests from the first post in this thread still holds. Has anything changed?

yacoob · 06-05-2010, 02:22 PM

And bringing it up once again. Anyone here that switched from PRS 505 to iRex DR800? If yes, I'd value some comparison, judnging from specs it looks like a possible candidate...

thafrogggg · 06-06-2010, 01:30 AM

Seems like you are wanting something with built in lighting. I do not know much about the 800, but maybe you might want to look at some of the new tablets coming out.

08-02-2009, 07:38 PM	#1
yacoob Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 1326 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: none	Life after 505 Some time ago I got PRS505, and I must tell I'm pretty happy with it. After years of reading stuff from a Palm device, Sony Reader is a salvation to my eyes. But I've started to think recently what I can replace my Reader with. Provided of course there's a device that would solve the problems I have with my device My main gripe when it comes to 505 is the way it handles PDFs. Reflow is great, but sadly it doesn't solve the problem when the book you're reading is technical. Any programming book that has some code in it is problematic - after reflow code snippets are either messed up (lines smashed together). When I look at those pictures of Kindle, I'm wondering whether just getting larger screen would solve my problems. Rotating the reader to landscape is another solution, but it isn't exactly convenient thing to do when you read while walking. "Read while it's dark outside" is another nuisance. I got myself Sony's light wedge, and it does the trick, more or less (at the expense of making the reader "package" much thicker). I understand that because of way eInk screens work, it's very hard to solve that problem, but perhaps there's some device that managed to do so? Apart from the above, I'd like the next $device to be "as good as" 505. I'm happy with page turning speed, battery life, and set of features of my 505 - don't need annotations, hell, I don't even need mp3 player. Fulltext search would be a neat thing, but I'm kind of afraid that with puny CPU search is not that useful. For the same reason I don't think I need any kind of wireless connectivity, as the web browsing would most likely be a painful experience On the other hand, some access to reformatted Wikipedia might give me the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy... The question goes out to you, dear forum users. Can you recommend any other device basing on the constraints above?

08-04-2009, 07:39 AM	#5
richman Addict Posts: 269 Karma: 58 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: sony prs-505 BLUE,itouch,netbook	I too have the 505 and like it and for tech pdf's haven't found a good way to format them in epub or other way yet. Really both of us have both ways to go , learn better ways to reformat the pdf's to fit the altered pdf's for the 505 or find a good way to convert them to LRF or epub to a way that works. If there would be a way to change the page in pdf format to fit 6 inch screens that would be great for me, it could be out already and I just don't have the info . Anybody have a way to convert tech pdf's to epub or LRF format so diagrams,pictures, charts, etc to it works on 505? It would be nice if adobe came out with a pdf to ereader conversion to 6 inch or 5 inch ereaders. Then the program could do the magic to make it fit on the 505. Last edited by richman; 08-04-2009 at 07:43 AM.

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08-02-2009, 09:38 PM	#2
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	The device that is the best at handling PDFs and allowing you to read while it's dark outside is a laptop (or netbook) computer. Of course, it has its own problems when it comes to reading in full sunlight. If I were looking for an e-Ink device for academic and technical reading, I'd go with one of the large-format devices from Amazon or iRex. But for the time being, my use of a reader is for recreational/fiction reading. And a 6-inch device is just fine. I am keeping an eye on the various 5-inch devices that are coming out this summer and may add one more reader to my collection.

08-03-2009, 01:09 AM	#3
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	I have to agree with Elsi--a netbook may be what you're looking for. You can pick one of those up for $350 or less. The Sony 700 (which may have been discontinued and is getting harder to find) is better for viewing technical PDFs than the 505. Although the screen contrast suffers some in comparison with the 505, it does a much better job IMO of viewing PDFs. (My husband has a 700 and I have a 505.) The 700 has real zoom and search capabilities, and it also has a built in light, so you don't need the wedge. There are rumors that Sony will be releasing a couple different units, so you may want to hold off to see what's coming down the pipeline. Good luck! dordale

08-03-2009, 07:43 PM	#4
yacoob Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 1326 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: none	Thanks for the opinions I doubt I'll use netbook as a reading device - just because of the size/weight. While I can read from 505 while walking, it'd be (I think) bit cumbersome with a keyboard equipped device... I guess I'll wait and see what the future will bring.

08-04-2009, 08:49 AM	#6
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,337 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	I wish publishers would drop pdf and use proper e-book format...

01-20-2010, 04:25 PM	#8
yacoob Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 1326 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: none	I'm sorry for bringing up this old thread... but almost a year has passed. And I'm still happily using my PRS505 - and my requests from the first post in this thread still holds. Has anything changed?

06-05-2010, 02:22 PM	#9
yacoob Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 1326 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: none	And bringing it up once again. Anyone here that switched from PRS 505 to iRex DR800? If yes, I'd value some comparison, judnging from specs it looks like a possible candidate...

06-06-2010, 01:30 AM	#10
thafrogggg Rabid Book Weasel Posts: 84 Karma: 1678 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Acer Iconia A500 Tablet (lovin' it!!)	Seems like you are wanting something with built in lighting. I do not know much about the 800, but maybe you might want to look at some of the new tablets coming out.

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