PRS-650 Comparison between PRS-650 and PRS-505

IvoSenden · 09-17-2010, 05:47 AM

I'm glad I skipped the PRS-600 when the battery of my much used PRS-505 finally started wearing out.
The infamous touchscreen layer of the PRS-600 caused the contrast to sink to terrible levels.
And then came the PRS-650.
Now, I'm not going to say that the PRS-650 is perfect, cause it's not. Sony still uses the same, frustrating Reader software and still sells the AC charger and the cover seperately.
Also, I noticed that when opening a book from the menu, you can still see the menu somewhat through the picture of the book cover, as if the screen didn't refresh all too well. This problem however, only appears to happen when showing the book cover. Once you're on the text pages of a book, or browsing through the menu, everything's perfectly fine.

Now, for comparing to my old, faithfull PRS-505...

The PRS-650 has a slightly higher contrast, with darker blacks, making my books just a little more readable.
The PRS-650 has 16 shades of gray, where the PRS-505 has only 4, making photo's and images appear very detailed, natural and high in contrast.
The PRS-650 has software similar to the PRS-600, which is better than the 505's.
On my PRS-505, I noticed that it got very slow when holding more than 400-500 books, so the first thing I did was pumping over one thousand books into my new PRS-650. Ok, it got a tiny bit slower, but I'm talking nanoseconds here. It handles a whole bulk of books just fine.

The new touchscreen, which is made up of infrared sensors in stead of a pressure sensitive layer, is really nice. You literally don't have to press, just touch the screen. The page turn "swipe" can be set from left to right, or right to left, but you don't have to swipe all across the screen. A tiny move with your thumb over the screen for about 1 cm (half an inch) makes your pages turn.

Some of the PRS-600 and 300 had fading text when turning pages in bright sunlight. This appears to be a problem of a faulty batch of eInk screens and I didn't notice this problem on my new PRS-650.

I'm waiting now for the update of the wonderful Calibre software. Version 0.7.19, which should come any day now, is promised to have PRS-650 support, so I can leave the awfull Sony Reader software behind me.

I made a photo of the same page on the PRS-650 and the PRS-505, next to each other in bright sunlight, to compare the contrast.

Cheers,

Ivo

iptech · 09-17-2010, 06:42 AM

That's a good review ans I pretty much agree with everything you've noted. In the short time I've used my 650 I haven't noticed the shadowing issue, it was a noticeable problem with the 600. It's interesting to see the additional contrast of the 650 against the 505, the difference is even more noticeable against the 600.

I've used my 605 this morning to catch up on the news and I have to say it's a joy to use, the page turns are very swift, requiring only a light touch with the finger and the screen readability is just so much easier with the 650 over the 600. The sun's a bit overcast in the UK today, but I've taken a quick picture of how the contrast of the 650 compares with the 600. It's not the best picture as it was taken in a rush and using my phone camera, but it shows how noticeable the difference is.

igorsk · 09-17-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvoSenden

On my PRS-505, I noticed that it got very slow when holding more than 400-500 books, so the first thing I did was pumping over one thousand books into my new PRS-650. Ok, it got a tiny bit slower, but I'm talking nanoseconds here. It handles a whole bulk of books just fine.

That's very nice news! Slowness in handling big libraries was one of the major complaints for the Readers. For how long did the device scan your books after disconnecting the USB cable?

Ken401 · 09-17-2010, 12:38 PM

Thanks to you both for the comparison pics. The new readers seem to be the best yet from Sony.

simplyparticular · 09-18-2010, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iptech

I have to say it's a joy to use, the page turns are very swift, requiring only a light touch with the finger and the screen readability is just so much easier with the 650 over the 600.

This very exciting news - I would love the functionality of my iPhone reading on an e-Ink device. I'm jealous - I can't wait to get my hands on a black 650.

jaxx6166 · 09-18-2010, 01:21 AM

Amazing. Thanks for the contrast pics. We've certainly come a long way.

jaxx6166 · 09-18-2010, 12:11 PM

Anyone have a 350 and a 500 or a 350 and a 505 they want to share comparison pictures with?

IvoSenden · 09-19-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

Slowness in handling big libraries was one of the major complaints for the Readers. For how long did the device scan your books after disconnecting the USB cable?

I didn't count the seconds, but after disconnecting the cable, it's much, much faster than my PRS-505. Also, on the 505, I noticed that quite often the reader sort of hung itself while loading a book out of a 1000+ library. So far, my PRS-650 only had to reboot a single time, and that was while I loaded up the internal memory (1.5 Gb) to the very limit. I have all my ebooks tagged and sorted in folders on my hard drive, making it very easy to load them into Calibre, so normally I don't have more than 200, 300 books on my ereader's memory.

IvoSenden · 09-19-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iptech

I've taken a quick picture of how the contrast of the 650 compares with the 600.

Wow, I knew the 600 was a big mistake from Sony, but with this comparison, one can really see how huge the difference is!! A few months ago I was considering switching from my 505 to the 600. I'm so glad I waited for the 650!

Only disadvantage is that Sony took away the AC connector. I used an old PDA charger for my PRS-505, just like many people used the PSP charger, but with this mini USB connector, that's no longer an option, and I just feel I'm being somewhat robbed when I have to spend € 35,- on an AC charger for a device I already paid € 229,- for, even when that device is worth every penny.

IvoSenden · 09-19-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iptech

In the short time I've used my 650 I haven't noticed the shadowing issue, it was a noticeable problem with the 600.

It might be just an issue with this particular device I have. I will find out in a few days. I bought it online and one day after, they had a discount of € 20,- on the cover. The only way I could get the discount was to order a second PRS-650, including the cover and then send back one of the readers to get a refund (yup, the wonders of online discounts...)
Anyway, I will check if the shadowing with the title pages happens on both readers. If it doesn't, I'm pretty sure which PRS-650 to return

induna · 09-19-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvoSenden

Wow, I knew the 600 was a big mistake from Sony, but with this comparison, one can really see how huge the difference is!! A few months ago I was considering switching from my 505 to the 600. I'm so glad I waited for the 650!

Only disadvantage is that Sony took away the AC connector. I used an old PDA charger for my PRS-505, just like many people used the PSP charger, but with this mini USB connector, that's no longer an option, and I just feel I'm being somewhat robbed when I have to spend € 35,- on an AC charger for a device I already paid € 229,- for, even when that device is worth every penny.

Almost any charger with a micro USB connector should work fine with your 650. If you have a newish cell phone, you probably already have one. There's no need to spend big bucks on a Sony charger.

IvoSenden · 09-20-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by induna

Almost any charger with a micro USB connector should work fine with your 650.

Too bad I don't have one of those, so I'll still end up buying one. But I have no doubt I will find one that's much cheaper than the € 35,- goldplated, magical AC charger from Sony ;-)

On a positive note, I just downloaded version 0.7.19 from Calibre and it has full support for the PRS-650. Out the door with the infamous Sony Reader software

JSWolf · 09-21-2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvoSenden

The PRS-650 has 16 shades of gray, where the PRS-505 has only 4, making photo's and images appear very detailed, natural and high in contrast.

Actually, the 505 has 8 shades and very good dithering routines.

MerLock · 09-21-2010, 02:53 PM

Is there no longer an issue with glare as with the previous touch screen models since the 650 uses an infared sensor instead of adding an extra glassy layer to the screen? How about battery life? Does it last as long as the 505 before needing to be charged? I'm guessing the infrared sensors might use up more power. Any idea if the sensors constantly draw power or only if the screen is touched?

Nice review by the way.

SeaBookGuy · 09-21-2010, 03:03 PM

I recently purchased a 505 at e-bay, and have been reasonably pleased with it, although frustrated at the Overdrive Epub/PDF conflict. My other issue has been that I find it a bit heavy; does the 650 "feel" lighter?

09-17-2010, 05:47 AM	#1
IvoSenden Reading is no multitask Posts: 14 Karma: 204 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Netherlands Device: PRS-505, PRS-650	Comparison between PRS-650 and PRS-505 I'm glad I skipped the PRS-600 when the battery of my much used PRS-505 finally started wearing out. The infamous touchscreen layer of the PRS-600 caused the contrast to sink to terrible levels. And then came the PRS-650. Now, I'm not going to say that the PRS-650 is perfect, cause it's not. Sony still uses the same, frustrating Reader software and still sells the AC charger and the cover seperately. Also, I noticed that when opening a book from the menu, you can still see the menu somewhat through the picture of the book cover, as if the screen didn't refresh all too well. This problem however, only appears to happen when showing the book cover. Once you're on the text pages of a book, or browsing through the menu, everything's perfectly fine. Now, for comparing to my old, faithfull PRS-505... The PRS-650 has a slightly higher contrast, with darker blacks, making my books just a little more readable. The PRS-650 has 16 shades of gray, where the PRS-505 has only 4, making photo's and images appear very detailed, natural and high in contrast. The PRS-650 has software similar to the PRS-600, which is better than the 505's. On my PRS-505, I noticed that it got very slow when holding more than 400-500 books, so the first thing I did was pumping over one thousand books into my new PRS-650. Ok, it got a tiny bit slower, but I'm talking nanoseconds here. It handles a whole bulk of books just fine. The new touchscreen, which is made up of infrared sensors in stead of a pressure sensitive layer, is really nice. You literally don't have to press, just touch the screen. The page turn "swipe" can be set from left to right, or right to left, but you don't have to swipe all across the screen. A tiny move with your thumb over the screen for about 1 cm (half an inch) makes your pages turn. Some of the PRS-600 and 300 had fading text when turning pages in bright sunlight. This appears to be a problem of a faulty batch of eInk screens and I didn't notice this problem on my new PRS-650. I'm waiting now for the update of the wonderful Calibre software. Version 0.7.19, which should come any day now, is promised to have PRS-650 support, so I can leave the awfull Sony Reader software behind me. I made a photo of the same page on the PRS-650 and the PRS-505, next to each other in bright sunlight, to compare the contrast. Cheers, Ivo Attached Thumbnails

09-17-2010, 06:42 AM	#2
iptech Member Posts: 20 Karma: 4260 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony PRS-600	That's a good review ans I pretty much agree with everything you've noted. In the short time I've used my 650 I haven't noticed the shadowing issue, it was a noticeable problem with the 600. It's interesting to see the additional contrast of the 650 against the 505, the difference is even more noticeable against the 600. I've used my 605 this morning to catch up on the news and I have to say it's a joy to use, the page turns are very swift, requiring only a light touch with the finger and the screen readability is just so much easier with the 650 over the 600. The sun's a bit overcast in the UK today, but I've taken a quick picture of how the contrast of the 650 compares with the 600. It's not the best picture as it was taken in a rush and using my phone camera, but it shows how noticeable the difference is. Attached Thumbnails

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Ken401 Addict Posts: 218 Karma: 417978 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO USA Device: PRS-T1, PRS-950, PRS-505, Nexus 10, Xoom	Thanks to you both for the comparison pics. The new readers seem to be the best yet from Sony.

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jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Amazing. Thanks for the contrast pics. We've certainly come a long way.

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jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Anyone have a 350 and a 500 or a 350 and a 505 they want to share comparison pictures with?

09-21-2010, 02:53 PM	#14
MerLock Evangelist Posts: 411 Karma: 1034889 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	Is there no longer an issue with glare as with the previous touch screen models since the 650 uses an infared sensor instead of adding an extra glassy layer to the screen? How about battery life? Does it last as long as the 505 before needing to be charged? I'm guessing the infrared sensors might use up more power. Any idea if the sensors constantly draw power or only if the screen is touched? Nice review by the way.

09-21-2010, 03:03 PM	#15
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I recently purchased a 505 at e-bay, and have been reasonably pleased with it, although frustrated at the Overdrive Epub/PDF conflict. My other issue has been that I find it a bit heavy; does the 650 "feel" lighter?