How many MobileReaders have a PRS-500? - Page 3

kichigai · 08-14-2009, 08:01 PM

I bought my PRS-500 off of a friend who got it free with her laptop. Since I only paid $50 for it, I'm not too inclined to upgrade to the 505 right now.

I've gotten to play with a 505 in a store, and the only things about it that attract me is the ePub format (which is nice, but not necessary. Calibre converts the files for me), and PDF Re-Flow (no one seems to have nailed disassembly of PDFs quite right).

What would get me to upgrade is if Sony made a new model that had OS X support. Right now, I'm syncing my PRS-500 with Calibre on my Mac, and booting up Windows in VMWare to download ePub books from Google or the Store. That's rather annoying, but I don't do it too often, and frequently the same content is on Project Gutenberg anyway.

kichigai · 08-14-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If Sony does not do an ePub firmware for the 500, they will then be doing a trade-in. What other company would be doing even that much for you?

It's nice that Sony is doing a trade-in option, but we'd still be paying $100 more (at least) for marginal benefits. Then again, this is Sony, so the fact they brought in another media format that's incompatible with their older devices (Hi-MD, MD Uncompressed, UMD for example) is no surprise. But the trade-in concept certainly is a nice bonus.

CO'Neil · 08-14-2009, 08:50 PM

I'd much rather pass along my ole 500 to someone who has no e-reader at all, but if the trade-in is really tempting, who knows?

Man, converting 2 gigs of LRF to some new format, though! Kind of why I waited til now to upgrade, hoping a DRM-free standard would have emerged.

Sure hope ePub is the cat's meow after all.

grimo1re · 08-14-2009, 09:00 PM

Have the 500, still my main reader. I'm not located in the US so a trade wouldn't really do anything for me. But then, I'm not buying any books from Sony either so it's fine

I am looking for another reader, but my current reader would probably go to my husband and/or do kitchen duty. It is, after all, still perfectly serviceable.

igorsk · 08-14-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kosst Amojan

Hey, if I can trade my 500 in for a new reader I'll take it all back but I'm sure they'll want that and even more of my money. I've invested a considerable amount of time and money in Sony's format. And this isn't like a format war, they can support multiple formats if they wanted to, there's no reason to just drop support for a format you already own and that you've spent three years encouraging people to use.

Basically, I'd prefer to stick with a company that won't screw me over like this in the future.

Who said they're dropping support for anything? They're switching to EPUB in the shop, but LRF will continue to be supported by all models. Did you see specs for PRS-300 and PRS-600? They clearly state "BBeB" in supported formats list.

igorsk · 08-14-2009, 09:38 PM

2all: we don't know if Sony will be doing trade-in, firmware update or something else. I think you shouldn't comment on Sony's decision when they didn't make it yet.

Gallimoreader · 08-14-2009, 09:40 PM

Hi,

New to forums and first post, I still own the Sony PRS-500 and since I have not seen or used anything else, unfortunately, not much to compare to. I do enjoy it though.

AprilHare · 08-14-2009, 10:16 PM

Still using my PRS-500!
Australia doesn't have a huge ebook market however I'd be able to buy books here in .au easily with a PRS-500 firmware upgrade supporting ADE/EPUB..

exvaxman · 08-14-2009, 10:19 PM

mine died on day 366 of the one year warranty and Sony told me I was screwed.

AprilHare · 08-14-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exvaxman

mine died on day 366 of the one year warranty and Sony told me I was screwed.

It *was* a leap year in 2008... just saying

AprilHare · 08-14-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAG

If you go to the Sony website you will find a list of questions in that list they state they will be doing a firmware upgrade for the 500.

Do you have a reference URL?
I found this http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_ro...ase/41343.html:

Quote:

Sony will also provide an update path for owners of the first edition Reader, model PRS-500, so early adopters of the Reader will be able to enjoy this benefit as well.

This could merely mean a trade-in offer. But if you have more information, please share it with us. I really desire a firmware upgrade!

junkyardwillie · 08-14-2009, 10:56 PM

Holla, I still have my PRS-500. It was my first, it broke my cherry. However, I have moved on because I found bigger is better so I now use my Iliad and DS1000S. I remember the good times with my PRS-500 though and occasionally I read a book on it

Seph817 · 08-14-2009, 11:48 PM

Hi Bob! I don't think I could ever read a pbook again. I use my 500 everyday. I have to say it's probably the best purchase I've ever made. I am really looking forward to the release of the 300, though. One thing that I always loved about the 500 is how the screen took up most of the device. There's just enough bezel left for the buttons. I wish they would have continued that kind of design. The 300 could be so much smaller.

SpiderMatt · 08-15-2009, 12:03 AM

I have a 500 but the screen broke. :-( I have since upgraded to the Kindle and Kindle 2 and never looked back. It think Amazon has had a more solid product but it looks like the 600 and a future wireless Sony Reader may change that.

tehKitten · 08-15-2009, 01:50 AM

I've ordered an 505

It should arrive today! =D

View Poll Results: Do you still have a PRS-500?
Yes, and it's still my main e-reader	98	38.58%
Yes, and I also have another newer e-reader	53	20.87%
No, I use a newer Sony model	93	36.61%
No, I read in other ways now	10	3.94%
Voters: 254. You may not vote on this poll

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08-14-2009, 08:01 PM	#31
kichigai Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Minnesota Metro Device: PRS-500	I bought my PRS-500 off of a friend who got it free with her laptop. Since I only paid $50 for it, I'm not too inclined to upgrade to the 505 right now. I've gotten to play with a 505 in a store, and the only things about it that attract me is the ePub format (which is nice, but not necessary. Calibre converts the files for me), and PDF Re-Flow (no one seems to have nailed disassembly of PDFs quite right). What would get me to upgrade is if Sony made a new model that had OS X support. Right now, I'm syncing my PRS-500 with Calibre on my Mac, and booting up Windows in VMWare to download ePub books from Google or the Store. That's rather annoying, but I don't do it too often, and frequently the same content is on Project Gutenberg anyway.

08-14-2009, 08:50 PM	#33
CO'Neil Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 154 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: upstate NY Device: PRS500	I'd much rather pass along my ole 500 to someone who has no e-reader at all, but if the trade-in is really tempting, who knows? Man, converting 2 gigs of LRF to some new format, though! Kind of why I waited til now to upgrade, hoping a DRM-free standard would have emerged. Sure hope ePub is the cat's meow after all.

08-14-2009, 09:00 PM	#34
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Have the 500, still my main reader. I'm not located in the US so a trade wouldn't really do anything for me. But then, I'm not buying any books from Sony either so it's fine I am looking for another reader, but my current reader would probably go to my husband and/or do kitchen duty. It is, after all, still perfectly serviceable.

08-14-2009, 09:38 PM	#36
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	2all: we don't know if Sony will be doing trade-in, firmware update or something else. I think you shouldn't comment on Sony's decision when they didn't make it yet.

08-14-2009, 09:40 PM	#37
Gallimoreader Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: sony 500	Hi, New to forums and first post, I still own the Sony PRS-500 and since I have not seen or used anything else, unfortunately, not much to compare to. I do enjoy it though.

08-14-2009, 10:16 PM	#38
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	Still using my PRS-500! Australia doesn't have a huge ebook market however I'd be able to buy books here in .au easily with a PRS-500 firmware upgrade supporting ADE/EPUB..

08-14-2009, 10:19 PM	#39
exvaxman Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 38 Join Date: Mar 2006	mine died on day 366 of the one year warranty and Sony told me I was screwed.

08-14-2009, 10:56 PM	#42
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	Holla, I still have my PRS-500. It was my first, it broke my cherry. However, I have moved on because I found bigger is better so I now use my Iliad and DS1000S. I remember the good times with my PRS-500 though and occasionally I read a book on it

08-14-2009, 11:48 PM	#43
Seph817 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Carolina Device: PRS500	Hi Bob! I don't think I could ever read a pbook again. I use my 500 everyday. I have to say it's probably the best purchase I've ever made. I am really looking forward to the release of the 300, though. One thing that I always loved about the 500 is how the screen took up most of the device. There's just enough bezel left for the buttons. I wish they would have continued that kind of design. The 300 could be so much smaller.

08-15-2009, 12:03 AM	#44
SpiderMatt Grand Arbiter Posts: 447 Karma: 1574837 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona Device: iPod Touch, Amazon Kindle, Motorola Droid	I have a 500 but the screen broke. :-( I have since upgraded to the Kindle and Kindle 2 and never looked back. It think Amazon has had a more solid product but it looks like the 600 and a future wireless Sony Reader may change that.

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08-15-2009, 01:50 AM	#45
tehKitten Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 696 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: none	I've ordered an 505 It should arrive today! =D