Classic Nook vs Sony PRS-505

[luqmaninbmore]

I found a Sony 505 on sale for 199 at a local store. I purchased it and compared it to the nook using the same books. First, the screen of the nook is better. It is significantly whiter while still retaining the dark blacks of the 505 (at least on one of the font choices). While the 505 has a definite advantage in page turning when reading an lrf format book, this is somewhat negated by the length of time it takes to format the lrf before opening and before each change in font size. The nook is quicker in changing fonts and sizes. On epubs, the nook has a slight advantage in page turning speed over the 505 and better formating (i.e. nicely justified text, more font choices, more size choices, no annoying ADE page number). The nook was faster at PDFs but does not have a landscape view which allows for useful viewing of image-based pdfs (like manga and comics). The ui had more options for the nook than for the 505, but interface was more intuitive and quicker for the 505 (having the dedicated number and function buttons helps). Ergonomically they are about the same, although I prefer the touch screen swipe of the nook for turning pages (it seems a more natural way to interact with a book than buttons). I expect with new firmware that the nook will get significantly faster; its processor is over three times as fast as that of the 505. It is the 505 that will be returned, not the nook. The quality I was most shocked about: the quality of the screen. I did not realize how nice and creamy it was until I compared it directly to the 505 which is known to have a very nice screen. I don't know what B and N has done to achieve this (is it some hardware modification to the screen or simply an advance in the firmware?) but it is definitely the best screen I've seen on an e-ink device (although I haven't seen the new iRex or the Boox in person).

Luqman

[Waba]

I am a die-hard 505 jihadi, but I'm going to have to investigate the nook... Android Linux has really tweaked my interest.

The 505 is such an elegant and effective reading device... I might feel dirty if I sold it out for a little LCD touch screen.

So far none of the apps for the Nook have sold me. An awesome dictionary, maybe a note taking or detailed bookmarking app... but Pandora? I want it to read, damnit!

If some good apps come out the Nook might finally shatter my paradigm of unquestioned 505 dominance, that has held true for years.

... this is scary stuff.

[Waba]

This just goes to show you that open source resources should be embraced by companies.

Just look at what Rockbox has done for Sansa MP3 players... Why pay programmers and fight modders, when the community can do it better and for free?

The LifeHacker poll a few weeks ago show people prefer Android to iPhone almost 2-1... Anyone that tries to rule "their" device with an iron fist, is just going to lose market share. I'm looking at you, Apple and Amazon.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by Waba

This just goes to show you that open source resources should be embraced by companies.

Just look at what Rockbox has done for Sansa MP3 players... Why pay programmers and fight modders, when the community can do it better and for free?

The LifeHacker poll a few weeks ago show people prefer Android to iPhone almost 2-1... Anyone that tries to rule "their" device with an iron fist, is just going to lose market share. I'm looking at you, Apple and Amazon.

boy you are spot on about RockBox and SanDisk's Sansa's, that firmware with Sansa's audio chip make it an elite player and a fraction of the cost of other Players

[flyash]

Originally Posted by Waba

Anyone that tries to rule "their" device with an iron fist, is just going to lose market share. I'm looking at you, Apple and Amazon.

I think everyone thought that back when Apple was dying under the boot of WinTel. Don't we all wish we had loaded up on Apple stock then?

If you are innovative enough, you can afford to be proprietary (and make windfall profits to boot).

[cutterjohn42]

One word: softroot. THIS is what makes me mildly interested in the nook which opens up worlds of possibilities, along with the price drop and wifi only version now, although I fully intend to wait and see how low they can go.

(I've long felt that most of these e-ink readers were grossly overpriced given their entire lack(and loss) of features v. earlier readers which cost c. $100.)

OTOH I've also read about all the nooks cracking up, which makes them seem kind of fragile compared to my 505 which I've accidentally dropped a couple of times... of course ATM B&N seems to be bending over backwards to replace faulty units.

Updates: heh, probably NEVER see another update from Sony for the 505.

Of course now in my waiting something even better might come along, like say that ASUS reader that I saw a video of from E3, INCREDIBLY fast screen updating(almost like a regular LCD) for an e-ink device... almost worth forgoing one with a color LCD and e-ink... now if there were only a way to get backlighting... or maybe color e-ink that was readable in BRIGHT conditions unlike ANY traditional LCD regardless of what they like to claim. (I discovered just how mutable the phrase "best readability in brightly lit conditions" was several times over the last decade, being grossly disappointed each time. Kind of sucks when most places you simply can't take devices outside to check or have a handy set of portable arc lights...)

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by cutterjohn42

One word: softroot. THIS is what makes me mildly interested in the nook which opens up worlds of possibilities

Well, it's not like PRS+ or complete system replacements aren't out there for your PRS-505.

Things that I would lose moving away from the PRS-505:

• User stylesheet (swap out fonts, paragraph style, margins, etc. -- on the fly)
• Categories
• Custom key binding
• Folder support
• Long battery life
• (Nearly) Full-screen reading
• PDF zoom-to-fit

Now, granted, hackers working against Sony provided many of these features. Further, the nook offers a few features that the PRS-505 does not. Still, the user stylesheet issue alone is enough of a reason to hold me back from switching.

Originally Posted by cutterjohn42

Updates: heh, probably NEVER see another update from Sony for the 505.

But this is why I am considering a nook(*). It's really sad, but, as a rejection of Sony's behavior, I feel compelled to support a company for simply standing behind its product. Sony's software was/is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, but they seem to have no interest in keeping their lead.

(*)Pocketbook and Amazon also have an excellent track record with continuing development, as well as Astak to some extent.

Originally Posted by cutterjohn42

Of course now in my waiting something even better might come along

I know exactly how you feel. My favorite eReader is always the future device with very few details. Somehow I always trick myself into believing that this time they'll learn from the past and get it right...

[makani]

I took my Sony 505 into my local Barnes & Noble store and compared it to the Nook and found the Nook was a little better to read after setting the size and font to my liking. The background and ability to change the font easily made the difference in my opinion.

When I put the nook in a cover to read it was comfortable but because of the button positons not as easy to use as the sony. The page turning with a swipe of my finger worked well and this is the way I would probably use it.

I like that it can access the public library ebooks and the book lending feature.

The question I have now is how long is the battery life with the WiFi turned off compared to the 5050. Does anyone have actual experience with this?
Thanks,
Makani

[KDawg]

Originally Posted by makani

I took my Sony 505 into my local Barnes & Noble

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The question I have now is how long is the battery life with the WiFi turned off compared to the 5050. Does anyone have actual experience with this?
Thanks,
Makani

I moved from the 505 to the 900, got very frustrated with the 900, and am now reading on the nook. The 505 stomps the nook on battery life, but on this scale it doesn't really matter. Reading an hour a day, with maybe two or three when the kids are in lower maintenance modes, I used to get two to three weeks on the 505. With the 900 in airplane mode most of the time I get maybe a week and a half. With the nook in airplane mode I get a week.

The only thing I miss about the Sonys is the aluminum body - very solid. However, the nook is just as heavy as the 505, maybe heavier, so even if the white trim cracks I suspect the device in general is very solid. And it's great B&N went with a replaceable battery.

The screen on the nook is better than the 505 screen, the white is whiter. The 900 screen finally drove me away with glare. I could tolerate the lower contrast but the glare of its more reflective screen is miserable outside.

And I'm very happy to say that not only will the nook read the books I bought at Sony, it also reads the old Peanut Press books I bought years ago. The nook seems much more consumer-friendly than the Sony and Kindle options.

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by makani

When I put the nook in a cover to read it was comfortable but because of the button positons not as easy to use as the sony.

I agree. Maybe we're simply not holding it properly.

Originally Posted by makani

The question I have now is how long is the battery life with the WiFi turned off compared to the 5050. Does anyone have actual experience with this?

From reading and talking to people, it would seem you need to charge about every five days, a week max. It won't be as good as your PRS-505, but good enough for many. Fortunately, the charger is really tiny.

[makani]

see below

[makani]

[QUOTE=LoganK;979152][I]I agree. Maybe we're simply not holding it properly.



I should add I like being able to hold the sony with one hand and still change pages easily, might be more difficult with nook.
Makani

PS: Sorry, klutz that I am don't seem to be able to get the quote option to work correctly.

[boswd]

[QUOTE=makani;979182]

Originally Posted by LoganK

[I]I agree. Maybe we're simply not holding it properly.



I should add I like being able to hold the sony with one hand and still change pages easily, might be more difficult with nook.
Makani

PS: Sorry, klutz that I am don't seem to be able to get the quote option to work correctly.

I have no problem, I take the subway each morning so I'm holding the rail with one hand nook in the other, either manual page turning or finger swipe page turning aren't an hassel. I find the finger swiping to be the easier of the two though when holding one handed.

[darknessangel]

Originally Posted by beartard

I believe both devices are in the same generation of eInk displays, so the comparison there is moot.

I can see three advantages to the nook:

1. Network purchasing of books. This is something I wouldn't normally use, but a nice feature to have. The drawback is significantly less battery life.

2. Built-in dictionary. It's a woefully inadequate, hyper-abridged dictionary, but I hope others will be available for purchase.

3. The chance for updates is greater. Sony averaged a yearly firmware update that provided minor bugfixes, the last one being the swtich to ePub. Since the nook is Android-based, the potential for future updates and feature increases is a lot greater. Also, the potential for 3rd party feature updates is a sure thing, as seen on nookdevs.com.

1. I don't buy ebooks.
2. Last time I used a dictionary was about 10 years ago.
3. I don't care for upgrades of a simple book reader.

So... I'm keeping my 505. I like the style of hard aluminum and the no touchscreen (yes... I do not like touchscreens = fingersmudge on the screen).

GJMS