New Sony Reader 505 -- keep or return for new model?

rguion · 08-02-2009, 07:39 PM

I've been longing for a digital ebook reader for the past year. I finally decided last week to buy the Sony Reader 505. What pushed me over the edge for the Sony was finding the Calibre program and knowing that it could transfer/re-format my LIT files over to the Sony device. I have many books in this format. The Calibre program works like a charm.

I bought the Sony Reader 505 at Costco for $269--it came bundled with the AC Adapter, which I thought would be good on trips. So far, I am delighted with the device.

Now after buying it, I read about the forthcoming Sony Reader 300 and 600 devices here on MobileRead--the day after the older model arrived!

I could return the 505 back to Costco and get the new 300 device. If it's true that one is $199, I'd save $70. Besides the price, I can't see any other advantage...other than faster page turns, maybe?

What do you think I should do? Return the 505 to Costco or keep it?

wallcraft · 08-02-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rguion

I could return the 505 back to Costco and get the new 300 device. If it's true that one is $199, I'd save $70. Besides the price, I can't see any other advantage...other than faster page turns, maybe?

I agree. The PRS-300 is a 505 clone with a smaller screen and no memory expansion. There is a huge installed base of PRS-505's, so keeping the 505 is safe. The PRS-600, for $30 more than your 505, would give you more capability (5 font sizes, PDF zoom, a dictionary) assuming that the touch screen does not effect screen clarity too much this time.

lilac_jive · 08-02-2009, 07:57 PM

I think you should keep it

The 505 is still a great device. You can always change your mind later by selling your 505 on ebay (and probably get a good price for it) and buying a 300 or 600 later.

MickeyC · 08-02-2009, 09:14 PM

I'd say keep it. The only apparent advantage in the 300 is that it'll be a bit more portable and it does hold (approximately) 350 books vs 160 on the 505

richman · 08-02-2009, 09:28 PM

Gee, that's a hard decision to make. Does anyone know yet if the new sony has faster processor?
We are not sure when it comes out yet. Is it gonna be in next month or on oct 1st.
I think I might return it since you got it for 269. You could pick up the new touch screen one for 299 and it's newer tech.
Now I picked up the 505 for 150 on sony deal , so for me I wouldn't return it for newer 5 or 6 inch model.
I understand your conflicted feelings. What type of return policy does costco have on a device like this, if you have a few months , you can hold on to it and return it if the new models get rave reviews. If I bought it from costco I would hold onto everything, box, and everything and return it. I could be that the new models are not as good. The 505 turned out to be BETTER than the 700. And we don't know if sony cut corners on new models. We don't know.

Sheikspeare · 08-02-2009, 09:49 PM

The 505 is a serious piece of kit that gets to the heart of what an eReader is designed to deliver: portability, clarity, simplicity and if you like style. I bought a DX recently and have no intention of giving up the 505.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 08-02-2009, 10:00 PM

I'd keep it - the 505 is a good reader, and whilst the internal memory on the new reader is larger, the 505 has both an SD slot and a memory stick slot.

Timoleon · 08-02-2009, 10:12 PM

Keep the 505 --- it's a great reader. The 300 and 600 are still unknown quantities. For instance, will the screen on the 600 look as nice as the 505 or will it resemble the 700?

Ervserver · 08-02-2009, 10:28 PM

Someone would need to pry my 505 from my cold dead hands

doreenjoy · 08-02-2009, 10:47 PM

I'd keep the 505. The 300 won't have a card reader and we don't know what the screen will look like.

SolRaven · 08-02-2009, 11:37 PM

I'd keep your 505. After owning the 505 and seeing how the 300 is a step down, I'm glad I bought the 505 when I did and can't see myself ever getting rid of it. It's a great device and as you can see, many 505 owners are very attached to them, even if they own other reading devices, as I do.

rguion · 08-03-2009, 12:04 AM

Thanks to all who replied--your advice is much appreciated! Since I really like the 505, and you pointed out that the 300 has no memory card support, I'm keeping it.

The touch screen on the discontinued 700 and the new 600 does not really appeal to me that much. The side buttons on the 505 work very well for me.

dordale · 08-03-2009, 07:05 PM

Costco has a 90 day return policy on electronics, so why not keep it at least for a while?

dordale

sfstino · 08-08-2009, 02:19 PM

hi all
this is my first post, after keeping up with you all for some time - half of the fun of reading ebooks, I've come to realize, just might be following the comments posted on here!

Now, I just recently purchased the 505 from costco, as well, and am also considering returning it for either the 600 or the ez reader pro. I havent made that decision yet.

I would suggest to the OP to get a price adjustment. When I purchased the 505 from costco, which was a little over a week ago, the price had dropped to $199, for the same kit.

Personally, I will wait until the very last minute I can return it to make that tough decision.

sfstino

MerLock · 08-08-2009, 03:04 PM

This might be a bit off topic but I was wondering if the 505 is sold at the actual warehouse or only on Costco online? I saw the 500 there awhile back but never a 505.

08-02-2009, 07:39 PM	#1
rguion Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 623810 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Device: Kindle Oasis	New Sony Reader 505 -- keep or return for new model? I've been longing for a digital ebook reader for the past year. I finally decided last week to buy the Sony Reader 505. What pushed me over the edge for the Sony was finding the Calibre program and knowing that it could transfer/re-format my LIT files over to the Sony device. I have many books in this format. The Calibre program works like a charm. I bought the Sony Reader 505 at Costco for $269--it came bundled with the AC Adapter, which I thought would be good on trips. So far, I am delighted with the device. Now after buying it, I read about the forthcoming Sony Reader 300 and 600 devices here on MobileRead--the day after the older model arrived! I could return the 505 back to Costco and get the new 300 device. If it's true that one is $199, I'd save $70. Besides the price, I can't see any other advantage...other than faster page turns, maybe? What do you think I should do? Return the 505 to Costco or keep it?

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08-02-2009, 07:57 PM	#3
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I think you should keep it The 505 is still a great device. You can always change your mind later by selling your 505 on ebay (and probably get a good price for it) and buying a 300 or 600 later.

08-02-2009, 09:14 PM	#4
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	I'd say keep it. The only apparent advantage in the 300 is that it'll be a bit more portable and it does hold (approximately) 350 books vs 160 on the 505

08-02-2009, 09:28 PM	#5
richman Addict Posts: 269 Karma: 58 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: sony prs-505 BLUE,itouch,netbook	Gee, that's a hard decision to make. Does anyone know yet if the new sony has faster processor? We are not sure when it comes out yet. Is it gonna be in next month or on oct 1st. I think I might return it since you got it for 269. You could pick up the new touch screen one for 299 and it's newer tech. Now I picked up the 505 for 150 on sony deal , so for me I wouldn't return it for newer 5 or 6 inch model. I understand your conflicted feelings. What type of return policy does costco have on a device like this, if you have a few months , you can hold on to it and return it if the new models get rave reviews. If I bought it from costco I would hold onto everything, box, and everything and return it. I could be that the new models are not as good. The 505 turned out to be BETTER than the 700. And we don't know if sony cut corners on new models. We don't know.

08-02-2009, 09:49 PM	#6
Sheikspeare Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 290 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: PR-505 / Kindle DX	The 505 is a serious piece of kit that gets to the heart of what an eReader is designed to deliver: portability, clarity, simplicity and if you like style. I bought a DX recently and have no intention of giving up the 505.

08-02-2009, 10:00 PM	#7
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	I'd keep it - the 505 is a good reader, and whilst the internal memory on the new reader is larger, the 505 has both an SD slot and a memory stick slot.

08-02-2009, 10:12 PM	#8
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	Keep the 505 --- it's a great reader. The 300 and 600 are still unknown quantities. For instance, will the screen on the 600 look as nice as the 505 or will it resemble the 700?

08-02-2009, 10:28 PM	#9
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Someone would need to pry my 505 from my cold dead hands

08-02-2009, 10:47 PM	#10
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I'd keep the 505. The 300 won't have a card reader and we don't know what the screen will look like.

08-02-2009, 11:37 PM	#11
SolRaven Wizard Posts: 2,214 Karma: 12796976 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Sunshine State Device: Clara, Voyage, Oasis, Paperwhite & PRS-650	I'd keep your 505. After owning the 505 and seeing how the 300 is a step down, I'm glad I bought the 505 when I did and can't see myself ever getting rid of it. It's a great device and as you can see, many 505 owners are very attached to them, even if they own other reading devices, as I do.

08-03-2009, 12:04 AM	#12
rguion Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 623810 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Device: Kindle Oasis	Thanks to all who replied--your advice is much appreciated! Since I really like the 505, and you pointed out that the 300 has no memory card support, I'm keeping it. The touch screen on the discontinued 700 and the new 600 does not really appeal to me that much. The side buttons on the 505 work very well for me.

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08-03-2009, 07:05 PM	#13
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	Costco has a 90 day return policy on electronics, so why not keep it at least for a while? dordale

08-08-2009, 02:19 PM	#14
sfstino Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: prs 505	hi all this is my first post, after keeping up with you all for some time - half of the fun of reading ebooks, I've come to realize, just might be following the comments posted on here! Now, I just recently purchased the 505 from costco, as well, and am also considering returning it for either the 600 or the ez reader pro. I havent made that decision yet. I would suggest to the OP to get a price adjustment. When I purchased the 505 from costco, which was a little over a week ago, the price had dropped to $199, for the same kit. Personally, I will wait until the very last minute I can return it to make that tough decision. sfstino

08-08-2009, 03:04 PM	#15
MerLock Evangelist Posts: 411 Karma: 1034889 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	This might be a bit off topic but I was wondering if the 505 is sold at the actual warehouse or only on Costco online? I saw the 500 there awhile back but never a 505.