Is the 505 still a valid choice?

geep · 09-01-2009, 09:34 PM

Given the new entries from Sony complete with the newer technologies/features is purchasing a 505 still a good idea?

Will there be a substantial discount of remaining 505s or are they already getting scarce?

I like the build factor of the 505 and the screen size so the 300 seems like too much of a down grade but not sure if I need the touch screen features of the 600

All comments appreciated

lilac_jive · 09-01-2009, 09:35 PM

Oh yes! It's still a great device, and I've been seeing posts here that they are on sale around $200 or so.

AnemicOak · 09-01-2009, 10:05 PM

The 505 is still an excellent device.

JSWolf · 09-01-2009, 10:34 PM

Look at the 300 and then look at the 505. The 300 is very similar to the 505. The main difference is that the 300 has a 5" screen and the 505 has a 6" screen. In my opinion, I prefer the 6" screen. And given that the specification of the 300 is similar, I'd say the 505 is quite viable. The 300 does have more internal memory, but the 505 does have memory card slots.

doreenjoy · 09-01-2009, 10:51 PM

505 is still a great device!

LDBoblo · 09-01-2009, 11:02 PM

I concur with some of the above. The 505 is still Sony's best offering for some things. Since I generally make my own PDFs, I've experimented a bit with formatting for 5" screens and unless I'm typsetting at 6-7pt, I am not satisfied with making book blocks in that size. Despite the marginal linear resolution upgrade in the 300, I don't think it's going to display that size particularly well. If that Epson-Seiko LCD had ever come to fruition with 1600x1200 resolution, perhaps screens would be more tolerable with fonts smaller than 10pt (which is needed really to get good justification without excessive hyphenation on small screens like the 505 and 300).

I've been setting more books in 8.5pt Karmina and 8pt ITC Mendoza Roman for my 505, with decent results. I used to try 10-11pt fonts and didn't mind them much, but after a while, the extra gaps in the justification in paragraphs started to bother me. On the 300 I'd have to drop them down even more, and most people don't really enjoy reading that size, especially with the limited resolution and contrast of the display.

Of course, most people here seem satisfied at reading >12pt on their readers and don't mind poor, gappy justification (or left-justified with ragged right). For a good clean full-justification with normal-sized typefaces, you either need a bigger screen (perhaps 8 inches diagonal or more), or you need to use a lot of hyphens, which can get a bit annoying.

The 505 is still about as good as it gets in terms of e-ink right now, and gives that very useful SD card slot that the 300 doesn't. Now's not a bad time to buy since they're cheaper, and not hard to find yet. Looking around, you can get them under $200 pretty easily.

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Look at the 300 and then look at the 505. The 300 is very similar to the 505. The main difference is that the 300 has a 5" screen and the 505 has a 6" screen. In my opinion, I prefer the 6" screen.

Have you read a book on a 5inch device Jon? I'm just curious if it is experience you base your opinion on, or feeling?

BOb

kennyc · 09-02-2009, 06:06 AM

After looking at the features of the new and upcoming models I bought my 505 yesterday.

tovanhung · 09-02-2009, 06:42 AM

I bought PRS-600. One day later, I returned and chave chosen PRS-505. Personally, Sony PRS-505 is still great device!

JSWolf · 09-02-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Have you read a book on a 5inch device Jon? I'm just curious if it is experience you base your opinion on, or feeling?

BOb

I have taken a look at the 300. I just didn't care for the screen size.

graydw57 · 09-02-2009, 08:55 AM

Interesting.

I have also picked up a 505. What I've noticed that within this week, they've gone out-of-stock in the Sony direct store, and Dell's store. Target dropped them a while ago, but my local store still has 2 or 3 in stock. Ebay prices seem pretty firmly in the $250 range, with at least one vendor holding at $280 (but I don't know how many he's selling.) Got sniped myself trying to get a red one at $250 (sold at $251), but found a cheaper deal elsewhere, so it's OK, I guess.

Get 'em now, when people start seriously comparing I expect to see a bump in price for the last new-in-box ones, then a steady trade in used devices.

Gravitas · 09-02-2009, 10:41 AM

I bought a 505 for my wife from play.com (only delivers to the UK) for £149 about a month before the 300/600 were announced.

I still think I got a bargain. I still use my 500 everyday (C'mon Sony let us 500 users know what's happening re the 'upgrade path').

kaan · 09-02-2009, 12:10 PM

I would still choose the 505 if I had to buy today.
The features of the 300 and 600 leaves me with no desire to upgrade. The 505 is all I need, and if you are to believe the various members here on the forum, it still has the best screen.

When someone makes a full A4 reader with perfect PDF support, I might buy one for my tech books.

That being said, I think that most of the current readers on the market would satisfy my everyday needs.

DixieGal · 09-02-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaan

I would still choose the 505 if I had to buy today.

Mindflayer · 09-02-2009, 01:34 PM

Buy at Borders. They ring up US$299 with a US$100 discount.

09-01-2009, 09:34 PM	#1
geep Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: none	Is the 505 still a valid choice? Given the new entries from Sony complete with the newer technologies/features is purchasing a 505 still a good idea? Will there be a substantial discount of remaining 505s or are they already getting scarce? I like the build factor of the 505 and the screen size so the 300 seems like too much of a down grade but not sure if I need the touch screen features of the 600 All comments appreciated

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09-01-2009, 09:35 PM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Oh yes! It's still a great device, and I've been seeing posts here that they are on sale around $200 or so.

09-01-2009, 10:05 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The 505 is still an excellent device.

09-01-2009, 10:34 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,033 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Look at the 300 and then look at the 505. The 300 is very similar to the 505. The main difference is that the 300 has a 5" screen and the 505 has a 6" screen. In my opinion, I prefer the 6" screen. And given that the specification of the 300 is similar, I'd say the 505 is quite viable. The 300 does have more internal memory, but the 505 does have memory card slots.

09-01-2009, 10:51 PM	#5
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	505 is still a great device!

09-01-2009, 11:02 PM	#6
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	I concur with some of the above. The 505 is still Sony's best offering for some things. Since I generally make my own PDFs, I've experimented a bit with formatting for 5" screens and unless I'm typsetting at 6-7pt, I am not satisfied with making book blocks in that size. Despite the marginal linear resolution upgrade in the 300, I don't think it's going to display that size particularly well. If that Epson-Seiko LCD had ever come to fruition with 1600x1200 resolution, perhaps screens would be more tolerable with fonts smaller than 10pt (which is needed really to get good justification without excessive hyphenation on small screens like the 505 and 300). I've been setting more books in 8.5pt Karmina and 8pt ITC Mendoza Roman for my 505, with decent results. I used to try 10-11pt fonts and didn't mind them much, but after a while, the extra gaps in the justification in paragraphs started to bother me. On the 300 I'd have to drop them down even more, and most people don't really enjoy reading that size, especially with the limited resolution and contrast of the display. Of course, most people here seem satisfied at reading >12pt on their readers and don't mind poor, gappy justification (or left-justified with ragged right). For a good clean full-justification with normal-sized typefaces, you either need a bigger screen (perhaps 8 inches diagonal or more), or you need to use a lot of hyphens, which can get a bit annoying. The 505 is still about as good as it gets in terms of e-ink right now, and gives that very useful SD card slot that the 300 doesn't. Now's not a bad time to buy since they're cheaper, and not hard to find yet. Looking around, you can get them under $200 pretty easily.

09-02-2009, 06:06 AM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	After looking at the features of the new and upcoming models I bought my 505 yesterday.

09-02-2009, 06:42 AM	#9
tovanhung Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: HP4700, Sony PRS-505	I bought PRS-600. One day later, I returned and chave chosen PRS-505. Personally, Sony PRS-505 is still great device!

09-02-2009, 08:55 AM	#11
graydw57 Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Device: Sony PRS-505	Interesting. I have also picked up a 505. What I've noticed that within this week, they've gone out-of-stock in the Sony direct store, and Dell's store. Target dropped them a while ago, but my local store still has 2 or 3 in stock. Ebay prices seem pretty firmly in the $250 range, with at least one vendor holding at $280 (but I don't know how many he's selling.) Got sniped myself trying to get a red one at $250 (sold at $251), but found a cheaper deal elsewhere, so it's OK, I guess. Get 'em now, when people start seriously comparing I expect to see a bump in price for the last new-in-box ones, then a steady trade in used devices.

09-02-2009, 10:41 AM	#12
Gravitas Muppet Posts: 123 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nottingham, England, UK Device: Zen Vision :M / Nokia 5800 musicXpress / Sony PRS500	I bought a 505 for my wife from play.com (only delivers to the UK) for £149 about a month before the 300/600 were announced. I still think I got a bargain. I still use my 500 everyday (C'mon Sony let us 500 users know what's happening re the 'upgrade path').

09-02-2009, 12:10 PM	#13
kaan Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 544 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Århus, Denmark Device: Sony prs-505	I would still choose the 505 if I had to buy today. The features of the 300 and 600 leaves me with no desire to upgrade. The 505 is all I need, and if you are to believe the various members here on the forum, it still has the best screen. When someone makes a full A4 reader with perfect PDF support, I might buy one for my tech books. That being said, I think that most of the current readers on the market would satisfy my everyday needs.

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09-02-2009, 01:34 PM	#15
Mindflayer Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	Buy at Borders. They ring up US$299 with a US$100 discount.