Replacing 500 with 505?

tapf! · 05-04-2008, 05:30 AM

Hello,

I'm pretty happy with my Sony Reader model 500 - but now that the USD is that low and a lot of people write that the display of the 505 is a lot better than that the one of the 500 I'm thinking about selling my 500 and buying a 505.

So my question is: Is the display really that better that its worth to replace the 500? What annoys me a bit about the 500 is that you need a lot of ambient light to be able to read it - is that really better with the 505?

Greetings,

Fabian

dhbailey · 05-04-2008, 06:35 AM

I have seen the 505 in a store (long before I knew I needed to know which patterson excerpt was on it, or I would have taken notes!) and while the display is somewhat better than on my 500, I didn't feel I needed to sell my 500 and buy the 505.

I can't think that you would be able to read the 505 in any lighting situations you can't read your 500 in.

the change in form factor and the ability to go to a specific page using the number buttons and the movement of the page turning buttons to the right side of the unit, those are improvements I would enjoy but not enough to spend all that much money until my 500 breaks or dies.

MickeyC · 05-04-2008, 06:59 AM

Fabian, I agree with David. I was seriously considering a 500 back last summer but ended up not getting a gift certificate to the store that had the Sony in stock (Micro Center) so I held off. Then, after Christmas bought the 505 and, as David says, the new features are nice. But the screen doesn't seem that much better. Certainly it requires the same ambient light to read.

If you're unsure, try taking your 500 into a store that has the 505 on display (Borders, Sony Style etc) and compare them side-by-side. Probably ought to tell the management what you're going to do ahead of time.

JSWolf · 05-04-2008, 08:41 AM

um.. tapf is in Germany. So I don't think going into a Borders or Sonystyle will help.

Ervserver · 05-04-2008, 11:28 AM

I would wait until your 500 dies, the 505 needs as much ambient light to read as does the 500 in my opinion

HarryT · 05-04-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ervserver

I would wait until your 500 dies, the 505 needs as much ambient light to read as does the 500 in my opinion

To offer an alternate viewpoint, I find the VizPlex screens are drastically better than the 1st gen screens. Better contrast, and tremendously more readable in lower light conditions.

I always had to use a reading light with my PRS-500 when reading indoors in the evening. With my Gen3 (which has the same screen as the PRS-505) I can read quite comfortably in the room's ambient lighting.

astra · 05-05-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

To offer an alternate viewpoint, I find the VizPlex screens are drastically better than the 1st gen screens. Better contrast, and tremendously more readable in lower light conditions.

I always had to use a reading light with my PRS-500 when reading indoors in the evening. With my Gen3 (which has the same screen as the PRS-505) I can read quite comfortably in the room's ambient lighting.

I am 100% with Harry_T on this one.
I don't care about a couple of nice bells and whistles on 505 in comparison to 500 but the screen! Just as Harry_T said - drastically better.

For example: office room in my house. Could not read on 500 there. However, I do read on 505 there.

(You will not notice so much difference with the sun shining out there but you will see a hude difference with ambient light.)

astra · 05-05-2008, 07:00 AM

I would also advise you on reading through this topic

MickeyC · 05-05-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

um.. tapf is in Germany. So I don't think going into a Borders or Sonystyle will help.

Ooops

tapf, entschuldigen Sie bitte

05-04-2008, 05:30 AM	#1
tapf! Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Germany / Stuttgart Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Replacing 500 with 505? Hello, I'm pretty happy with my Sony Reader model 500 - but now that the USD is that low and a lot of people write that the display of the 505 is a lot better than that the one of the 500 I'm thinking about selling my 500 and buying a 505. So my question is: Is the display really that better that its worth to replace the 500? What annoys me a bit about the 500 is that you need a lot of ambient light to be able to read it - is that really better with the 505? Greetings, Fabian

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05-04-2008, 06:35 AM	#2
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	I have seen the 505 in a store (long before I knew I needed to know which patterson excerpt was on it, or I would have taken notes!) and while the display is somewhat better than on my 500, I didn't feel I needed to sell my 500 and buy the 505. I can't think that you would be able to read the 505 in any lighting situations you can't read your 500 in. the change in form factor and the ability to go to a specific page using the number buttons and the movement of the page turning buttons to the right side of the unit, those are improvements I would enjoy but not enough to spend all that much money until my 500 breaks or dies.

05-04-2008, 06:59 AM	#3
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Fabian, I agree with David. I was seriously considering a 500 back last summer but ended up not getting a gift certificate to the store that had the Sony in stock (Micro Center) so I held off. Then, after Christmas bought the 505 and, as David says, the new features are nice. But the screen doesn't seem that much better. Certainly it requires the same ambient light to read. If you're unsure, try taking your 500 into a store that has the 505 on display (Borders, Sony Style etc) and compare them side-by-side. Probably ought to tell the management what you're going to do ahead of time.

05-04-2008, 08:41 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	um.. tapf is in Germany. So I don't think going into a Borders or Sonystyle will help.

05-04-2008, 11:28 AM	#5
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I would wait until your 500 dies, the 505 needs as much ambient light to read as does the 500 in my opinion

05-05-2008, 07:00 AM	#8
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I would also advise you on reading through this topic

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