New screens are on the prs-500 are available

mattgam · 07-20-2007, 07:03 PM

I convinced a friend to buy a sony reader today and the one he bought at borders had a new packaging. When we turned it on it was obvious that sony is now shipping readers with the new screens. The constrast was noticibly improved on his unit. I will say that I didn't notice any faster page turn times with this though.

Nate the great · 07-20-2007, 07:24 PM

Can you post a side by side shot of the two Readers?

mattgam · 07-20-2007, 07:57 PM

He took the unit home but I'll try to get a comparison photo this weekend. I'm planning on going and buying one for myself. (yep the screen was that much better)

Nate the great · 07-20-2007, 08:02 PM

How heavily used is your old one? Want to sell it?

P.S. What's his serial number? Is it a model -500U2, or just -500?

athlonkmf · 07-20-2007, 08:24 PM

hmm... sounds like bookeen lost another advantage

Cthulhu · 07-20-2007, 10:28 PM

Hmm....
A New Screen, on a store-available Reader?

Wonder if the Reader offered to everyone through the credit card deal is an old generation, or that it is the new, virtually spotless screen, and that is creating some bad ju-ju with the shipping.

Exciting news, either way.

mattgam · 07-20-2007, 10:56 PM

My reader has been used for about 2 months and I've probably read 20 books on it so far so its fairly new. Assuming my wife doesn't claim it then I'll PM you about it for a good price.

I'll get back about the serial number once I get access to a new unit.

irishjew · 07-20-2007, 11:03 PM

This might explain the credit card deal. They may be getting rid of their old stock.

NatCh · 07-21-2007, 12:10 AM

There has always been some variation in screen brightness from unit to unit -- I rather doubt that your friend's Reader really has the Vizplex screen. I don't think the Vizplex screens are even in full production yet, or if they are, they haven't been for very long.

Alexander Turcic · 07-21-2007, 02:35 PM

My girlfriend got her Reader through the $99 Tiger deal (Serial #0033511), and compared to my Reader (Serial #0000633), it has a lot more ghosting but also more contrast. I think this is just the typical E Ink screen variation Nat speaks of.

mattgam · 07-21-2007, 08:03 PM

Anything is possible, this screen definitely has much higher contrast though. When my wife saw the difference she was very surprised.

I'm still having trouble getting a good comparison shot of the 2 screens. I've got newfound appreciation for all those tech review websites and the photo's they take. I've attached a photo of the packaging difference as an initial reference.

<edited to attach the correct photo>

athlonkmf · 07-21-2007, 08:49 PM

The problem is... it'd be weird if there are actually new screens readers and the model numbers aren't changed... How the heck are they supposed to give warranty and replacements then? I'd assume the controller is a bit different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattgam

Anything is possible, this screen definitely has much higher contrast though. When my wife saw the difference she was very surprised.

I'm still having trouble getting a good comparison shot of the 2 screens. I've got newfound appreciation for all those tech review websites and the photo's they take. I've attached a photo of the packaging difference as an initial reference.

<edited to attach the correct photo>

Send them to me. I'll take some comparison pics for you

Promise I'll mail it back...

when the 3rd generation of sony reader is out

Andanzas · 07-21-2007, 08:54 PM

Why would Sony release an improved version of a product and not advertise it at all?

NatCh · 07-22-2007, 12:16 AM

I agree that seems unlikely.

Xtremegene · 07-22-2007, 12:59 AM

Time to treat my Reader with less care now?

07-20-2007, 07:03 PM	#1
mattgam Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redmond, Wa Device: PRS-500, PRS-505,Cybook Gen 3, Astak Pocket Pro	New screens are on the prs-500 are available I convinced a friend to buy a sony reader today and the one he bought at borders had a new packaging. When we turned it on it was obvious that sony is now shipping readers with the new screens. The constrast was noticibly improved on his unit. I will say that I didn't notice any faster page turn times with this though.

07-20-2007, 08:02 PM	#4
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	How heavily used is your old one? Want to sell it? P.S. What's his serial number? Is it a model -500U2, or just -500? Last edited by Nate the great; 07-20-2007 at 08:07 PM.

07-21-2007, 08:03 PM	#11
mattgam Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redmond, Wa Device: PRS-500, PRS-505,Cybook Gen 3, Astak Pocket Pro	Anything is possible, this screen definitely has much higher contrast though. When my wife saw the difference she was very surprised. I'm still having trouble getting a good comparison shot of the 2 screens. I've got newfound appreciation for all those tech review websites and the photo's they take. I've attached a photo of the packaging difference as an initial reference. <edited to attach the correct photo> Attached Thumbnails Last edited by mattgam; 07-21-2007 at 08:05 PM.

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07-20-2007, 07:24 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Can you post a side by side shot of the two Readers?

07-20-2007, 07:57 PM	#3
mattgam Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redmond, Wa Device: PRS-500, PRS-505,Cybook Gen 3, Astak Pocket Pro	He took the unit home but I'll try to get a comparison photo this weekend. I'm planning on going and buying one for myself. (yep the screen was that much better)

07-20-2007, 08:24 PM	#5
athlonkmf Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 1014039 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3, Sony PRS350, iPad 64GB	hmm... sounds like bookeen lost another advantage

07-20-2007, 10:28 PM	#6
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Hmm.... A New Screen, on a store-available Reader? Wonder if the Reader offered to everyone through the credit card deal is an old generation, or that it is the new, virtually spotless screen, and that is creating some bad ju-ju with the shipping. Exciting news, either way.

07-20-2007, 10:56 PM	#7
mattgam Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redmond, Wa Device: PRS-500, PRS-505,Cybook Gen 3, Astak Pocket Pro	My reader has been used for about 2 months and I've probably read 20 books on it so far so its fairly new. Assuming my wife doesn't claim it then I'll PM you about it for a good price. I'll get back about the serial number once I get access to a new unit.

07-20-2007, 11:03 PM	#8
irishjew Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 108 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Sony Reader	This might explain the credit card deal. They may be getting rid of their old stock.

07-21-2007, 12:10 AM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	There has always been some variation in screen brightness from unit to unit -- I rather doubt that your friend's Reader really has the Vizplex screen. I don't think the Vizplex screens are even in full production yet, or if they are, they haven't been for very long.

07-21-2007, 02:35 PM	#10
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	My girlfriend got her Reader through the $99 Tiger deal (Serial #0033511), and compared to my Reader (Serial #0000633), it has a lot more ghosting but also more contrast. I think this is just the typical E Ink screen variation Nat speaks of.

07-21-2007, 08:54 PM	#13
Andanzas Out of print Posts: 487 Karma: 1549538 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Sony PRS-500 (recycled), Pocketbook Inkpad X Pro	Why would Sony release an improved version of a product and not advertise it at all?

07-22-2007, 12:16 AM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I agree that seems unlikely.

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07-22-2007, 12:59 AM	#15
Xtremegene Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TX, USA Device: Sony Reader PRS-500 --- Nokia n800	Time to treat my Reader with less care now?