PRS-505/700 in rest-of-the-world: Limitations

rhari79 · 04-03-2009, 07:50 AM

Hi all PRS-505/700 users,

I was just wondering: what is the limitation of using a Sony PRS-505/700 in places outside where it is sold?

Basically if i get a sony reader for myself or buy it for someone and it is used predominantly in places where it is not sold currently, what does the owner lose?

This question is easy to answer for a Kindle for eg., But Sony is little confusing to me.

Support, accessibility of books, sony store, firmware?

TIA for your comments.

gwynevans · 04-03-2009, 08:10 AM

Warranty, basically. You can't buy from the US store without a US credit-card, but that's true about all non-US Sony owners & doesn't really affect things, as there are plenty of other sources of suitable books beyond the Sony store.

rhari79 · 04-04-2009, 10:26 PM

Thanks gwynevans.

So that means that I cant buy books from sony's store. Nor can i access some of the free book offer/download i get along with the sony(seems like there are 2 new novels too). I am not sure if these are preloaded or need to be downloaded.

How about the new google-sony agreements etc., Any idea if being in an unsupported region affects one?

Bren423 · 04-04-2009, 11:05 PM

The warranty and limitations on where to buy your ebooks are the two main problems for me. I had a display problem after I dropped my first PRS 505 so instead of opting for a repair, I decided to buy another one. Which is a pity as the unit is in good working condition, except that it only shows half of the display.

As for book buying limitations, I finally solved my problem by asking for "Leaping Gnome's" help in buying Sony's gift vouchers. He so kindly helped me. Now, I can order books from Sony. I would have loved to order from Amazon since their prices are cheaper especially for new released hardcovers but there is no way around that. As for the free Sony downloads, I registered my Sony using my friend's address so I can do the free downloads. Since I did buy my Sony in the US, I don't have any qualms doing it.

igorsk · 04-04-2009, 11:05 PM

You can download free stuff, you just need to claim you are in US when registering (simply registering doesn't require a credit card).

mcramer · 04-05-2009, 05:58 AM

I live in New Zealand and bought my PRS-505 in the US whilst on a business trip.

Personally the only thing that was vaguely worrying was the lack of warranty but I've had good experiences with electronics in the past so it wasn't that big a deal.

As for content there is plenty of stuff out there that's free and plenty of purchasable content that with (or without) a bit of work can be read on the 505 (and more now that epub is viewable)

I've had mine for 18 months now, use it every day, and the only thing that worries me is being without it!

Arapito · 04-05-2009, 10:10 PM

Interestingly, when I bought my PRS-505 at Waterstones in the UK a couple of weeks ago, the salesman assured me that Sony in New Zealand would honour the warranty.

I didn't believe him, of course, but as I wasn't expecting to be able to claim on warranty anyway I just accepted his assurance and the conversation moved on.

sherman · 04-07-2009, 01:33 AM

Another NZ user here. Again, not much hopde of warranty if something goes wrong, and the Sony store is next to useless. Other than that I haven't had any problems.

As far as content goes, if you can get it from Sony, it can be got from Fictionwise/BoB. Might be a bit more expensive then sony store but buying from FW/BoB means I can (usually) strip DRM and format the books how I like for the sony reader (embedded fonts etc).

And the prices are STILL usually cheaper than what I have to pay for the exact same book in a NZ bookstore (if they even have said book in the first place - bloody whitcoulls and co.

)

salty_seadog · 04-07-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhari79

How about the new google-sony agreements etc., Any idea if being in an unsupported region affects one?

There is a very looong thread on this forum about this agreement, the basis is that you cannot use the free Googly books in the UK (for example) without installing the American version of the library software, I ahve been told that the two can be run side-by-side (UK & US versions) but I've not tried it yet. I don't want the over-priced eBooks I've bought from Waterstones to stop working!

gwynevans · 04-07-2009, 04:41 AM

You don't need the UK version installed at all, the Waterstones books don't depend on it being there & you can get to the Waterstones store via a web browser, whereas you can only access the US store via the Sony software.

Curly · 04-07-2009, 07:38 AM

Yep, I can confirm what gwynevans said. I have just the US Sony software installed with my UK reader registered to the US site. I have never loaded the UK software on to my computer and I can still buy books from Waterstones.

04-03-2009, 07:50 AM	#1
rhari79 Addict Posts: 375 Karma: 2200000 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chennai Device: .*	PRS-505/700 in rest-of-the-world: Limitations Hi all PRS-505/700 users, I was just wondering: what is the limitation of using a Sony PRS-505/700 in places outside where it is sold? Basically if i get a sony reader for myself or buy it for someone and it is used predominantly in places where it is not sold currently, what does the owner lose? This question is easy to answer for a Kindle for eg., But Sony is little confusing to me. Support, accessibility of books, sony store, firmware? TIA for your comments.

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04-03-2009, 08:10 AM	#2
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	Warranty, basically. You can't buy from the US store without a US credit-card, but that's true about all non-US Sony owners & doesn't really affect things, as there are plenty of other sources of suitable books beyond the Sony store.

04-04-2009, 10:26 PM	#3
rhari79 Addict Posts: 375 Karma: 2200000 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chennai Device: .*	Thanks gwynevans. So that means that I cant buy books from sony's store. Nor can i access some of the free book offer/download i get along with the sony(seems like there are 2 new novels too). I am not sure if these are preloaded or need to be downloaded. How about the new google-sony agreements etc., Any idea if being in an unsupported region affects one?

04-04-2009, 11:05 PM	#4
Bren423 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Sony PRS 505 & iPod Touch	The warranty and limitations on where to buy your ebooks are the two main problems for me. I had a display problem after I dropped my first PRS 505 so instead of opting for a repair, I decided to buy another one. Which is a pity as the unit is in good working condition, except that it only shows half of the display. As for book buying limitations, I finally solved my problem by asking for "Leaping Gnome's" help in buying Sony's gift vouchers. He so kindly helped me. Now, I can order books from Sony. I would have loved to order from Amazon since their prices are cheaper especially for new released hardcovers but there is no way around that. As for the free Sony downloads, I registered my Sony using my friend's address so I can do the free downloads. Since I did buy my Sony in the US, I don't have any qualms doing it.

04-04-2009, 11:05 PM	#5
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	You can download free stuff, you just need to claim you are in US when registering (simply registering doesn't require a credit card).

04-05-2009, 05:58 AM	#6
mcramer Kiwi reader Posts: 107 Karma: 349 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Device: iPad, iPhone	I live in New Zealand and bought my PRS-505 in the US whilst on a business trip. Personally the only thing that was vaguely worrying was the lack of warranty but I've had good experiences with electronics in the past so it wasn't that big a deal. As for content there is plenty of stuff out there that's free and plenty of purchasable content that with (or without) a bit of work can be read on the 505 (and more now that epub is viewable) I've had mine for 18 months now, use it every day, and the only thing that worries me is being without it!

04-05-2009, 10:10 PM	#7
Arapito Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Device: PRS-505	Interestingly, when I bought my PRS-505 at Waterstones in the UK a couple of weeks ago, the salesman assured me that Sony in New Zealand would honour the warranty. I didn't believe him, of course, but as I wasn't expecting to be able to claim on warranty anyway I just accepted his assurance and the conversation moved on.

04-07-2009, 01:33 AM	#8
sherman Guru Posts: 875 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Another NZ user here. Again, not much hopde of warranty if something goes wrong, and the Sony store is next to useless. Other than that I haven't had any problems. As far as content goes, if you can get it from Sony, it can be got from Fictionwise/BoB. Might be a bit more expensive then sony store but buying from FW/BoB means I can (usually) strip DRM and format the books how I like for the sony reader (embedded fonts etc). And the prices are STILL usually cheaper than what I have to pay for the exact same book in a NZ bookstore (if they even have said book in the first place - bloody whitcoulls and co. )

04-07-2009, 04:41 AM	#10
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	You don't need the UK version installed at all, the Waterstones books don't depend on it being there & you can get to the Waterstones store via a web browser, whereas you can only access the US store via the Sony software.

04-07-2009, 07:38 AM	#11
Curly I need a holiday! Posts: 1,227 Karma: 4622 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Device: PRS-505, ipod touch	Yep, I can confirm what gwynevans said. I have just the US Sony software installed with my UK reader registered to the US site. I have never loaded the UK software on to my computer and I can still buy books from Waterstones.

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