Sony Reader PRS-505: much improved per MobileRead
Bob Russell offers up a thorough and very detailed review of the newest Sony Reader, the PRS-505, and while the device is far from perfect, it seems to be a more compelling device than its predecessor. My two minutes with a PRS-500 had me seeing spots due to the awful screen refresh, but Bob says the new screen is dramatically better. I’d trust Bob’s opinion over mine on this one: he’s got more hands on time with these devices and he’s probably got better eyesight than my uncorrected 20/200 vision. 
Also improved are controls, usability and support for using the device as USB mass-storage. There’s some downsides too, but I’ll let you hop over to MobileReader for Bob’s great writeup on those.
I still have an issue spending upwards of $300 on a relatively single-use device when I can read digital content on other devices I already own. As exciting as the standalone eBook readers get me, I just can’t get past that and I suspect many consumers are in the same boat. Even excluding the DRM and content format issues, I can’t see mass market appeal until we see hardware prices under $100, but what do I know. The hive mind of jkOTR readers is collectively smarter so: at what price would a solid standalone reader appeal?
It’s not just the price of the Reader. It’s the price of the ebooks too. Sony could make a case for their Reader based on the number of books a person could carry vs the weight of those books in printed form. What kills the pitch is when people see “printless” books costing just about as much as print books!
And you’d get used to the screen refresh, even with the original model.
I’ve seen two ordinary people in public with the original Reader. That’s just *one* person less than I’ve seen with *Zunes*. (Oh, and Nokia Anti-Net Tabs? ZERO!)
Actually Sony’s Connect books have an automatic 10% off from print prices, and then another discount on top of that (it’s listed on every book). They even run cheaper than Mobipocket, and so I think they’ve really done well on the store end.
I think to some degree there’s a double standard here. People don’t want the technology until it’s cheaper, but it can’t get cheaper until early adopters buy in and convince the execs that it’s worth investing in. Having used mobile devices since they were 30 lbs., I’m sure you guys have invested in devices that weren’t perfect, perhaps because you liked the direction that it took the platform in, perhaps because it was “good enough”. While the Kindle has a great library, it’s also waaay too expensive (as is the Iliad) and I’m not sure I like that direction – maybe the Bookeen will do better (although @ 350, it’s still more expensive). If people want this platform to succeed like mobile computers have (to a large degree due to early adopters), then there need to be people actually talking about the positive aspects of these devices instead of always downplaying them – and that’s something that there’s a distinct lack of these days.
I would be tempted, but I can’t get past the fact that Sony’s device doesn’t support the ereader (.pdb) format – it’s the only form of DRM I can swallow, sorry Adobe, your DRM sux rocks!
Opinions are all over the waterfront on the Sony PRS-505, even the new screen. But I myself have decided to upgrade from the older Reader. Meanwhile people might enjoy the quick “fondle” that Mike did of the 505–complete with observations on the screen. URL is below. As for book prices, I’m mostly into public domain books, although I’m hoping mightily that the new .epub format will eventually free Sony users from reliance on Sony-blessed stores. If Sony can be competitive, fine, I just want more choices.
David
http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=7191
Thanks for the insight David, but I’m going to go on record to state that I personally do not enjoy Mike’s fondles.
Just made for HTML Books Books, the free plugin “Books” for iPhones desimlocked is a nice one (installed with iBrick, windows apps able to use the iPod like an Hard-Drive for differents datas), with a good design to navigate beetween chapters or pages. really nice to use with resizable fonts..
Why to pay the same price for a comfortable smarthphone esay to go (iPod audo video and Web opened)and a Slate like this one for black and White screen and justed locked on reading books feature ? And not made for pocket… At home, a book is so nicer…
You’ll pay for that one, Tofel! You fiend!
Wow, you can just feel the love in the comments here at jkOTR. Not literally, thank goodness.
>>>you can just feel the love
Now you WANT a fondle?!!? ROTFLMAO!
We live to serve o curmudgenly master! Just don’t laugh so hard you hurt yourself. We’re not responsible, you know…
$0 — less if it involves DRM. Razors and razorblades, anyone?
Yes, there is DRM. And that too will be a roadblock for many people. I’ve said myself that what Sony is basically asking people to do is to place a bet that their Reader and file format will be around forever. Given Sony’s many missteps recently, it’s difficult to have faith in that company. However, it’s probably worthwhile investigating if hackrrz have found a way to crack the DRM so a book’s text can be moved to another container, if need be.
I think what publishers need to do is guarantee their books. People are buying the *text*, not the container. Once you buy it, you should be able to get it in any file format you require in the future with no additional charge.