Sony Offers Reader Trade-In, Adds ePub to PRS-500
Sony’s old PRS-500 eBook reader gains a new trick with the addition of ePub format support, says MobileRead. Oh, but it’s quite a trick to get the support. While one would expect this to be a simple firmware update, it isn’t. Well, it’s either that or it’s a way for you to get a new model — you be the judge. To get ePub support, you’ll need to send in your PRS-500 to a Sony Service Center. Sony will “update the firmware” — so it is just a firmware update, yes? — and return your reader to you within 14 days. Plan B is to trade up. Sony will give you $50 off of the $199 Reader Pocket Edition or $75 off the $299 Reader Touch Edition if you trade in your older device. Both of the newer models already support ePub, so you gain the new format as well as a newer device if you go the trade-in route. Don’t wait too long to decide — Sony is migrating its eBook platform and store to ePub before the end of the year.
Early adopters of the PRS-500 might be on the fence here, but if it were me and I had the money, I’d probably take advantage of the upgrade for a little cost savings. The newer devices have a faster refresh rate, 8-level grey scale and, in the case of the Touch Edition, offers a touchscreen display. Nice to see Sony give a little something to the first Reader customers.
I wish I could trade in a Kindle for credit towards a Sony Reader. I like the direction that Sony has taken with their content and content control. Amazon? Not so much.
Yes, this is quite nice. Once before they offered a trade-up promotion for us original Reader owners, and I believe the offer was a bit better at $100. I passed then, and will pass again because I really need a reader that can accommodate an 8.5″x11″ sheet of paper; therefore, I’m looking forward to Plastic Logic’s Que. Still, I think it is terrific that Sony is willing to upgrade the software in my PRS-500 so that I can continue to use it.
(Wow, that actually sounds kind of wimpy. Should I be grateful or should this be expected since Sony is changing formats? Well I’m happy in either case!)
I’d like to know when sony and b&n are migrating to epub. A specific day or even a month would be nice. It has already been months since the new sony readers were available, and I expected sony to come through already. I’m not going to make any investment in any ebooks that are not epub.
Sony says the “transition will take effect in mid-December, 2009.”
Sony is also paying the shipping costs. Now that’s unexpected. Nice.