My New Sony PRS-505 Book Reader

I read a lot of books! It's been a constant and consuming pastime of mine since early childhood. Nowadays, these books are mostly best-seller type pocketbooks, but with quite a few hard cover editions thrown in - especially, if it's a book I really want, or one that I think I might miss when it comes out in paperback. Quite often, I pass up on a hardcover new release I'd really like, because of the cost, and never do end up getting the book at all.

I knew that downloading e-books was an easy and affordable way of making sure that I can pretty much get any book I want for under $10. Even so, until just recently, I hadn't given a whole lot of thought to buying an e-book reader. That's all changed now, as I've just purchased a new Sony PRS-505! I've already downloaded a half-dozen new books by my favorite authors and I'm good for reading material for at least a month now. E-book devices typically store around 160-300 books in internal storage, but with the addition of an SD card, or memory stick, that number can be increased into the thousands - a complete library.

Sony's PRS-505 Book Reader - My personal favorite!


Before deciding on the Sony PRS-505 Book Reader, I did lot of research on the web, visited a few retail outlets and talked to friends who actually have one. There are only 2 major players in the e-book reader business - Sony and Amazon. Amazon markets the Kindle, while Sony sells a few different models of their e-Book Reader. Each, of course, has it's own pros and cons, supporters and detractors. But, from what I've seen and heard, they are both excellent units and anyone who likes to read would be more than happy with either brand.

Amazon's Kindle 2 e-Book Reader


The final decision as to which reader to buy simply came down to my own personal preferences and how I thought I would be using the device. So, although I know of a few RV'ers who own, and are very happy with their Kindles, here are the 5 main reasons I decided to buy a Sony PRS-505:

1. ePub support - Sony support of the 'open standard' ePub format makes it possible to transfer, and obtain, books and PDF's across a wide variety of devices. The Kindle uses Amazon's proprietary eBook format making you forever tied to Amazon books only. The Kindle does not have native support for PDF and ePub books.
   
2. Ergonomics - the Sony PRS 505 is smaller, thinner and doesn't have the somewhat awkward thumb keyboard of the Kindle. The 505 is 6.9" x 4.8", while the Kindle measures in at 8" x 5.3", even though the screen sizes are exactly the same - 6" diagonal. The next page, previous page buttons on the Kindle stretch along both sides of the device, while the 505, on the other hand, puts the page back and forth buttons exactly where most people hold a book when they read. I preferred the simplicity and function of the Sony Reader's controls.
   
3. Readability - this is a wash. Both the Sony and the Kindle use the same eInk display and the screens are the same size. There is virtually no difference in readability between the two devices other than the built-in fonts that they use. They are both excellent, rendering print that is almost like an actual book.
   
4. Free Books - Sony, together with Google, has recently announced access to more than 1 million free public domain books in it's eBook Store, including classic novels, biographies, historical texts and others. These books are in ePub format and will not work on the Amazon Kindle.
5. Cost - Again, a wash. Both the Sony PRS-505 and the Kindle 2 sell for $299 although the Sony does come with a free leather cover, while a cover for the Kindle will cost you an extra $30.

Sony PRS 505 ------Amazon Kindle
Perhaps the nicest feature of both of these readers is that they use the amazing E Ink screen technology. This feature allows for the screen to deliver a paper-like display that's more like ink on paper - very similar to a newspaper. The E Ink screens are fully readable in sunlight as the screens are not back-lit like normal LCD's on laptops etc. In fact, if you are reading at night, or in a dark room, you will have to provide your own ambient light just as you would when reading a paper book.

One feature the Kindle has, which is not available on my Sony PRS-505, is 3G wireless which lets you download books right to your Kindle, anytime, anywhere at no cost other than the book you are buying. This wireless connection is strictly for downloading of Amazon books and does not allow for Internet access or any other internet activity. Even though this is kind of a neat feature, it had absolutely no impact on my decision one way or the other.

Here's why. The Sony e-book library works much the same as the Apple I-Pod and I-Tunes. You simply do a one-time install of Sony's e-book Store software on your laptop or desktop(6 concurrent devices can be authorized). Then, launch and connect to the e-book Store, browse and buy any books you want, click to download them to your computer and transfer the books(or synchronize) to the Sony Reader using a supplied USB cable - it's simple and the whole process only takes a minute or so.

The Sony PRS-505 with Leather Cover feels like reading a paperback


The Kindle method is neat and tidy, but I just decided it was more of a marketing gadget rather than a 'must have' tool. It might have been different if the Kindle offered some 'web-browsing' capability, but it doesn't. I haven't been able to think of a single situation in my entire life, where I have been somewhere without my laptop, and just had to have a book right now, this instant, immediately!! However, if you do get those sudden urges and needs, then maybe the Kindle's for you!

To be fair, I wasn't all that impressed with Sony's new PRS-600 Touch Edition, featuring a 6" touch-screen display, either. It allows you to turn pages with the swipe of a finger. An included stylus offers freehand highlighting and annotation. Really?? Do I want oily fingerprint smudges all over the screen I'm trying to read? Also, I don't highlight anything, nor do I make notes in books - at least, not since I went to school a hundred or so years ago! Also, reviewers note that because of the new touch screen, there is a bit of glare that is not present on the PRS-505 model I bought. The PRS-600 also costs more at $399. So, I'll just pass on this one and mark it up to another bit of 'marketing gadgetry' - this time by Sony.

Sony's New PRS-600 Touch-Screen Reader


So, to the most important part - how did I justify spending $299 on another electronic gizmo/gadget? It's really pretty simple - I love to read books of all types and I just hate running out of something to read - especially when we're off in our 5th wheel somewhere with no book store in sight. With e-book stores, an Air Card and the hundreds of thousands of books available at the click of a mouse, I should never be without a book to read again.

A typical screen from Sony's e-Book Store of books by John Sandford


Also, I figure the e-book could easily end up paying for itself within a couple of years. Based on the number of books I currently buy, including hardcovers, the cost of e-books at $9.99 each is a lot less, on average, than I currently pay for books. Another factor is that a lot of books in a 5'er quickly clutters up the bedroom and living areas.

Then again, maybe the more truthful answer as to why I bought an e-book reader is that I simply like electronic gizmos and gadgets! And, if they are extremely useful and cost-effective, then all the better!!