Sony opens book on new Reader

Sony's new PRS-505 Reader is available in silver and dark blue and retains a $300 price tag.

(Credit: Sony)

Rumors have been circulating that Sony was about to release the second edition of its electronic book reader--and now it's official. Sony's new Reader Digital Book, the PRS-505, will hit stores shortly, and while it doesn't look that different on the surface, it's got some notable improvements.

• Next-generation electronic paper display delivers faster response and a higher contrast ratio, with eight levels of gray scale instead of four.
• Slightly thinner profile.
• More intuitive button layout allows for easier navigation.
• Available in silver and dark blue.

The new Reader costs the same as the old Reader ($300), offers the same amount of built-in storage (room for about 160 "typical" eBooks), and the same amount of battery life (Sony lists it at up to 7,500 page turns). While the original Reader wasn't bad, I saw plenty of room for improvement--and it appears that Sony has addressed some of the downsides that I noted in my review (Sony says it listened to what Reader owners had to say, but we pompous reviewers think we're the real influencers).

Whatever the case, the announcement couldn't have come sooner for Sony. Rumors of an Amazon digital book reader have been percolating for a while and turning the iPhone into an e-book reader doesn't seem all that difficult, considering "illegal" PDF-reader hacks seem to work pretty well. No word on when Apple will create a real e-book reader for both the iPhone and iPod Touch, but when it does, it will only validate this emerging market.

Hopefully, Sony's learned from some of its missteps in the digital music arena and a Sony executive I spoke with says it has. The company wants the Reader to be an open platform, and it helps that you can view Word and PDF files on the device along with the copy-protected books from the online Connect eBooks Store. I'm not sure Sony has the chops to create an iTunes-like store for e-books (Connect still has a little ways to go), but we'll see--at least Sony's out there trying to break new ground instead of watching Apple do it.

[birdmannn]

the future of connect

Connect will be shut down within the next few months

[navsimpson]

Connect Music will be shut down.

The Connect eBook store is staying open.

[navsimpson]

Just to clarify.

The original reader went for $350 and held 80 books using the built-in storage - both things have changed on this new model. <br /><br />Now Sony - release the bloody thing in Canada!

[make_or_break]

I like my existing Reader

But it certainly could use some improvement. Personally I would've preferred a plastic case rather than the thin, dent-happy sheetmetal that was used for the PRS-500. I've gotten used to the residual ghosting that first Reader's electronic ink leaves, but with high contrast images and graphics the refreshes still leave a lot to be desired. Also, the battery strength indicator now seems to have forgotten what the full charge symbol is supposed to look like.<br /><br />But I can live with all that. What I [b]CAN'T[/b] abide by is the anemic title selection at the Connect Book store. In the half a year since I've bought this thing, I really haven't noticed much of a difference, particularly in getting older titles from any particular author's catalog. Frankly, if I realized that so few of my favored authors were going to be carried by the store, I would've reconsidered my purchase of the device.

[DarkHawke]

Sweet-looking, but ultimately meh.

Except for impossibly large books, like textbooks and industrial-strength manuals, is there really much of a need for a [i]dedicated[/i] device of this nature? Yeah, it's nice they're opening it up so you can read different file formats on it, but doesn't that then beg the question, "Hey, why can't I edit this page as well?" I'm glad they're still working on this idea, since it's probably on the path to a new kind of lightweight tablet-style mobile computing device, but it remains too limited for a wide audience, ESPECIALLY at the $300 price point! Ought to be $100, tops. My thanks to you, you well-heeled early adopters, for keeping this kind of screen technology alive till it becomes truly ready for prime-time!

[lee.gee]

Way off what's required

How many years ago did Jessie Burst's crew at ZD Net review a small US start-up who produced bendy "electronic paper" that no giant wanted to buy? Why does this reader not use it? When will I be able to sit on the train with a paper e-book?

[dulcie]

They didn't fix the big stuff

The biggest issue with the e-reader (and why I still use my Palm for e-books) is back lighting. At the very least, Sony could issue a back-lit model and one without. I'd trade the battery life for a book!<br /><br />And the e-reader store is pretty week...only the commercial crap and at a high price....I am totally disappointed in Sony.

[RTT]

Spend a little money on.....

the Reader or any other similar product, go out of your way just a little bit and save a forest. OK, how about this: You ever seen what the water looks like downstream from a paper mill?

[Pixelstuff]

eBook Reader vs. other devices

I doubt the current iPod devices are ever going to cut into the eBook market.<br /><br />Most people have trouble reading a novel during the limited battery life of a running PDA or iPod. From what I understand the Sony Reader doesn't use electricity except when updating the page (per page turn). That's considerably different than the 30 times per second of an iPhone or iPod Touch.<br /><br />In the future I hope they can create a multi colored digital paper with enough resolution to simulate CMYK printing on paper. That could be the best of both worlds. A room lit reflective display that only updates when needed. And even then only certain pixels on the screen when, for instance, a video clip was embedded or when a web page is scrolled through.<br /><br />In reply to the guy wanting a backlit version. Do you read your books in the dark or is the Sony Reader just not as reflective as normal paper?

[Scott Gardener]

Probably doomed

By the time this approach catches on, it'll already be obsolete. Most techies already own devices that serve the same purpose, be it mobile phones with PDF readers or laptops. Tablet PCs are gaining ground rapidly.<br /><br />As for non-techies who aren't toting around a Fujitsu convertible? They're reading the old-fashioned way, by text printed on paper. A lot of people don't want to give that up, and I suspect that will continue to be the case for a long time. Even people who on a daily basis may read work-related documents in digital form, correspond by email, or do homework on Wikis, recreational reading is probably going to remain largely low tech for about two or three decades, before the electricity vs. paper green debate reaches a point at which low power mini-tablets can save enough trees for plain books to look Earth-unfriendly.<br /><br />By then, mini-tablets will probably be dirt cheap and everywhere, and a dedicated book reader will make as much sense as a pocket calculator phone.

[mishani]

One key feature

that still seems to be missing is ability to search and add dictionaries/encyclopaedias. I had hoped for a more radical upgrade - after all this time.

[cyberDJ-2038765336053745013836]

Sony needs a hit

Nobody is doing this so they need to kick ass before Apple ruins this market as well.<br /><br />I think Sony should innovate here and offer a flexible display technology that I have read about in PopSci.<br />They should also use the same screen the iPhone and Touch use to simulate literal page turns.<br />A multi-touch display make more sense on this than it does on an iPod.

[MMRudy]

Crave is difficult to read

[MMRudy]

Sony reader - Sounds great for travel

A comment on the Sony reader...it would be nice to be able to download e-books from the public library onto a portable reader. (We can now download them to the home computer, of course.) This would probably require cooperation between whoever is providing media to the public library system and Sony. Might be worth the effort if it results in increased reader sales. <br /><br />Usually I download audio books to my MP-3 player (not the iPod) and find that a satisfactory alternative for travel. Having access to both e-books and audio books would be an advantage for me.<br /><br />Maybe the Sony reader does that, but I can't read your review easily enough to note a mention other than buying the e-book from someone.

[phrelin]

This device is great for us over 50 geezers

By the time we are 50 our eyes don't let in as much light and we need reading glasses. Using the large type option with the backlight makes this a godsend to those of geezers who like to read books.

[jaspbailey]

Improved - still great single use device

Some of us actually like to have an option to carting around our laptop or squinting to read off a palm. The Sony ebook is small, lightweight and very portable. I travel a great deal, and can take as many books as I want on a trip without the bulk and weight. The battery lasts forever - I have gone for weeks without charging the old version, and the new seems just as good. I am also a 50+ reader, and the option to increase the text size is a godsend some days. I work and attend school full time, and find this a great option for transfering PDF research articles and reading them in airports, waiting rooms, etc. As for the Sony bookstore, if you are looking for classics, there are more than 100 titles for $1.99. Non-fiction best sellers are also well represented, so there are options if you don't like popular fiction. I do miss the backlight I had on an older ebook, but the ink/display on this are so superior, I find I don't miss it that much. Overall, I think this is a great little device if you can afford it.

[Alan Sobel]

Sony opens book on new reader

Your white text on black background format is difficult to read. It may look jazzy, but it's counterproductive. Note how much easier it is to read the text on the included e-book photo.

[csetzer]

Viewability

I own the first edition and like it a fair amount. However, for someone who travels a bit, I found the thing rather fragile. Also, the lack of a backlight was simply odd. That, all by itself, would have made the thing worth it's price. Being able to read in low-light moments (late night planes, buses, in bed) would be, to me, well worth any battery life costs.

[mjstrom]

Just received my 505

Just picked up my 505 last night at the Sony store in blue. Much better form factor then before?better quality in fit/finish. The 8 shades of gray is a big help. Haven't done PDFs yet, but the screen is a touch sharper then before. Page turns appear the same speed.<br />After reading everyone's comments, we need to keep in mind why this device is here--to use a different screen technology that does not cause eye strain. The fact there is no constant refresh rate, almost eliminates eye strain similar to paper. Remember that all those LCD screens require refresh rates which cause flicker and aids in eye strain. <br />Maybe a better form factor for this device would be color E-Ink in a iPhone package (due to landscape mode) but as other PERFECT devices, this does not exist.<br />The 505 is a nice improvement over the 500, and was finally worth the purchase.