Review: Sony PRS-505

E-book readers have taken a while to take off. For years a small market of people has been reading books on their palm pilots and computers, but the practice never really caught on. This is probably because reading books on your computer and palm pilots causes much eye strain and can be uncomfortable. Then, with the development of e-ink, the e-book reader began to gain popularity ever so slightly. In 2007, Amazon released the Kindle, which they claimed would revolutionize the way we read books. Few people believed them. The Kindle has been selling well, but with a steep price tag and exclusive availability on Amazon.com insiders aren't sure if the Kindle will be a success in the long run.

There is an alternative! Sony has long been in the business of making e-book readers, but they haven't really hit one out of the park until they released the Sony PRS-505. There are many benefits to the Sony PRS-505, so let us get into it.

Sony PRS-505 Price and Deals

Checking in around $250-300, the Sony PRS-505 is still a bit expensive, but all readers are. Sony also has lots of promotions frequently and offers tons of free e-books when you buy a reader from them. They also have sales and coupons for saving up to $50 on buying a new Sony PRS-505. Once the technology catches on, expect the price to drop, much like prices did with MP3 Players and iPods.

The Sony e-book store seems to treat customers right, which is a huge plus in my book. They have different packages for the Sony PRS-505, including a James Bond package that I received as a Christmas gift. The 007 package comes with a cloth cover to protect the Sony Reader and has the numbers 007 on the bottom right of the front cover. It's very cool if you're a fan of James Bond. Also, if you buy that package you receive two free James Bond e-books, Casino Royale and For Your Eyes Only.

Sony's 100 Free Classic E-Books

Oh, and did I forget to mention that when you buy a Sony Reader they give you 100 free classics? Now, it's true that you can find classics for free elsewhere online, but you have to search for the right format, and sometimes they have errors. It is nice to get them from Sony, who takes great care in creating their e-books. Those 100 classics pay off the Sony Reader all by themselves, because if you go to your local Barnes and Noble or Borders, you're going to pay $4-15 for each book.

Sony also sends excerpts from new books for your Sony PRS-505, which saves you the trip of going to your local bookstore to glance through your favorite author's new book. Like I said, Sony seems to treat the customer very well.

Sony E-Book Store Variety

Now what about book selection? The Sony e-book store has loads of books and frequent sales and deals, but they are missing many key titles. This doesn't become as big a problem as you might think. There are tons of bookstores online that now offer e-books in the Sony .lrf format, so I have yet to be at a loss to find a book I want. The Sony e-book store also has relatively low prices, being beaten only by the Amazon Kindle bookstore, but not by much.

Physical Details

The Sony is more attractive than the Kindle as well, being a sleek black or silver about the size of a paperback novel. The page turn buttons are well placed and convenient, and the Sony Reader is lightweight enough to be comfortable to hold in any position. The Reader also has three font size settings which make it nice when your eyes grow tired from reading too long. You don't have to worry about eye strain because the e-ink is a wonderful development that makes the text look exactly like a normal book.

The Sony PRS-505 also has slots for an SD memory card, which allows you to store an insane amount of books on your reader. You can fit well over 150 books on your reader even without a memory card, however.

Conclusion

All in all, the Sony e-book Reader is very easy to use, attractive, affordable, and revolutionary. It has changed the way I read books, and I recommend it for any book lover. There is something to be said for being able to take an entire library of books along with you wherever you go with no hassle. The Sony PRS-505 is your best option for experimenting with an e-book reader. And trust me, once you experiment with an e-book reader, you'll wonder why you waited so long to join the revolution.

Where to Find the Sony PRS-505
The Sony Website
Wal-Mart