Sony PRS-505/SC - Review - All my very own library that fits my handbag

Reviews for Sony PRS-505/SC

Sony PRS-505/SC

Newest Review: ... tended to use the adobe format as this seems to be pretty standard. You have to have the Adobe software installed on your PC to allow ... more

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All my very own library that fits my handbag (Sony PRS-505/SC)

Member Name: mickeyhunt

Product:	Sony PRS-505/SC
Date:	11/08/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use. Fits my handbag and is light. Could fit all the books I could ever read

Disadvantages: No back light for reading in dark or dim light

I absolutely love my ebook and carry it everywhere with me. I have been using it since late December 2008 and since getting it I have only read 4 real books - only because they were not available in ebook format. It came with 100 free classics which is nice because most of my favourite Jane Austen books were on there. It also gives me something to fall back on when I am short of money to buy an ebook.

I am a readaholic and will often read a couple of books at a time and this is perfect for me as I can carry around all the books I may want to read in one small footprint, that is smaller than most books in width although perhaps a little larger in length. It stores about 160 books without any additional cards, although if you use the maximum sized flash card that can appararently take it up to 13,000 books. I have not had to go that far just yet.

It takes books in the adobe PDF format and in Sony format. I have tended to use the adobe format as this seems to be pretty standard. You have to have the Adobe software installed on your PC to allow you to download the books and transfer to your EReader.

I started off buying my books from Waterstones, but then found that WH Simths also sell ebooks in the Abobe book format too and they are often cheaper and have books that Waterstones don't have. I have found other sites where books are even cheaper, but have not had the courage to risk ordering and waste money if they don't work.

I find my ebook easy to carry round in my bag and the batter lasts a long time, although I try to remember to charge it once a week. I read every night when I go to bed for about 2 hours and read at lunch times at work and will often snatch an hour at home when I get home from work. I did buy the mains charger at an extra £20 and have found this to be useful when I am nowhere near a PC to be able to use the usb connection.

It is very easy to use and to setup all the software on your PC. The switch off function at the top puts it into a standby mode that uses very little battery power. I tend to use this a lot as switching properly off and back on does take about 5 -10 mins. Every so often I do a full switch off as sometimes it hangs. No worse that a windows computer, in fact it crashes far less than my laptop. There are two page changing options so depending on how you hold it you are within easy reach. I find it easy to hold and it is not heavy, in fact lighter than many books, especially War and Peace and Lord of the Rings. It has a bookmark feature so you can mark which page you are on.

I havn't bothered with using the music function because I use an Ipod for that, but I might consider storing my pictures on it although it is only black and white.

I am just using the standard cover that comes with it at the moment, however I should really buy the leather cover to protect it. That cost £25 which is at least the cost of 4 books, so may be I'll buy it next month.

It does not have a backlight so cannot be read in dark or low lit places. This would have been nice, but I suspect it would be a hugh drain on the battery.

Perhaps purists will moan that it will be the end of the book and that having a book to hold is far better. I think that this will only enhance the written word and will ensure that books and literature continue in our ever changing technological world. After all paper is a drain on the world forests and if we can start to reduce the amount of trees that we cut down by reducing the need for paper that cannot be a bad thing. I think that there will always be a place for physical books espcially text books and encyclopedias as the small format of an Ereader does not allow for the quality and detail to come out on diagrams and pictures. I will always go back now and again to my old books which I will never throw away. I will just never buy a physical book again, which will solve my book storage problem.