Sony PRS-500 Review
Tried and Tested

The Sony PRS-500 is one of the models Sony offers under its digital book reader line. Although this model is one of the earlier models and has now been replaced by several new models, the PRS-500 and the updated version, which is the PRS-505, continue to make their rounds in the ebook reader market.

Sony currently focuses on its three main Reader lines, the Sony Reader Touch Edition, Pocket Edition, and Daily Edition. But even though these three lines have taken the place of earlier models such as the PRS-500, the capabilities offered are pretty much at the same level of quality. This could be why the older Reader models continue in their popularity especially since units are mostly available in cheaper prices.

The Sony PRS-500 offers the same Sony digital reader fare but with some minor lack in upgraded features. The quality of the reader can be evaluated based on several factors.

Readability and reading options

The PRS-500 from Sony uses a 6-inch screen that imitates the appearance of real paper to make you feel like you’re reading an actual book. The 6-inch display employs the innovative technology of E-ink display so text looks as if they were produced by ink on paper.

This helps prevent eye strain and reading seem like a real experience not different from reading an actual book. The screen also has a resolution of 170 dpi with 600 x 800 pixels and 4 levels of grayscale. There are two available font sizes so you can choose what you’re comfortable with.

Portability

The PRS-500 has a size almost similar to the size of an ordinary paperback novel, except that it does not have the same thickness. The ebook reader is only 13 mm thick, making it light and easy to carry around. Even at this size, it allows users to carry around several ebooks enough to last them a trip or a day out.

The reader comes with an internal memory of 64 MB and an external memory support of up to 4 GB for Memory Stick and 2 GB for SD cards. You can load books into your device via its USB port connected to a PC. After that, all the books you load can go with you wherever you go.

Upgrades for the PRS-500

To cater to the many remaining users of the Sony PRS-500, Sony recently announced that it has updated the firmware used with the model. All owners of the original device can avail of the upgrade to expand the capabilities of their ereader.

This upgrade will allow the users to enjoy Adobe DRM and ePub file formats. It will also allow users to re-flow PDF files. In order to avail of the said upgrade, users should bring their units to Sony service centers.

The future of PRS-500

Users of the original Sony PRS-500 are all praises for their device, and the model has plenty of loyal users who choose to rely on upgrades rather than on invest in a newer model. Those who are quite happy with the model but wants a new unit can also consider the PRS-505, which has practically the same package but comes with 256 MB of memory but with a thinner body.

Return from Sony PRS-500 Review to Sony Ebook Reader

Return from Sony PRS-500 Review to Ebook Reader Reviews