Comments on: Sony PRS-505 Poll: Did your screen break?

By: Tony Martin

Tony Martin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:42:38 +0000

Had my PRS-505 for around two years. Cheerfully running PRS+ for at least one of them virtually unbrickable. However, after an half hour read this morning, put the book to sleep. Came to read it this afternoon and the screen’s kaput – went from screen saver to half screen to nothing but flashing border in about three reset and reboots. Can’t recall it suffering any trauma recently. Tried soft reset and reflashed ROM. Can’t really hard reset if you can’t see the screen. Quick search of the web suggests that I can expect nothing from Sony but a repair bill around 133% of the high street price of the most recent device. Pretty tired of Sony’s lousy customer service for solid looking items that turn out to be shoddy crap, virus riddled CDs and second rate security for customers’ card details. Shape up Sony!

By: Adrián Diaz

Adrián Diaz — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 06:03:43 +0000

I bought my first PRS505 in June 2008 in Montreal, I placed a special order at the Sony Store because the language law disallowed the direct sale of a product that didn’t come with French manuals/packaging.

I babied it and the screen broke in September 2008. Back then I didn’t even know that the screen was broken, I thought it was an internal fault because my unit had never suffered any trauma and it died on my desk overnight while plugged to my computer… Called customer support and they got away with me paying them $30 to get it replaced for a brand new Reader.
I seldom used it because it was so slow, but it remained a cherished possession.

Then one day in July 2009 I had the same problem! I thought that maybe it died because of LACK OF USE that had made the screen “stick”, I called Sony and it was now out of warranty. I swear never to buy another Reader again.
I guess the only reason they were so popular was because they came out before the iPad!!! I could have bought an iPad with the money I spent on my Reader and the money it would take to fix it.

By: Mike Weston

Mike Weston — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:14:52 +0000

Same as for several others – screen at top right failed between uses. Stored safely in case and subjected to no trauma.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:24:59 +0000

I’ve had the 300 for a little over two years now and last night I noticed a tiny crack in the screen. It’s still readable, but depending on the page it covers up a few letters. It’s had a good life, but if this crack gets bigger or something else goes wrong I’m not sure I’d get another sony.

By: dave

dave — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:45:03 +0000

Thought I’d throw in my story as well. Have a 505, it has worked great for about two years and then yesterday for no reason- upper right corner of screen is blanked. Pretty crappy, since I took good care of this unit. Instead of dropping another couple hundred dollars, I might go back to using ole fashioned books from a used book store/online.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:59:52 +0000

The failure rates doesn’t look too good for them, factored in with how easily eInk screens are susceptible to breaking and the high price of fixing or replacing them

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:58:27 +0000

Hi, Does anyone know the average price of fixing one of the PRS-505 screens in pounds maybe? Plus is there anywhere that it can be repaired except Sony?

By: Antonio Gaskill

Antonio Gaskill — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:34:37 +0000

My sony broke it was in its case and it broke when i toke it out i don’t know what i should do… if one of you guys could help me it would be grreat.

By: john m

john m — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:27:34 +0000

any luck with the class action dave.
i was reading , shut it down to eat ,opened it and the screen has
section in the top right that looks like a failure to the E ink.
27 months old .
i was very impressed with my reader , so much so that i bought the wife one .

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:18:54 +0000

Waterstones (where I bought the 505) were finally persuaded to replace the broken device. It took a ‘fight’ and they initially wanted to send me a ‘used’ one but eventually sent a brand new one instead.

Thumbs-up to Waterstones (but not 100% as they did argue the t*ss) but I’ve already bought a Kindle as a replacement. Half the price, MUCH better pdf handling, greater screen contrast etc etc. If you love ebook readers and are p*ss*d off with Sony, get a Kindle.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:34:25 +0000

PRS-505

Screen failure at 20 months.

Sony not at all interested. Suggest repair that costs almost the same as purchasing new!

Class action lawsuit anyone?

By: JJ

JJ — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:08:18 +0000

I’ve had two 505s over 2 years, both had the screen break way too easily, luckily I had bought them quite cheap as returns from the PX, I would never want to pay retail for one of these, hopefully newer models are tougher

By: Melly

Melly — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:56:41 +0000

I’ve had my 505 for 1.5 years. Across the top the e-ink display has failed which obscures the first 3 lines on any page. I’ve dealt with support – they’re very uninformed and had no solution other than spending $99 to send it in and possibly more $ to repair. There has been no trauma to the reader. Now what? Has anyone replaced their reader? If so, with what brand/model? I’m hesitant to get another Sony product as their software, store and support are the worst.

By: Jing G.

Jing G. — Sat, 29 May 2010 14:57:02 +0000

my PRS505 e-ink screen broke while traveling to europe this may. it was just in my laptop bag. where can i have it repaired? is it still worth the effort to have it serviced? thanks.

By: Terrdil

Terrdil — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:50:48 +0000

Using the PRS505 as a travel device with etravel books and some scanned content. Was in shoulder bag and no known trauma but top of screen failed. Hopefully someday replacement screens will be available as it was a good unit for traveling.