So how does the Amazon Kindle DX compare to the Sony Reader PRS-505? Keep reading to find out.
Differences between these two devices can quickly be reduced to five major areas:
- The size of the display: 9.7 inch for the Kindle DX, 6 inch for the PRS-505
- Connectivity: Free wireless for the Kindle DX, connection through a computer for the PRS-505
- Storage space: 4GB internal for the Kindle DX, 128MB internal for the PRS-505, accepts external flash cards for additional storage
- Keyboard: The Kindle DX has a full text keyboard, the PRS-505 doesn’t
- Read To Me: The Kindle DX can read books aloud, the PRS-505 can’t
The Kindle DX is much better suited for reading newspapers and magazines without having to scroll around the display. In addition, PDF documents are much easier to read on the Kindle DX – on the PRS-505 they are reduced to fit the 6″ screen, and even when zoomed to maximum magnification the print is too small to read comfortably.
As for connectivity, the Kindle DX comes with free wireless connectivity for downloading books as well as for browsing the Internet. The only way to get content into the PRS-505 is via a connection to a personal computer (running Windows, the software doesn’t work on Macs). In addition, there are more books available for the Kindle DX and their cost is usually lower. Amazon also provide over 5,000 free books that you can download for free from Amazon and over 25,000 books that you can get at the price of under $1 for the Kindle device.
The storage issue is probably one of personal preference, but with the PRS-505 you have to buy and keep track of all those tiny flash memory cards. The Kindle DX has enough built-in storage to last for years – plus Amazon gives you free backup on Amazon.com of any book you purchase – you can download it for free at anytime.
As for the keyboard issue, this means that you can makes notes and annotations on your Kindle documents, but you can’t on the PRS-505. The only other major differences between the two devices are the price and that, due to its smaller size, the Sony Reader PRS-505 is a little easier to carry around than the Kindle DX. If either of these is a problem for you then you should consider the Kindle 2 (read our Kindle 2 vs Kindle DX) – it costs around the same as the PRS-505 but it has many of the extra features of the Kindle DX.
The following table compares all the difference between the Kindle DX and the Sony Reader PRS-505:
| Amazon Kindle DX | Sony PRS 505 | |
|---|---|---|
| Outlook |  |
 |
| Size | 10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38" | 6.9" x 4.8" x 0.3" |
| Thickness | 0.38" | 0.3" |
| Weight | 18.9 oz | 9 oz |
| Display | 9.7" E-Ink 1200 x 824 resolution 150 pixels/inch 16 level gray scale |
6" E-Ink 600 x 800 resolution 167 pixels/inch 8 level gray scale |
| Screen | Auto-Rotating, as you turn the device | Not Auto-Rotating |
| Storage | 4GB (3.3GB for user content, about 3,500 books) | 256MB (210MB for user content, with expansion slot) |
| Product Link | Kindle DX Best Price | Sony PRS-505 Best Price |
| Customer Feedback | Feedback on Kindle DX | Feedback on Sony PRS-505 |