Sony PRS-505 Quick Setup Guide

Thank you for purchasing this Sony Portable Reader System PRS-505.
Read through this Quick Start Guide to prepare the Reader for use. 
Once initial preparation is complete, you can transfer content from 
your computer to the Reader to take it anywhere you wish.

CONNECT 

eBooks

*1

Content (book/audio/
picture fi les, etc.)

*2

*1 Online eBook store
*2 Content that you already have can also be transferred.
 

For details on content type compatible with the Reader, 
refer to the User’s Guide (PDF).

Download eBooks from CONNECT eBooks from your 
computer.

Transfer content from your computer to the Reader 
using eBook Library.

Enjoy content on the Reader.

Read this manual for initial preparation.

• Charge  the  Reader.

• Install eBook Library on your computer.

The Reader comes installed with a built-in rechargeable battery.

• Reader (with Soft cover) (1)
• USB cable (1)
• CD-ROM (1)

-  eBook Library software
-  User’s Guide (PDF)
- Sample contents

• Quick Start Guide (this manual) (1)
• Flyers
• Dummy cards (2)

• This CD-ROM will not play in an audio CD player.

First, charge the Reader battery, as battery power may not be 
suffi cient immediately after purchase. 
Turn on the Reader, then connect the Reader to your computer 
using the supplied USB cable. The indicator lights up red while 
charging, and goes off when charging is complete.

USB cable

To USB connector

Charge indicator

Slide POWER switch

• When you connect the Reader to your computer, 

• If the remaining battery power of a connected notebook computer 

is low, charging via USB connection may not be possible.

• If you connect the Reader to a notebook computer which is not 

connected to an AC outlet, the battery of the notebook computer will be 
drained. Do not leave the Reader connected to a notebook computer 
which is not connected to an AC outlet for an extended period.

Hint
• The Reader can also be charged by connecting to an AC outlet 

using the AC Adaptor for Reader (AC-S5220E) (optional).



Log on using an account with administrator privileges and 
connect to the Internet with your computer.



The launcher appears.



The Install Wizard screen appears. Follow the on-screen 
instructions to install.
Subsequently, install the User’s Guide as well by selecting 
“Install PRS-505 User’s Guide (PDF)” on the launcher.

If the installation is not successful, refer to “When installation is 
not successful – Q&A” on this Quick Start Guide.



 

Hint
• You can also start eBook Library by clicking the Start menu and 

then selecting “All Programs” – “Reader” – “eBook Library.”

It is recommended that you perform customer registration by 
registering your contact information, which enables Sony to send 
you information regarding technical support, software updates, etc.



The following are requirements to use eBook Library.

OS

Microsoft 
Windows Vista

Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Ultimate

Microsoft 
Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

CPU

800 MHz Celeron class processor or better

RAM

128 MB or more (minimum 512 MB for Windows 
Vista)

Free space on hard 
disc

20 MB or more
Depending on the content amount, more space 
may be required.

Monitor

High Color or more, 1024 × 768 pixels or more 
(True Color, 1280 × 1024 pixels, or more 
recommended)

Other devices

CD-ROM drive, USB port, pointing device such as 
mouse or track pad

• Internet connection (broadband recommended, some fees may 

apply) is also required on your computer.

• This software is not supported by the following environments:

- An operating system other than those included above

- Personally built computer or operating system

- Upgraded manufacturer-installed operating system

- Multi-boot environment

- Multi-monitor environment

- Macintosh

A1  Check that your computer meets the system requirements listed above.

running software programs before beginning the installation?
A2  Log on as “Administrator.”

 

Close all running software programs, including background programs 
such as virus-protection software.

A3  If the set-up program does not start automatically when you insert the 

CD-ROM, click “Start” on the Windows taskbar, click “My Computer,” and 
then double-click the optical disc drive icon to start the program.

access lamp of the CD drive fl ashing?
A4  When the bar is moving and the lamp is fl ashing, the installation is still in 

progress. Please wait for the installation to fi nish.

If the solutions listed here do not resolve the issue, refer to “Support” 
on this Quick Start Guide.

Hint
• For the latest information on eBook Library and to download any software 

updates, visit the Web site:

 http://www.sony.com/reader

© 2007 Sony Corporation  Printed in China

3-274-631-

01(2)

Portable Reader System

The serial number provided for this unit is required for customer registration. The 
number is on a label on the back of the unit. Do not remove the label.

The model and serial numbers are located on the back of the unit. Record them in the 
space provided below. Refer to these numbers in the spaces whenever you call upon 
your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No.  ___________________________
Serial No.  ___________________________

The contents of each book pre-installed on this product are copyrighted works, edited 
with the cooperation of the publisher and editor hereto mentioned.
Copyright laws prohibit copying the data of this product or the contents of this manual 
(illustrations, related documents, etc.) in whole or in part without the permission of the 
copyright holder. Additionally, use of the data of this product or the contents of this 
manual is not allowed without Sony’s permission except for personal use.

• SONY and the SONY logo are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation.
• BBeB, BBeB Book, and their logos are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
• “Memory Stick”, “Memory Stick Duo”, “Memory Stick PRO”, and their logos are 

trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• Bitstream is a registered trademark, and Dutch, Font Fusion, and Swiss are 

trademarks, of Bitstream Inc.

• Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and Windows Media are trademarks or 

registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and / or other 
countries.

• Adobe, Adobe Reader and Adobe PDF are trademarks or registered trademarks of 

Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

• MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology and patents licensed from Fraunhofer IIS 

and Thomson.

All other system names and product names appearing in this document are generally 
the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Further, 
the trademark ™ and registered trademark ® symbols are not indicated throughout 
this document.

Program ©2006, 2007 Sony Corporation
Documentation ©2006, 2007 Sony Corporation

Included with the Reader is this Quick Start Guide and the PDF-format 
User’s Guide pre-loaded on the Reader. Additionally, after installing the 
supplied eBook Library, you can refer to the Help within eBook Library.

Contains instructions for advanced features of the Reader and 
troubleshooting information.

 Browsing the User’s Guide on your computer

The PDF fi le of the User’s Guide is 
provided on the supplied CD-ROM.
Click the Start menu at the bottom 
left of the Desktop, then select “All 
Programs” – “Reader” – “PRS-505 
User’s Guide” to start Adobe Reader 
and open the User’s Guide.
For details on how to use Adobe 
Reader, refer to Adobe Reader Help.

 

 

Hint
• To view the User’s Guide, 

you should have installed 
Adobe Reader 5.0 or later. 
Adobe Reader can be 
downloaded by selecting 
“Get Adobe® Reader®” on 
the launcher.

 Browsing the User’s Guide using Reader

PDF 
Link

 (size) 

The PDF fi le of the User’s Guide is 
transferred to PRS-505.
From the Home menu, select 
“Books by Title” – “User’s Guide” 
from the Book list.

Hints
• A 

 mark in this Guide indicates a 

link. Press 

/ to select the desired 

link, then press Enter to jump to the 
linked page.

• To zoom in a page, press 

 (size).

Provides detailed information about using eBook Library and the 
Reader.

Click “Help” − “eBook Library 
Help.”

If you encounter an issue, try the following.

• If you cannot install eBook Library

  Refer to “When installation is not successful – Q&A” in this Quick 

Start Guide.

• For other issues

  Refer to the “Troubleshooting” section in the User’s Guide.

If the issue persists

Visit the support site (http://www.sony.com/readersupport).

If the issue still persists

Contact Sony Portable Reader System Support Center.
Phone number : 1-866-962-7669
For details, refer to “Other Information” in the User’s Guide.

You can purchase (download) eBooks from the online eBook 
store “CONNECT eBooks” to your computer.

Hint
• The following explains how to import/transfer/read eBooks. For 

details on other content formats supported by the Reader, refer to 
the User’s Guide (PDF) included on the CD-ROM.

• To purchase (download) eBooks, you need to prepare an Internet-

accessible environment on your computer.



Slide POWER switch.

USB cable

To USB Connector

Hint
• When you connect the Reader to your computer with eBook 

Library started, the date and time of the Reader is 
automatically synchronized with your computer clock.





The eBook Store page appears.



Authorization is required only on the fi rst visit to CONNECT 
eBooks.



Downloaded eBooks are automatically imported to “Library” 
in the Source view of eBook Library.

Library

Downloaded 
content

Source view

Hint
• eBooks can be read on eBook Library using your computer. For 

more information about using eBook Library, refer to the eBook 
Library Help.



“Sony’s Reader” appears in the Source view of eBook 
Library.



The View area is switched to the List view and all the content 
in Library is listed.

List view

Library

Hints
• When you click “Books,” “Audio” or “Pictures” in the Source 

view, only their respective content types are displayed.

• When you click 

 (Thumbnail view), content can be displayed 

as thumbnails.



To select multiple content, click the content while holding 
down the Ctrl key.



The content is transferred to the Reader.

Sony’s Reader

• Do not disconnect the USB cable from the Reader while data is 

being transferred.

• Do not leave the Reader connected for extended periods to a 

notebook computer that is not connected to AC power, because 
the Reader may drain the computer’s battery.

• If the computer enters a power saving mode, such as the system 

suspend, sleep or hibernation while the Reader is connected to the 
computer directly, the Reader battery will not be charged. Instead, 
the Reader will continue to draw power from its battery, discharging 
it.

On transferring via a memory card
• To transfer eBooks to a memory card on the Reader, insert the 

memory card in the Reader, then follow the above steps (except 
drag and drop the content on “Memory Stick on Sony’s Reader/SD 
Card on Sony’s Reader” in step 4). For details, refer to “Transferring 
content via a memory card” in the User’s Guide.

• With a memory card slot on your computer or a memory card 

reader, you can also transfer content directly to the memory card 
and then insert it in the Reader.

  If a memory card is inserted in your computer or a memory card 

reader, the memory card icon appears in the Source view. Follow 
the above steps (except drag and drop the content on “Memory 
Stick on PC/SD Card on PC” in step 4) to transfer to a memory 
card.

• When inserting the memory card into the Reader, it may take time 

for the Reader to recognize the content fi les in the memory card if 
the capacity of the content fi les stored on the memory card is large.

>

<

 (size)

>
<

MENU
Enter

Number

///

Number tabs



/ to 

The Book list appears.
If the contents of the book on the 
Reader and the memory card exceed 
30 items, the Index menu appears. The 
Book list can be further sorted by 
selecting the category item in the Index 
menu. For details, refer to “Sorting the 
Book list” in the User’s Guide.

Hint
• You can easily select a desired item by 

pressing the same number button as 
indicated on the number tab.



/ to select the desired book 

The Option menu appears.



/ to select how to open the 



To return to the previous page, press <.

or



The page can be magnifi ed.
To restore the original scale, press 

 (size) 

repeatedly.

Press MENU.

Hint
• To return to the Home menu, press and hold MENU.