Sony Portable Reader delayed (again) due to "overwhelming demand"

When you're looking forward to a new product from our old friend Sony these days, unfortunately, it seems that you can't really depend on playing around with said device until it's actually in your hands and you've verified that it's not some cheap knockoff. After the PS3, BDP-S1, and PRS-500 delays, you can't blame us for being a little jaded when it comes to the stated release dates from this venerable Japanese consumer electronics firm, and now it looks like the company's highly-anticipated (by us, anyway) e-book reader will once again miss its targeted shipping window. As we reported last week, the six-inch PRS-500 was set to hit stores "on or before" October 31st, yet the device's page on SonyStyle now claims that "due to overwhelming demand, new Sony Portable Reader orders will ship mid November." Translation: "You'll be lucky if you get yours in time for the holidays, even though we've had ten months to gauge demand and manufacture enough Readers for everyone." C'mon Sony, we like to spread our gadget allowance out over the whole year, but it seems that you'd rather have us blow our whole wad in November and be done with it -- well, we'll still buy all the shiny new toys that you shove in front of us, although we'll be a lot less smiley about it from now on.

[Thanks, Joshua H.]

[Zadillo @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:25PM]

Are you sure about this? I was at the SonyStyle store this past Saturday and they had them on display and available for sale (I didn't buy one though).

[Zadillo @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:26PM]

Just to clarify, this was the SonyStyle store in the Tysons Corner Mall in Virginia.

[Phinque @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:01AM]

I purchased a reader at the SonyStyle Shop at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida yesterday.

[BigD @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:40PM]

seems to be talking about the online stores, not the retail outlets.

[Ayrkain @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:31AM]

I ordered online and have one now.

[ccoyne @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:42PM]

Weird. 2 quick thoughts: (1) I casually ordered one last week the day engadget announced they were released, and it shipped immediately. Meaning there was no huge pre-order list they failed to fulfill. (2) Comments on the device have been overwhelmingly negative, even on Engadget. So it's hard to blame Sony if they underestimated demand...all anyone ever says about ebook readers is that they're not worth the cash when you can buy a used tablet pc for the same price. I guess the supporters like me have been too quiet.

[Giddieon @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:43PM]

Anyone have this this is something I have been looking at getting... looks kool...

If you have it how is it???

[Javaflash @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:43PM]

the risk... when the supply finally arrives, demand dries up. Retail channels take a pass or reduce orders to avoid piling inventories. Competitors gain enough time to slip in better offers.

Many products die this way. Sony beware.

[Syldaril @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:24AM]

just got mine today at the Sony Store, King of Prussia, PA. They're in stock there and they have 3 items on display if anyone's interested. First impression: awesome gadget, the screen truely looks like ink on paper!

syldaril.

[eric.james @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:37AM]

Mine is being delivered tomorrow according to FexEx.

[Ayrkain @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:30AM]

That's truly bizarre. I pre-ordered when I saw it on Engadget and I've already got mine and my $50 worth of ebooks. :)

[Michael C @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:37AM]

If "ccoyne" got it right about demand being overestimated, then maybe they're just trying to create a myth that its really popular, and make everyone think "Hey, this got completely sold out even before it was released! It MUST be good! I'm going to check it out!" ?
What do you guys think?

[Nogami @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:22AM]

I really want one, but I won't get it as long as I need Sony reader software to convert documents for it. If it read all of the common "open" formats (txt, RDF, PDF) natively and appeared as a mass storage device when plugged into a PC, I'd snap one up in a second.

[Jorge @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:31AM]

I got mine last week, this looks like the reader is just selling faster than production right now. Given some negative remarks I've seen about the price I think their initial market research indicated that they wouldn't sell a lot of readers initially.

[Eli @ Oct 3rd 2006 4:22AM]

I reckon they're just trying to generate hype.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 3rd 2006 5:43AM]

I think Eli is right.

I smell Sony-flavored hype.

[Dave @ Oct 3rd 2006 5:51AM]

quote:
'I smell Sony-flavored hype.'

No, that's just the battery smouldering.

[Snesgirl @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:25AM]

I can find hide nor hair of it from online retaileres in the UK. IS it not being released in europe at all or something ?

[Andywar @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:42AM]

I specifically asked about them in the Sony store in Nottingham, UK this weekend, and the manager there had no information on when supplies would be forthcoming. His exact words were "don't expect it this year".

[Anthony Robinson @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:37AM]

I think this is a really dull way of reading a book, You can't beat actually holding a real book with that great woody smell plus what about the cover art. Far as I'm concerned you can keep this device!

[exvaxman @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:40AM]

My understanding was that they only had 500 units ready for shipment.

[Dave @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:56AM]

I'd really like to hear some user experiences. Particular concerning the conversion software, and how well it deals with HTML and Word formatted documents. What sort of formatting does it dislike/ignore? I don't doubt it handles bold and italic. What about small caps? How does it handle embedded figures in Word and HTML? Footnotes? Sidenotes? Multi-column text?

And for HTML, does the conversion handle CSS? If so, which version of CSS?

I guess I could just buy one, but it seems like a lot of money to spend on an experiment. Then again, it is a very cool gadget, regardless.... Still, can you download the conversion software and play with it? Is there a computer-based viewer for books in the Sony native format?

("However", he continued, suddenly turning snarky, "it doesn't have an Apple emblem, so therefore it's ugly, and the user interface stinks, I just know it does....")

[Tom Boucher @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:41AM]

What amuses me is that 'overwhelming demand' changes the initial ship date instead of 'sold out of available units, more on xx date' they say none are shipping.

Weird how it works out that way

[guilt+1 @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:04AM]

I had to get a guy in the states to send one to me in the UK. It should be over the atlantic by now. The folks over at http://www.mobileread.com/forums have all the details and discussion from owners about how the software is and what settings are best.

[sycks @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:10AM]

My co-worker order his last week, USPS said it should be here later today.... Why all the hate for no reason?

[She-Ra @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:21AM]

I ordered three on line last week, then got a call from my local store on Sunday saying they just got them in (Houston Galleria). So I went to the store and bought one because I didn't want to wait on the pre ordered ones. Glad I did.
Hype or not, I'm just glad I finally got mine. I'm very satisfied with it. I read just as much as I listen to music, so for about the same price as an ipod it was an easy decision for me.

[Anthony @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:11AM]

Unfortunately I didn't think that stores would get them when online would not. Now mine's not scheduled to ship till Dec 4 (I ordered the day the SonyStyle.com change occured). Doubt the Metreon in SF still have any, but I'm certainly going to call later today.

[She-Ra @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:50AM]

FYI - If you ordered on-line but want to get one from the store faster, my Sony Style store said they'd return my money if I brought them the one ordered on-line when it finally came in. As long as it was within 14 days and the package wasn't opened.

[Bill @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:14PM]

I just bought one last night at the SonyStyle store in Denver, CO. I walked in, played with one of the four demo units, and said "I'll take one." I'm guessing so many people tried to order online, that dried up the available direct sale units. In the meantime, nobody thought to check B&M, so they are available there.

In addition, when I saw the original Engadget blurb, I took "on or before" in the ship date as "not before". I only learned it had shipped and hit stores after checking the MobileRead forums before leaving work last night.

[Veritas II @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:30PM]

Articles about Sony on Engadget = Two Minute Hate

[Prester Dave @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:50PM]

Has anyone found a way to obtain the Connect Reader software without buying one of the Sony Readers? I'm interested in how well the software (any, hopefully by proxy, the reader) handles RTF files.

Which reminds me: does anyone know what version of RTF is being supported?

[Dan @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:08PM]

I only wish they were pushing back the date in order to add some Mac compatibility. Ever since I made the switch to Mac, Sony has been nothing but a thorn in my side. First my PDA, which I finally managed to use with third party software, and then my digital camcorder, which I ended up having to sell to my parents-in-law and replace with something compatible. I'd think a company like Sony would try a little harder (and by that I mean try at all) to make its products usable by the growing number of Mac users. Personally, I'd love to give one of these readers a try, but not at the expense of using a PC.

[joe macaluso @ Oct 4th 2006 7:03PM]

OK, so honest opinion, guys. I LOVE the idea of the reader. It seems very cool. But has anyone seen this in action? I look at a computer screen all day. I'm used to them. Is the PRS-500 really worth having a separate gadget? I'm looking at buying an ultra-portable laptop. I need a laptop anyway. Am I really going to need this toy, or am I just going to end up doing all my reading on a small laptop. I mean they're getting so small anyway. I'm interested in something like this one here: http://www.clearanceclub.com/depot/quelle_showroom.cgi?sku=4903. The TX. I've used one. The price is coming down. It seems to me that rather than fill up a utility belt full of little gadgets, I can just get used to reading on a very portable laptop. On the other hand...sigh...i do love the tiny-ness of my nano...

[tristanfey @ Oct 6th 2006 2:20PM]

The main reason to consider this, rather than just doing your reading is eye fatigue. The reader is not back-lit and thus does not cause fatigue, which leads to headaches and several eye problems.'

Power consumption is another item to think about. It takes alot more to keep a laptop running than it does for this reader as it is effectively in a sleep-mode while you are reading a page and only "powers-up" when you turn the page.

[Guy @ Oct 6th 2006 8:01PM]

How is this any better than what came before it? I think I'll just stick with my Rocket eBook Pro, REB-1100 and REB-1200 readers. They're great for traveling -- you can take a small library with you -- and none of them cost me as much as this Sony reader (I admit I bought the 1100 and 1200 secondhand on eBay).

[Javaflash @ Oct 8th 2006 11:04AM]

NEXT UP...

Sony Portable Reader dead (again) due to "underwhelming demand"

[Michael Willis @ Oct 10th 2006 12:25PM]

I actually talked to someone and the had 150 units to ship on Oct. 23rd. 150 more units for Oct. 25th. And then they would fulfill all the other orders mid-november. They were putting precedence on putting machines in there stores. All also talked to two borders stores and they were suppose to get 10 units each within a week. So it seems like they expecting to sell more units through the stores and not online.

[Carl @ Oct 10th 2006 4:26AM]

I saw them in the Sony store in San Francisco last week. Nice screen, but tends to blink when you flip pages.

[Bob Weston @ Oct 10th 2006 9:26PM]

I walked into the SonyStyle store in San Francisco an hour ago and they had them in stock. I had called last week and they told me they had sold out over the weekend but would be getting more. Since I have a Mac I'll be trying out the PDF on an SD card interface.

[miller @ Oct 16th 2006 3:46PM]

People keep asking about how this is but no-one seems to respond. Here' my impression:

The screen is truly amazing. People I've shown my reader to are also impressed. Being able to change font size is wonderful. I've had no tired eyes, have read in bed with little light and on bus with too much light and it's just perfect.

The case it comes with is also excellent. It has a magnetic close that's great. It's solid and give the reader a book feel to it.

The software is very itunes based, but it took me a little time to figure things out. Sorry, but nobody does interface simplicity like apple. I've got books as RTF and PDF and the RTF files converted more easily into something that was instantly readable. If you don't get your source doc formatted correctly, it won't appear the way you want it to on the reader. I think there's a misconception that the software will "format" for you. It doesn't. So PDFs are a problem, and with ADOBE PROFESSIONAL, I'm at a loss with what to do with my PDF files.

The on-screen reader interface is a little better. Again, it mimics the ipod interface enough that you can find books pretty simply. Holding the reader is okay. Not as great as I'd want and this is probably due to the only sore point: the buttons. The bottom right navigator button with the push in analog stick is lame. Worse are the numbered buttons at the bottom of the screen. They leap you to a space in the book that follows this pattern: 1- beginning, 2 - 20% into book, 3 = 30% into book and so on. Because there's not enough border space to really hold this thing (you don't want to get your fingers on the screen), you need to hold it bottom and I've accidentally hit one of those numbered buttons a dozen times and cursed at having to "find my place" again.

I've shifted about 60 books that I owned onto the reader. I've picked up more free classics online and can see myself using this for things I want to have around but don't want to dedicate space to and thinks like Robert Parker. Love Parker. Takes me 2 hours to read one of his books, then I'm stuck with this brick of paper. Never again. I haven't read in the bath yet, which is a scary test. I wonder how it reader will react to the steam...

[John Stracke @ Nov 6th 2006 3:53PM]

I just tried it out at the local Borders (Cambridge, MA). I was mostly curious how well it would work without using their Windows software for conversion, so I stuck a handful of files onto a flash card (RS-MMC--the only empty card I had on hand) and brought it in. Here's what I found:

* The PDF files I tried were fine, but there was a very noticeable delay in turning pages. One file, which was larger and had more complex pages, took 2-3 seconds to flip; the other was more like 1 second. By comparison, the native files bundled with the unit took less than one second.

* Text files were fine. However, it doesn't do any paragraph flowing; if you want to view a text file, you'll want to convert it so that newlines come only at the end of paragraphs.

* The MP3 playback is kind of UI-impaired. There doesn't seem to be anything resembling a playlist; you get a flat list of the files on the device, you pick a file, and it starts playing from that point on. The page buttons move you to the next/previous files; the joystick lets you skip within the file. It keeps playing while you read--I couldn't figure out how to make it stop.

* JPEG viewing is similar: a flat list of files; use the page buttons to move among them. Looked pretty good, for monochrome.

* The big one: it kept dropping the memory card. That is, the files on the card would spontaneously disappear from the list of available files; in one case, it happened while a JPEG was open, and the display showed a sort of blotchy version of the image, as if it had read a thumbnail and then stopped. I don't know why this was happening; all I can think of is that maybe my RS-MMC was too slow, and the device saw it timing out and decided the card was defective. In each case, I removed and reinserted the card, and was able to proceed. I should try it sometime with an actual SD card.

[John Stracke @ Nov 8th 2006 9:11AM]

Update: a SanDisk SD card (not labeled as high-speed or anything) did work better; it never got dropped. Also, RTF works, too, and better than PDF, because it can be resized and reflowed.