Sony announces PRS-700 Reader with touchscreen

Sony's plan to launch an updated Reader today wasn't exactly a secret, but there are still some surprises to the new PRS-700 -- particularly the new six-inch touchscreen E-Ink display. Page turning is now accomplished by a swipe motion with faster refreshes, and there's a stylus and on-screen keyboard for searching and note-taking -- plus an LED reading light (not a backlight) for reading in the dark. Apart from that, it's basically the same deal as the PRS-505 -- internal storage for about 350 ebooks with SD and MS-Duo expansion and a 7500 page-turn battery life round out the package, as well as an updated online store. Of course, there's no Kindle-killing integrated wireless for the $400 price tag, but it'll be interesting to see how they stack up when the PRS-700 hits shelves next month.

[Garrett @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:15PM]

looks nice, but I can't pay $400 to read books.

[RD. @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:23PM]

If you read more books you'd probably have the 4-bills.

[LloydChiro @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:39PM]

"If you read more books you'd probably have the 4-bills."

Tell that to the homeless guys always reading at the county library.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:07PM]

The homeless guy in the library obviously did'nt read the right books

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:07PM]

The homeless guy in the library obviously did'nt read the right books

[Garrett @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:22PM]

If you mean I'd have more money because I'd spend less on videogames and other electronics, you're probably right. If you mean I'd have more money because I'd be smarter, I doubt that; I tend to read comedies.

[Larry @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:49PM]

1) 3.5mm headphone jack
2) Shortcut keys moved to the bottom of the QWERTY keyboard.
3) Black model (?)

[Nick8708 @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:49PM]

I think he means that the savings in the long run of buying e-books instead of real books would outweigh the cost of this reader, but only if you read a significant number of books that can be found in electronic version. I'd consider getting a reader if I knew the majority of the textbooks I have to buy every semester could be found in e-book form.

[Larry @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:50PM]

If you buy it for $400 and download 50 books for free from a site like Feedbooks.com, you're going to save a pretty penny.

[Metkis @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:20PM]

Sony makes an attractive book reader, that's for sure. I'm digging it.

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:11AM]

Yeah, I'm digging it too.

Just ordered a Kindle, and seeing this almost made me second guess my decision.
But I just realized that touchscreen != Whispernet/ Amazon Store.

Did I make the right decision? Or should i use the 30 day money back guarantee?

[Ethan @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:21PM]

Does the current one justify text? I went into a Sony store and couldn't get it to, neither could an employee.

[spass @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:22PM]

Great!. This news made my day!
I appreciate the touchscreen, straight lines, clean geometry, slick design. Better designed that the previous version.
If refresh rate is just a bit better than the previous, it's a buy for me.

[VVVM @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:29PM]

Press release doesn't say anything about faster refreshes... and the spec sheet isn't up yet...

[dagwud @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:34PM]

Looks better than the iRex stuff, in some ways, and it's cheaper. But the iLiad reads PDF, and Sony, historically, doesn't. Until they fix this, it's no sale.

[weg @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:43PM]

It also has only a touch screen, as opposed to the Wacom digitizer integrated into the iLiad, i.e., you won't be able to use that stylus to take notes (they emphasise this even on the Sony page: "stylus to highlight text"). So, adding annotations won't be as convenient as on the iLiad/iRex 1000. But, unlike the iRex engineers, it seems that the Sony engineers are able to design an ePaper device with a battery life greater than 10 hours (I've yet to see the iRex 1000 to believe that the battery lasts more than 20 hours as advertised).

[mr2_93 @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:28PM]

Actually, the Sony Reader does support PDF. The latest firmware fixes a lot of problems and improves its usability by a large margin. Before the firmware upgrade, I had problems opening large PDFs. That’s not the case anymore.

I have a PRS-505 and read a lot of stuff (ebooks, PDFs, RTFs - converted from DOCs etc., RSS-feeds – limited to those available from the Sony book site) with the device. I use it almost every day so I really get my money’s worth. I was hoping the new model would feature a large display for reading US Letter/A4-sized documents…I might consider the new iRex.

Nevertheless, I think the touchscreen and the stylus are nice additions.

[dagwud @ Oct 4th 2008 10:00AM]

Thanks for the correction, mr2_93. In hindsight, I've got my ebook readers confused.

There's another one that would only do PDF if converted first, and it didn't work well with scans of older articles that are really JPG collections in a PDF file rather than a document printed as a PDF.

I appreciate the clarification.

[Rob @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:36PM]

I hope this one integrates a dictionary like the Kindle, but it doesn't sound like it does as I see no mention of it.

[Richard @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:35PM]

I'd buy it if it could support Kindle Books. I don't care about wireless, and this one has a much better design. The Connect store sucks in comparison to the Kindle store though... that's the real selling point in this battle.

[OnlyShawn @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:09PM]

...i think pdf support is the selling point, which is why I'm still favoring the PL reader...and then the kindle, because of that everywhere connection.

[_man1c_ @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:48PM]

i want one, but not sure if the amount of books i read justify the cost of the electronic itself. on the other hand i hate the feel and smell books give off sometimes, and maybe getting this will get me to read more of them.

[LloydChiro @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:39PM]

After The Crash, I'm going to want a library full of real books to read by candle light.

[Caleb @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:51AM]

Just get a solar charger for it like I did. That and a stack of SD cards full of thousands of books and your set for a long long time.

[m.edgar @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:56PM]

Looks good, finally has some lighting, and I digg the touchscreen. And fourhundred is just about on the edge of what I would contemplate (although 200 would be the autobuy for me). The one problem I have with these things is the closed system.
At least my palmpilot t3 got other people to program support for damn near all formats (except .chm). And that's impossible to ever have with this closed system.

[foebea @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:02PM]

unless you go to mobileread.com where they have a full site of people reprogramming the sony ereaders constantly :D

[Mahapralaya @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:25PM]

Thank Jebus, I've been sitting on the fence with my e-reader purchase for months, hoping someone would hit the nail on the head. This is exactly the feature-set I was hoping for, and the price point is about $50 bucks too high but I can suck that up.

To all the naysayers do some research, the reader has been fully PDF compatible for a while, it supports all the relevant book formats, if not google "Calibre". These things are a student's (especially a med-student's) WET DREAM. E-ink is far superior to any LCD screen for constant reading, the battery life is perfect for study sessions, WiFi is completely unnecessary (I'm sure like my ipod I'll fill this thing up with data and it won't SEE my PC for months).

All I need to verify is the note taking aspect, and if it'll play nice with Microsoft Onenote. If so then I'll be $400 poorer. Actually scratch that, the INSTANT these hit sonystyle I'm buying.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:30PM]

The book is one of the best and most tried technologies ever developed by humans.
It has evolved over millennia of hardware, software and UI upgrades, it's very cheap , or at least can be very cheap, and it's very durable: in fact I can read my great grand father books but I can't watch my father home movies anymore.
Like all technologies it can have it's downsides if badly used or handled, but I really think that of all technologies known to mankind , the book, was probably the one least in need of reengeneering.
These reading devices can have a meaning only if and when they will be able also to show pictures and possibly videos and specially if and when they will be wirelessly updated so as to substitute not books, but newspapers or mags; or if they will be given away nearly for free with a subscription or an encyclopedia, or DY books or something practical of this kind, but they will never even come close to be able to give the same plasure given by a good book enjoyed, on the couch, in bed, on the beach , on the toilet, or wherever one likes to enjoy a good book.

[Nick8708 @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:07PM]

I think you're missing the point. These are meant to be more convenient since you can have your entire library, or a significant chunk of it, in a single device that takes up far less space, is easier on the eyes to read from for an extended period of time (unlike, say, an LCD screen), and can potentially save the user a lot of money by purchasing e-books instead of traditional ones.

Another good point is that, for instance, a million copies sold of an e-book would have a lot smaller impact on the environment than the same number sold in traditional print, and a technology like this makes it easier for people to adopt. You could say that people could spend $400 on a cheap laptop and get the same benefit, but LCD screens aren't as friendly to eyes when reading for long periods of time.

I think it's the natural progression of the medium upon which the written word is conveyed.

[David @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:32PM]

I've been making similar points for a while, particularly as regards the durability of the dead-tree fibre book technology. Then I got a Sony Reader. It's awesome cool. I mean, yes, a book doesn't have to be recharged, and if you leave it out in the rain, you're only out a few bucks. But what about the other way around? If I have a flood in a house of physical books, thousands of dollars worth of books are ruined. If I have a flood in a house with a reader, then I'll have to get a new reader for three hundred bucks and restore from backup. And that battery? Lasts a good two weeks of reading. So unless the end of civilization is coming soon, then I think I'm better off with a good ebook reader. I love reading. The Sony Reader gives me all the pleasures of that without the worry of where to fit an eighteenth bookcase in the house.

[Ian @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:51PM]

I was hoping that Sony would introduce an A4-sized reader at their announcement. This reader is still as good as the previous Sony reader, but the one thing that really distinguishes the Kindle from the rest is the service it comes with. It's very "Apple" in how they didn't just provide you with hardware and say "Here you go. Enjoy." Instead, they gave you the hardware, and ways to get the media and software in order to truly make the device useful in our daily lives.

However, I never want Apple to enter this market. I'm sure they would make this market popular, but their system would be just this ugly closed system, where you need to buy everything from iTunes.

Too bad the Kindle is butt ugly. This Sony has the benefit of real PDF file support, but if Kindle can make a nicer looking, updated Kindle, and a Kindle A4, that would be perfect.

[Justin @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:38PM]

Looks awesome!

[霽月瀛台 @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:12PM]

Isn't a touchscreen a must for a book reader??????????

[Plothole @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:24PM]

It could be a nice addition, but I could hardly I miss it with my current reader.

[Plothole @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:35AM]

*say I

[Dana @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:56PM]

I think Sony is moving in the right direction with the PRS-700. I was hoping for the touch screen and some form of lighting. They seem to be working at improving the number of formats that the reader can support. The design is attractive, for most people I think. The virtual keyboard is a big plus for me. My notes are generally short, still do that with my original Rocket eBook. Handwriting recognition would have been nice but it is not a deal-breaker, for me. I know some would like a larger screen, and there is a need for that for some people. Personally, I like the six inch screen because I want a compact reader.

It looks as if there are still buttons for turning pages. The gesture-based page turning is not for me. First, I don't want my finger prints on the screen. Second, I don't want to have to reach up every time I turn a page, when I can just have my finger resting on a button. I think the effort to mimic traditional books is a touch misguided, but still some people will appreciate it. If they have not integrated a dictionary, they are making a mistake. The price is a big negative for me. If they could have come in at the same $300 price point as the 505 I would be all over it. I use a Nuvomedia Rocket eBook and the eBookwise reader now. E-ink has not been compelling for me. Boost the refresh rate a bit and provide adequate built-in lighting for low light and no light environments and I might be there. So I am wavering.

I really want to like the iRex product. But it seems to be more of a "computer" to read books in an e-Reader format, than an e-Reader. That eventually may be a strength, but right now it seems as if they are struggling to make it work smoothly. It has more features that I want but not the ease of use I prefer.

Dana

[Gylman @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:53AM]

I don't get it.... in what significant way is this better than the current model>

Same size
The new one is heavier (11 oz vs 9 oz if I read the information correctly)
Same expansion slots

Who cares about the headphone jack or how I refresh the screen.

[Plothole @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:03AM]

I suppose with a touch screen you'll be able to write notes on the screen. Plus there's that built-in light (however that's supposed to work).

[Peter @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:35AM]

As a heavy user of my PRS-505, the only two things I was missing from my unit were the backlight and the new Vizplex screen. I read a lot in bed at night, so having a backlight is a great plus. The Vizplex screen means faster refresh, which is not a big deal when reading regular books, but sometimes it's slightly irritating when navigating the menus to wait so long, so it's not really that important, but a nice plus. I could care less about the touchscreen, but I can see some people being happy about it. I never ever write into the books I read and never really missed that feature. I also use the unit exclusively for reading, I use my notebooks, iphone, ipod touch, pda, gps, pc for other stuff.

[Plothole @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:38AM]

To be clear, as even the article says, this is NOT a backlight. Backlighting is in fact quite impossible with eInk. Which means Sony must be employing some sort of frontlight. (it might be as trivial as bundling their newer accessory covers that have a lightwedge-like device built in)

[Plothole @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:42AM]

Do'h... I forgot to mention also that the PRS 505 already uses Vizplex. it was the older 500 that used a non-Vizplex screen. So I'm guessing that the speed boost comes from the new Epson display controller.

[Peter @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:47AM]

It does? I never noticed... It's still rather sluggish when it comes to changing screens. Which is not really a problem of course.

[Plothole @ Oct 3rd 2008 7:38AM]

Having owned a PRS500, I can tell you that the 505's refresh rate was definitely an improvement.

[ssrat_ @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:39AM]

Having SOME sort of light is one of the best upgrades that was needed for these, the reviews will be interesting to see how well it will work in real life.

PDF's.. are they NATIVE or is it one you have to do something to make it readable?

Touch.. I WOULD like to see signature,highlighting, forms etc. something that would help in the workplace and for other things needing a signature for, stuff to fill out (IRS, other stuff)

[Picviewer @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:02AM]

Ahh there's my iTablet I've been waiting for, oh wait Sony can actually produce something in that format but Apple can't? Jobs must be prespinning in his coffin now. Just stick a real web browser, wifi, 64g's of space and OS on the thing and they'd sell instead of the wannabe gameboys Apple produces.

[blog.techflaws.org @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:52AM]

Well, I'm still pretty much sure Sony sucks for various reasons (like this one) but I must damit it looks way better than the Iliad and doesn't have a keyboard which personally I don't need in a *reader*.

I really hope some chinese startup will rip off the design soon and shell things out with support for almost all formats out there for 100 USD or so. All *I* need is 2 buttons to flip pages and a decent display.

[Andrew @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:05AM]

The thing is, none of the Ebookstores online that I have seen can come close to the selection of New York Times Bestsellers and National Bestsellers that Amazon's Bookstore offers. And the only way to use that bookstore is to have a Kindle. Amazon has something like ITunes for books and its amazing!

If one is buying an EBook reader to actually READ books they would normally purchase in a store, then as advanced as the other readers may be, they can't touch the Kindle because of the integration with that amazing Amazon bookstore.

[Peter @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:45AM]

Well, for people outside of the US Amazon Kindle is not a solution yet, the Sony Reader is.
On the other hand, Amazon is in the business of selling content and stuff, not into HW design, so I wouldn't be surprised if at some point Sony's Reader would become Amazon compatible, without the connectivity of course. But of course Amazon might have dreams of becoming Apple one day (an ugly monoplistic giant with a cute logo and strong grip on their customers), so you never know...

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 3rd 2008 7:09AM]

$400 for this!!! I'll go and get myself a good netbook !

[nxp3 @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:27AM]

With a touchscreen you'd think they have some kind of note taking app on there. Or at least allow me to do sketches on there THEN it be worth 400 and I would buy it, but as a reader...yeah...I'll stick with the books...I don't read that much.