Sony says the Reader is selling 'very well,' thank you very much, isn't planning color versions
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 29th 2010 9:37AM
posted January 29th 2010 9:37AM
posted January 29th 2010 9:37AM
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@Wesscoast Who needs an e-reader for magazines? Why? Magazines are fine already. I get a magazine, it's delivered to my door every month, it's printed very nicely, it's easily portable, the colour photos are much better than any IPS LCD (never mind the current state of colour e-ink), I read it, then I chuck it in the recycling.
Note that last phrase. That's the key thing. Ebook readers are not there to be cool gadgets or even primarily so you can get books RIGHT THIS INSTANT. They are there so you do not need to have shelves full of books that you aren't going to throw away but, come on, all those shelves, it's ridiculous. Magazines? Not a problem, you throw them away anyhow.
As a smaller point, e-readers also make it easier to buy books (and get free public domain books) on a whim and not have to wait to get them, which is great - that also doesn't apply to magazines, because you don't actively get magazines; they come to you. Are you going to even notice that the magazine got to you a few days later than it might have done by digital delivery? Or care? (I don't think anybody these days reads magazines to get up-to-the-minute news, somehow...)
I'm still waiting for ebook readers to mature (very tempted by sony pocket edition, but an even better display would be nice, and if they can figure a way to do touchscreen without ruining quality, all the better). iPad is, of course, irrelevant.
I'm sure that "not planning a color version" statement is Sony code for "Dammit, our color e-book reader is a year behind schedule and we need to stall the press so they stop hounding us!".
You know... it's the same code that they used when they said that they weren't going to participate in the "race to the bottom" to build their own netbooks a few years back.
@leonbev
hehe, i like how you just made up that Sony had a color eBook reader in the works... hahaha...
I'm sure their Japanese AV Vibrator Motion Controller was 'in the works' long before the Nintendo Wii too... They're really a visionary company.
@Wesscoast
Actually if you look at Sony's patent filings over the years, then yes. Even stuffing gyros/accelerometers into a dual shock goes as far back as 1997...
Sony's new Daily Edition ereader sold out IMMEDIATELY at my local BestBuy.
Sony is the best reader up to date. Nothing like those crappy plasticky things - real solid metal build, like a brand new Japanese car.
Had a PRS 505 for a couple of years, great piece of kit. I only sold it because I got my hands on the 300 - the smaller size suits me as I only ever read linear fiction on there, plus it fits in my jacket pocket.
Quality products, all, bar the supposedly shonky PRS-700 which I've never actually seen in the flesh.
I love that the Sony reader has both SD and MSDuo slots.
I have a ton of ebooks in my own personal library so access to online store is as the very bottom of my list of must haves as long as I can read my own ebooks I already have and not have to purchase from somewhere else.
do any of the kindle models have a memcard slot or allow you to upload your own documents?
I don't understand why the other product even needs to be compared (not in this post, I'm just saying in general). This is a dedicated book reader. Not an MP3 player, PMP or web browser. It's a simple, solid product that stands well on it's own because of e-ink. I don't have any vision problems, but I'm not going to get any by reading off of a backlit screen. E-ink was created for the purpose of having a reading experience and does it well.
Its been months now since i have wanted this reader. I Know ill get it. My favorite device to read books, Period.
I concur.
@logicbombde
I'm the same, I have an epic collection of dubiously obtained ebooks so a store is of no interest to me. I've been reading them for years, going back to Palm days, yet ironically I'd never dream of buying an ebook. When I am after a new title, I'm old fashioned and buy the paper version, heh. Largely due to their stupidly price really, well here in the UK anyway.
I got a pocket reader for Christmas with the leather cover and light and I absolutely love it. I got tons of free books, and I don't totally despise the sony software and store.
Sony eBook readers are top-notch. It's probably one of the most underappreciated Sony products and it beats the pants of every other eInk readers out there, especially the Touch edition. Kindle gets all the press, and I wish people started looking at Sony's offerings in the space.
I own a PRS600SC and love it. I'm also planning to buy an iPad because I don't see an overlap here.
@(Unverified)
Yup, same here re: overlap. I get a LOT of time to spare at work and until recently used a netbook. 100% of that time I either was watching locally stored (ie not flash) video, BBC iPlayer, and browsing the net. No other flash content, ever, at all. Imo, for MY personal usage, the iPad will perform those tasks better than a netbook - like the iPhone, there'll be an iPlayer app so I'm covered there too.
I never use webcams, wouldn't wish to inflict my pasty mush anyone :)
Can totally understand other people's grievances with the iPad though, but it'll be a first day (3G) purchase for me as it does the things I want.
Still use my Sony Reader for reading though!!
I have used the PRS505 for 2 years. Still the most usable of the bunch that I have tried. Not planning to even try any other at this point... why bother? It just works.
My wife wanted an eBook reader and after some research we settled on the Sony Touch. Now I'm no Sony fan, but I liked it so much I bought one for myself. In a nice turnaround from their traditional practices, they've created an open product that works with all popular formats (ePub, PDF, etc..) and includes an SD slot for expansion (instead of their typical Sony only Memory). No zany proprietary connection cord either, just good ol' USB. Their reader software even integrates directly with Google Books' vast collection of free literature and works with libraries that offer eBook checkouts.
Materials and build quality are top notch. MP3 playback is nice for audio books or background music while you read. The drawing pad and text notes work well and help to move users closer to actually being "paperless". Adding annotations and notes directly on eBooks is great for students and the built in dictionary is icing on the cake.
I'm looking forward to the next generation of eReaders from all the different manufacturers, these devices are just going to get better and better... cheaper would be good too :)
@philnerd
I totally agree.
I usually have huge problems with Sony products. I own a PS3 but I'm always running into problems with it where it's just too difficult to use. When I got a surround sound system the PS3 took an hour of tinkering to work right whereas the Xbox 360 just set itself up in 1 second with no help from me. Similarly, it took me about an hour to figure out why my PS2 couldn't play DVDs (it was set to progressive scan but hooked up with composite cables) and then another half an hour to figure out how to fix it. In my experience, Sony's stuff is usually just poorly designed.
That said, I got hooked on the Sony Reader after playing with a store demo of the 505. By the time I had saved up enough expendable cash to buy one, they had replaced it with the Touch Edition, so I bought that one. It is absolutely fantastic. The desktop software is a little less than perfect (and looks way too much like iTunes) but it gets the job done and doesn't give me any major issues. The device itself is just perfectly designed in every way, it's the kind of rare device that you just fall in love with after using it for a while and I really never expected to find that kind of device from Sony. They deserve major props and mainstream recognition for their Reader line and they sadly don't get it very often.
I've had the PRS-505 for the past year and I absolutely love it. Sony book readers really are not as much appreciated as they should be all because of the Kindle.
F*ck color e-ink – when is Sony finally going to adapt EPUB justification?
@Yoshi1080
Oh crap, are you serious? I haven't bought a new book since they switched over to ePub, but I was a little concerned about it since Google's free ePubs are formatted so horribly on the device. I just figured it was because Google didn't format their books for any particular reader, but if Sony's ePubs suffer the same problem then I'm going to be extremely annoyed.
@Yoshi1080 Epub justification is on the PRS 900 (Sony Daily Edition). I'm guessing a firmware update might come along for older models??
BTW, for science fiction fans with Readers (or most other ebook readers, really) - make sure you know about Webscription, Baen's ridiculously awesome eBook service. It provides the eBooks in a zillion completely non-DRM'ed formats, for extremely cheap prices (like, $8 for brand new books that are only out in hardback). Or you can get a 'subscription' and get like a dozen books a month or something silly like that for $15 (I haven't really looked at the subscription thing in much detail but it seems extremely cheap from a quick glance). I think it's so nice because it's been going for years and pre-dates the high-prices-for-DRM'ed-books trend. Obviously if you don't like sf it's not very interesting, but if you do it's awesome.
@AdamWill Thanks! I didn't know about this, but looks promising!
No color, no sale, no revenue, no business.
OMG I love my Daily Edition Reader! I still love my PRS-505 as well! Been with Sony since the first Sony Reader came out and have never thought about the Kindle or Nook, with all their drawbacks. Epub, FREE library books, e-ink, 2-3 weeks of battery life, stylish design... love it!
Thankfully! I'm very glad Sony are sticking with their devices using a proper e-ink screen, and ignoring the hype around colour LCD 'reader' devices. I can hardly believe people are saying these things with a straight face. Have they never seen a proper e-ink device?
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