It's been a good day for e-book aficionados. Not only do we have two very detailed (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=7714) hands-on previews (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=7713) of the Sony Reader thanks to Bob and Nathan who visited the Sony headquarters earlier, but Sony is finally getting out with the word of its official release date. Thanks to MobileReader Xtremegene who discovered (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7718) that you can now pre-order the Reader for USD $349 (which is the price we already assumed) and have it shipped on or before October 31 (edit: that is if you have an US billing address).

Link to the store (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start;?CategoryName=pa_pdr&Dept=audio)

Accessories are also available (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=pa_portablereader_accessories&Dept=audio) and include a cradle, and protection covers in various colors.

So is the Reader already in your shopping cart?

* Update *

Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/sony-reader-prs-500-hands-on-connect-reader-screenshots/) and Gizmodo (http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/sony-reader-gizmodos-hands-all-over-350-in-october-really-203185.php) currently have a host of new close up pics and some more deats for you to drool over. stu

$40 for the protection cover? Kinda pricy, don't you think?

But it's indeed good news. The wait is finally over!

The joys of staying up late. :x

I agree the cover seems a little expensive considering it does not seem to be able to protect it from any forceful impacts. I probably would find some Five Star zipper binder or something such to do the same job as the $40 covers.

Also to note, the main Sony Reader page on Sony Style lists a $50 credit towards buying ebooks after product purchase and registration.


Ideally Border's will also have the info (open to the public) now as well. I have a $50 gift card to their store...though if the $50 ebook credit is exclusive to Sony Style, then there's not a lot of difference anyways.

Well I just tried to order it (would have been $414.35 including a cover and all taxes) - but they don't accept foreign credit cards for the billing address must be US.

GRRRRRRRR. Time for some meditation (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7662)...

It's quite a Sony frenzy here, isn't it :)

I think I wait a bit longer before to order... perhaps someone will come up with better discounts or bundles until the final shipping.

(edit: that is if you have an US billing address).

I'm glad I didn't wait until this was released... I'd be very disappointed as I'm not in the US... And why am I guessing this will be £349 when its released here...? Its starting to make the Illiad affordable...!

I'm glad I didn't wait until this was released... I'd be very disappointed as I'm not in the US... And why am I guessing this will be £349 when its released here...? Its starting to make the Illiad affordable...!
Alas, they have no officials plans yet to distribute the Reader outside the US. Check the Sony FAQ (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Sony_Reader_FAQ#When_will_the_Sony_Reader_become_a vailable_in_other_countries.3F_Europe.3F_Asia.3F).

Updated Alex's initial post with a new Engadget link - nothing much new apart from store shots and pics.

Little bit of a hitch in the shipping prices. I ordered with the slower $0 shipping, but the prices for expedited options were something approximately like $199.00 and $399.00. But I wanted my order in quickly for fear they might run out in a purchasing frenzy, so I settled for the $0 option.

Got the cradle also, btw. How about everyone else? Are you getting a cradle or using the free cable instead?

Are you getting a cradle or using the free cable instead?
Just the cable. I have already too many cradles to find any more space on my desk.

My wifes american so I thought we'll use her credit card.. WRONG.. the billing address is my London home address. So the Sony site said 'go away' - ebay here I come.

Crap. No Sony Reader then. Maybe they'll ship outside the US one day.

It is not like I didn't have to get my REB1100 through eBay...

Aside from the fact Gemstar was long since dead.

Crap. No Sony Reader then. Maybe they'll ship outside the US one day.

Just wait until it becomes available through other web stores that do ship abroad. That might take a while, though. Or maybe you have an American friend who is willing to ship it to you? Or eBay.

There's is the US mother-in-law option. But I can see the whole thing going horribly wrong.

Where's the booklight?? Someone needs to manufacture the booklight.

Well, the German Sony Style directed me to German Sony product info, where they said that there's no plans for "PDAs". And if I ever want to buy it, I should go to some online retailer, but not sony style. Both my interlocutors, seemed to have had no clue what kind of animal I was talking of, so chances are that all this is attributable to ignorance, not to actual plans of no european release...

I just ordered it - via my girlfriend who lives in the States!

Now I can sleep better.

$40 for the protection cover? Kinda pricy, don't you think?
!

Worth the money. My avatar comes from a librie, remember.

Where's the booklight?? Someone needs to manufacture the booklight.There is a third party creating one. We got to see it, and it looks good. I'll post a few pics. I think Nathan's article already has a pic attached that shows a light option. And we can always hope that there is eventually a wedge side light product in the future also. I'm with you... I'd love to be able to read in the dark also. I like to read my Treo after I turn the lights out. But the e-ink display is so nice, I'm willing to turn a light on, or get a clip on light just so I can read on that screen!

AHHHH! I don't get paid until next week!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Not only did I get a call from my house siding guy who actually will be starting EARLY (never happens with contractors) but now I have a reader on order!!!

I also ordered the cradle.

Regular shipping, of course - for the price of the speedy shipping I could buy about 20 books!

I did note that the page says "Shipping on or before October 31st".

OTOH, my order email said " Estimated Ship Date: 09/28/2006"

OK, given that the ebook store is not up yet, which one of those is just boilerplate? :huh:

This has been a long wait - I hope it is worth it!!

>OTOH, my order email said " Estimated Ship Date: 09/28/2006"

so does mine :)
the wait is (almost) over!

Hahahaha!

I ordered one too! I'm sooo excited
yippie

Y'all did catch that it comes with a black cover? You don't have to buy another one, unless of course, you want to. :smile:

You guys already received an order confirmation? Grrr... I should have told my girlfriend to use my e-mail instead. Now I cannot lookup the confirmation nor the estimated shipping date.

You guys already received an order confirmation? Grrr... I should have told my girlfriend to use my e-mail instead. Now I cannot lookup the confirmation nor the estimated shipping date.

It's been about five minutes for me, and I haven't recieved any E-mail confirmation as of yet.

Mine has est'd ship date of 9/28 also. The slower free shipping will cause it to take some extra days, but if they get it out on Thursday, I'm thrilled. Then the package carrier has all weekend to drive it toward my house.

But the cradle says out of stock and ship date unknown...
" Sony® Reader cradle BCRRU1//C CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK Ship Date Unknown"

I can't imagine that they would hold the shipment of my reader to wait for the cradle. I hope not! And the two different shipping dates in my order would tend to indicate the reader will ship first.

...I haven't recieved any E-mail confirmation as of yet.I haven't received any email confirmation either and it's been hours for me. But if you have your order confirmation number and email address (or if you registered at the store site), you can see your order status. Go to the reader page on the store again, and look at the links at the top. One will be order status.

I called SonyStyle store to upgrade my shipping ($175 for 2-day was a bit high!). The very nice and helpful Customer Service Agent confirmed this was wrong and made the change to overnight. Before doing so she checked her system for availability and confirmed 9/28 ship date! I'm still not 100% convinced, but it does seem promising. -John

I called SonyStyle store to upgrade my shipping ($175 for 2-day was a bit high!). The very nice and helpful Customer Service Agent confirmed this was wrong and made the change to overnight. Before doing so she checked her system for availability and confirmed 9/28 ship date! I'm still not 100% convinced, but it does seem promising. -John


Why would you pay so much for that?

The very nice and helpful Customer Service Agent confirmed this was wrong and made the change to overnight.

So what was the correct price for overnight? I may want to change as well.....

So what was the correct price for overnight? I may want to change as well.....

I just called them to expedite shipping and the guy told me that the shipping quotes were accurate! $271 and $350 for the two faster shipping options. Geez I live in the midwest, where are they shipping this from Antarctica?

I think this is not fair for Alex. MR should arrange a group shipping for It's editorial staff.

I just called them to expedite shipping and the guy told me that the shipping quotes were accurate! $271 and $350 for the two faster shipping options. Geez I live in the midwest, where are they shipping this from Antarctica?
Maybe they have someone send it first-class from Japan to you. :rolleyes5

Maybe they have someone send it first-class from Japan to you. :rolleyes5They're being made in San Diego, I think....

I'm surprised that no one asked (on Sept. 15) about the ban on shipping outside the U.S.

I can imagine tailoring a book product for U.S. tastes and conventions, but the only reason I can imagine enforcing it is regional DRM - in other words, just like DVD, having release dates of books that are different in different regions.

I'm surprised that no one asked (on Sept. 15) about the ban on shipping outside the U.S.

I can imagine tailoring a book product for U.S. tastes and conventions, but the only reason I can imagine enforcing it is regional DRM - in other words, just like DVD, having release dates of books that are different in different regions.Who says we didn't ask? There wasn't much of an answer that they could give, apparently. Reading between the lines, I suspect that there may be some inter-divisional stuff going on, but that's mostly a guess.

I had to choose "no" in this poll because I'm outside the US. :bigcry:

I have friends in the US and maybe I will ask them but the real thrill is to order it yourself and track the process of sending.

Why Sony, why only US? Do us Europe people smell to cheese? Hmmm..before it gets really nasty I think it's better to leave you lucky people here and move my @ss to the meditation section. :( "Spock, to the transporter room!"

There wasn't much of an answer that they could give, apparently That would be consonant with regional DRM, since it would not be implemented yet.

Who says we didn't ask?
A list of questions they would not answer would be almost as interesting, as the ones they did answer. :happy2:

Why Sony, why only US? Do us Europe people smell to cheese? Hmmm..before it gets really nasty I think it's better to leave you lucky people here and move my @ss to the meditation section. :( "Spock, to the transporter room!"
I think they don't have the European publishers ready for distributing e-books via Sony Connect. Until this changes, they'll miss the potential income source they hope to find through the US version of Sony Connect.

I called and asked Sony cust srvc a few questions about my order and got some interesting answers:

* First of all, wrt upgrading shipping, they said (with what seemed to be a genuine straight face) that it would cost $175 for 3-4 day shipping and the next upgrade was $225! I persuaded him that it was silly, and he tried to reorder it and found the same numbers, so he concluded that it was wrong in the system and there was no way to upgrade shipping at reasonable prices. Obviously I stuck with the free 6 day shipping option.

* Much happier was the fact that despite the web site showing order status of a 9/28 expected shipping date, he said it was being readied for shipping on 9/26 and he thought it should go out today or tomorrow.

* He said that they would NOT hold the reader shipment to wait for the dock to be ready, so the reader will come first and the dock will follow later.

* He also told me that I don't have anything to worry about wrt not receiving an email confirming the purchase. It's being processed, as per the web order status, so I'm good.

* Oddly, I signed up twice for the "Update Me" when Sony Reader is available at the Sony Style site, but never received any email notices about it. Good thing we have MobileRead to keep us informed! ;-)

Off topic.. It's really cool to goto the Frontpage an see 40+ comments for a story. Wait until next year 4/1/07 to be exact. Exclusive news re MR ebook reader.. An yep before anyone asks it will have Bobs icon while loading, Alex when you shut down. An I'll be in the about box.

Off topic.. It's really cool to goto the Frontpage an see 40+ comments for a story. Wait until next year 4/1/07 to be exact. Exclusive news re MR ebook reader.. An yep before anyone asks it will have Bobs icon while loading, Alex when you shut down. An I'll be in the about box.
Amazingly, I did not understand one sentence out of this ! :happy2:

British sense of humour I guess :uhoh2:

Shipping is down to $ 112.50 for 2-day but that is still silly. I tried calling and getting them to do something more reasonable but they said they could not until it was fixed in their database. They said they would call me back later when that happened if I wanted but I decided to go ahead and make sure my order got in today so went with the free shipping. It will ship fed-ex ground from either PA or CA. If it's PA I'll get it overnight since I'm in NJ but I suspect it will ship from CA. They said that they had around 130 ready to ship and that there where around 50 left as of 2:30pm EST. They also told me that the retails stores would not be getting any for a couple of weeks. I too did not get a notice other than reading it here. I take that as a good thing since it likely helped me get one of the first batch :happy2:

I've been lurking for a while but now that the thing is (finally) coming out I'm ready to participate and talk about the fun I'm sure we are all going to have with this new toy!

-Greg

At least it's going to be out in the Wild soon and they have stock in the Warehouse. Hopefully someone on ebay will be flogging them soon.

Guys, don't forget our photo gallery (gallery.mobileread.com/index.php). I want lot's of nice pictures when you unwrap your new baby!!

Woo hoo! Just ordered mine from the internal Sony store. Go discounts ;-) I hope they still have stock, though, with all the crazy MobileReaders buying theirs...

That would be consonant with regional DRM, since it would not be implemented yet.What I was trying to say is that I figured there may be some ... discussion going on internally on the matter.

A list of questions they would not answer would be almost as interesting, as the ones they did answer. :happy2:Oy. I didn't write down everything I asked! I'm not even sure I could generate a significant fraction of such a list. :sad:

Interesting: still no mail from Sony. Click - update me is still on product presentation page.
We wants one in Europe too!

Sony Connect store is still not online.

Woo hoo! Just ordered mine from the internal Sony store... I hope they still have stock, though, with all the crazy MobileReaders buying theirs... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> :D <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Find a Retailer link is displaying Model Number:PRS500U2
U2?

Find a Retailer link is displaying Model Number:PRS500U2
U2?Retailer's internal item numbering maybe?

Sony Connect store is still not online.

Since it (Sony Connect Store) will work with the SW shipped with the reader (and books bought would be useless w/o the reader and SW), perhaps just a browser will not work? Just a thought, maybe wrong, one would certainly think a browser would work and it does work for the link to the $50 book credit, which has an ebooks connect store URL. Odd, and NatCh below is right, if they wanna promote the reader, they need to let folks w/o one browse the store...

In any case, we should know as soon as the first of us gets their unit. Probably
someone in CA, although I am in OR so if it should ship on Wed, I may get it by Friday.

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

Since it (Sony Connect store) will work with the SW shipped with the reader (and books bought would be useless w/o the reader and/or SW), perhaps just a browser will not work?I may remember (I didn't write it down) a comment to the effect that you'd be able to browse the store via the internet to see the contents, but not be able to buy. So that you can see if they have stuff you want before you buy the Reader.

Do not hold me to that one, though, because I could very easily be mis-remembering. :shrug:

Said this on another thread but I just called up the Sony Store by the Pentagon where I pass to go to work every morning and they told be it would be in store on Oct 1st. That's 5 days so guess where I'm going to be Sun morning.

Not sure if it was posted already, but looks like we'll get
"$50.00 Towards Purchases of eBooks With Sony© Reader Purchase and Registration Offer" (http://ebooks.connect.com/50launchpromotos.html)

Which is not bad, if you ask me :)

Also, buying eReader we're doing another good thing (http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesOnline/static/popups/breastcancer.html) :)

Guys, don't forget our photo gallery (gallery.mobileread.com/index.php). I want lot's of nice pictures when you unwrap your new baby!!

Isn't it our baby?

Isn't it our baby?
Heh, I think once it's been delivered, we will all act like jealous mothers and fathers not sharing the baby with anyone.

But yes, I'll have my photos too.

Question for those in the know. I ordered the "Pink" cover as stated on the store site, but on all other sites today everyone has refered to it being "Red".
I guess I should call Sony to find out. I have been so excited today! Such a long wait.


Dr. E. Hage

I take that as a good thing since it likely helped me get one of the first batch

Indeed! It pays to read this forum first thing in the AM!

And I just received a notification from Sony to the e-mail address I entered some months ago.

Question for those in the know. I ordered the "Pink" cover as stated on the store site, but on all other sites today everyone has refered to it being "Red".It was kind of a washed out red, as I recall. I'm slightly color-blind, so I can't be more precise. I wouldn't argue with either description, though.

Don't tell iRex but I just ordered one. :o

And yes, I live in Seattle and selected $112 so I can get it Friday (I hope!).

I've already DL'd the source and pondering if I can cross pollenate my now tethered-only-Librie. :)

No cradle though, a bit over priced. Yeah I know, $112 for shipping and won't buy the cradle. :rolleyes5

From CNET:

" Sony said Tuesday it will launch an electronic book store on the Internet and start selling a device that displays e-books purchased from the store on Monday...."

In fact, the ebook store is now up as of 7:35 PDT. It does need some work - I found a scifi book in the astronomy section, for example. Hopefully it will improve but until then I have about 25 BAEN books to buy and read!

Aaarrrrgh! I've been resisting it all day and I just can't take it anymore:

I told you so! :grin2:

I hope you can forgive me, CCDMan. :embarasse

Well, I have a shipping notification from Sony in the email this AM. FedEx but it has apparently not shown up in the FedEx tracking system yet. With luck, I may see it by Friday without paying for the $$$ express shipping.

It was kind of a washed out red, as I recall. I'm slightly color-blind, so I can't be more precise. I wouldn't argue with either description, though.


Thanks. I'll wait and see when it delivered to make up my mind. I just thought that the Green was a little loud. I am just so excited about having a cover ro a case that isn't plain old black.

Ellen

Thanks. I'll wait and see when it delivered to make up my mind. I just thought that the Green was a little loud. I am just so excited about having a cover ro a case that isn't plain old black.
Ellen, Gizmodo posted some closeups of the various cover. Have you seen it?

http://gizmodo.com:8040/gadgets/gadgets/sony-reader-accessories-dock-night-light-and-magnetic-suede-cases-203188.php

Well, I have a shipping notification from Sony in the email this AM.

Mine is still showing "ready for shipment", estimated ship date 9/28/06.

Mine is still showing "ready for shipment", estimated ship date 9/28/06.

Hmm, mine still is not registering with FedEx uinder that tracking number, I suspect that the email went out well before the package. It says "Carrier Notification Made", which I take to mean that it is scheduled for pickup but not yet scanned by FedEx.

So yours may go out at the same time(today) if you are lucky!

Ellen, Gizmodo posted some closeups of the various cover. Have you seen it?

http://gizmodo.com:8040/gadgets/gadgets/sony-reader-accessories-dock-night-light-and-magnetic-suede-cases-203188.php

Thanks, I did look and depending on the angle, it looks red, then sort of a hot pink. Wierd. No biggie. It's something to keep me occupied while I wait for my reader to arrive. My email this morning says that it shipped yesterday. I went to tracking this afternoon and mine is shipping from CA (I'm in TX) and a est arrival date of Oct 4.

I haven't been this excited since I got my Cybook almost two years ago. Before that, my only ebook device high was when I bought my Rocketbook over 7 years ago.

Ellen

Don't know if it will ever show up under the FedEx normal tracking methods. This is sent via some weird FedEx / USPS hybrid shipment method. FedEx transfers the shipment to local post offices which then deliver them the "last mile". Weird, wild, stuff, which incidentaly may be slow as molasses (sp?).

Don't know if it will ever show up under the FedEx normal tracking methods. This is sent via some weird FedEx / USPS hybrid shipment method. FedEx transfers the shipment to local post offices which then deliver them the "last mile". Weird, wild, stuff, which incidentaly may be slow as molasses (sp?).
What do you think why they ask you to pay $100+ extra for express delivery? Now they probably route it via Mexico before it arrives in your mail.

Don't know if it will ever show up under the FedEx normal tracking methods. This is sent via some weird FedEx / USPS hybrid shipment method. FedEx transfers the shipment to local post offices which then deliver them the "last mile". Weird, wild, stuff, which incidentaly may be slow as molasses (sp?).It's FedEx SmartPost, and it is slightly slower, but much more cost effective. You are right, it probably won't show up in the regular FedEx tracking page.

Best way to track it is to pull up your order status from the SonyStyle web page. Then click on the "Track Item" button to the right of the item.

What that does is automatically do a SmartPost tracking query by supplying the customer and the tracking id. You can do the same thing manually by going to http://spportal.fedex.com/sp/track.jsp and entering your tracking nbr and customer nbr. You can get the customer nbr when you do the SonyStyle page tracking by snipping it out of the URL. (Mine was "SO" plus three digits.)

And some good news for me, at least. Here's my tracking results.... it was picked up in Long Beach, CA at midnite and then by morning it was at the sortation center in Los Angeles. From there it will eventually make it to me, but various consolidations have to happen in this shipping method to keep costs down, so it might take a little while as indicated by Sony in the shipping description. I'm just glad to see it's on it's way. Shame I live across the country! ;-)

--------
Status: Sortation Center Arrival
Date Time Description Location
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA
--------

Heh, it should be called FedEx SlowPost. Probably will take a week to get to MA, oh well :)

On the order page it gives an Estimated Delivery Date. Mine is 10/05/06. Which sounds about right shipped to MI from LA.

--------
Status: Sortation Center Arrival
Date Time Description Location
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA
--------
Same status here.

And some good news for me, at least. Here's my tracking results.... it was picked up in Long Beach, CA at midnite and then by morning it was at the sortation center in Los Angeles. From there it will eventually make it to me, but various consolidations have to happen in this shipping method to keep costs down, so it might take a little while as indicated by Sony in the shipping description. I'm just glad to see it's on it's way. Shame I live across the country! ;-)

--------
Status: Sortation Center Arrival
Date Time Description Location
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA
--------
Hey, I have the same trace :) How long do you think would it take to a place near Seattle?

--------
Status: Sortation Center Arrival
Date Time Description Location
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA
--------
Ditto, looks like the whole first day shipment...

Yeah, I HATE companies that do not tell you exactly how they will ship. In my case, the package goes to an insecure rural box out of sight on the road if it is sent to my home address by USPO. Since I expected UPS or Fedex, I could not give them my P.O. Box in town so it will be delivered here by USPO. Depending on the route driver, it could be brought up to the house or just stuffed between the box and my paper box for anyone to grab. This has happend before. Amazon does the same thing sometimes....

This bothers me too (them not really using Fedex Ground). I was told on the phone when I orderd that this was how they would send it. I don't have a mail carrier. I have to go to the post office and pick up my mail from my PO box. The person I ordered from said that it would come to the house via Fexdex Ground and that the PO Box thing did not matter (packages do come to my address via their trucks). Hopefully it will work like a normal USPS shipment where I get a card in my box.

I would have prefered the option to pay a reasonable shipping fee and get it faster. It looks like the $80 option is true ground which is just insane. I don't understand why they are trying to steer folks away from using faster options. I would think that they do better if I pay $25-$30 for 2 day shipping than getting this fake ground for free.

Oh well, I am glad that they finally released the thing. Now to be patient until the reader crosses the country (I'm estimated for Oct 5th too).

Yes, this is especially ridiculous as the order page says:

"No P.O. boxes or APO/FPO addresses."

"Due to overwhelming demand, new Sony® Portable Reader orders will ship mid November."

oh my god , typical sony :(

sony reader (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=pa_portablereader&ProductSKU=PRS500U2&Dept=audio&INT=sstyle-pa_pdr-deptfeature-PRS500U2|sstyle:sy_cat_content_p:pa_pdr)

"Due to overwhelming demand, new Sony® Portable Reader orders will ship mid November."


I hope mine estimate shipping date will stay at 10/25/2006. :(

Where did you get this info?

I hope mine estimate shipping date will stay at 10/25/2006. :(

Where did you get this info?

sony style shop . (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=pa_portablereader&ProductSKU=PRS500U2&Dept=audio&INT=sstyle-pa_pdr-deptfeature-PRS500U2|sstyle:sy_cat_content_p:pa_pdr)

sony style shop . (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=pa_portablereader&ProductSKU=PRS500U2&Dept=audio&INT=sstyle-pa_pdr-deptfeature-PRS500U2|sstyle:sy_cat_content_p:pa_pdr)


Thanks , I found the other topic.

"Due to overwhelming demand, new Sony® Portable Reader orders will ship mid November."

That figures, we had all hoped that Sony finally had it's head out of it's collective butt, clearly they have not.

Boy am I glad mine is on the way, however slowly. Now I suppose it will die within 10 minutes of recieving it. <g>

.... or maybe it's just much more popular than expected and sales went crazy?
We can hope!

In case anyone is interested, I just saw a minor update on my Day 1 (first batch order) over at FedEx SmartPost. Sony estimated my delivery date (in my hands) to be 10/4 and the FedEx site is now showing a new line that says

Est. in Home 10/05/2006

That is kind of a pain, I leave for a week long trip on 10/6, they better get it to me or I will be quite annoyed!

It's 10/07 for me, they've updated estimated delivery date around 8am EST

Yep, my arrival estimate got pushed back also, but only to 10/6 so far.

Mine is pushed to 10/6 "in home" as well. Perhaps I'll get able to get it a day sooner since I'll be picking it up at the post office and won't have to wait for the next day's mail carrier.

Mine is still in the sorting center (since 9:20am yesterday). How long does it take to sort? Of course it could just not be recording progress properly. Anyone have their reader leave the sorting center yet?

I am still on 10/05/2006. Kinda ironic since I won't be able to pick it up any time soon (talking about months).

Hey, looks like my dock has also shipped.....

Mine is still in the sorting center (since 9:20am yesterday)

I have not used this FedEx "Service" before but if it is turned over to the USPO at this point, the tracking data the good 'ole govenment provides is normally out of date and useless. Kinda on the order of "this item was received for shipping" (which I already knew) and then "this item has been delivered" (which I also already knew). Basically useless, in other words.

I'm also on for 10-6-06 & it has been in the sorting area since 9:20AM on the 27th. :scholar:

Small update on FedEx SlowPost
>September 28, 2006 8:00 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA

Damnit they lied to me! Both the Sony Store's around here told me they would be getting the Reader in next week but I just called them and they told me "later on in the month" Bastards, I could have ordered it online.

Small update on FedEx SlowPost
>September 28, 2006 8:00 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA

Same here except departure at 5:11 AM. Different destinations, I suppose.
Plus the dock is now at the Sortation Center. Delivery sceduled for 10/5 and 10/6.

Is "Sortation" a real word? <g>

Is "Sortation" a real word? <g>

I had the very same question, checked the dictionary and didn't find it. Kudos to Fedex for coming up with "smartpost" and "sortation" centers.

Well, found it in American Heritage dictionary (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Sortation&gwp=16).

Some details on FESP:
FedEx SmartPost takes your package as close as possible to your customer before giving it to USPS for residential delivery. By skipping intermediate postal processing centers, we reduce transit time, minimize handling, and maximize postal discounts. Throughout the delivery process, we utilize our technology to provide shipment visibility of your packages while they are en route to their destinations.

Damnit they lied to me! Both the Sony Store's around here told me they would be getting the Reader in next week but I just called them and they told me "later on in the month" Bastards, I could have ordered it online.
I doubt they lied to you. I'm pretty sure Sony's logistics chain reallocated the units being sent to Sony stores to fulfill orders already taken on the web store.

My Unit was to have been shipped yesterday but is now being shipped today. My guess would be that since I was willing to pay for overnight they shuffled me and I'm now getting one of the reallocated store units.

Why ship a unit to a brick n' mortar store when you have some crazy fool willing to spend $112 to have it shipped overnight? :D

hehe ... typical sony .. they hate their customers ... that started with Betamax instead of VHS, it continued with this proprietary MD system and now continues with the newest ebook reader ...

don´t understand why the people didn´t learn from this behaviour.

get an iLiad - means less pain :=) ...

get an iLiad - means less pain :=) ...

I would but an empty wallet hurts even more.

By skipping intermediate postal processing centers, we reduce transit time, minimize handling, and maximize postal discounts.

So that is why it takes over a week when simple express mail would only take 2-3 days? I think the "maximize postal discounts" is the part that motivates them.....

So that is why it takes over a week when simple express mail would only take 2-3 days? I think the "maximize postal discounts" is the part that motivates them.....

You would think for a $350 purchase they would be willing to ship without taking advantage of people - even if the product is brand new and in demand. To charge $112 for 2-day shipping is a slap in the face. Now that the free shipping "special" is over it is only $18 for 2-day shipping. I would have gladly paid that on Wednesday and had my reader today but if I had waited for them to "fix" the shipping cost then I would have 2-day shipping in December...

Oh well, the good news is that my reader has left the sorting center too!

Date Time Description Location
September 28, 2006 8:00 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA

I called up both the Sony store and the Borders store in Tyson's Corner, VA. Neither of them had any idea when they would have it in. So when I noticed the express shipping was only $18.00, I decided I might as well order online.

Estimated ship date is 11/02/2006.

I am hopeful that this is the worst case shipping date, since when the first people ordered theirs it was stating that it would ship on or before October 31st.

I've already started downloading some books from Manybooks and Baen.

I also emailed Fictionwise and asked if they were going to offer their multiformat books in a compatible format for the Sony Reader. They stated that they were investigating it.

I'd love to get this by my birthday in a couple weeks :happy2:

Carl

I also emailed Fictionwise and asked if they were going to offer their multiformat books in a compatible format for the Sony Reader. They stated that they were investigating it.Nice one, cfc! That would be excellent.

To charge $112 for 2-day shipping is a slap in the face. Now that the free shipping "special" is over it is only $18 for 2-day shipping. I would have gladly paid that on Wednesday and had my reader today but if I had waited for them to "fix" the shipping cost then I would have 2-day shipping in December...

Well I forked over the $112 on 9/26 and got a ship date of 9/28, which slipped to 9/29 and now it has slipped to "unknown".

Color me very angry. :angry:

I called up both the Sony store and the Borders store in Tyson's Corner, VA. Neither of them had any idea when they would have it in. So when I noticed the express shipping was only $18.00, I decided I might as well order online.

We're lucky enough to have two Sony Store's in our area and they're both useless. My b-day is in early November so I'll just order online and get an early gift for myself. I'll prob get the charger in store though.

Well I forked over the $112 on 9/26 and got a ship date of 9/28, which slipped to 9/29 and now it has slipped to "unknown".

Color me very angry. :angry:


Whoa.. I think I might get my Reader tomorrow, and I didn't pay for the shipping. You should see if you can get some money back. That's a bit messed up

It's moving and getting closer :)

Latest update on shipping
>September 30, 2006 2:51 AM Sortation Center Arrival MARTINSBURG, WV

It's still with FedEx, and for MA destinations, they should bring it to Northborough, MA. After that, USPS will handle it.

http://myprecious.info/img/reader/map20060930.jpg

Well I forked over the $112 on 9/26 and got a ship date of 9/28, which slipped to 9/29 and now it has slipped to "unknown".

Color me very angry. :angry:


Hello all,

Long time lurker first time poster here. I received the email notification on the Reader on Tues night after I got home from work and went here to register and let everyone know. Should have known everyone here would know about it. :)

I have a similar experience with Scotty. I placed an order on that night 9/26 and got a ship date of 9/29. I checked Saturday morning and to my dismay the date has changed to unknown.

I would have been fine if I was informed from the beginning of the order process that they were out and gave me a later ship date date - but to give me a date of 9/29 and say "Oops" and leave me hanging with no idea of when I will receive the my product is ridiculous.

Ah well. To those that will receive your orders, do enjoy and post some impressions. I would love to read them.

:)


-C


*edit - double quoted

Well I forked over the $112 on 9/26 and got a ship date of 9/28, which slipped to 9/29 and now it has slipped to "unknown".

Color me very angry. :angry:
That is just wrong. It's bad enough to make you pay six times the real rate for shippng but then to not get it to you in 2 days demands action. You should call them up and keep asking for managers until they fix it!

It's moving and getting closer :)

Latest update on shipping
>September 30, 2006 2:51 AM Sortation Center Arrival MARTINSBURG, WV

It's still with FedEx, and for MA destinations, they should bring it to Northborough, MA. After that, USPS will handle it.

http://myprecious.info/img/reader/map20060930.jpg
Nice homework! Mine has arrived in MARTINSBURG, WV as well. I guess it will go to Edison, NJ or Philadelphia, PA and then USPS will take over. This is some mighty funky shipping. I found the web site you got the picture from and love the description of their service:

"Combining our superior package expeditor service with the USPS' broad domestic coverage results in less handling and lower cost for less time-sensitive goods."

I would argue the logic of Sony considering the rollout of their readers to be "less time-sensitive goods". Those of us clicking the status link every 5mins might disagree :rolleyes5

>September 30, 2006 2:51 AM Sortation Center Arrival MARTINSBURG, WV

Yeah, mine now shows Kent, WA (Seattle Area). Typical to send it almost as far north of us as where it came from south of us.

Damn hub systems may be cost effective but they sure do waste time and energy. The most ridiculous example I have seen is the USPO, who had branches in both of two towns (I used to live in one) that are appx. 5 miles apart. If you mailed something from one town to the other, it was trucked 2 1/2 hours to the sorting center and 2 1/2 hours back!

I just called SonyStyle.Com and verified a few things.

It's made in Japan. That, for me at least, more than justifies whatever price Sony has for the Reader. I'm a "made in Japan" fanatic, especially in regards to electronics, haha :-).

The initial stock of 200 Readers totally sold out.

There are currently more than 1000 delayed orders while they wait for new units to be shipped from Japan.

I'm really happy that the Reader seems to be popular :-).

The initial stock of 200 Readers totally sold out.

Only 200 initial stock for an item that the company has been hyping for 8 months?! Either that number was analy extracted by the CS rep or Sony is even dumber than we thought....

The initial stock of 200 Readers totally sold out.

There are currently more than 1000 delayed orders while they wait for new units to be shipped from Japan.

I'm really happy that the Reader seems to be popular :-).
Wow, just 200 Readers? That means, like, uhm, 95% of all Readers must have gone to MobileReaders :D Sony should rename it to the Sony MobileReader.

Only 200 initial stock for an item that the company has been hyping for 8 months?!I think that's probably the initial stock that SonyStyle had for their direct orders, and doesn't include what they have slated for retail sales.

We know that SonyStyle is flat at the moment, but the Sony Stores are starting to get them in (San Francisco, for instance) and they aren't sold out yet. :shrug:

They had about 6 left at the Sony Store at Tyson's Corner Virginia this afternoon out of an initial stock of 12. When I got home I tried calling up to cancel my online order and got a message saying that I need to call up during normal business hours. I'll give them a call on Monday.

Like many people say, you have to see it in person to really appreciate it. Maybe they decided it was more important to actually display it at their stores.

Only 200 initial stock for an item that the company has been hyping for 8 months?! Either that number was analy extracted by the CS rep or Sony is even dumber than we thought....

Probably 200 available for sale through that particular channel. Borders and the other outlets would have priority ...

Day 7 of the journey but getting closer!

Date Time Description Location
October 2, 2006 8:50 PM Sortation Center Departure MARTINSBURG, WV
September 30, 2006 2:51 AM Sortation Center Arrival MARTINSBURG, WV
September 28, 2006 8:00 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA
Have I ranted latley on how lame Sony is for making us use this stupid shipping method the first day? :wall:

I hope my reader got out on the town at the sortation stops. Perhaps I'll find some cool pictures or it will have picked out a couple of good books :happy2:

Let's see who ends up with the most stops on the way to delivery from Fedex "Smart"Post. I think I have one more sortation center to go before they pass it on to my post office.

I do not order Sony Reader but I am considering.
It is rumored that a sony store in Taipei Taiwan is selling the Sony Reader.
I wish it is true but I don't know.

Day 7 of the journey but getting closer!

Have I ranted latley on how lame Sony is for making us use this stupid shipping method the first day? :wall:


My god, I have to say it's one of the most frustrating things I've ever seen. I bought mine online the second one could be bought. Now its apparently been stuck in "MARTINSBURG, WV" since September 30th!

I'm hoping the website just hasn't been updated, but at this point I'm not too hopeful. I actually work from home most of the time, so every time I see a USPS truck pass I get my hopes up (only to have them dashed when it doesn't stop). I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas to happen already.

Sony really should have used a faster shipping method, especially for the first units shipped out.
At this point it's starting to look like it would have been better for me to buy the unit at a store.

Day 9 - Can anyone beat this crazyness? :huh2:

October 4, 2006 12:57 PM Enroute JERSEY CITY,NJ
October 4, 2006 6:21 AM Sortation Center Departure EDISON, NJ
October 4, 2006 6:08 AM Acceptance JERSEY CITY, NJ *
October 3, 2006 6:46 PM Electronic Shipping Info Received JERSEY CITY, NJ *
October 3, 2006 4:19 AM Sortation Center Arrival EDISON, NJ
October 2, 2006 8:50 PM Sortation Center Departure MARTINSBURG, WV
September 30, 2006 2:51 AM Sortation Center Arrival MARTINSBURG, WV
September 28, 2006 8:00 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 9:20 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA
September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Pickup LONG BEACH, CA

It amazes me that mine has made it half way across the globe in less time than it's taken yours to cross the country.

Into Foreign Customs, October 04, 2006, 9:37 pm, GREAT BRITAIN
Arrived Abroad, October 04, 2006, 9:17 pm, GREAT BRITAIN
International Dispatch, October 03, 2006, 9:38 am, SAN FRANCISCO AMC
Enroute, October 03, 2006, 9:36 am, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94128
Enroute, October 02, 2006, 3:28 pm, SEATTLE, WA 98158
Acceptance, October 02, 2006, 10:53 am, REDMOND, WA 98052
Enroute, October 02, 2006, 9:54 am, REDMOND, WA 98052

Perhaps Sony should outsource their distribution to me :D

It amazes me that mine has made it half way across the globe in less time than it's taken yours to cross the country.Pff, it's only ~250 miles, you could've driven it in ~5 hours!

True but by that token I could've collected mine in person in less than 13 hours.

:smile: My point was more that it's taken them 5 days to go 250 miles. :grin:

Got mine. Here's some unboxing photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45395426@N00/261571128/

My package arrived!! Girlfriend just unpacked the package and it seems all complete. Now I have to wait till Thanksgiving before I can pick it up ;(

Got mine. Here's some unboxing photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45395426@N00/261571128/
Nice pics! Wish I could also unbox mine now ;)

Now I have to wait till Thanksgiving before I can pick it up ;( I assume there's some reason she's not just going to ship it to you? Ah, perhaps that's her garauntee that you'll come see her! :smile:

I assume there's some reason she's not just going to ship it to you? Ah, perhaps that's her garauntee that you'll come see her! :smile:
She said she is holding it hostage to make sure her boyfriend comes visit her ;(

Got mine.So, Jane ... what do you think of e-ink now that you've seen it for yourself? :beam:

You know what the screen looks like to me? When you go the furniture stores and they have those fake computers/laptops? That's exactly what the screen looks like to me. I love the size of it. It's the perfect size. I love the look of it. Very sleek and sophisticated.

I think the navigation is confusing and not very intuitive. I am frustrated at the speed at which it reads the SD card. I loaded some manga up and it takes about 3 secs for a page to page rendering. That seems long to me.

I did start the Italian's Stolen Bride which isn't as bad as I thought it would be :)

As for the eink technology - I am a bit eh on it. I wish I could make the background more white. That bothers me. But the screen size is marvelous. I think I would rather have an LCD screen in this size than an eink device, but I am going to use it tonight to read a book I have on my IPAQ and see what I think. I've got some old booklights around somewhere.

I loaded some manga up and it takes about 3 secs for a page to page rendering. That seems long to me.


Is the manga readable (text size/image quality) with the whole site on display or do you have to use the landscape mode ? Have you tryed non-preprocesed manga (jpegs/pdf) and what is your personal experience with manga reading on reader (i compared the size of the screen to a printed manga and it seems small...) ? Thanks for answer, im considering buying the reader for mostly manga reading, once it becomes available. So any perosnal experince with manga on the reader wil help me to decide :)

For Manga focused comments you might find Tony Salvaggio's review (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8498) of interest. :beam:

I bought a HQN manga book. It looks to be bad content-wise, but I thought I would use my voucher for something I wouldn't ordinarily buy.

I put the DeathNote on my SD card. Those are the unprocessed pngs that I am using. The entire page is perfectly readable on the ereader. There is obviously no color but those color pages rendered fine in grayscale.

I would say the only frustrating thing is the delay in rendering. I'll upload a small movie, if I can, later tonight and some larger pictures.

Tomorrow!!! It has gone around the nation but will be here tomorrow!

:crowngrin

I'll upload a small movie, if I can, later tonight and some larger pictures.

Thanks, i will be greatly apreciated ! :)

Melf, I started a new Manga thread in the Sony Reader Content subforum. DH was not pleased with it.

Can anyone tell me how to delete a book from the Sony Reader? I can delete the book read from the library but not from the Reader itself.

TIA.

You need to
1) Run CONNECT software
2) Select Reader in the tree on the left (or select memory card if book is there)
3) Select Book you want to delete from list on the right
4) Right click and select Delete
:-)

Thanks for the quick response.