First ever Harry Potter e-books tied to new Sony reader

banjomike · 08-16-2011, 08:35 AM

The Reg has this on the new Sony reader and the Harry Potter ebooks:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08...r_sony_reader/

I cannot decide if this is a good thing. It will certainly boost the price of the Sony.

afa · 08-16-2011, 08:45 AM

Wow.

That's one hell of a coup... Well played, Sony.

(But I'm still not gonna buy one.)

khalleron · 08-16-2011, 09:36 AM

Dang. That'll just make the darn things harder to get.

But if this is the 'special feature' and not integration with Google Books, I don't want one anyway.

Sweetpea · 08-16-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khalleron

Dang. That'll just make the darn things harder to get.

But if this is the 'special feature' and not integration with Google Books, I don't want one anyway.

I don't see the fad with Google Books myself. But I'd love to see/hear more about those readers....

anamardoll · 08-16-2011, 10:02 AM

Interesting. When they say "bundled with" new Sony readers, do they mean that the books are preloaded? If so, will the owner be able to pull the books off and back them up on Calibre?

If so, Pottermore is committing the cardinal error of letting the pirate market (i.e., the ones pulled off the official readers) have (another) HUGE head-start on the legitimate market. However, since Rowling is apparently giving all (Sony) exclusive-early-rights money to charity anyway, I guess she won't care.

Also: Considering that Sony devices are the best PDF handlers on the market, imho, this gives weight to Elfwreck's belief that the books will be PDF format...

MrsJoseph · 08-16-2011, 10:11 AM

I just want to see the new Sonys. I don't care if it comes pre-bundled with a puppy and a box of chocolate (I take that back, I totally care about chocolate).

I'm especially interested to see if they have lowered the price point.

RainingLemur · 08-16-2011, 10:26 AM

Well... I didn't see that one coming. Wonder how the pricing is going to be on those.

poohbear_nc · 08-16-2011, 10:30 AM

So, are the HP ebooks ONLY available in 2011 if you buy a new Sony ereader? And will not be available for purchase by readers who already own a Sony ereader? I wasn't clear after reading the article, but it sure sounded like a true "package deal" - which could tick off a lot of folk who currently own Sony ereaders and had no plan to buy a new one.

Ivy · 08-16-2011, 10:31 AM

I am excited to see more about this. I have a Sony Reader I am very happy with and I am a HP fan so this is just down my alley

anamardoll · 08-16-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

So, are the HP ebooks ONLY available in 2011 if you buy a new Sony ereader? And will not be available for purchase by readers who already own a Sony ereader? I wasn't clear after reading the article, but it sure sounded like a true "package deal" - which could tick off a lot of folk who currently own Sony ereaders and had no plan to buy a new one.

That's how I interpret the article.

If you want the books in 2011, you must buy a new Sony.
If you can wait until 2012, you can buy them through Pottermore.

Not a deal I'm particularly pleased with. I don't really want authors "revolutionizing" the ebook industry -- just sell your books on Amazon and B&N and Kobo like everyone else, would be my vote, if this were up for a vote, which it's not, of course. Ah well.

anamardoll · 08-16-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy

I am excited to see more about this. I have a Sony Reader I am very happy with and I am a HP fan so this is just down my alley

I have a Sony Reader, too, but I wasn't planning to buy ANOTHER one this year. That's a key point -- I think these are "true" bundles, i.e. "only with a new reader", not "available through the Sony store with the Reader program installed on your PC".

EowynCarter · 08-16-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Beta testing for Pottermore opened yesterday; in time Potter e-books will be sold via the site (rather than through etailers such as Amazon) but this won't happen until 2012. Until it does, the only way to buy digital-format wizardry will be with a Sony device.

Mmmm What ????? I really really hope that's not true, or there will be no HP e-books for me, even when finally sold out of the bundle. (And I'm a HP fan at heart).
I might buy a bundle. An HP theme sony reader why not. Though i would not go for just a sony reader with the books on it, but only if the books are available in the "normal" way.

kjk · 08-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Huge marketing coup for Sony for the holiday season.

ilovejedd · 08-16-2011, 10:59 AM

I was already planning on getting a Harry Potter-branded Sony Reader if they release one. However, I think not releasing the ebooks for mass consumption at the same as the Sony Reader bundle is a bad idea.

J. Strnad · 08-16-2011, 11:36 AM

I think it's a brilliant move on Sony's part. What could Kindle do to counter, I wonder? Maybe offer different genre editions with a selection of mysteries, a science fiction edition, a western edition, a romance edition, etc. Picking the books would be a chore, but magazines are fond of doing "100 best" lists so those lists could be a start.

08-16-2011, 08:35 AM	#1
banjomike Addict Posts: 319 Karma: 397404 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Device: PRS-505,DSlibris,nook Glow & Simple & HD+,Tab S2,Moon+,Kobo Clara	First ever Harry Potter e-books tied to new Sony reader The Reg has this on the new Sony reader and the Harry Potter ebooks: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08...r_sony_reader/ I cannot decide if this is a good thing. It will certainly boost the price of the Sony.

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08-16-2011, 08:45 AM	#2
afa The Forgotten Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4689999 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dubai Device: Kindle Paperwhite; Nook HD; Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	Wow. That's one hell of a coup... Well played, Sony. (But I'm still not gonna buy one.)

08-16-2011, 09:36 AM	#3
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,685 Karma: 3165009 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: Nexus 7 2013, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Dang. That'll just make the darn things harder to get. But if this is the 'special feature' and not integration with Google Books, I don't want one anyway.

08-16-2011, 10:02 AM	#5
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	Interesting. When they say "bundled with" new Sony readers, do they mean that the books are preloaded? If so, will the owner be able to pull the books off and back them up on Calibre? If so, Pottermore is committing the cardinal error of letting the pirate market (i.e., the ones pulled off the official readers) have (another) HUGE head-start on the legitimate market. However, since Rowling is apparently giving all (Sony) exclusive-early-rights money to charity anyway, I guess she won't care. Also: Considering that Sony devices are the best PDF handlers on the market, imho, this gives weight to Elfwreck's belief that the books will be PDF format...

08-16-2011, 10:11 AM	#6
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	I just want to see the new Sonys. I don't care if it comes pre-bundled with a puppy and a box of chocolate (I take that back, I totally care about chocolate). I'm especially interested to see if they have lowered the price point.

08-16-2011, 10:26 AM	#7
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Well... I didn't see that one coming. Wonder how the pricing is going to be on those.

08-16-2011, 10:30 AM	#8
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,875 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	So, are the HP ebooks ONLY available in 2011 if you buy a new Sony ereader? And will not be available for purchase by readers who already own a Sony ereader? I wasn't clear after reading the article, but it sure sounded like a true "package deal" - which could tick off a lot of folk who currently own Sony ereaders and had no plan to buy a new one.

08-16-2011, 10:31 AM	#9
Ivy Sometimes I purr. Posts: 252 Karma: 5979384 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle	I am excited to see more about this. I have a Sony Reader I am very happy with and I am a HP fan so this is just down my alley

08-16-2011, 10:45 AM	#13
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	Huge marketing coup for Sony for the holiday season.

08-16-2011, 10:59 AM	#14
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	I was already planning on getting a Harry Potter-branded Sony Reader if they release one. However, I think not releasing the ebooks for mass consumption at the same as the Sony Reader bundle is a bad idea.

08-16-2011, 11:36 AM	#15
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	I think it's a brilliant move on Sony's part. What could Kindle do to counter, I wonder? Maybe offer different genre editions with a selection of mysteries, a science fiction edition, a western edition, a romance edition, etc. Picking the books would be a chore, but magazines are fond of doing "100 best" lists so those lists could be a start.

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