Sony Removed PRS-700 AND 505 ! - Page 5

griffonwing · 07-24-2009, 10:33 AM

I agree with the usual consensus. It's very strange that Sony would stop stocking the 505s and 700s without having something to immediately take their place.

This would mean that production of the 505s and 700s would have had to stop weeks ago, and surely we'd have heard something about that long before the discontinuation rumor via actual customers.

vivaldirules · 07-24-2009, 10:40 AM

I have a vague recollection that just before the 505 was released, there was a sudden lack of 500's available for purchase and nothing but a few rumors that a new model was perhaps coming. Do I have that right?

Dr. Drib · 07-24-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I have a vague recollection that just before the 505 was released, there was a sudden lack of 500's available for purchase and nothing but a few rumors that a new model was perhaps coming. Do I have that right?

This was also a time when the 500s were offered for $99 from a third party. I picked one up, but eventually sold both to someone after having purchased my beloved 505 at Borders in Cincinnati.

Don

vivaldirules · 07-24-2009, 11:29 AM

Well, I checked. In this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13465 someone noticed a lack of available 500's and there was lots of speculation for the reason including lack of available displays caused by brisk sales, a new device coming out, and Sony exiting the business. Less than a week later, the 505 was announced by Sony.

DaleDe · 07-24-2009, 11:37 AM

With all the new Adobe DE devices coming out it looks like Sony does not like the competition and will not upgrade the firmware to match these newer devices.

HarryT · 07-24-2009, 11:40 AM

Given the fact that Sony are not using the standard Adobe SDK, as all the other manufacurers are, it would probably be very expensive for them to make firmware updates to add the capabilities which other devices now have.

porkupan · 07-24-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given the fact that Sony are not using the standard Adobe SDK, as all the other manufacurers are, it would probably be very expensive for them to make firmware updates to add the capabilities which other devices now have.

It's a joke, right?

Sony is using the Adobe SDK. Actually, they had Adobe develop the PDF and EPUB support for them.

Which "other devices" have more capabilities in Adobe formats (PDF, EPUB) than Sony Reader? Amazon's PDF support is a joke, and I am not sure which other eInk devices have search, notes, fast paging capabilities of the PRS-700. I can't think of any.

The PDF and EPUB support in the Sony Reader is not all great, but to the best of my knowledge it's better than that in any other eInk device.

HarryT · 07-24-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkupan

It's a joke, right?

Sony is using the Adobe SDK.

No, they aren't. The Sony ADE support predates the portable SDK. The Sony uses an Adobe "rendering engine", yes, but it was not developed using the portable SDK.

Perhaps you find humour in this, but I regret to say that it eludes me.

Quote:

Which "other devices" have more capabilities in Adobe formats (PDF, EPUB) than Sony Reader?

A number of other manufacturers have either released, or are about to release, machines with Adobe SDK ADE support. These will all be considerably more capable than the Sony. In particular, the 300k "flow limit" which cripples the Sony appears to have gone, and ePub books will be displayed with full justification.

junkyardwillie · 07-24-2009, 01:05 PM

I hope its not amateur hour over there at Sony again. I'd love to read a book on their fall from grace I wonder if anyone has done one.
I can't imagine that they will be exiting the eBook business but why would you discontinue sales of a device before you announce a new one or with no announcement on what you are doing? Awful communications structure. They did end up dropping their UMPC, I believe, so there is a chance that they are trimming the fat and cutting unprofitable non essential divisions.

vivaldirules · 07-24-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardwillie

I can't imagine that they will be exiting the eBook business but why would you discontinue sales of a device before you announce a new one or with no announcement on what you are doing?

How about because you stopped making them because you wanted to start making the new ones, and then you wanted to sell all of the old models you had left before bringing out the new one?

Kali Yuga · 07-24-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardwillie

I hope its not amateur hour over there at Sony again.... why would you discontinue sales of a device before you announce a new one or with no announcement on what you are doing?

Again they haven't completely dropped the product line, it's just a few colors out of stock.

Seems to me that new device or not, they just misjudged some inventory levels. Happens all the time, especially now that we are in the era of JIT manufacturing. Heck, how long were there Nintendo Wii shortages? 2 years?

rhadin · 07-24-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A number of other manufacturers have either released, or are about to release, machines with Adobe SDK ADE support. These will all be considerably more capable than the Sony. In particular, the 300k "flow limit" which cripples the Sony appears to have gone, and ePub books will be displayed with full justification.

Harry, how can the consumer tell the difference in ADE support without actually buying a device. For example, assuming that BeBook or Astak uses the more capable ADE support, what would tip me to that as a consumer?

Shaggy · 07-24-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

Harry, how can the consumer tell the difference in ADE support without actually buying a device. For example, assuming that BeBook or Astak uses the more capable ADE support, what would tip me to that as a consumer?

I think ADE is required for PDF DRM. If a device said that was a supported format, then it's got ADE. If the device only supports non-DRM PDF, then it may be based on something else.

starrigger · 07-24-2009, 04:19 PM

I was just checking something at Books on Board, and I see they're advertising the 700 now for $349. Must be a clearance sale.

tech_au · 07-24-2009, 05:28 PM

I can only hope that the proud PRS505 parents are preparing to give birth to a bouncing baby blue PRS 510 rather than the bean counter accountants preparing to did the grave for a much loved PRS505

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07-24-2009, 10:33 AM	#61
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	I agree with the usual consensus. It's very strange that Sony would stop stocking the 505s and 700s without having something to immediately take their place. This would mean that production of the 505s and 700s would have had to stop weeks ago, and surely we'd have heard something about that long before the discontinuation rumor via actual customers.

07-24-2009, 10:40 AM	#62
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I have a vague recollection that just before the 505 was released, there was a sudden lack of 500's available for purchase and nothing but a few rumors that a new model was perhaps coming. Do I have that right?

07-24-2009, 11:29 AM	#64
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Well, I checked. In this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13465 someone noticed a lack of available 500's and there was lots of speculation for the reason including lack of available displays caused by brisk sales, a new device coming out, and Sony exiting the business. Less than a week later, the 505 was announced by Sony.

07-24-2009, 11:37 AM	#65
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	With all the new Adobe DE devices coming out it looks like Sony does not like the competition and will not upgrade the firmware to match these newer devices.

07-24-2009, 11:40 AM	#66
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Given the fact that Sony are not using the standard Adobe SDK, as all the other manufacurers are, it would probably be very expensive for them to make firmware updates to add the capabilities which other devices now have.

07-24-2009, 01:05 PM	#69
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	I hope its not amateur hour over there at Sony again. I'd love to read a book on their fall from grace I wonder if anyone has done one. I can't imagine that they will be exiting the eBook business but why would you discontinue sales of a device before you announce a new one or with no announcement on what you are doing? Awful communications structure. They did end up dropping their UMPC, I believe, so there is a chance that they are trimming the fat and cutting unprofitable non essential divisions.

07-24-2009, 04:19 PM	#74
starrigger Jeffrey A. Carver Posts: 1,355 Karma: 1107383 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts, USA Device: Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus, Droid phone, Nook HD+	I was just checking something at Books on Board, and I see they're advertising the 700 now for $349. Must be a clearance sale.

07-24-2009, 05:28 PM	#75
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 516 Karma: 4056 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650	I can only hope that the proud PRS505 parents are preparing to give birth to a bouncing baby blue PRS 510 rather than the bean counter accountants preparing to did the grave for a much loved PRS505

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