Saw TWO (separate) people using a Reader on the train today. (UK)

yegon · 01-28-2008, 08:53 AM

I've been a train guard for a few years and I see loads of gadgets through the course of the day. I've seen 100's of DS's & PSP's, Macbooks, lappy's, iPods, Archos etc (and a single, solitary, GP2X, heh). Prior to today I've never seen anyone using a Reader, or indeed any of the other e-ink devices. Today, though, I saw two separate passengers, one with a PRS500, the other with a silver 505 (like mine).

Good to see them knocking about and I'll be pleased when they finally see an official release here - I'd have much preferred to purchase an official UK one as I'm always slightly troubled as to how on earth I'd get my 505 fixed were it to break.

edit: gah, I spelt separate wrong in the title.

kezza · 01-28-2008, 10:46 AM

I've had two separate train conductors on my commuter rail line comment on my 505. They say they've seen the ads on the train and so they're curious to see it in action. They were both pretty impressed. Never seen another passenger (or another person anywhere) with one, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Too busy reading, and all.

Yarrow · 01-28-2008, 12:44 PM

I have been using my PRS500 since May on numerous train journeys in the Uk. And no-one has ever expressed or shown any sign of interest!!!

simond · 01-28-2008, 12:44 PM

I've not yet seen anyone else using a Reader on the train going into London in my direction I'm afraid to say

HarryT · 01-28-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yarrow

I have been using my PRS500 since May on numerous train journeys in the Uk. And no-one has ever expressed or shown any sign of interest!!!

Do you not think that's just typical "British reserve", though? I mean, we just don't talk to strangers on trains, no matter how interested we may be in what they're doing

.

anotherchance · 01-28-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do you not think that's just typical "British reserve", though? I mean, we just don't talk to strangers on trains, no matter how interested we may be in what they're doing

.

More than likely. Although, I've not had anyone on my Philadelphia commute ask me about it either. I've seen plenty of sideways glances, watching what I'm doing, and that's always fun.

dhbailey · 01-28-2008, 03:39 PM

I was reading my 500 on a bench in a mall, waiting for my wife who was in a fabric store and a mid-20s gentleman sat down and asked if it were the new Amazon Kindle. I very gently (and with no umbrage, mind you!) corrected him and showed him what the Sony Reader could do and we discussed the pros and cons of the Kindle, and he seemed very interested.

Previously to that, there had been only one person who asked me about it, and that was last summer at a music camp I teach at for a week at the end of June. And the woman who asked me about it knew how much of a gadget freak I am and wasn't the least surprised by it.

But in general people seem to pay me little or no mind, when I'm using it in public.

Patricia · 01-28-2008, 04:13 PM

I corrected the thread title for spelling.
If it was an intercity London to Cardiff (or vice versa) then it might have been me that you saw. (tall, pale, very long dark hair.)
I find that people ask about the Reader quite often - about once a week or so. The Brits are not always as reserved as HarryT suggests.

yegon · 01-28-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

I corrected the thread title for spelling.
If it was an intercity London to Cardiff (or vice versa) then it might have been me that you saw. (tall, pale, very long dark hair.)

No, it was a bloke on both occasions, on a Manchester to Leeds train. Quite a coincidence seeing two within a couple of hours given I'd never seen one previously.

astra · 01-29-2008, 04:41 AM

On Sunday me and my wife were returned from London on a train.
She was reading on 500 and me on 505....no one asked questions though

I believe Harry_T is right, it is a typical British reserve, although I like it a lot

simond · 02-01-2008, 01:08 AM

I've had a few people ask me about it on the tube, which was a surprise!

HarryT · 02-01-2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simond

I've had a few people ask me about it on the tube, which was a surprise!

Must have been foreign tourists

.

astra · 02-01-2008, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Must have been foreign tourists

.

simond · 02-08-2008, 12:03 PM

LOL, to my surprise they were both natives, but they did both approach quite hesitantly, one after watching for a few stops

Nova · 02-09-2008, 08:39 PM

I've been using mine (PRS-505) for three months on the tube, and I've got asked only three times: by a (swedish) tourist, by a techie and by a drunk!

01-28-2008, 08:53 AM	#1
yegon Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 2079258 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS 505	Saw TWO (separate) people using a Reader on the train today. (UK) I've been a train guard for a few years and I see loads of gadgets through the course of the day. I've seen 100's of DS's & PSP's, Macbooks, lappy's, iPods, Archos etc (and a single, solitary, GP2X, heh). Prior to today I've never seen anyone using a Reader, or indeed any of the other e-ink devices. Today, though, I saw two separate passengers, one with a PRS500, the other with a silver 505 (like mine). Good to see them knocking about and I'll be pleased when they finally see an official release here - I'd have much preferred to purchase an official UK one as I'm always slightly troubled as to how on earth I'd get my 505 fixed were it to break. edit: gah, I spelt separate wrong in the title. Last edited by yegon; 01-28-2008 at 09:56 AM.

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01-28-2008, 10:46 AM	#2
kezza Lowlife of the Party Posts: 266 Karma: 4038 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: seattle Device: nook, iphone	I've had two separate train conductors on my commuter rail line comment on my 505. They say they've seen the ads on the train and so they're curious to see it in action. They were both pretty impressed. Never seen another passenger (or another person anywhere) with one, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Too busy reading, and all.

01-28-2008, 12:44 PM	#3
Yarrow Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancashire, UK Device: Sony PRS500& PRS505; iPad; and Kindle	I have been using my PRS500 since May on numerous train journeys in the Uk. And no-one has ever expressed or shown any sign of interest!!!

01-28-2008, 12:44 PM	#4
simond Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 1062755 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPad, iPhone	I've not yet seen anyone else using a Reader on the train going into London in my direction I'm afraid to say

01-28-2008, 03:39 PM	#7
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	I was reading my 500 on a bench in a mall, waiting for my wife who was in a fabric store and a mid-20s gentleman sat down and asked if it were the new Amazon Kindle. I very gently (and with no umbrage, mind you!) corrected him and showed him what the Sony Reader could do and we discussed the pros and cons of the Kindle, and he seemed very interested. Previously to that, there had been only one person who asked me about it, and that was last summer at a music camp I teach at for a week at the end of June. And the woman who asked me about it knew how much of a gadget freak I am and wasn't the least surprised by it. But in general people seem to pay me little or no mind, when I'm using it in public.

01-28-2008, 04:13 PM	#8
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	I corrected the thread title for spelling. If it was an intercity London to Cardiff (or vice versa) then it might have been me that you saw. (tall, pale, very long dark hair.) I find that people ask about the Reader quite often - about once a week or so. The Brits are not always as reserved as HarryT suggests.

01-29-2008, 04:41 AM	#10
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	On Sunday me and my wife were returned from London on a train. She was reading on 500 and me on 505....no one asked questions though I believe Harry_T is right, it is a typical British reserve, although I like it a lot

02-01-2008, 01:08 AM	#11
simond Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 1062755 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPad, iPhone	I've had a few people ask me about it on the tube, which was a surprise!

02-08-2008, 12:03 PM	#14
simond Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 1062755 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPad, iPhone	LOL, to my surprise they were both natives, but they did both approach quite hesitantly, one after watching for a few stops

02-09-2008, 08:39 PM	#15
Nova PRS Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: PRS-505	I've been using mine (PRS-505) for three months on the tube, and I've got asked only three times: by a (swedish) tourist, by a techie and by a drunk!