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07-30-2010, 09:16 AM | #16 |
Wizard
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I'd be happy to pay another 20% to 30% on the price for robust, classy construction, but Sony need to release machines that have better quality throughout. That includes bringing their firmware up to date, and improving their screen contrast/anti-glare on their Touch models.
I bought the cheaper Elonex 511EB rather than the PRS-300 because the plastic construction was pretty robust, if not as stylish, and the Elonex was cheaper, had 8 times the memory, was lighter, and had better support for ePubs, let alone its additional features such as TTS and audio. I didn't even consider the PRS-600 as I could clearly see that the act of reading was going to be more pleasurable on the non-touch screens. I raise this because while the current crop of Sony readers do have classy construction they're not the leaders in overall quality and features that we would expect for 'premium' machines. I think any new Sony machines need to be something special to entice people who don't absolutely need a touch screen to pay the premium, not just better built. Graham |
07-31-2010, 04:38 AM | #17 |
The Introvert
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There is another topic, I take my post over there
Last edited by astra; 07-31-2010 at 04:58 AM. |
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07-31-2010, 05:43 AM | #18 |
Wizard
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i sure would. i've been paying monthly recurring for rhapsody for over 3 years, and i love it.
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07-31-2010, 06:41 AM | #19 |
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Here on Mobile Read, there are 11 (count them) forums for the various brands of reader plus a 12th forum for "others." Yet the press only ever recognizes the Kindle and the iPad and sees them as competing head to head for the entire market. Just shows how far the journalistic "arts" have fallen in the last couple of decades.
I'm very happy with my Sony PRS600, precisely because it's a single function device with NO wireless connection. The software that comes with it isn't all that great, but despite all the gripes here about the Sony store, they have their good points, too. In the 4 months I've had my Reader, the Sony store has twice dropped the price of a newly released book I had my eye on to $9.99 and I've swooped down on the opportunity to get it. Wasn't $9.99 the price Amazon was promising on all best sellers before the Big Five got their way? I still think we'll see Amazon selling e-books in a variety of formats within 5 years or so. But until that time, I find epub versions of books by the Big Five and others at wildly differing prices across the Internet. And I'm happy to see Sony stating publicly that they're not going for the cheapest reader price. The features I have on my reader are those I need and want. There is more to competition in the marketplace than finding the cheapest prices. |
07-31-2010, 07:24 AM | #20 |
Wizard
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Although i love my 500 and 900 Sony's going to loose in terms of quality and reading experience over time if they aren't going to release new models or better firmware.
There are lots of requirements for new software features but Sony didn't hear the voice of the customer. There's new exciting hardware available but will Sony release a new device with new hardware any time soon. From my current experience i doubt that. |
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07-31-2010, 09:22 AM | #21 | |
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07-31-2010, 04:26 PM | #22 | |
Wizard
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We simply don't know what the numbers are like for Sony, but the fact of the matter is that they are not dependent on growing the ebook market like b&n or amazon so if they weren't making money on the hardware they would simply stop. |
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07-31-2010, 05:49 PM | #23 |
Wizard
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Sony has been in "turn-around" mode for a few years. It's a great brand and has produced a lot of outstanding consumer electronic products over the years. Without question, its e-readers were top-of-the-line when released. But Sony's challenge is it is a Queen Elizabeth II ship at a time when markets are fragmenting and smaller vessels or alternate systems are needed to shore up profits.
It's astounding how quickly markets are changing. Sony's e-readers seem too "2008ish" or "2009ish" ... yikes! Has the world changed that much in seven months of 2010? The answer is: "Yes, it has". During 2010, Google has entered, and exited, the world market with its Nexus One mobile phone. The same applies to Microsoft with its Kin phones. In less than one year -- starting at Oct 2009 -- Amazon has released the Kindle 2, the Kindle 2 international, the DX international, the DX Graphite with new tech screen, added free unlimited 3G Internet in 100 markets, weathered a mutiny by five core suppliers, survived, thrived and profited through the iPad onslaught. What has Sony done during this time? Approximately nothing in the e-reader space. Have they even bothered with an iPad / iPhone / iTouch e-book store app? It's hardly news that Sony isn't today and never has "chased the cheapest" devices in any market. But how does sitting on the sidelines -- when Amazon's evolution, B&N with Nook and the price leader Kobo have come to market in the past 10 months -- further Sony's e-reader division's future? Sony has signaled they are NOT interested in participating and the latest interview "we're focussed on quality" simply proves the division's demise is imminent. Perhaps they will fold the e-bookstore into B&N and become the manufacturer of Nooks. Last edited by SensualPoet; 07-31-2010 at 05:53 PM. |
07-31-2010, 07:36 PM | #24 | |
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08-01-2010, 12:32 AM | #25 | |
Da'i
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Luqman |
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08-01-2010, 01:03 AM | #26 | |
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08-01-2010, 05:55 AM | #27 | |
So Many Words to Read!
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Sony I'm sorry sorry to say has another log for their failure fire along with, atrac, memory sticks, Betamax, psp's and so on |
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08-01-2010, 06:00 AM | #28 |
eBook Enthusiast
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That depends where you live, of course. In Eastern Europe, Pocketbook are the dominant player in the market. It's easy to make the mistake of thinking that the same brands are popular everything. That's definitely not true.
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08-01-2010, 06:11 AM | #29 | |
Wizard
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Graham |
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08-01-2010, 06:20 AM | #30 | |
Wizard
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My house has some Sony stuff but none of it was bought new. I even bought my Sony Reader PRS-500 second hand - and Sony exchanged it for a PRS-600 for me after I sent it for firmware upgrade for the second time. They've given me support one could never dream of getting from the likes of Amazon. The only feature I would like is extended battery life - and it might be as easy as upgrading the battery myself, assuming lithium ion batteries are improving all the time! |
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