10-26-2013, 08:22 PM | #16 |
Wizard
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In many countries outside the US Sony have a big advantage over other brands: they have the only e-ink reader that can download Adobe DRM epubs directly from the public library system. They seem to sell quite well in New Zealand despite the Sony ebook store not being available here, and despite being near the top of the price range for ereaders. I suspect the ease of borrowing public library books is a big factor in that.
Edit: So for business reasons it might make sense not to bother competing in a market where they have no advantage to support the higher margins they can attract elsewhere. Last edited by GeoffR; 10-26-2013 at 08:27 PM. |
10-26-2013, 08:30 PM | #17 |
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Sony made the right choice from a business standpoint.. not their forte in the U.S. market..
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10-26-2013, 10:33 PM | #18 | |
eBookworm
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10-26-2013, 10:33 PM | #19 |
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My Sony reader had the best file system of any ereader I've owned, and I've owned a lot. I still miss it, as it would sort by author, title, date, collections and tags. If they ever make a front-lit reader with the same filesystem I'm getting it no matter where I have to import it from.
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10-26-2013, 10:46 PM | #20 | |
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10-26-2013, 11:15 PM | #21 |
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If true, it's unsurprising. Won't have much of an impact on the US market though.
Only Amazon and B&N are major players in the US, IIRC. Kobo also plays a minor role. I'm hoping that Kobo can become more popular in the US, to create more competition, since B&N doesn't seem to be very active in that lately. |
10-26-2013, 11:53 PM | #22 | |
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10-27-2013, 12:34 AM | #23 |
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It was with the introduction of the T2 last year (Autumn 2012) that Sony did not market to mainstream stores. Before that you could find them easily enough in Target, Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, Walmart, etc.
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10-27-2013, 03:14 AM | #24 |
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I totally agree that Sony should ditch the Sony Store - from my own experience, and of other Reader users, you bought the device, and never bothered with the Store !
Prices and availability offered no great advantages to a number of other sources, and Calibre made the "management system" , to be polite, look like a Model T Ford ............. A lot of energy and dosh (that's £'s & $'s) were, in my opinion, wasted - Sony could never hope to get up there with the big player suppliers, Kindle in particular, but should have concentrated on the physical Reader. Perhaps recommending Calibre ?! And being a bit more realistic about their pricing policy, too. However, it's a bit late now - the fact they have, it would seem, left the US to the others is a move which does not bode well for those of us who simply like the Reader ...... wherever we live, 'cos I can't see Sony making enough from the rest of the market, and it is extremely unlikely that they'll be back with a "game-changer". I'm afraid I think they had their chance, took it .... and then blew it . |
10-27-2013, 03:38 AM | #25 |
monkey on the fringe
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First the came for the Sonys, and I didn't care because I owned a Kindle.
Then they came for the Nooks, and I didn't care because I owned a Kindle. Then they came for the Kobos, and I didn't care because I owned a Kindle. Then they came for the Kindles, and I didn't care because there's always audiobooks |
10-27-2013, 03:54 AM | #26 |
Treachery of images ...
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Gee willickers .... the US isn't the beginning and end of ebook sellers nor ebook stores!!
Haven't got a clue what Sony's reasons are re the US, but hey didn't they offer the T3 into Germany first so that ought to tell us where they think their market/s are, eh. |
10-27-2013, 03:55 AM | #27 | |
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I am starting to agree with those that think they are abandoning the market. Can't say I blame them if they are not making money in this area. Disappointing for me, as I consider any Sony reader I have used to be miles ahead. Just my opinion. The only reason I don't have a T3 is I am hoping that they will bundle it with the lighted cover eventually. And I am fine with my T1 and don't hate the Kobo mini. I do hate the Aura HD for a variety of reasons. A bit unbalanced of me I know to detest an inanimate object Helen |
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10-27-2013, 04:59 AM | #28 |
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FYI, Shop E-readers sells Sony PRS T3. No idea how good they are when it comes to customer service, though.
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10-27-2013, 05:25 AM | #29 | |
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10-27-2013, 06:05 AM | #30 |
monkey on the fringe
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Not only that, but when I inquired at a local indie about device pricing, they said they wouldn't honor national sales. They said devices were sold based upon cost and they wouldn't take a loss.
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