Quote:
Originally Posted by igorsk
The USB and EInk controllers are different but yes, it's a marketing decision. Still it doesn't make it your right to demand an update. Your product works as specified, so they are not obligated to "fix" it.
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I don't think it's ever been a matter of obligation on the part of Sony to "fix" somthing. You are right, it is a marketing decision ... a bad marketing decision ... and a very bad PR decision ... but that's Sony for you.
The consumer always has the right to demand something. It's called "supply and demand." If enough consumers demand something from Sony, and don't find it in Sony products, or don't find that Sony is responsive to their demands ... they will simply purchase products somewhere else from someone who will supply whatever it is they demand.
It doesn't matter whether any individual's demands as a consumer are reasonable or not. If the company doesn't meet the demand, they simply lose those consumers.
Unfortunately, the reason that I think this is a bad PR decision is that Sony could come off looking like the best ebook reader manufacturer out there ... simply by supporting the 500 a little longer. I can almost guarantee you that while owners of 500s might not upgrade to the 505, they would probably stick with Sony and probably upgrade to another Sony later ... and it would be a benefit to Sony to keep these customers and, more importantly those future customers who will probably ask that owner of a 500 whether he or she would recommend Sony.
Companies are never obligated to make sound marketing and PR decisions, but then companies are never obligated to do the intelligent thing.