[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Colour me unimpressed. I love my prs505 (the weight and metallic industrial nature of the design give it some substance) but these look like a step-backward design wise. Come on Sony, get the Vaio team on this and give us something worthy.

I agree.

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'm quite glad they did minimal design changes. I'm quite happy with the current design. I think the no card reader thing is one of the ways they are cutting cost to make the 300 a much cheaper device. They at least keep the option open on the 600.

Guys, just imagine if this is a $200 or less device. The market is going to go crazy. That's a third off retail price (including almost all the other devices new). Remember the huge grab for the 505 when they went to $199 at Borders for three days? That might have been a test. Clearing existing inventory and seeing what that price point will do.

Lowering the price point for an entry level reader and possible for an entry level touch screen reader seems the only justifiable reason for these potential readers.

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Originally Posted by HarryT

I honestly don't see any real need for a card reader in an entry-level device. I have 300 books on my CyBook, many of them multi-book omnibus versions, and am using roughly 40% of the 512MB memory of the CyBook.

I like using SD cards to decrease the number of ebooks on my reader and to help me separate my books, almost like folders. However, I can understand why someone who isn't as obsessive compulsive and doesn't need to keep all their ebooks available at all times wouldn't need a card reader.

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Not true. BMW had their 3 series and 5 series and they then came out with the more entry level 1 series.

BOb

I stand corrected.

Originally Posted by Lady Blue

I have to admit, I didn't do more than skim through the linked manuals and I don't know if there were any dates associated with these manuals, but wouldn't it be ironic (since the technology seems to be outdated) if these were drafts of manuals for a pre-500 or pre-505 (or even pre-700) prototype model they were toying with but discarded as a final design; and they were dug up from some deep, dark archive and released (or leaked) by some sly soul for grins and giggles, and they have no semblance to the actual next generation reader that might be coming our way?


(Tongue-in-cheek, grain of salt, and the Twilight Zone tune playing in the background . . . )


No, I guess not. Just playing games in my head. Never mind.

My first thoughts exactly, Lady Blue. I wondered if there was a file date attached to the manuals to give an indication as to when they were created. I guess great minds think alike. Wouldn't it be a tad embarrassing if we found out that the Sony people were sitting in there cubicles, reading MR and rolling in laughter at all our conjectures!