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Fugubot · 08-04-2007, 01:05 AM

Here's another one:

http://www.bookofjoe.com/2007/08/sony-reader-on-.html

_________________________

I really didn't mean to start a thread about PDFs.

I just thought it was interesting that even the most passionate defenders of the Reader, like Harry, can't seem to share enthusiasm about the Reader without disclaimers. Even saying the pdf issues are Adobe's fault is not equivalent to saying "The Reader works great." Its always, "The Reader works for me...if I accept the pdf reader is not easy to use...if I keep my expectations in line...if I don't mind that I can't just say the thing just works..."

The attitude that everything's great as it is, when some criticism has been consistent since the reader was released, is only helpful if the device was destined for an esoteric niche market. Most corporations want to enlarge market share and the discussion I wanted to start was whether the recent price drop was sufficient to generate new mass market enthusiasm for the product. It seems to me that its generating the reverse type of buzz: "Its cheaper but its still flawed..."

A lot of people, myself included, like the Reader and think that its' a very good first generation product. But a price drop does not address usability issues.

Since the PDF subject has dominated this thread, consider that Harry's convinced that "You only have two choices - reduce the document size to fit the screen, or have a system of 'panning' the screen over the PDF page." If Harry believes this, then he has a lower opinion of Sony's engineers than I do. Sony has a long distinguished history of innovation, from the first mass market transistor radios to the walkman, the mavica cameras in their day, etc. Problem solving was what made their products stand out even when competitors entered the field.

Recently, Apple's iphone browser demonstrated that there are still engineers out their with amazing new solutions to old nagging problems. Google routinely releases new products to the public that are unfinished but, and this is part of the fun, they evolve fairly rapidly over time. Not every product works, but you get the feeling that these guys are striving for excellence and receive criticism with a renewed sense of purpose to improve a good product until its a great product.

I don't mean to bash on Harry but his comments seem a great example of how, with no improvements or innovations to look forward to (I mean, who knows?), even an enthusiast for the Reader produces the worst type of word-of-mouth. When you begin a defense of the product by writing, "I still think, though, that it's a case of caveat emptor - 'let the buyer beware.'"

C'mon Sony! With friends like these...

08-04-2007, 01:05 AM	#23
Fugubot Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 10558 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony Reader	Here's another one: http://www.bookofjoe.com/2007/08/sony-reader-on-.html _________________________ I really didn't mean to start a thread about PDFs. I just thought it was interesting that even the most passionate defenders of the Reader, like Harry, can't seem to share enthusiasm about the Reader without disclaimers. Even saying the pdf issues are Adobe's fault is not equivalent to saying "The Reader works great." Its always, "The Reader works for me...if I accept the pdf reader is not easy to use...if I keep my expectations in line...if I don't mind that I can't just say the thing just works..." The attitude that everything's great as it is, when some criticism has been consistent since the reader was released, is only helpful if the device was destined for an esoteric niche market. Most corporations want to enlarge market share and the discussion I wanted to start was whether the recent price drop was sufficient to generate new mass market enthusiasm for the product. It seems to me that its generating the reverse type of buzz: "Its cheaper but its still flawed..." A lot of people, myself included, like the Reader and think that its' a very good first generation product. But a price drop does not address usability issues. Since the PDF subject has dominated this thread, consider that Harry's convinced that "You only have two choices - reduce the document size to fit the screen, or have a system of 'panning' the screen over the PDF page." If Harry believes this, then he has a lower opinion of Sony's engineers than I do. Sony has a long distinguished history of innovation, from the first mass market transistor radios to the walkman, the mavica cameras in their day, etc. Problem solving was what made their products stand out even when competitors entered the field. Recently, Apple's iphone browser demonstrated that there are still engineers out their with amazing new solutions to old nagging problems. Google routinely releases new products to the public that are unfinished but, and this is part of the fun, they evolve fairly rapidly over time. Not every product works, but you get the feeling that these guys are striving for excellence and receive criticism with a renewed sense of purpose to improve a good product until its a great product. I don't mean to bash on Harry but his comments seem a great example of how, with no improvements or innovations to look forward to (I mean, who knows?), even an enthusiast for the Reader produces the worst type of word-of-mouth. When you begin a defense of the product by writing, "I still think, though, that it's a case of caveat emptor - 'let the buyer beware.'" C'mon Sony! With friends like these...