Sony 900 Reader

davidspitzer · 03-03-2010, 12:43 AM

Got owned over at Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/5484122/sony-read...wed-do-not-buy

cant say I disagree - The touch layer is a huge mistake by Sony

Teddman · 03-03-2010, 12:53 AM

I love the hardware design, build quality, and user interface of Sony's non-touch readers.

I don't like much else about them--the store or library software. Luckily, Calibre takes the place of their software very well.

Sony has made two huge blunders. They moved to ePub before most of their readers supported it correctly (no full justification), and no longer sell their own better-performing LRF/LRX format. Then they added touch support to their main line of readers but did it in a way that killed the contrast of their screens.

Ben Thornton · 03-03-2010, 03:52 AM

I get along with my 900 fine, and am reading a lot on it. This "review" is from someone who hasn't even seen a 900, saying that the screen is the same as the 600 (it's similar but not the same) and that he didn't like that screen.

Every piece of engineering is a compromise. Some people will get on with the 900, some not. For me, it works well - but when I can get equivalent functionality/quality with a markedly higher contrast, I will.

Canuck_in_Japan · 03-03-2010, 05:07 AM

Gizmodo seems to have a HUGE bias against Sony for whatever reason. I would take that "review" with a huge grain of salt.

kennyc · 03-03-2010, 06:35 AM

Well, I don't think it's nearly as bad as that. Is the 505 or Kindle2 better contrast-wise and readability-wise. Yeah, but my 900 is fine as well (better than some paper books I've read) as long as the light is reasonable. The "glare" is not an issue.

Mike_73 · 03-03-2010, 06:41 AM

I don't have the 900, but I own a 505 and 600. The 505 has a much better display than the 600 due to lack of touch. But still, the 600 does all the tricks I need and glare or contrast is no issue for me. It's been said 1000 times (maybe more) that there's no wrong or right here. It depends what you need and what you expect from your reader. In my case, the 600 is perfect. The 900 probably would be, too, but I cannot get one here in a store. It's only sold via internet which I don't like.

So everyone go out and get the reader he needs. Maybe it's a 600, maybe a 300, maybe an Irex or a kindle or.....

SCION · 03-03-2010, 12:52 PM

Yawn

Mike_73 · 03-03-2010, 04:05 PM

Yeah, I know, yawn. It all repeats itself

dsvick · 03-03-2010, 04:13 PM

How can they call it a "review" when he specifically states "...I don't have a review unit of my own to check out." He might as well have titled the article "I'm just going to make stuff up about this".

What a load of crap, I mean really, all he does is quote a review by someone else, take it as the truth, and make a recommendation based on it - unbelievable.

So much for visiting gizmodo again.... ever....

Hellmark · 03-03-2010, 06:18 PM

I took it as that they're reporting that someone did put a review up, not that they were doing the review. Most of his complaint is related to the display, which is basically the same as in previous readers, so one could comment on that without actually using the latest one, because no real change has been made.

mgmueller · 03-03-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidspitzer

Got owned over at Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/5484122/sony-read...wed-do-not-buy

cant say I disagree - The touch layer is a huge mistake by Sony

...but still a bad review. Doesn't differentiate between Sony 600 and Sony 900. Glare of Sony 900 still may be too much for some/many. But it's definitely way less than on Sony 600.

fugazied · 03-03-2010, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Gizmodo seems to have a HUGE bias against Sony for whatever reason. I would take that "review" with a huge grain of salt.

Gizmodo do have a bias against some technologies for sure. However in this case their criticism is warranted imo. Sony have rushed into touch to get some product differentiation to Kindles/Nooks despite the negative impacts on the reader. With the poor clarity and simple design the reader also looks dated aesthetically - it's 2010 folks.

I really don't think touch is essential on a dedicated reader. On a device like the iPad it's essential, it's doing games and doing hundreds of kinds of apps (which different UIs). But for simple reader functionality it's not worth losing screen clarity for.

I think Sony need to fire the guy in charge of the e-reader division and start afresh.

SCION · 03-03-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fugazied

... the reader also looks dated aesthetically - it's 2010 folks...

Oh really? And the Kindles?

A case of the pot calling the kettle black.

kennyc · 03-03-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fugazied

...the reader also looks dated aesthetically - it's 2010 folks.
...

Huh? Care to expand on that?

DawnFalcon · 03-03-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidspitzer

Got owned over at Gizmodo

Gizmodo HATE ereaders. It could be the next best thing since sliced bread and Gizmodo would pan it.

03-03-2010, 12:43 AM	#1
davidspitzer So Many Words to Read! Posts: 411 Karma: 125665 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Kindle	Sony 900 Reader Got owned over at Gizmodo http://gizmodo.com/5484122/sony-read...wed-do-not-buy cant say I disagree - The touch layer is a huge mistake by Sony

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03-03-2010, 12:53 AM	#2
Teddman Addict Posts: 242 Karma: 695 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	I love the hardware design, build quality, and user interface of Sony's non-touch readers. I don't like much else about them--the store or library software. Luckily, Calibre takes the place of their software very well. Sony has made two huge blunders. They moved to ePub before most of their readers supported it correctly (no full justification), and no longer sell their own better-performing LRF/LRX format. Then they added touch support to their main line of readers but did it in a way that killed the contrast of their screens.

03-03-2010, 03:52 AM	#3
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	I get along with my 900 fine, and am reading a lot on it. This "review" is from someone who hasn't even seen a 900, saying that the screen is the same as the 600 (it's similar but not the same) and that he didn't like that screen. Every piece of engineering is a compromise. Some people will get on with the 900, some not. For me, it works well - but when I can get equivalent functionality/quality with a markedly higher contrast, I will.

03-03-2010, 05:07 AM	#4
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,476 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	Gizmodo seems to have a HUGE bias against Sony for whatever reason. I would take that "review" with a huge grain of salt.

03-03-2010, 06:35 AM	#5
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Well, I don't think it's nearly as bad as that. Is the 505 or Kindle2 better contrast-wise and readability-wise. Yeah, but my 900 is fine as well (better than some paper books I've read) as long as the light is reasonable. The "glare" is not an issue.

03-03-2010, 06:41 AM	#6
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	I don't have the 900, but I own a 505 and 600. The 505 has a much better display than the 600 due to lack of touch. But still, the 600 does all the tricks I need and glare or contrast is no issue for me. It's been said 1000 times (maybe more) that there's no wrong or right here. It depends what you need and what you expect from your reader. In my case, the 600 is perfect. The 900 probably would be, too, but I cannot get one here in a store. It's only sold via internet which I don't like. So everyone go out and get the reader he needs. Maybe it's a 600, maybe a 300, maybe an Irex or a kindle or.....

03-03-2010, 12:52 PM	#7
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	Yawn

03-03-2010, 04:05 PM	#8
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	Yeah, I know, yawn. It all repeats itself

03-03-2010, 04:13 PM	#9
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	How can they call it a "review" when he specifically states "...I don't have a review unit of my own to check out." He might as well have titled the article "I'm just going to make stuff up about this". What a load of crap, I mean really, all he does is quote a review by someone else, take it as the truth, and make a recommendation based on it - unbelievable. So much for visiting gizmodo again.... ever....

03-03-2010, 06:18 PM	#10
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,586 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	I took it as that they're reporting that someone did put a review up, not that they were doing the review. Most of his complaint is related to the display, which is basically the same as in previous readers, so one could comment on that without actually using the latest one, because no real change has been made.

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