Sony plans UK e-reader launch at London BookFair 2008

Nate the great · 10-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Sony is expected to launch its e-book reader in the UK at the 2008 London Book Fair, fuelling speculation that Amazon will try and pip it to the post by rush-releasing its own rival device, the "Kindle".

According to publisher sources, Sony is in talks with Waterstone's to sell the device.

Sony would not confirm its plans for entering the UK, but publishers point to a launch next April and are already getting excited about the potential of a new e-reader launch to stimulate e-book sales.

from:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/46...er-launch.html

yvanleterrible · 10-09-2007, 05:55 PM

That's glorious, an out of continent distribution, finally!

NatCh · 10-09-2007, 06:37 PM

I'll second that!

ricdiogo · 10-09-2007, 07:21 PM

Yesssssssss!!

Cabe · 10-09-2007, 07:30 PM

2008? I want it NOW dammit!

NatCh · 10-09-2007, 07:30 PM

Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but I did note this bit (emphasis added):

Quote:

Tech website Engadget is suggesting that Amazon will launch its Kindle device just after Frankfurt on 15th October—and has reported that it is already selling Kindle versions of books on its website.

That last bit is something of an overstatement, both of what Engadget actually reported, and the reality (for those late to the party: the kindle edition books were listed but then pulled when we noticed them and were never yet for sale in the first place) -- I hope that the rest of it isn't an ... overstatement of some similar rumor or inference, but it's not the best sign.

pkgreader · 10-10-2007, 02:26 AM

Do you think they'll let us onto eConnect store then? Or do you reckon it will be only US and UK residents??

I hate that something fierce. I don't know how to get stuff onto my eReader!!!

John H · 10-10-2007, 05:05 AM

Great news,

I almost decided to go for Bookeen due to presence in Europe but this means that I'll have to wait and see. If Sony gives possibility to non-UK people to buy books, we have a clear winner.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

/John

HarryT · 10-10-2007, 05:37 AM

Hi John,

What makes you say that the Sony would be a clear winner over the CyBook? There are hugely more books available in MobiPocket format than in Sony format, and no problems with buying them from any country in the world.

John H · 10-10-2007, 06:35 AM

Well, I tried to take into account technical side, Sony is good at making HW and support is slow but it will eventually solve the problems. You're right that mobipocket is widely spread but I have a number of txt/rtf myself so that's not crucial for me. As somebody mentioned in some other thread, I'm waiting for this since I saw Star Trek as 9 year old and managed to build my SF library in txt/rtf in hope that some day will come to convert library to whatever format it takes. So this is probably correct in my case but not necessarily for others.

I still have one mp3 player from Sony which has served me many years. Software is still horrible, conversion awful and so on. But HW never let me down. This is little bit idea behind the reader as well: I don't expect that reader sw or format support will be as good as we wanted for couple of years to come but hopefully acceptable.

Secondly I have some weird idea/hope that Sony will find other distribution partners, connect shop is incapable of giving the right upswing in book sales.

HarryT · 10-10-2007, 06:42 AM

You're right - the Sony Reader is very well built; I've been using mine since last December. I do prefer the MobiPocket format over Sony's LRF format, however, simply because it's supported by so many more devices and retailers. Obviously, though, if using TXT/RTF is your main goal then that's not an issue!

NatCh · 10-10-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John H

Secondly I have some weird idea/hope that Sony will find other distribution partners, connect shop is incapable of giving the right upswing in book sales.

They've announced a partnership with Borders for that, there's no telling how that will fall out on national boundaries, though.

yvanleterrible · 10-10-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're right - the Sony Reader is very well built; I've been using mine since last December. I do prefer the MobiPocket format over Sony's LRF format, however, simply because it's supported by so many more devices and retailers. Obviously, though, if using TXT/RTF is your main goal then that's not an issue!

Would it be feasible, software wise, for Sony to port Mobipocket to their readers?

kacir · 10-10-2007, 02:31 PM

I very much hope that Sony will not compute the price the way Booken does.

$300 is not equal 300Eur

Nate the great · 10-10-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

I very much hope that Sony will not compute the price the way Bookeen does.

$300 is not equal 300Eur

Nope

$300 = ₤300

10-10-2007, 05:05 AM	#8
John H Member Posts: 11 Karma: 16256 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Aura HD	More decisions to make... Great news, I almost decided to go for Bookeen due to presence in Europe but this means that I'll have to wait and see. If Sony gives possibility to non-UK people to buy books, we have a clear winner. Waiting, waiting, waiting... /John

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10-09-2007, 05:55 PM	#2
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	That's glorious, an out of continent distribution, finally!

10-09-2007, 06:37 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'll second that!

10-09-2007, 07:21 PM	#4
ricdiogo Gutenberger Posts: 142 Karma: 700 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen 3	Yesssssssss!!

10-09-2007, 07:30 PM	#5
Cabe Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 403 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone	2008? I want it NOW dammit!

10-10-2007, 02:26 AM	#7
pkgreader Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Sony eReader	Do you think they'll let us onto eConnect store then? Or do you reckon it will be only US and UK residents?? I hate that something fierce. I don't know how to get stuff onto my eReader!!!

10-10-2007, 05:37 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Hi John, What makes you say that the Sony would be a clear winner over the CyBook? There are hugely more books available in MobiPocket format than in Sony format, and no problems with buying them from any country in the world.

10-10-2007, 06:35 AM	#10
John H Member Posts: 11 Karma: 16256 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Aura HD	Well, I tried to take into account technical side, Sony is good at making HW and support is slow but it will eventually solve the problems. You're right that mobipocket is widely spread but I have a number of txt/rtf myself so that's not crucial for me. As somebody mentioned in some other thread, I'm waiting for this since I saw Star Trek as 9 year old and managed to build my SF library in txt/rtf in hope that some day will come to convert library to whatever format it takes. So this is probably correct in my case but not necessarily for others. I still have one mp3 player from Sony which has served me many years. Software is still horrible, conversion awful and so on. But HW never let me down. This is little bit idea behind the reader as well: I don't expect that reader sw or format support will be as good as we wanted for couple of years to come but hopefully acceptable. Secondly I have some weird idea/hope that Sony will find other distribution partners, connect shop is incapable of giving the right upswing in book sales.

10-10-2007, 06:42 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You're right - the Sony Reader is very well built; I've been using mine since last December. I do prefer the MobiPocket format over Sony's LRF format, however, simply because it's supported by so many more devices and retailers. Obviously, though, if using TXT/RTF is your main goal then that's not an issue!

10-10-2007, 02:31 PM	#14
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,465 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	I very much hope that Sony will not compute the price the way Booken does. $300 is not equal 300Eur