Will prices of readers drop in 2011?

[astra]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Not quite. If I wanted touch screen, it would still be too expensive. $230 is too much. The price would need to drop about $50.

If you were to use it for a few days....I suspect you would change your mind. It is unbelievable

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by astra

If you were to use it for a few days....I suspect you would change your mind. It is unbelievable

I'm more than happy with thumb clicks on a Kindle. Easy one-handed operation.

[astra]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I'm more than happy with thumb clicks on a Kindle. Easy one-handed operation.

I also thought like that, when I used 505.
It is not only about reading. Other features such as navigating menus, dictionary, search. I cannot say that touch screen for one particular feature does it. It is an overall impression that I got after using it for 2 weeks. Although, one feature definitely wins (I don't think you need it) is dictionary. It is perfect. Double tap on a word and it brings up a definition. For someone with English as a second language it is invaluable feature. Moreover, if not for the dictionary, maybe I would not cheat on my beloved 505.

[DMB]

Originally Posted by gmw

Actually, that's about what it was worth to me to know that neither Amazon nor anyone else was able to look over my shoulder while I read. I have enough trouble keeping my PC secure, damned if I going to start the fight on my reader too. Of the non-big-brother manufacturers the Sony 650 seemed like my best bet here in Australia. I won't ridicule other's decisions to buy a Kindle, I just have different priorities and the Sony fit better.

If you don't read Amazon books on it and don't switch on the wi-fi, Amazon can't look over your shoulder on the Kindle either.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

It is not too expensive! It was just to expensive for you or you were to frugal to pay for it, but the device itself is properly priced for its abilities and compared to the abilities of the other devices you mentioned and their pricetags!!

Still too expensive for me considering it doesn't have a free 3G web browser or allow me to shop at Amazon.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

considering it doesn't have a free 3G web browser or allow me to shop at Amazon.

Of course it doesn't. It is ebook reader
For browsing the Internet or shopping at Amazon there are computers, netbooks, laptops, mobile phones?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by astra

I also thought like that, when I used 505.
It is not only about reading, navigating menus, using dictionary, search function. I cannot say that touch screen for one particular feature does it. It is an overall impression that I got after using it for 2 weeks. Although, one feature definitely wins (I don't think you need it) is dictionary. It is perfect. Double tap on a word and it brings up a definition. For someone with English as a second language it is invaluable feature. Moreover, if not for the dictionary, maybe I would not cheat on my beloved 505.

Yeah, I don't need a dictionary or search or notes or highlighting, etc. I never did any of that with paper books.

Glad the Sony is working out for you.

[booot]

Originally Posted by gmw

Actually, that's about what it was worth to me to know that neither Amazon nor anyone else was able to look over my shoulder while I read. I have enough trouble keeping my PC secure, damned if I going to start the fight on my reader too. Of the non-big-brother manufacturers the Sony 650 seemed like my best bet here in Australia. I won't ridicule other's decisions to buy a Kindle, I just have different priorities and the Sony fit better.

Very nice comment I second that. Absence of wi-fi on sony models is not a shortcoming. In addition, comparing the great customization and well-arranged menu and settings on my old 505, the Kindle 3 seem as a lite version or a poor substitution, not mentioning the ridiculous plastic finish of kindle and tiny keyboard. 505 is heavy, old (4 years or more older than kindle 3) but still creates pretty much better impression on the first sight than the toy-like kindle.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Yeah, I don't need a dictionary or search or notes or highlighting, etc. I never did any of that with paper books.

Glad the Sony is working out for you.

That is funny. I didn't look into the dictionary as often with paperbooks as I do now (English is my second language, too) and consider to buy a PRS-950 because I think I would like to look into Wiki while reading, too.

[booot]

Originally Posted by astra

I also thought like that, when I used 505.
It is not only about reading, navigating menus, using dictionary, search function. I cannot say that touch screen for one particular feature does it. It is an overall impression that I got after using it for 2 weeks. Although, one feature definitely wins (I don't think you need it) is dictionary. It is perfect. Double tap on a word and it brings up a definition. For someone with English as a second language it is invaluable feature. Moreover, if not for the dictionary, maybe I would not cheat on my beloved 505.

This is exactly why i'm looking for 650. I would also like to use the dictionary as my english is a second language. My roomate has the Kindle 3 and I hate the method of navigating through page with the buttons to find the word. Sometimes there are several words on a page that I'd like to lookup in the dictionary and the way with joystick is very annoying and slow. So concluding this, $90 dollars more for 650 is perfectly acceptable for me.

The problem is, that actually Kindle 3 is the only reader available to buy from US market in our country without any additional VAT or duty. 650 unfortunately crosses the threshold for duty free import, so its actually around $70 more for VAT and duty - which leads to simple equation 1xPRS-650 = 2xKindle3 which is not acceptable for me, $300 for prs 650 is just too much.

[Poppaea]

You will have to find someone who is bringing one for you when travelling....

[astra]

Originally Posted by booot

$300 for prs 650 is just too much.

What can I say...?
Too much from what point of view?
Not enough money? Totally understandable.
If it is only the idea of paying so much for ebook reader the major factor, I would advise to reconsider.
I paid £250 for PRS-500 in Jan 2007, including delivery from BHphotovidio and duty. I was buying it only for holidays and maybe occasional reading. I was not going to give up on pbooks. Never.
From the moment I received it I was saying, and say it now, it was the best money investment I have ever done in my life. Every penny I spent on it I enjoyed ten/hundred folds.
If you have the money, don't look at the price. Just indulge yourself once and probably you will never regret the money spent on something you use and that gives you joy every day of your life.

[booot]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

You will have to find someone who is bringing one for you when travelling....

Yes, I missed that before x-mass when my friend was returning from US... I wanted the silver version and those loosers on both web and local stores told him that they have the silver version out of stock before x-mass and offerred him the red one ..... which pi**ed me off, because, there was the discount to 199$ during that period for all 650 versions....well .. all meant the red one...

[booot]

Originally Posted by astra

What can I say...?
Too much from what point of view?
Not enough money? Totally understandable.
If it is only the idea of paying so much for ebook reader the major factor, I would advise to reconsider.
I paid £250 for PRS-500 in Jan 2007, including delivery from BHphotovidio and duty. I was buying it only for holidays and maybe occasional reading. I was not going to give up on pbooks. Never.
From the moment I received it I was saying, and say it now, it was the best money investment I have ever done in my life. Every penny I spent on it I enjoyed ten/hundred folds.
If you have the money, don't look at the price. Just indulge yourself once and probably you will never regret the money spent on something you use and that gives you joy every day of your life.

You are right, I definitely consider the purchase of 505 as one of my best investments ever made (I bought it on waterstones also for 250pounds somewhere in 2008 before they cancelled the shipments to CR). In times where reading of e-books was mainly done on PDAs or small phone displays, I was constantly under shocking looks in metro or trams when reading on 505 . Nowadays I see the Kindles in Prague everywhere. And yes, actually the money is problem, 505 is still running perfectly and 300$ for the luxury of touch display is too much thats why I created this thread - to probe if there is the expectation that 650 will fall somewhere to equivallent of 150€ which is the threshold for VAT free and duty free import in EU.

[Poppaea]

There will be another chance! I am sure!!

Or you buy a PRS-350, it is cheaper and will go down to 150€, I am sure.