Finally, new Sony rumors

[porkupan]

Originally Posted by astra

Let's hope Sony has improved its technology.

We can hope, but I wouldn't expect it.

1. The marketing types at Sony seem to believe that touchscreen is the only technology that makes people buy Sony. In their minds touchscreen is not a disadvantage. I don't know if they pay attention to the screaming going on online - they may think that the tiny majority is making all the noise about glare and poor contrast, and the majority is totally happy. And for all I know they may be right.
   
2. There is no perfect touchscreen technology. Wacom requires a stylus. People don't want a stylus. Capacitive touchscreen is rather imprecise, with finger and all. Makes it hard to select words, push small-font links, buttons, etc. I've been having issues with it on my cellphone since forever. iPhone/iPad gives you the advantage of integrating multitouch to be able to zoom into the smaller areas, but eInk screens are way too laggy for that. What's left it the same resistive touchscreen they have been using all along. Unfortunately.

[TallMomof2]

Let's see, IMO the new Sonys need a capacitive touch screen (the glare on the Touch is noticeable), built in search and dictionary, at least wifi preferably 3G, and still be priced to compete with the Kindle and Nook readers.

On my Kindle I use the built in dictionary all the time and miss it when reading on other devices that don't support a dictionary look up.

I also love the 3G because I subscribe to a few blogs/feeds that are automatically downloaded on my Kindle and I don't have to be concerned about transferring them with the USB. One of my subscriptions is NY Times Top Stories and I can check it throughout the day. Sure I could do this on my phone but the print is soooo small and my eyes are soooo old.

Hopefully, Sony will fix the "scanning the SD card on boot" issue that's one of the main reasons I installed PRS+ on my 505. The 505 is a nice reader but I miss the dictionary. Haven't used the Touch in a while because of the glare and I'm waiting for PRS+ for it.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by charleski

The Kindle is a better choice for those who often travel and are away from their home or who are intimidated by the process of plugging a reader in and syncing (I know plenty of people to whom that would apply). It's also far better for those who want to read across multiple devices (smartphone, reader, PC). If you're going to claim that wireless is a huge benefit because it lets you buy a book in your garden instead of having to walk all the way to your study to plug the thing in, then I'm just going to laugh.

Being able to buy from the garden is a small benefit, but not the main motivation. When I first bought the Kindle it was because it had search, dictionary lookup, and annotation. The Sony reader at the time just showed you pages. I thought the wireless was a novelty that I'd rarely use since I'm quite comfortable sideloading. What really struck me as great once I started using it is the combination of the wireless and the samples. I can load up with samples of books I think might interest me. When I finish the sample, I can be on to the rest of the book hardly breaking the flow of my reading. That might be on the train, in the gym, at the park, out in the garden or simply with a cup of tea and an obstinate cat. Plus, I have saved a great deal of money not buying books that I ended up not liking well enough to finish. It's just-in-time book buying. It's more than paid for itself while adding a very nice convenience. You can laugh at me all you like.

[astra]

Originally Posted by porkupan

We can hope, but I wouldn't expect it.

1. The marketing types at Sony seem to believe that touchscreen is the only technology that makes people buy Sony. In their minds touchscreen is not a disadvantage. I don't know if they pay attention to the screaming going on online - they may think that the tiny majority is making all the noise about glare and poor contrast, and the majority is totally happy. And for all I know they may be right.
   
2. There is no perfect touchscreen technology. Wacom requires a stylus. People don't want a stylus. Capacitive touchscreen is rather imprecise, with finger and all. Makes it hard to select words, push small-font links, buttons, etc. I've been having issues with it on my cellphone since forever. iPhone/iPad gives you the advantage of integrating multitouch to be able to zoom into the smaller areas, but eInk screens are way too laggy for that. What's left it the same resistive touchscreen they have been using all along. Unfortunately.

I guess you are right & hope is the last to die.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by porkupan

I suspect that outside the U.S. Amazon loses a lot more money than it makes despite all that content it owns. In places where people don't normally buy ebooks someone like Pocketbook/Netronix would be much more popular than Kindle.

I wouldn't be so sure on that. I have dealt with an assortment of US based Internet outlets and Amazon beats each and everyone down to the pulp. Unfortunately it doesn't have all the products I am looking for, otherwise it might be my sole provider of goods outside food stuff.
Never any issues, don't like something they will take it back no questions asked. Think something is overpriced, they will offer a refund or store credit. That kind of customer-centric focus will bring you returning customers, and those are the really profitable delas, because sales costs are close to nil.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Unfortunately it doesn't have all the products I am looking for, otherwise it might be my sole provider of goods outside food stuff.

Actually, Amazon sells food, too.
http://www.amazon.com/grocery-breakf...&node=16310101

What would worry me most about these rumored new Sony Readers is the timing.
If they really show up in September that means they were designed and spec'ed out *before* the price drops; they were meant to compete with Kindle 2 and Nook at $259 and not Kindle 3 and Nook WiFi. They were intended for a competitive environment that no longer exists.

Coupled with the earlier comments about how Sony does not intend to compete on price this suggests that Sony is no longer looking to be a high volume competitor. Certainly increasing the cost of their entry-level product by adding a touchscreen is a move away from the high-volume entry level Reader market.

I'll be interested in seeing the announced list prices for these rumored readers. And then the actual street prices. Unless there is significant discounting these could be the last generation of Sony Readers.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Dave Berk

Any news about the 950? Size? If they've kept the size of the PRS900 I'll be very sad... Since the only other choice for a large eink based reader is the KindleDX, which doesn't support epub.

I'm with you, Dave. I wasn't happy with the current 900's size, which is why I didn't buy it to replace my 505. I want a larger screen, preferably 8 or 9 inches.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by astra

Do you think if the size was any different they would keep series number as 9xx? I think not. If they ever make the proper 8" 4:3 it will have a different series number.

It will be very sad indeed if they make another touch screen or 5" ot 7" abomination I will have to stick to my 505 yet for another year.

Agreed!

[jcatl]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Touchscreens. Ugh.

+1 Fool me once, shame on me, etc.

[jcatl]

Originally Posted by charleski

so the whole issue of wireless connectivity is moot - the Kindle will always be a better choice for those scared of computers.

Wanting a seamless buying experience does not necessarily mean one is afraid of computers. I spend my entire day on a computer writing software so when it comes to leisure-time reading, I'd just soon stay off the computer. I no longer play games on a computer or do anything I don't have to on a computer. New devices won't save Sony, a new overall consumer experience with their e-reader "ecosystem" *might* have a chance.

[carld]

Originally Posted by jcatl

Wanting a seamless buying experience does not necessarily mean one is afraid of computers.

I don't know about you, but I'm sitting here at my keyboard totally trembling in fear...really, just in shivers of near panic.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Sony is a MUCH larger company than Amazon and has deep, deep experience in content, as well as home electronics. Sony must have started out with a vision to lead the market when it launched, leveraging its ability to partner in diverse markets around the world. The reality is it dropped the ball, sidetracked by the Blu-ray and PS3 divisions, no doubt, who had a larger voice at the table at the time. Those running the ereader division may have been very well-intentioned but they did not get corporate executive mindshare to invest aggressively enough to create the industry.

Sony is notorious for botching great hardware with horrendous software (or other painful experiences). The Sony ebook store could be so good. The PS3 Home online environment (rival to Xbox Live) could be so good. The Sony mp3 players could be so good. But none of them are. It's more than a little disappointing.

[charleski]

Originally Posted by Alisa

What really struck me as great once I started using it is the combination of the wireless and the samples. I can load up with samples of books I think might interest me. When I finish the sample, I can be on to the rest of the book hardly breaking the flow of my reading. That might be on the train, in the gym, at the park, out in the garden or simply with a cup of tea and an obstinate cat. Plus, I have saved a great deal of money not buying books that I ended up not liking well enough to finish. It's just-in-time book buying. It's more than paid for itself while adding a very nice convenience. You can laugh at me all you like.

Originally Posted by jcatl

Wanting a seamless buying experience does not necessarily mean one is afraid of computers. I spend my entire day on a computer writing software so when it comes to leisure-time reading, I'd just soon stay off the computer.

You're both missing the point. Sony will never be able to beat Amazon's integrated store, so wireless on a Sony is just a gimmick. Sony's clearly decided to use touchscreens as a means of differentiating its products, so it needs to drop something to keep the price down. If their price goes over $200 they'll fail in the current market and they need to find stuff they can leave out to keep inside that window - the wireless radio is the prime candidate for that.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Alisa

Being able to buy from the garden is a small benefit, but not the main motivation. When I first bought the Kindle it was because it had search, dictionary lookup, and annotation. The Sony reader at the time just showed you pages. I thought the wireless was a novelty that I'd rarely use since I'm quite comfortable sideloading. What really struck me as great once I started using it is the combination of the wireless and the samples. I can load up with samples of books I think might interest me. When I finish the sample, I can be on to the rest of the book hardly breaking the flow of my reading. That might be on the train, in the gym, at the park, out in the garden or simply with a cup of tea and an obstinate cat. Plus, I have saved a great deal of money not buying books that I ended up not liking well enough to finish. It's just-in-time book buying. It's more than paid for itself while adding a very nice convenience. You can laugh at me all you like.

"Just in time book buying." Amazon should use that!

They should also more tightly integrate the samples with the buying process. Sort of one-click for ebook buying.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by charleski

You're both missing the point. Sony will never be able to beat Amazon's integrated store, so wireless on a Sony is just a gimmick. Sony's clearly decided to use touchscreens as a means of differentiating its products, so it needs to drop something to keep the price down. If their price goes over $200 they'll fail in the current market and they need to find stuff they can leave out to keep inside that window - the wireless radio is the prime candidate for that.

Add that since they don't seem to be interested in apps for mobile devices, there's no need for wireless to sync between devices.

UNLESS they are going to arrange for a wireless connection with your computer.

As for touchscreen, it's not "touchscreen." It's "mashscreen." I had a "touchscreen" Sony for a few hours. Took it back the same day. Glare was an issue, but so was the fuzzyness of the font.