How to resist?

[delphin]

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

By the way, how is it with ADE, will it refuse Sony as I had Opus connected? Or will I have to add another account? It is still mystery to me. I would like to hook it up to my computer and read books I already have on the Opus. Is it possible?

I'm resisting it very well indeed. Spent last night choosing skin from Decalgirl, you know just in case...

If I can't hold on anymore I will go to shop on Monday. Sunday here everything is closed. Very inconvenient.

Sorry to introduce a bum note into the symphony of praise for the Sony

If you can get one at a reasonably acceptable price, they are indeed truly incredible readers.

NO - you should not have ANY trouble with ADE, since it's already registered, you can just add in the Sony and it will use the existing authorization.

ADE lets you authorize up to 6 devices on the same account, with the PC install counting as the first, so if you only have one external reader authorized you should still have 4 authorizations open, and will still have 3 more device authorizations open even after authorizing your Sony.

Nor should it be a problem if you install the Sony PC 'Reader Library' Software, because it should piggyback on the existing ADE account authorization.

The only issue I have had with the Sony Reader Library is that it wants to run at startup on the PC, and that can mess with Calibre and ADE, so I find it best to turn off that feature. Disabling the Reader Library PC software from running at boot-up used to require Spybot or another config tool, but now you can just option it off in the Reader Library preferences menu.

[Poppaea]

Delphin, it is a bit different over here in the old world. Sony is the company when it comes to ereaders. Have a look at these figures here.

The market share by manufacturer is as follows:
1. 40% Pocketbook
2. 29% Sony
3. 12% Lbook
4. 9% ORSiO
5. 5% Explay (TXT.Book)
6. 5% Others

In June, the most popular models went for 8000 to 16500 RUR (approx $250 to $530). The company thinks that in 2011 the prices will fall significantly (to 6000-7000 RUR) due to increased competition between screen makers.

Via Compulenta

Very interesting numbers, especially considering the fact that Sony does not officially sell readers in Russia.

And this is old news! Sony is a very respected company over here and it is the one that you find in every bookstore on display. As the wifi connectivity is no big deal here either due to the lack of one store catering for all Europeans, which is not possible as we all speak different languages, it is not perceived as lacking anything for its price.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by delphin

Yes I DO think this forum has a HUGE impact on Sony sales.

There's a whole big, wide world out there geographically and internet-wise and yet somehow you think this one itty bitty (English speaking) forum, as great as it is, has a "HUGE" impact on Sony sales? Hardly!

[Wordeater]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

There's a whole big, wide world out there geographically and internet-wise and yet somehow you think this one itty bitty (English speaking) forum, as great as it is, has a "HUGE" impact on Sony sales? Hardly!

Have to agree.....this forum has little, or no impact on the Sony sales. The entirety of people I know with eReaders acquired them as gifts from family members, or bought them for themselves. All were impulse buys with zero research done beforehand. None of them had any idea what they could, or couldn't do with them when they got them. None of them have Sonys. I would attribute this to the higher prices Sony asks for them. As far as most were, (are) concerned, one reader was no different than any other....so the less expensive ones won out.
When I decided on the 650, it was pretty much a case of elimination. I ruled out a Kindle because I thought it was a crappy piece of hardware, and the Nook was too heavy, and I was concerned about the battery life. I had joined the Kindlebook forum and the NookBook forum long before arriving here.
I'm the one exception out of everyone I know that has eReaders.

WE

[delphin]

Originally Posted by Wordeater

Have to agree.....this forum has little, or no impact . . .

. . . None of them have Sonys. I would attribute this to the higher prices Sony asks for them. As far as most were, (are) concerned, one reader was no different than any other....so the less expensive ones won out.
When I decided on the 650, it was pretty much a case of elimination. I ruled out a Kindle because I thought it was a crappy piece of hardware, and the Nook was too heavy, and I was concerned about the battery life. I had joined the Kindlebook forum and the NookBook forum long before arriving here.
I'm the one exception out of everyone I know that has eReaders.

WE

I agree that most of those that don't bother doing any research end up with an impulse buy $99 dollar department store cheapy reader or a Kindle.

That's why I made a distinction between Sony and the Kindle and other readers in my previous comments.

I think that MOST Sony buyers end up with a Sony because they have done their research first.

Sure there are probably a few idiots that bought Sony readers because they ARE the most expensive, or because they heard that Martha Stewart, or Opra has one "and thats all I need to know", but in the majority of cases I think some research is involved.

And anyone who Googles around a bit is going to end up here pretty quickly.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

There's a whole big, wide world out there geographically and internet-wise and yet somehow you think this one itty bitty (English speaking) forum, as great as it is, has a "HUGE" impact on Sony sales? Hardly!

There was no slight intended against other non-English language forums.

But facts are facts . . .

This is not an 'itty bitty' forum, it's the largest forum of it's type on this planet by a very very very large margin.

As Poppaea has pointed out, Sony's are indeed popular in countries outside the U.S. and UK and EU, even were they are not officially supported, and have to be 'hacked' like Russia.

Guess what? Most of those Russian guys who are doing the Sony reader hacking are ALSO members of this forum (and some English speaking users here also check in on the Russian forum using Google language tools to take advantage of their enhanced firmware.)

In English speaking forums like this one, someone from Germany can share thoughts with someone from China using a common language (english).

English has become the preeminent language on the Internet simply because it represents a convenient lingua franca for world commerce.

There is nothing insulting, oppressive, or tyrannical about this, because English, by its very nature, already includes elements derived from French, German, and dozens of other languages (like the phrase lingua franca for example which comes from Italian).

Because of the influence of the Internet, as this this trend continues, in a hundred years we will see a convergence towards a world version of English, that incorporates many more additions from other languages.

The fact that the English spoken in a hundred years may bear little resemblance to the colloquial American English spoken today doesn't bother me in the least, and I think most other Americans are pretty easy going about this.

So, please don't try to treat me like the "Ugly American" here, because in a way, the world has appropriated MY language, not the other way around.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by delphin

So, please don't try to treat me like the "Ugly American" here, because in a way, the world has appropriated MY language, not the other way around.

I find your lack of understanding to be astounding! Ugly American??? WTH did you get that from??? My only point in saying English speaking is that there are many, many, people and places around the world. This forum is one small part. It's small and it's only one sector, the English one thereby excluding all the other ones out there. Not everyone speaks it.

I don't need a lecture on the origins of the English language. Your doing so only proves you can't grasp what I'm saying.

As great as this forum is, it's small in the world-wide scheme of things out there. To say it's influence on Sony sales is "HUGE" is utter nonsense.

Where's the info with the total number of members and highest number of guests? Surely that would prove something to you. If it turns out that this site has several millions of members, then I'll be quiet. But I somehow doubt that to be the case.

[Shopaholic]

I found it! Under Quick Links click on Who's Online and you'll see this next to the numbers of who's currently on this site.

"Most users ever online was 3041, 12-25-2010 at 08:01 PM."

[DixieGal]

Whether you buy or not, i agree with the franks and beans. Open a couple of cans of pork and beans, chop a handful of weenies in half and toss them in. Nuke it til it's hot. Serve onpaper plates to avoid dishwashing. Then eat it while you keep reading. Only 5 mi utes of reading interruption.

My shopping advice: Use a debit card. If you can not pay with a debit card or cash, then wait until you save up. That will give you some cool-down time, and you might decide to buy something else with the cash by the time you save it.

[Chi Cygni]

delphin, thank you so much for reassuring me about the ADE thing. It's quite important and I find it really useful

I agree with Poppaea SONY is a big name here in Europe. Although those who vaguely heard of the existence of readers by default call them all Kindle (I was asked this when I was "advertising" my Opus "is that a Kindle?")

I was thinking of the importance of MR regarding the markets/prices. If you were in marketing department of an ereader company wouldn't you surf the net to read what users have to say? While I agree it may have little impact on prices I wouldn't be surprised if some Sony people were reading this. Somehow they realised the 600 and 300 were not so good?

I did some more research on 650 today. It does not read my language for sure. I'd have to stick to English or do some flash (doesn't it render the guarantee void??) or I'd have to do some circus via Calibre (was too complicated for the moment to understand)

And I can pay with debit card only I get paid on the 15th and they take the payment at the beginnig of the next month so within the same salary. Price is not so much a big problem, it's the real usability.

Thanks everyone!

[delphin]

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

. . .

I did some more research on 650 today. It does not read my language for sure. I'd have to stick to English or do some flash (doesn't it render the guarantee void??) or I'd have to do some circus via Calibre (was too complicated for the moment to understand)

Thanks everyone!

Here is something else I think you will ALSO find very encouraging . . .

EPUB supports embedded fonts, and if the Sony is indeed popular in your country, the publishers will take advantage of this to embed a good Unicode font as part of the EPUB itself.

Using EPUBs with embedded fonts should allow you to read your language on your Sony with no custom hacks or other changes.

Many U.S. publishers of EPUBs in the English language now embed the freely available Charis SIL font, which has support for Cyrillic and other special Eastern European character sets (over 4600 character glyphs)

If the publishers here in the U.S. are embedding a sophisticated Unicode font like Charis SIL just so they don't mess up the occasional umlaut that seeks it's way into an English language title, then I am pretty sure that you can count on anyone publishing in your language to do the same.

If you want to create or convert your own ebooks, it's not too hard to embed a font like Charis SIL yourself (and this is a good idea because it will insure that ALL EPUB readers can display your EPUB, even if their internal font doesn't support all the needed characters)

[Chi Cygni]

Well my dear friends the problem is sol.....d out. Went today to the shop after work only to see empty space where 650 used to be. Not even the one to fiddle with anymore. Oh well. Anyway it's kind of bitter sweet feeling as on one hand I'd love to have it - would have been my preferred ereader (but for the font problem) but as I said I couldn't really justify spending 235 euro.
If they pop up at a lower price I will get one. On a positive note I found (which I thought I lost) guarantee card for my dead Netronix thingy, which is still valid. I will try to get money back and if I succeed I'll invest it in Sony.

Delphin, many thanks again for taking time to answer my questions! I will save the answers for future reference

[delphin]

When I purchased my 650 they were a little more widely available, but it did take me a few weeks to find one at a price I was willing to pay.

So keep at it, good luck, and I hope you find a good deal.

[GraceKrispy]

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

Well my dear friends the problem is sol.....d out. Went today to the shop after work only to see empty space where 650 used to be. Not even the one to fiddle with anymore. Oh well. Anyway it's kind of bitter sweet feeling as on one hand I'd love to have it - would have been my preferred ereader (but for the font problem) but as I said I couldn't really justify spending 235 euro.

Well, there, now that solved your problem! I have been fantasizing about the 650 since it first came out. I missed my chance to get a good deal on it, and I regret that. I thought I'd wait, didn't need it right away (my 505 was working just fine). Well, after 2 1/2 yr, my 505 has a small blip in the top right, so I miss a few words on every page if the words go all the way to the top. It still works, and it's still very trustworthy, but I wish I had a nice new 650 to use instead! I was not tempted *at all* by any new players since I had my 505, not nook, not kindle, nothing... until the 650. Now I dream in black.

Originally Posted by delphin

I suggest that ALL potential buyers boycott Sony until their prices return to reasonable levels.

Well, I'm not trying to boycott, but I do refuse to buy one until I can get it on sale. Mostly because I can't justify $229 USD + tax when I already have a reader that (mostly) works just beautifully...

[Chi Cygni]

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

Well, there, now that solved your problem! I have been fantasizing about the 650 since it first came out. I missed my chance to get a good deal on it, and I regret that. I thought I'd wait, didn't need it right away (my 505 was working just fine). Well, after 2 1/2 yr, my 505 has a small blip in the top right, so I miss a few words on every page if the words go all the way to the top. It still works, and it's still very trustworthy, but I wish I had a nice new 650 to use instead! I was not tempted *at all* by any new players since I had my 505, not nook, not kindle, nothing... until the 650. Now I dream in black.

Well then you're the one to really understand me! At the beginning I decided not to buy it because I wouldn't be able to read my language on it. Now I fantasize too - and by now I learned it could be hacked to actually read what I want. Of course shelves are empty now. So here I am stomping my feet like a 3 year old. What's worse it showed up on Sony.be for half a day but when I wanted to add it to basket the button was no longer working and soon after "unavailable" appeared again. They probably had 3 items for entire Belgium. I'm so cross I'm debating with myself to buy a blue 350 (185 euro) and THAT would be completely silly of me. Arrrgh! I was not tempted either before, I was shopping reasonably for replacement of the dead netronix. Opus is a great little machine but... but WAH WAH WAH! I want a 650!