Sony's competitive future with Kindle - Page 4

JSWolf · 04-27-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Thanks for the details. That's good to know. Hopefully libraries don't increase quantities of best-sellers at the sacrifice of a more diverse selection in order to balance increased demand with limited budgets.

That, unfortunately, is a very good possibility with so many more people using the library.

JSWolf · 04-27-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

For me anything smaller than 6" would not work. 5" is too small. I would love to have 8" but Sony doesn't it. So, 6" is a bare minimum.

Did you forget the 950 at 7"?

Shopaholic · 04-28-2011, 12:04 AM

One of the factors for me in getting a Sony was the library borrowing. It wasn't *THE* factor but one of them.

I'm not sure how this won't cost libraries more money. Some books in one of my libraries has waiting lists for each format. The Help for instance, has a long list for ePub, shorter for PDF and shorter still for WMA. I would think they'd have to get a license per format no?

Latinandgreek · 04-28-2011, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angpsi

Hello all,

Although I have no experience whatsoever with ebook readers, I'm looking to buy one for my girlfriend as a birthday present. After a week's thorough research I've decided against the Kindle 3, and for the Sony readers, especially the 350 which looks really nice and cute (in pink!). My main concern then is the size factor, since it seems the mainstream goes for 6'': would you advise me against the 5'' of the 350? I'd easily go for the 650, it's still within my price range if it really makes a difference. Otherwise I'll probably go for the 350 because of the cute'n'pink aesthetics!

Btw, if anyone has an actual experience and thinks that pink is hideous please tell me so! It seems cute in pics, but I haven't seen it live yet! :-D

I love my pink reader. It is a purplish-pink, very fun but not juvenile or garish looking. I love the colour.

carld · 04-28-2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

One of the factors for me in getting a Sony was the library borrowing. It wasn't *THE* factor but one of them.

I'm not sure how this won't cost libraries more money. Some books in one of my libraries has waiting lists for each format. The Help for instance, has a long list for ePub, shorter for PDF and shorter still for WMA. I would think they'd have to get a license per format no?

So far everything that's been printed says there won't be any additional cost for libraries. I don't know how they're going to work it, but both Amazon and Overdrive were pretty clear on that point.

astra · 04-28-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Did you forget the 950 at 7"?

No, I didn't. I don't consider this abomination as an ebook reader by Sony.

SeaBookGuy · 04-28-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

One of the factors for me in getting a Sony was the library borrowing. It wasn't *THE* factor but one of them.

I'm not sure how this won't cost libraries more money. Some books in one of my libraries has waiting lists for each format. The Help for instance, has a long list for ePub, shorter for PDF and shorter still for WMA. I would think they'd have to get a license per format no?

I thought it was per copy? In other words 2 Epubs is the same cost as 1 Epub + 1 PDF, no? I wouldn't compare WMA (and mp3) audios to ebooks specifically.

trevgriff · 04-28-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

No, I didn't. I don't consider this abomination as an ebook reader by Sony.

explain please.

astra · 04-28-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevgriff

explain please.

You are an owner.
I don't want any holy wars.

SeaBookGuy · 04-28-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angpsi

Otherwise I'll probably go for the 350 because of the cute'n'pink aesthetics!

Btw, if anyone has an actual experience and thinks that pink is hideous please tell me so! It seems cute in pics, but I haven't seen it live yet! :-D

I don't think it looks all that "pink" at all! It's more like a metallic light red. As someone wrote in a review once: "It's not Hello Kitty colored!"

Latinandgreek · 04-28-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I don't think it looks all that "pink" at all! It's more like a metallic light red. As someone wrote in a review once: "It's not Hello Kitty colored!"

I actually thought the same thing when I first saw the pink reader "oh good, it's not Hello Kitty pink." (Not that I don't have any Hello Kitty pink stuff... I have too much of it, actually)

petercreasey · 04-28-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I don't consider this abomination as an ebook reader by Sony.

A, How strange!

What moved you to arrive at this conclusion?

SeaBookGuy · 04-28-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

You are an owner.
I don't want any holy wars.

I am not an owner. You have made a vague assertion that you're refusing to clarify as far as I'm concerned. Is it the size, the Wifi, both, neither?

PF62 · 04-29-2011, 02:28 AM

"Sony's competitive future with Kindle"

In the UK I believe that Sony has lost the war with Kindle and may as well pack up and go home now.

I commute each day on the train, and in the last 6 to 8 months I have seen an explosion in the numbers of people using ebook readers. And they are all using Kindles.

One big advantage that Sony had over Kindle in the UK, was that you could see and touch a Sony in store, but up to November last year you could only buy a Kindle 'sight unseen' from Amazon. As soon as Amazon put the Kindle in the retailers stores their sales exploded, with some stores selling out before Christmas.

Pricing, what on earth are Sony thinking about. The PRS-600/650 is about £180, the PRS-350 is £150 and the Kindle is £111 (or £151). Now if you are standing in a store and there are two e-readers with similar screen sizes, and you (and the assistant) know very little about ereaders, which are you going to buy, the one at £111 or the one at £180?

And once the momentum has been lost, then you get people assuming that there is only one manufacturer of that type of device. Say to someone that you have bought an ereader, and people will say "oh you bough a Kindle, what is it like?". So people are now going to the store asking for a Kindle, oblivious that there are any other manufacturers. And even if they do see the Sony ereaders when they get to the store, they are not going to pay 75% extra on an 'unknown'.

So why did I buy a PRS-300 recently, rather than a Kindle like my partner. It was cheap (HMV were selling brand new ones off for £60) and I actually did want the smaller form factor. But otherwise I would have also been a Kindle buyer.

astra · 04-29-2011, 05:05 AM

Aspect ratio.

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04-28-2011, 12:04 AM	#48
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1812695 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	One of the factors for me in getting a Sony was the library borrowing. It wasn't THE factor but one of them. I'm not sure how this won't cost libraries more money. Some books in one of my libraries has waiting lists for each format. The Help for instance, has a long list for ePub, shorter for PDF and shorter still for WMA. I would think they'd have to get a license per format no?

04-29-2011, 02:28 AM	#59
PF62 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Sony PRS-300	"Sony's competitive future with Kindle" In the UK I believe that Sony has lost the war with Kindle and may as well pack up and go home now. I commute each day on the train, and in the last 6 to 8 months I have seen an explosion in the numbers of people using ebook readers. And they are all using Kindles. One big advantage that Sony had over Kindle in the UK, was that you could see and touch a Sony in store, but up to November last year you could only buy a Kindle 'sight unseen' from Amazon. As soon as Amazon put the Kindle in the retailers stores their sales exploded, with some stores selling out before Christmas. Pricing, what on earth are Sony thinking about. The PRS-600/650 is about £180, the PRS-350 is £150 and the Kindle is £111 (or £151). Now if you are standing in a store and there are two e-readers with similar screen sizes, and you (and the assistant) know very little about ereaders, which are you going to buy, the one at £111 or the one at £180? And once the momentum has been lost, then you get people assuming that there is only one manufacturer of that type of device. Say to someone that you have bought an ereader, and people will say "oh you bough a Kindle, what is it like?". So people are now going to the store asking for a Kindle, oblivious that there are any other manufacturers. And even if they do see the Sony ereaders when they get to the store, they are not going to pay 75% extra on an 'unknown'. So why did I buy a PRS-300 recently, rather than a Kindle like my partner. It was cheap (HMV were selling brand new ones off for £60) and I actually did want the smaller form factor. But otherwise I would have also been a Kindle buyer.

04-29-2011, 05:05 AM	#60
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Aspect ratio.