Sighted at Sam's

Deputy-Dawg · 03-03-2008, 10:52 PM

I stopped in the local Sam's Club today on my way home to pickup some beef for dinner this week. And on my way to the back of the store, were the butcher area is I had to pass through "Electronic Heaven". Much to my surprise I saw a Sony Reader (PRS 505) there. I stopped and asked the "associate" what it was, he didn't have a clue.

In any event there it was at $279. What makes this all the more remarkable is that here in NW Arkansas there is not another store with one on display. My question has to be is this a sign of better distribution. Or is Sony dumping the Reader?

moz · 03-04-2008, 01:03 AM

Hopefully it's a measure of its growing popularity.

dhbailey · 03-04-2008, 05:43 AM

And also a sign of Sam's buyers feeling that with a lower price than Border's they may be able to move the 505 fairly fast.

If Sony were abandoning the Reader, the price would be much lower and the price drop would be everywhere, just to blow out the remaining units.

Of course, it could be an indication that there is a new model in the pipeline, but with no other corroborating evidence I wouldn't bet on it.

vivaldirules · 03-04-2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deputy-Dawg

My question has to be is this a sign of better distribution. Or is Sony dumping the Reader?

I had to laugh! Why is that we Sony Reader owners are such pessimists? Every time there's a hint that something is happening we fear that the sky is falling. I really think it's just a sign of better distribution. I hope so, anyway.

slayda · 03-04-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I had to laugh! Why is that we Sony Reader owners are such pessimists? Every time there's a hint that something is happening we fear that the sky is falling. I really think it's just a sign of better distribution. I hope so, anyway.

Could it be - "Past experience with Sony?"

tgharold · 03-05-2008, 10:02 AM

Yeah, anytime that you buy a new gadget that is pretty much the only model of its type that works with a single source, there's that risk. There's the emotional / irrational fear (?) that you won't be able to replace a device that you've become used to (or really liked using).

On the upside, the Sony reader gets a lot of things right (the ability to use non-DRM content, SD cards, etc.). So I'm hoping that it is able to compete well against the Kindle while still making a profit.

vivaldirules · 03-05-2008, 12:02 PM

I would add that Sony produced an upgraded model of the Reader last fall while continuing to support the previous model, upgraded their site software, released an upgrade of the firmware, is planning to soon release another upgrade with better PDF support, has either promised or at least strongly suggested future support for Adobe DE, has partnered with Borders who now also show and sell the Reader in their stores, has consistently increased the number of titles that they sell by about 10% per month for at least the past six months, and has lowered the prices of those titles to more or less match Amazon. I really don't see anything there that would hint at a company who is about to dump us in the gutter. At least I hope not.

bwaldron · 03-09-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Could it be - "Past experience with Sony?"

It certainly is in my case.

bwaldron · 03-09-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I really don't see anything there that would hint at a company who is about to dump us in the gutter. At least I hope not.

That's what us Clie owners said, right up until the end. Plenty of new models produced and rumors of new ones to come...then bye-bye.

revmike · 03-09-2008, 11:53 PM

As a former clie owner I agree 100%, but I stopped with the n760c.

tgharold · 03-10-2008, 12:14 AM

Which is one reason that I have yet to shop at the Sony (or Amazon or any other DRM-laden) ebook store. I have no desire to end up with a library of files that can only be read on a device that has no possible replacement.

(Cheers for Baen's zero-DRM store.)

Even if Sony stops making the book readers, my DRM-less library will still be useful. I'll just have to convert stuff over to the format used by whatever reader I settle on next.

03-03-2008, 10:52 PM	#1
Deputy-Dawg Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 799 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: sony prs505	Sighted at Sam's I stopped in the local Sam's Club today on my way home to pickup some beef for dinner this week. And on my way to the back of the store, were the butcher area is I had to pass through "Electronic Heaven". Much to my surprise I saw a Sony Reader (PRS 505) there. I stopped and asked the "associate" what it was, he didn't have a clue. In any event there it was at $279. What makes this all the more remarkable is that here in NW Arkansas there is not another store with one on display. My question has to be is this a sign of better distribution. Or is Sony dumping the Reader?

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03-04-2008, 01:03 AM	#2
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	Hopefully it's a measure of its growing popularity.

03-04-2008, 05:43 AM	#3
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	And also a sign of Sam's buyers feeling that with a lower price than Border's they may be able to move the 505 fairly fast. If Sony were abandoning the Reader, the price would be much lower and the price drop would be everywhere, just to blow out the remaining units. Of course, it could be an indication that there is a new model in the pipeline, but with no other corroborating evidence I wouldn't bet on it.

03-05-2008, 10:02 AM	#6
tgharold Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Yeah, anytime that you buy a new gadget that is pretty much the only model of its type that works with a single source, there's that risk. There's the emotional / irrational fear (?) that you won't be able to replace a device that you've become used to (or really liked using). On the upside, the Sony reader gets a lot of things right (the ability to use non-DRM content, SD cards, etc.). So I'm hoping that it is able to compete well against the Kindle while still making a profit.

03-05-2008, 12:02 PM	#7
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I would add that Sony produced an upgraded model of the Reader last fall while continuing to support the previous model, upgraded their site software, released an upgrade of the firmware, is planning to soon release another upgrade with better PDF support, has either promised or at least strongly suggested future support for Adobe DE, has partnered with Borders who now also show and sell the Reader in their stores, has consistently increased the number of titles that they sell by about 10% per month for at least the past six months, and has lowered the prices of those titles to more or less match Amazon. I really don't see anything there that would hint at a company who is about to dump us in the gutter. At least I hope not.

03-09-2008, 11:53 PM	#10
revmike Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 5282 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: hanford, ca Device: Sony Readers 505 \ T-2, Nook Glowlight Plus 7.8	As a former clie owner I agree 100%, but I stopped with the n760c.

03-10-2008, 12:14 AM	#11
tgharold Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Which is one reason that I have yet to shop at the Sony (or Amazon or any other DRM-laden) ebook store. I have no desire to end up with a library of files that can only be read on a device that has no possible replacement. (Cheers for Baen's zero-DRM store.) Even if Sony stops making the book readers, my DRM-less library will still be useful. I'll just have to convert stuff over to the format used by whatever reader I settle on next.