06-16-2011, 01:57 PM | #211 |
Sith Wannabe
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Yeah, lestatar said better than I did. I still think I'm on to something though... if the US eReader market simply isn't a high priority for Sony, that explains practically everything.
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06-16-2011, 02:22 PM | #212 | ||||
Lucifer's Bat
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06-16-2011, 02:29 PM | #213 |
Wizard
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06-16-2011, 02:34 PM | #214 | |
LB's lolz Mutt Minion
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'sides, I am lazy so I only read back like the first page and the last 2 pages of threads. |
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06-16-2011, 02:45 PM | #215 | |
Sith Wannabe
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But I'm glad to see that you agree with me. You're obviously an intelligent and insightful person. |
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06-16-2011, 03:11 PM | #216 | |
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I don't believe there is any real statistics about the U.S., European and Russian ebook reader markets. At some point 5 years ago Sony was number one throughout the world. That's a fact because the competition didn't exist yet. Perhaps it is still number 3 in the U.S., but I highly doubt it. With their recent availability problems that is. Among the e-Ink manufactures they may be number 4 (behind Kindle, nook and Kobo), and if we count iOS and Android devices (phones and tablets) - number 6. I suspect they are quickly losing positions to Kindle in the U.K., Germany and Eastern Europe (a lot of people appreciate free 3G). Amazon has become a global player, with its cheap prices, worldwide shipping and no-hassle customer service. In Russia Sony have long lost the number one position to Pocketbook (although the x50 were quite popular there while they could be found). China has its own many clone-makers. Yes, there are markets to be had, especially where pirated or public domain content is widely available, so "biosphere" (store integration) doesn't play a big role. However, who is to say that in a couple of years those too will not be overflowing with cheap Chinese clones running Android and therefore capable of reading all popular ebook formats? I happen to believe that with the high tech gadgets how America goes, so goes the world. The people who can afford Sony Readers will probably try to get the hottest U.S. gadget. Be it iPad, iPhone or Kindle. So, if Sony is not in the U.S., it might as well go back into its tight Japanese niche. I think at some point Sony's bosses used to understand this. Must've been the reason the Digital Reading Division was set up in California, and not in Germany... Last edited by porkupan; 06-16-2011 at 03:19 PM. |
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06-16-2011, 04:02 PM | #217 | |
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06-16-2011, 04:17 PM | #218 | |
Sith Wannabe
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06-16-2011, 04:45 PM | #219 |
Ninja Librarian
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Sony focus on the European market usually only consists of the UK, Germany and France.
The scandinavian countries for example, don't get to enjoy Sony products before a good 6 months to a year after they debut in Japan/US. People admire my Sony reader, they are surprised that Sony even makes them. With Sony also disinvesting from UK stores, not really much left of europe to be the market leader of. |
06-16-2011, 05:47 PM | #220 | |
Wizard
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06-16-2011, 07:45 PM | #221 | |||
Blueberry!
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Even the post that Sony is hiring for the Reader division was dismissed. "OMG it's just one person! DOooommmm!!" Quote:
The main hurdle for e-readers has been selling the e-Ink experience. The general public doesn't understand what it is and/or why it's an advantage. That has changed in the last year (?) with Amazon marketing against the iPad -- the commercial of the hot girl reading the Kindle in the sun, and the dorky guy failing with the iPad. Faster computer, lighter computer, features feature features... those are all easy sells. But "screen!" just doesn't knock 'em down. The tech has been at the book-like point since the PRS-500. Very little has changed since then, really, in terms of the screen. Better contrast and response, but same resolution. Baby steps in computer terms! LCD is a challenge now because it offers color. But two years ago, dedicated e-Readers were primarily e-Ink. Now the Nook color is sold as a single-purpose device, eliminates all the advantages of e-Ink, but has a very understandable selling point: color. Countering that with "eye strain!" is, again, a pretty hard sell. Quote:
The biggest drawback now, IMHO, is the lock-in between device and store. That's bad for consumers because choice of Reader is influenced by choice of book store. If you like the Sony but want to buy books from Amazon, you cannot. This also harms competition in the book market. Once you're locked in, you're locked in... you can't go to a different store for a better price, so there is no incentive to lower prices! -Pie Last edited by EatingPie; 06-16-2011 at 07:51 PM. |
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06-16-2011, 09:04 PM | #222 | |
Ninja Librarian
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But seriously, while you argue well, your so intent on pursuing your agenda that you're dismissing the majority of the information discussed here, to a level that's almost approaching denial. It reminds me of a humorous sketch with a cook, he drops a steak dinner on the floor muttering "5 second rule, its still good, it's still good", a dog comes and starts biting the steak "just a little moist, it's still good, it's still good", it combusts "just a little smoked, it's still good, it's still good". etc. We see the same here. Sony are disinvesting themselves of retailers and stock, it's still good, it's still good. Sony are not renewing stocks of accessories even on their own site, it's still good, it's still good. Sony are not renewing stock of the READERS themselves on their OWN website, it's still good, it's still good. Whats left of Sony's reader business? They are only selling the 350 on their website, a severely reduced collection of accessories and what's left of their stock in assorted retail stores which are rapidly running out. That's it. But according to you, they are so successfull you're comparing them to Apple. Sony's READER market, doesnt have what Apple has, a successfull perpertuating eco system and a brand awareness so huge that people are selling their liver for their product. Regardless of technology, this being a niche market and Sony apparantly being the 3rd best selling Ereader a year ago. They NEED to actually sell their readers, or they will be the 3rd best selling nothing. |
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06-16-2011, 10:11 PM | #223 | |||
Blueberry!
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I find this totally astounding to be honest. Even after I posted that all Reader were in stock, with links proving such, my post was dismissed as foolish. And that post completely contradicted all "anecdotal" evidence presented about Sony Style previously. And said "anecdotal" evidence is still being referred to as though it's true, even though it was proven false! And I am the one with the agenda. Sheesh. Quote:
And you do so with untrue assertions. Many retailers are selling the PRS-350, even Target who pulled them from B&M over a year ago have them online. The only mainstream retailer verified to discontinue Readers is Best Buy. Last week, every Reader was in stock. This week, they are out of stock. Is there some event happening in the US that could cause this? It's almost like there is a celebration for a specific demographic that might be interested in reading... a day set aside just for them... Nah... Ironically, when the Readers were in stock last week, one person posted that it was bad because of too much stock (ie no sales). They sell out a few days before Father's Day, and it's bad because there's no stock! And I have an agenda, and get a funny story. Quote:
Someone also needs to understand that going from total stock (except for one color of one model) to no stock suggests they are selling well. Wait, I forgot! Stock is bad. No stock is bad! It's all bad! Sheesh. -Pie Last edited by EatingPie; 06-16-2011 at 10:14 PM. |
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06-17-2011, 03:15 AM | #224 |
Wizard
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"The biggest drawback now, IMHO, is the lock-in between device and store. That's bad for consumers because choice of Reader is influenced by choice of book store. If you like the Sony but want to buy books from Amazon, you cannot. This also harms competition in the book market. Once you're locked in, you're locked in... you can't go to a different store for a better price, so there is no incentive to lower prices!"
I'm slightly puzzled by this from EatingPie. Are you criticizing Amazon, or Sony ? Or neither, just making a statement of fact ? Amazon is the only store Sony are ( theoretically that is ) unable to access, is that not so ? And most Sony owners are either content with this, or accept it, 'cos they can go to all the other sources for free or paid for books. Some are even happy, in the main, with not being largely stuck with what what Amazon hve available for them. With a Sony you can go to a different store for a better price. If you're target is Amazon, I agree - but as I don't much care, as they don't (yet?) have a monoploy position in the supply of e-material. 'Course, if I've misread the post as it's too early and I haven'y yet had a cup of tea, I'm sorry................ |
06-17-2011, 05:01 AM | #225 | |
Ninja Librarian
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I do not believe that you are a paid Sony employee, although I'd welcome that level of commitment from Sony and I don't think you habour any ill intentions just because we're in disagreement. I do think you're guilty of a bit of an apologism though. I think the bulk of posts in this forum indicates that Sony is giving up a big of the market that they previously held. If this is in anticipation of a new strategy I do not know and can only speculate about. But their readers and their accessories ARE less available than they were 6 months ago. I also think you're guilty of using a logical fallacy consisting of exceptions to argue your point rather than arguing the assertions themselves. Examples are: Claim: There's less accessories available than before, even on Sony's website. Counterclaim: There's not, and even if there's less than 6 months ago, it's only for specific models, and these specific models stopped being available 6 months ago anyways. The fact that there's still some accessories remaining, doesn't change that Sony has less products available than before. Claim: Sony is disinvesting themselves of their retailers, posts on this forum indiciate it is so. VHS in the UK, Target, Borders and Best Buy in the US. Counterclaim: One of sony's models the 350 is still widely available. Same as before. This is really the trend of argumentation. None of us are Sony market specialists, so everything here is purely speculative. Having less product less widely available, not meeting demand, is not encouraging for the majority of us. It's not a common indication of success to withdraw your product and not meeting demand. We all hope that Sony is successfull since we enjoy their readers and look forward to new models, but we disagree on their success. Don't take that disagreement personally please. Regardless of what Sony are planning or not planning, it won't detract from us enjoying our readers and making the best of it Last edited by Leyor; 06-17-2011 at 05:26 AM. |
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