Sony Preparing New E-Book Reader to Challenge Amazon - Page 3

Halk · 07-15-2011, 05:17 PM

I would take serious convincing to buy anything other than a Sony Reader now. I've owned 2 Cybook 3s and I've held a Kindle, and Nook. I broke 3 Cybook 3 screens because they have no protection against torsion. I don't believe I could break the 600 or 650 reader I've owned - although I'm not about to try.

I don't think the cost is as significant as people are saying. Electronic readers are cheap in comparison to other portable devices that people are happy to buy. Compare them to a high end smartphone and they are half the price. Compare them to a tablet and they're cheaper, and there's much more expensive tablets.

Some people won't care to spend more than the Kindle and that's fine, it's a capable device, and it's great value for money. But other people will. There's far too many people in this thread who make the assumption that every consumer thinks like them. It's an expanding market and that means there's room for all sorts of products. There is room for a premium product and Sony seem to have the reputation for that already.

If you're going to spend five or six hours a week using one of them, then an extra £50 is not a big deal - in fact if Sony had a £400 reader, rather than the £200 and the extra £200 bought good stuff then I'd own one of those.

astra · 07-15-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halk

If you're going to spend five or six hours a week using one of them, then an extra £50 is not a big deal - in fact if Sony had a £400 reader, rather than the £200 and the extra £200 bought good stuff then I'd own one of those.

petercreasey · 07-15-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halk

I don't think the cost is as significant as people are saying. Electronic readers are cheap in comparison to other portable devices that people are happy to buy.

H, Moreover, any cost is quickly offset by all the cheap and free ebooks that are obtained.

JSWolf · 07-15-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Right, but my point is that I can't make assumptions about any eReader that I haven't actually used, let alone even seen.

Remember the Sony Reader with the edge-lighted screen? Well made, of course, but I'll bet you're glad you didn't buy one.

I'll agree that the 700 was a mistake and the 600 and 900 were not wonderful either. But the x50 line is very nice.

JSWolf · 07-15-2011, 09:07 PM

I do take my reader with me sometimes when I go out. I want something I feel will be safe in my bag. I feel my Sony will be pretty safe.

I've read too many cases of what seems like spontaneous screen breaks and could never own one.

If I was to own a plastic based (other casing) reader with a glass screen, I would have to have a case and a sleeve to fit the reader and the case. I'm probably overprotective. But all it takes is one opps and it's shattered.

Tony1988 · 07-16-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petercreasey

H, Moreover, any cost is quickly offset by all the cheap and free ebooks that are obtained.

Not really. Because chances are most people would not have bought many if any at all of the free books to start with. Plus any books that are cheap on ereaders are most likely clearenced for even less in HC.

astra · 07-17-2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony1988

Not really. Because chances are most people would not have bought many if any at all of the free books to start with. Plus any books that are cheap on ereaders are most likely clearenced for even less in HC.

Absolutely

I am tired of explaining this simple thing.

CommonReader · 07-17-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony1988

Not really. Because chances are most people would not have bought many if any at all of the free books to start with. Plus any books that are cheap on ereaders are most likely clearenced for even less in HC.

My bookshelves are certainly full of paper books that are free of copyright. If I started out buying books today I would save a lot of money because of all the legally free ebooks that had to be bought as paper books in the past.

Bookworm_Girl · 07-17-2011, 01:03 PM

Certainly free of copyright books and e-library books offset the price of books that I would have purchased in paper-format. Many people buy e-readers intending to read these types of books. Just in the last month I have read 2 books from my local e-library that would have cost me $17.52 and $26.37 at Amazon. Both are only available in hard-back. I have also read 2 classics that would have cost $10.29 and $9.60 for the Penguin editions. My wishlist of books at my e-library is longer than what I can read in a year, and they aren't obscure titles.

carld · 07-17-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Absolutely

I am tired of explaining this simple thing.

That doesn't mean they didn't get value out of the books they got for free.

Pinecone · 07-17-2011, 05:56 PM

You can buy a Yugo or you can buy a BMW. Some people need low cost and are fine with the Yugo. But BMW manages to sell a LOT of cars at a premium price.

As does Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, etc.

What do YOU drive?

You ca go cheap, or you can go quality, and there is a market for BOTH types of products.

kazbates · 07-18-2011, 08:32 AM

Back to the main topic. . .

Sony's products have historically been more expensive then their competitors. Whether it's their televisions, computers, stereo equipment or the legendary Walkman, the prices have usually been a percentage higher than the main stream (and, no, I have calculated the exact percentage). However, their hardware is well made and stands the test of time. My first Sony Reader, the PRS-700, was still in great shape a month ago when my daughter left it in a San Diego airport.

Her Sony Vaio laptop that she purchased about 5 years ago to use at college, although rapidly becoming an antique in the constantly upgrading computer market, is still as strong as ever. And, if I were to dig out my old Walkman (yes, I still do have it), I know that it will still work well.

That is why Sony can charge more for their products and still stay in business.

EatingPie · 07-22-2011, 07:25 AM

I think we have demonstrated that price is absolutely imperative.

The article in question quotes the prices for the existing models: "The current Sony Reader, now priced from $180 to $300..."

Yet the whole discussion has primarily centered on price. Not what features the new Readers might have, not if there's a new screen; just price. I agree that Sony makes the best quality product out there, but the price is too high for the current market.

Now, in terms of features, the only thing that generally keeps me from recommending the Sony over the Kindle is the latter's on-device purchasing. The ease of buying books right from the Kindle is so "newbie friendly" or, more importantly, computer illiterate/phobic friendly, that it makes it a slam dunk for most people I know who read voraciously.

-Pie

jbcohen · 07-22-2011, 08:31 AM

Although I do own a Kindle not a Sony I would like to chime in on the majority opinion here as it is also the oppinion of a well respected IT industry trade magazine PC Magazine is that the Sony PRS 350, which is the one most likely to compete with a Kindle has two problems: first, its too expensive; and lastely no wifi. Although the place where the 350 beats a kindle is its lighter and has better contrast.

elcreative · 07-22-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatingPie

I think we have demonstrated that price is absolutely imperative.-Pie

Actually that's the one thing this thread hasn't demonstrated... plenty of the posters here have said they'd still buy Sony regardless... it seems that quality still wins over cheapness with many people...

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07-15-2011, 05:17 PM	#31
Halk Fanatic Posts: 538 Karma: 469999 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS-650 (PRS+ alpha - thanks Kartu!)	I would take serious convincing to buy anything other than a Sony Reader now. I've owned 2 Cybook 3s and I've held a Kindle, and Nook. I broke 3 Cybook 3 screens because they have no protection against torsion. I don't believe I could break the 600 or 650 reader I've owned - although I'm not about to try. I don't think the cost is as significant as people are saying. Electronic readers are cheap in comparison to other portable devices that people are happy to buy. Compare them to a high end smartphone and they are half the price. Compare them to a tablet and they're cheaper, and there's much more expensive tablets. Some people won't care to spend more than the Kindle and that's fine, it's a capable device, and it's great value for money. But other people will. There's far too many people in this thread who make the assumption that every consumer thinks like them. It's an expanding market and that means there's room for all sorts of products. There is room for a premium product and Sony seem to have the reputation for that already. If you're going to spend five or six hours a week using one of them, then an extra £50 is not a big deal - in fact if Sony had a £400 reader, rather than the £200 and the extra £200 bought good stuff then I'd own one of those.

07-15-2011, 09:07 PM	#35
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I do take my reader with me sometimes when I go out. I want something I feel will be safe in my bag. I feel my Sony will be pretty safe. I've read too many cases of what seems like spontaneous screen breaks and could never own one. If I was to own a plastic based (other casing) reader with a glass screen, I would have to have a case and a sleeve to fit the reader and the case. I'm probably overprotective. But all it takes is one opps and it's shattered.

07-17-2011, 01:03 PM	#39
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Certainly free of copyright books and e-library books offset the price of books that I would have purchased in paper-format. Many people buy e-readers intending to read these types of books. Just in the last month I have read 2 books from my local e-library that would have cost me $17.52 and $26.37 at Amazon. Both are only available in hard-back. I have also read 2 classics that would have cost $10.29 and $9.60 for the Penguin editions. My wishlist of books at my e-library is longer than what I can read in a year, and they aren't obscure titles.

07-17-2011, 05:56 PM	#41
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	You can buy a Yugo or you can buy a BMW. Some people need low cost and are fine with the Yugo. But BMW manages to sell a LOT of cars at a premium price. As does Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, etc. What do YOU drive? You ca go cheap, or you can go quality, and there is a market for BOTH types of products.

07-18-2011, 08:32 AM	#42
kazbates Wizard Posts: 2,627 Karma: 406616 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Device: SurfacePro, SurfaceBook 2	Back to the main topic. . . Sony's products have historically been more expensive then their competitors. Whether it's their televisions, computers, stereo equipment or the legendary Walkman, the prices have usually been a percentage higher than the main stream (and, no, I have calculated the exact percentage). However, their hardware is well made and stands the test of time. My first Sony Reader, the PRS-700, was still in great shape a month ago when my daughter left it in a San Diego airport. Her Sony Vaio laptop that she purchased about 5 years ago to use at college, although rapidly becoming an antique in the constantly upgrading computer market, is still as strong as ever. And, if I were to dig out my old Walkman (yes, I still do have it), I know that it will still work well. That is why Sony can charge more for their products and still stay in business.

07-22-2011, 07:25 AM	#43
EatingPie Blueberry! Posts: 888 Karma: 133343 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500 (RIP); PRS-600 (Good Riddance); PRS-505; PRS-650; PRS-350	I think we have demonstrated that price is absolutely imperative. The article in question quotes the prices for the existing models: "The current Sony Reader, now priced from $180 to $300..." Yet the whole discussion has primarily centered on price. Not what features the new Readers might have, not if there's a new screen; just price. I agree that Sony makes the best quality product out there, but the price is too high for the current market. Now, in terms of features, the only thing that generally keeps me from recommending the Sony over the Kindle is the latter's on-device purchasing. The ease of buying books right from the Kindle is so "newbie friendly" or, more importantly, computer illiterate/phobic friendly, that it makes it a slam dunk for most people I know who read voraciously. -Pie

07-22-2011, 08:31 AM	#44
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Although I do own a Kindle not a Sony I would like to chime in on the majority opinion here as it is also the oppinion of a well respected IT industry trade magazine PC Magazine is that the Sony PRS 350, which is the one most likely to compete with a Kindle has two problems: first, its too expensive; and lastely no wifi. Although the place where the 350 beats a kindle is its lighter and has better contrast.