Adios, Sony! - Page 4

mcramer · 07-28-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

So just why would I voluntarily buy a PRS-505? So I could be burnt again? I don't think so.

I know, buy a paper version of all your books!

Printing technology hasn't really changed over last few hundred years so hopefully that should see you right and you won't "get burnt".....

Silly, silly thread.

BettyE · 07-28-2008, 10:24 PM

I wonder why some folks have to call others silly or make sarcastic comparisons with cars, etc.

Sony has a reputation for not supporting its users - a worse reputation than other companies. Considering that, it may have been smart, from a marketing standpoint, to work out something for the folks that supported their launch into an entirely new arena.

I don't think it is out of line to think a trade-in would have made sense. If it was so weird, then why does HP do it? Or, what about doing a FW upgrade on the PRS 500 to address other issues?

In the case of the PRS 500, there has not been one FW upgrade since Aug 2007. This means that, once the PRS 505 was introduced, even though the PRS 500 was only a year old, Sony forgot about us.

How did some of you feel when Vista was introduced? Did you all throw out every hight techitem you own? There were lots of companies that made drivers for products that were a year old or more.

I realize there are lots of opinions, but I don't think those who are annoyed should be accused of calling Sony evil or accused of being silly, etc.

Betty

slayda · 07-28-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyE

I wonder why some folks have to call others silly or make sarcastic comparisons with cars, etc.

Sony has a reputation for not supporting its users - a worse reputation than other companies. Considering that, it may have been smart, from a marketing standpoint, to work out something for the folks that supported their launch into an entirely new arena.

I don't think it is out of line to think a trade-in would have made sense. If it was so weird, then why does HP do it? Or, what about doing a FW upgrade on the PRS 500 to address other issues?

In the case of the PRS 500, there has not been one FW upgrade since Aug 2007. This means that, once the PRS 505 was introduced, even though the PRS 500 was only a year old, Sony forgot about us.

How did some of you feel when Vista was introduced? Did you all throw out every hight techitem you own? There were lots of companies that made drivers for products that were a year old or more.

I realize there are lots of opinions, but I don't think those who are annoyed should be accused of calling Sony evil or accused of being silly, etc.

Betty

Well said Betty.

HarryT · 07-29-2008, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyE

Sony has a reputation for not supporting its users - a worse reputation than other companies.

I must respectfully disagree, Betty. When the backlight died on my Sony notebook, after a brief word with an extremely helpful lady in their support centre, they sent out a courier on Monday morning to pick it up from my home with a pre-paid box. Wednesday lunchtime there was a knock on my door and there was my laptop, repaired. Absolutely superb service - couldn't have asked for anything better. That's why I've now bought three Sony notebooks in a row, I'm so impressed with their service.

May I ask what bad experience you have personally had from Sony's support services?

sebastien · 07-29-2008, 08:07 AM

Hmmm, if I understand correctly, to run this new format (from Adobe) you need 256MB of ram.

So the issue is that the application provided by Adobe is not optimized enough to run on what is available on the 500.

Why should this be Sony's fault? Should any hardware vendor be responsible for 3rd party application hardware requirement?

I have a 505, I did install the new firmware (couldn't help it, it's a gene defect, the same one that prompted me to add my useless two cent to this thread), but I did not install the Adobe 'add-on'. Why should I? My source for books is either feedbooks, mobileread, the guntenberg project and the like.

If I had wanted a real epaper device with all the bells and whistle, I would have bought an iLiad. Now that is a device you can upgrade and add to! But I'm quite happy with a simple 505. As long as it display text, I can't complain...

Now it's a beautiful day somewhere in the world, lets all go outside and read a book.

Nate the great · 07-29-2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebastien

Hmmm, if I understand correctly, to run this new format (from Adobe) you need 256MB of ram.

Can you provide a link to support that statement?

grimo1re · 07-29-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I must respectfully disagree, Betty. When the backlight died on my Sony notebook, after a brief word with an extremely helpful lady in their support centre, they sent out a courier on Monday morning to pick it up from my home with a pre-paid box. Wednesday lunchtime there was a knock on my door and there was my laptop, repaired. Absolutely superb service - couldn't have asked for anything better. That's why I've now bought three Sony notebooks in a row, I'm so impressed with their service.

May I ask what bad experience you have personally had from Sony's support services?

Every brand has their share of horror and glory stories, Sony's no different. For example, I've never had anything but positive experiences with Dell while heaps of people really hate them.

Either way, I'm still a really, really happy PRS-500 user. It still does the things I bought it for and with Calibre my life has become a whole lot easier conversion-wise. I'd love a trade-in program from Sony for the readers, but I don't *expect* it. I rarely do actually with electronics....I just use a device until it dies or my requirements change.

dordale · 07-29-2008, 01:35 PM

I agree with you grimo1re. Well put. In fact, one of the reasons I decided on the Sony Reader is my experience with my Sony Clie. I've been happily using it for quite a few years now and it shows no signs of dying. I know that Sony dropped their Clie line quite a while ago and quit supporting it, but it still does everything I need it to do.

dordale

Xtremegene · 07-29-2008, 03:01 PM

I'll throw in my two outdated PRS-500 cents as well. I definitely felt the same chagrin as you, BettyE, but it's worn off since I first read about the new 505 firmware upgrade. After all, like others have said, this is pretty much commonplace when dealing with technology and electronics... and it's not like Sony has *removed* any functionality from the PRS-500.

Now, if Sony had promised sometime when offering the PRS-500 that they were gonna include reflow or ePub support for it, then I would definitely be stirring up a storm as it's a more concrete (and legal?) basis for complaint. The original 'PDF support' promised for the 500 (and 505 before the update) could be construed as misleading, but eh, if that was crucial for anyone, it should have motivated those people to return the Sony Reader ASAP if possible.

RickyMaveety · 07-29-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryleejr

I guess I am going to have to chime in, Sony overall does support their customers. They have a trade up program for cameras, camcorders, notebooks, and TV's. I am sure that if the customer base was large enough for the Readers they would also have a similar program available. Now Let me play devil's advocate for a moment, Suppose all the 500 owners that have a significant investment of Sony ebooks decide to cut ties and go to another device doesnt matter which one. And low and behold in 6 months when a new model of the one they just purchased is released and The manufacturer announces they are moving to Epub and Adobe DE support? OH and for the previous model owners we are terribly sorry but the older model can't support this new format. So Hind sight twenty-twenty a 505 would have given you the ability to continue your BBeB library and add Epub and DE ebooks to it as well. But nope you abandoned Sony bought a new device only to learn that you will have to buy yet another device to move to Epub and DE plus whatever format your current Reader supports. (Makes you head hurt doesn't it.) I am not posting in support of Sony, Just with the realization that no matter which route you go there are certain unknown variables you must consider and be able to live with.

JJ

They do?? Because the last time I sent a set of 3 year old TVs into Sony for repair, they told me that (1) they could not be repaired for less than the price of a new TV and (2) they would have to charge me $80 for their "inspection" of the broken TVs and another $80 to return them to me unrepaired. They never mentioned any credit for upgrading .... just charged me for their inspection and for new TVs. It was about this time that I started really questioning Sony's attitude towards consumers. I bought Sony again ... this time .... but I really doubt that I will buy Sony again, and it has everything to do with their customer service, or lack thereof.

slayda · 07-29-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

They do?? Because the last time I sent a set of 3 year old TVs into Sony for repair, they told me that (1) they could not be repaired for less than the price of a new TV and (2) they would have to charge me $80 for their "inspection" of the broken TVs and another $80 to return them to me unrepaired. They never mentioned any credit for upgrading .... just charged me for their inspection and for new TVs. It was about this time that I started really questioning Sony's attitude towards consumers. I bought Sony again ... this time .... but I really doubt that I will buy Sony again, and it has everything to do with their customer service, or lack thereof.

A similar case for me was the first time I got burnt by Sony.

RickyMaveety · 07-29-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

A similar case for me was the first time I got burnt by Sony.

Yeah ... it used to be not so bad when I lived in San Diego, because the main Sony repair HQ was/is in San Diego. However, the last time I had to have something repaired while I was living there, I drove all the way over there only to be told they were closing that facility. Then, it was open again, then closed again ... off and on until I had to send my TVs out to them in San Diego recently.

Funny thing was the conversation I had with the idiot representative. I knew how the TVs had been broken (the cats peed on them ... so I made "pee screens" for the new ones), but she kept insisting that the sets had been dropped and that's how the screens had been damaged. No cracks in them, nothing to indicate they had been dropped ... but she was just certain they had been dropped. What a moron. I decided at some point that she probably wouldn't know the difference if she was dropped or peed on, and I just gave up.

Newer sets and monitors are being purchased from companies other than Sony. I used to be a "Sony only" sort of person ... but their customer service managed to piss me off one too many times. And when they start telling me how something happened, when I know damn well it didn't happen that way, and who the hell cares anyway ... it's not going to change whether they can fix the damn thing or not ... well, they just lost me.

jerryleejr · 07-29-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

They do?? Because the last time I sent a set of 3 year old TVs into Sony for repair, they told me that (1) they could not be repaired for less than the price of a new TV and (2) they would have to charge me $80 for their "inspection" of the broken TVs and another $80 to return them to me unrepaired. They never mentioned any credit for upgrading .... just charged me for their inspection and for new TVs. It was about this time that I started really questioning Sony's attitude towards consumers. I bought Sony again ... this time .... but I really doubt that I will buy Sony again, and it has everything to do with their customer service, or lack thereof.

Here you go Ricky ( The TV trade in program ended in March Sorry)

http://sony.tradeups.com/Default.aspx

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...20up%20program

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...V%20Trade%20In

Amalthia · 07-30-2008, 01:26 AM

I found the Sony PRS-500 at ebay and people are selling them for over 50 dollars. It seems like a better deal to sell the PRS-500 through ebay or amazon.com and use that money towards buying the PRS-505. It seems like you's get more than you would with a trade in program. But I could be wrong.

sebastien · 07-30-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Can you provide a link to support that statement?

I which I could buddy, I which I could... Unfortunately, it's one more proof that I need a (long) vacation. It seems that I can't assimilate blog info anymore...

I guess I should have simply wrote "need more resource than available on the 500".

I will reenable my filter ( | egrep -v '*' ) and stay quiet

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07-28-2008, 10:24 PM	#47
BettyE Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 130 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ Device: Rocket eBook / Sony PRS-500 / Kindle	I wonder why some folks have to call others silly or make sarcastic comparisons with cars, etc. Sony has a reputation for not supporting its users - a worse reputation than other companies. Considering that, it may have been smart, from a marketing standpoint, to work out something for the folks that supported their launch into an entirely new arena. I don't think it is out of line to think a trade-in would have made sense. If it was so weird, then why does HP do it? Or, what about doing a FW upgrade on the PRS 500 to address other issues? In the case of the PRS 500, there has not been one FW upgrade since Aug 2007. This means that, once the PRS 505 was introduced, even though the PRS 500 was only a year old, Sony forgot about us. How did some of you feel when Vista was introduced? Did you all throw out every hight techitem you own? There were lots of companies that made drivers for products that were a year old or more. I realize there are lots of opinions, but I don't think those who are annoyed should be accused of calling Sony evil or accused of being silly, etc. Betty

07-29-2008, 08:07 AM	#50
sebastien Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Laval, Québec, Canada Device: Sony PRS-505	Hmmm, if I understand correctly, to run this new format (from Adobe) you need 256MB of ram. So the issue is that the application provided by Adobe is not optimized enough to run on what is available on the 500. Why should this be Sony's fault? Should any hardware vendor be responsible for 3rd party application hardware requirement? I have a 505, I did install the new firmware (couldn't help it, it's a gene defect, the same one that prompted me to add my useless two cent to this thread), but I did not install the Adobe 'add-on'. Why should I? My source for books is either feedbooks, mobileread, the guntenberg project and the like. If I had wanted a real epaper device with all the bells and whistle, I would have bought an iLiad. Now that is a device you can upgrade and add to! But I'm quite happy with a simple 505. As long as it display text, I can't complain... Now it's a beautiful day somewhere in the world, lets all go outside and read a book.

07-29-2008, 01:35 PM	#53
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	I agree with you grimo1re. Well put. In fact, one of the reasons I decided on the Sony Reader is my experience with my Sony Clie. I've been happily using it for quite a few years now and it shows no signs of dying. I know that Sony dropped their Clie line quite a while ago and quit supporting it, but it still does everything I need it to do. dordale

07-29-2008, 03:01 PM	#54
Xtremegene Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TX, USA Device: Sony Reader PRS-500 --- Nokia n800	I'll throw in my two outdated PRS-500 cents as well. I definitely felt the same chagrin as you, BettyE, but it's worn off since I first read about the new 505 firmware upgrade. After all, like others have said, this is pretty much commonplace when dealing with technology and electronics... and it's not like Sony has removed any functionality from the PRS-500. Now, if Sony had promised sometime when offering the PRS-500 that they were gonna include reflow or ePub support for it, then I would definitely be stirring up a storm as it's a more concrete (and legal?) basis for complaint. The original 'PDF support' promised for the 500 (and 505 before the update) could be construed as misleading, but eh, if that was crucial for anyone, it should have motivated those people to return the Sony Reader ASAP if possible.

07-30-2008, 01:26 AM	#59
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,185 Karma: 32196 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	I found the Sony PRS-500 at ebay and people are selling them for over 50 dollars. It seems like a better deal to sell the PRS-500 through ebay or amazon.com and use that money towards buying the PRS-505. It seems like you's get more than you would with a trade in program. But I could be wrong.