Sony's unannounced Reader PRS-T3 leaks out at the FCC

[parkher]

Josieb1

That is the main difference between us. I am a purist in the sense that I completely don't understand people who use tablets for reading books. Especially if they already tried e-ink.
So our idea what is "better" may be also very different.
For me "better" - the closest possible to e-ink with the lighting off. And that is clip-on.
For you "better" - possibly (I'm not sure) the closest to tablet. And that is integrated lighting.

BTW, I do not reject the idea, that tablet might be easier on the eyes than integrated lighting.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by parkher

Actually I should not ask this. It is an obvious truth, no room for discussion whatsoever.

And yet, this is a discussion forum, not a lecture forum, nor a sermon forum, nor a harangue forum.

If you think there's nothing to discuss, why are you here?

[parkher]

Originally Posted by meeera

And yet, this is a discussion forum, not a lecture forum, nor a sermon forum, nor a harangue forum.

If you think there's nothing to discuss, why are you here?

Discussing other aspects of our dream T3.

For this internal lighting issue - sorry. I cannot find any setting on Aura which would allow me to read even one page of text without eyes beginning to hurt. The internal lighting is completely worthless to me, especially that I have a solution which does not hurt eyes - a clip-on light - a more intimate lighting than normal external lighting, but still of the same character. The screen is still pleasant to my eyes e-ink.

[DuskyRose]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Without an integrated light I would simply use a tablet. If Sony don't incorporate this technology then I fear they are destined to be left behind. A few die hard Sony enthusiasts will not keep their ereader arm afloat against the might of Kobo and Amazon.

So far, I find I don't care for the frontlight of the Nook Glowlight nor the Paperwhite. I haven't tried the Kobo, so don't know if that would work better for me. But they're quite serviceable machines after I turn the lights down/off.

But I do agree that Sony needs a frontlit screen to stay competitive. It could be that they could make one in a way that fits my use, or at least turns off enough that I wouldn't care. But in today's market, they can't just come out with a tweaked T2 and expect much interest.

Especially since they've disappeared from all the local stores except the Sony store, which is a PITA to drive up to from my area, so I don't go. I have Sony's, so I can compare specs on mine to a new one, but the lack of being able to hold and try out the device is, I think, a huge mistake when it comes to selling to the general public. People can find Nooks and Kindles on shelves.

For the past few years they've done no advertising, have no real presence and have done nothing to stay in the market. I don't think they're really much interested in putting in the work to compete.

Without a front light, I doubt there will be any eink machine by Sony in the future. I just don't think they'll sell enough to keep them interested.

[Josieb1]

Its all very sad, I just hope the T3 lives up to everyone's wishes.

[medard]

Sony just had a huge advertising campaign in Russia about digital reading. Obviously this campaign has won several prices. Don't forget that Russia, Asia and Latin America are the biggest markets for digital reading now.

And you can buy Sony Reader in a lot of stores, in book stores and in stores for electronic devices, at least where I live.

Maybe Sony has it's focus on a different market than you're interest in right now. Whatever Sony is going to present in the next weeks, I want it and I'll buy it.

But I prefer to wait for more information right now, I'm really not interested in general disussions about Kindle and Aura and whatever. There are other threads for that.

[parkher]

But in Russia they set crazy prices, still somebody buys them? Especially when there are so many various readers.
I heard that T2 Russian model costs 2 times more than US model.

[parkher]

Originally Posted by DuskyRose

I haven't tried the Kobo, so don't know if that would work better for me.

I doubt it. I cannot find any useful setting for Aura when it is darker.
If I set the light to stronger - it hurts my eyes.
If I set it to weaker - it hurts my eyes because the screen is too dark.
Either way - no comfort in reading. There is no good middle point.
On the other hand - a good clip-on light works perfectly on Aura. As long as you do not accidentally switch its integrated light on while mounting the clip-on

I just hope that soon tablets with various semi-reflective screens will appear, and all the people who want integrated light will switch to them and the demand for integrated lighting will drop. And the readers without lighting will survive.

[DuskyRose]

Originally Posted by medard

Sony just had a huge advertising campaign in Russia about digital reading. Obviously this campaign has won several prices. Don't forget that Russia, Asia and Latin America are the biggest markets for digital reading now.

I do hope they have enough success to keep going, but they're severly lagging in the US market.

Originally Posted by medard

And you can buy Sony Reader in a lot of stores, in book stores and in stores for electronic devices, at least where I live.

Not around here, the Washington/Maryland/DC market. When I wanted a T2 I found that no stores carry them anymore, and had to drive up to the one Sony store about 30 miles from me. Massive traffic you don't want to drive unless you had to.

When the T1's sold out, they all disappeared from our local Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, Targets, and Micro Tech. All said the same thing. "We don't stock the Sony's anymore." And they don't.

It's a Sony desert out here. When I talk ereaders with people who ask me about my device when I'm out? They never heard of them. When they find out they can't walk into a store and try one out, let alone buy one, they move right along and ask about the Kindles. They've seen Kindles in the stores. They know what they are. They know who makes them.

You can't sell what people don't know about.

Originally Posted by medard

Maybe Sony has it's focus on a different market than you're interest in right now. Whatever Sony is going to present in the next weeks, I want it and I'll buy it.

I'm a huge ebook reader, and have tried lots of devices and have money. What other market are they looking for?

I have very nice, perfect usable T1's and T2's. I don't need to spend money on another unless there's something very different about a T3.

They'd better step it ups some and get serious this time.

[Lyn2012]

Originally Posted by parkher

I doubt it. I cannot find any useful setting for Aura when it is darker.
If I set the light to stronger - it hurts my eyes.
If I set it to weaker - it hurts my eyes because the screen is too dark.
Either way - no comfort in reading. There is no good middle point.

I agree ..... if trying to read in the dark which is something I never do.

However, if the internal light is set low enough so that the screen does not glow and resemble a tablet, then the experience of reading on cloudy days or when room lighting isn't perfect is improved enormously by having more contrast between the shades of screen and text, and in consequence eye strain is much reduced. I am hoping that the T3 is front lit, and will have to put up with the horrible physical buttons, but will at last have a stable reader that works properly with Calibre collections.

[parkher]

Originally Posted by Lyn2012

I agree ..... if trying to read in the dark which is something I never do.

However, if the internal light is set low enough so that the screen does not glow and resemble a tablet, then the experience of reading on cloudy days or when room lighting isn't perfect is improved enormously by having more contrast between the shades of screen and text, and in consequence eye strain is much reduced. I am hoping that the T3 is front lit, and will have to put up with the horrible physical buttons, but will at last have a stable reader that works properly with Calibre collections.

Yes, that is something for which the internal lighting can be used.
I tried with levels from 1% to 15%. The trick is not to feel that the screen is glowing. So less is better. But then less white screen.
Anyway, when the screen is tilted away a bit then the perception of glowing is reduced.
But when I switch it off altogether, it is more pleasant, more natural to me.
And if it is a little bit too dark with the light switched off - that means the glowing almost certainly will be noticeable with the light on.
So I don't know. I don't use it.

As to T2 buttons - I like them much more than on T1. Perhaps they could have a lighter touch, and perhaps a regular form, and perhaps more suitably colored, but at least I press the button I want now. On T1 the buttons were very narrow and without gaps between them - not even possible to feel by touch separate buttons.
So I am OK with T2 (and T3) buttons.

[ersott]

Originally Posted by Lyn2012

I agree ..... if trying to read in the dark which is something I never do.

However, if the internal light is set low enough so that the screen does not glow and resemble a tablet, then the experience of reading on cloudy days or when room lighting isn't perfect is improved enormously by having more contrast between the shades of screen and text, and in consequence eye strain is much reduced. I am hoping that the T3 is front lit, and will have to put up with the horrible physical buttons, but will at last have a stable reader that works properly with Calibre collections.

That's the same for me, this is the perfect use for paperwhite

[shalym]

Originally Posted by parkher

Yes, that is something for which the internal lighting can be used.
I tried with levels from 1% to 15%. The trick is not to feel that the screen is glowing. So less is better. But then less white screen.
Anyway, when the screen is tilted away a bit then the perception of glowing is reduced.
But when I switch it off altogether, it is more pleasant, more natural to me.
And if it is a little bit too dark with the light switched off - that means the glowing almost certainly will be noticeable with the light on.
So I don't know. I don't use it.

You must have better eyes than I do, then. If I am not in bright lighting, I have a very hard time focusing on the text, and give up. Before I got my paperwhite, I used a lighted cover, and before that, a clip on light. I was always having to adjust the way I held my reader or the clip on lights so that I wouldn't get bright patches on the screen...and yes, I have tried the Ozeri, and the Kandle, and the Mighty Bright. All had problems with bright spots, or with the light petering out at the bottom of the screen so that I had to struggle to see the text.

Even if my eyes weren't this bad, there is the convenience factor. I like being able to just shove my Kindle into my purse and go. I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I have my light, or enough batteries to last me for my reading session.

Lastly, as others have said, you have NO idea of what other people are looking for in a reader, or what their circumstances are. Throwing your *opinions* out there as fact, and belittling people who don't feel as you do is insulting and arrogant.

Shari

[Josieb1]

I don't know of any stores that stock the Sony ereader in the UK either, I may be mistaken but I can't think of any stores. Online we can get them from the Sony store.

[latepaul]

I've seen them in PC World in the past. Didn't check last time I was in.