The Sony PRS700: the Newest Member of the Sony Reader Family - Page 13

Lemurion · 10-03-2008, 01:55 PM

When it comes to consumer electronics you usually see one of two things happen over time: either rapid price drops, or performance/capacity increases at about the same price point. Sony seems to be following the latter strategy. It's not the one I would prefer, but it's normally how things work when the components dictate a price floor, which is the case with E-ink. The screen seems to enforce a hard price floor at about $300, which is where the Sony is sitting right now.

Given those circumstances, the PRS-700 is probably the best thing Sony could have done. It's not what I wanted, but it makes a lot of sense for Sony. It widens the range and provides tangible additional functionality for an added cost. By keeping the same screen it also avoids raising the price floor.

bill_mchale · 10-03-2008, 02:17 PM

Well, I think the big reason that Sony is not dropping prices is because it is facing little in the way of competition on price. Lets face it, the only dedicated eReader that is actually cheaper than the Sony is the ebookwise reader. And while I know it has many fans, lets face it, it is old technology and is likely not going to steal many buyers from Sony and Amazon.

The one device that might force Amazon and Sony to reassess their pricing is the iPod... its not much cheaper, but it can do a lot more (Though I grant there are many people, especially here, who would never be happy with it as their primary method of reading ebooks).

--
Bill

PsyDocJoanne · 10-03-2008, 02:25 PM

I think Sony's pricing for the 700 is fine. Think about it...the 505 retails for $299. Add to that the integrated lightwedge/cover, at $65 + tax, and you're up to ~$370, which is only $29 less than the 700, and you get the added benefit of the touchscreen, if you view that as an asset, as well as the integrated frontlight.

I'm not interested in upgrading because I can't justify the extra $100 for the way I use my 505 reader (see my other posts), but for someone new to the ebook reader market, I think it's very competitive with the pricing for other devices.

Getting a low-priced (sub-$100) reader is a pipe dream for now, I think...the cost of producing the eInk technology is just too high, and I don't think Sony (or Amazon, or other reader manufacturers) can anticipate enough ebook sales volume to sell these devices as loss leaders.

Just my $.02

markrich · 10-03-2008, 02:41 PM

I've been on the fence for a while with the readers. I would like one, but have been trying to jusify one to myself. With my iPod I carry all my music around because I listen to all my music. With my library I carry a book and replace with another when read. I don't add a second and third to my bag in case I want to read the first one again. However something about the reader keeps drawing me back. Perhaps it's the surpressed gadget freak? Perhaps it's the need for a new toy? Perhaps, like my iPod its the desire to buy more and more of the things I want digitally because I am running out of physical space at home? :-)

I played with the 550 at the Waterstones in Bristol, UK and liked it, save the screen refresh part. I know it's not slow but it isn't fast either and seemed distracting. From other sites I understand Sony has worked on this for this new reader with some electronic wizardry and the screen refreshes much faster and nicer. However the touch screen part seems to be the most exiting part of the new model. I did feel with the 550 that this was it's primary weakness. In a landscape now accepting touchscreen as the way forward, buttons seem well....so twentieth century. :-)

I wish Sony would sort themselves out on release dates and do things globally rather than concentraing on one market and moving on. They are a big company and can do it if they wish. I am disappointed that the new machine wasn't announced for the EU market at the same time and if I do get one I may have to order from America online. Oh well, I guess someone has to prop up the American economy somehow ;-)

Overall, it has its weaknesses I admit. What new toy doesn't. However for me I think I may yet dabble. I have been disappointed by the abilities of fbreader on my Nokia N810 and it would be good to carry with me in my bag when I travel around Europe and not take up too much space. Plug in the iPod, fire up the reader and a 3 hour flight should disappear. May even distract me from the arse in the next seat shouting into her mobile phone when the airlines enable that function.

My reading habits are varied. I do like the classics so I guess I am well catered for.

However perhaps can anyone answer this little question for me re the 550 and 700? Can the readers display Cyrilic as well as Latin alphabets? I like to read Russian literature in the original where I can.

Amalthia · 10-03-2008, 02:49 PM

I'm intriged.

I like the idea of a larger built in memory card. the touch screen has potential, though I'd really like to know if the stylus works like a mouse pointer? thinking about table of contents and being able to select links without having to use the buttons to go down the list. (hope that made sense)

I think this is a step in the right direction.

though I think I'll buy when I know for sure the device can handle more than 2000 books device without such a slow start up time. I know it's better to have smaller SD cards, but I'm a pack rat when it comes to book and I like the idea of carrying my entire ebook library with me at all times.

junkyardwillie · 10-03-2008, 03:51 PM

I dont think the touch screen to turn pages is a good thing, it'd be nice as a secondary option but the best way to turn the page is with a button. They jumped the gun a little on that. I would love to see how you can turn a page with one hand with this. I hope they didn't overlook this since I use my reader when I'm commuting and I need a hand free to hold on so I dont fall.

MerLock · 10-03-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardwillie

I dont think the touch screen to turn pages is a good thing, it'd be nice as a secondary option but the best way to turn the page is with a button. They jumped the gun a little on that. I would love to see how you can turn a page with one hand with this. I hope they didn't overlook this since I use my reader when I'm commuting and I need a hand free to hold on so I dont fall.

I agree that turning pages with the touch screen should be a secondary option. I hope to see a video demo soon to see it in action, perhaps it's not as bad as I think.

I wonder if they will release a silver version of the 700.

TheRealBillc · 10-03-2008, 04:36 PM

"Finally, there will be a wireless version. Steve said this is down the road because they want to launch wireless on a open platform. That is one that will have different bookstores and book suppliers, not just the Sony store. This will take a bit of time to set up. No target date was given." From Paul Biba at the Teleread site.

This is very exciting news. Now I know what to buy. I was waiting for the Astak 6 inch with wifi and touch, but it looks like the Sony will beat them to it. The first one with an open platform, touch, and wifi gets my money (and one for my wife too). We live in a 750 sq ft apartment just outside of New York City with free wifi everywhere in the complex of 10 buildings and some of the outside spaces, so it's important to me. I prefer less buttons and I think an on screen touch keyboard is overdue for devices like this. The light integrated into the device is a really nice touch. With the wifi version of this for personal use and a Plastic Logic for business use I'll be set until color comes along.
'

tekchic · 10-03-2008, 04:38 PM

Since it responds to single-touch commands, my hope is that you can just tap the right margin of the screen to flip pages rather than an actual swipe gesture.

All speculation of course until I see a video of it, but that's what I'm hoping for.

cernunos` · 10-03-2008, 04:59 PM

If the 700 had the wifi support or would allow me to read password protected PDF files I would buy it in a minute.

I am very happy with the 505 but it was impossible to find here in Canada. I was on a trip to Florida and dropped into a Sony store and was shocked to find the box was in English and French, all ready for the Canadian market. I would have expected english only or english/spanish for the US market

JeffElkins · 10-03-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Given those circumstances, the PRS-700 is probably the best thing Sony could have done

I still think they blundered by not including WIFI. The press and the public in general are more or less clueless regarding tech. Believe me, had they included WIFI most of the mundanes would not have differentiated between it and EVDO (whispernet). Couple WIFI with a revamped store and they would have had a huge strike back at Amazon.

astra · 10-03-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

And this thread hints that dictionary look-up is a possibility.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30027

How does it hint on dic. support?

If it has one, I am in. If it doesn't have dic. support I am off the hook.

NatCh · 10-03-2008, 05:28 PM

I think it's mainly that the 700 will allow any individual word to be highlighted. It's been reported that the BBeB (and epub, I think) standard allows for integration of a dictionary lookup, but no one's ever implemented one.

gwynevans · 10-03-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markrich

However perhaps can anyone answer this little question for me re the 550 and 700? Can the readers display Cyrilic as well as Latin alphabets? I like to read Russian literature in the original where I can.

Leaving aside PDFs with embedded font's, while the 505 has software support for Unicode/Cyrilic chars, the default fonts don't have them. However, it's easy to reflash the 505 firmware with fonts that have had Cyrilic chars added & many of us here have done so. This is a well-trodden path for the 505, but the 700's a complete unknown at present.

igorsk · 10-03-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I think it's mainly that the 700 will allow any individual word to be highlighted. It's been reported that the BBeB (and epub, I think) standard allows for integration of a dictionary lookup, but no one's ever implemented one.

There were dictionaries on Librie in the BBeB dictionary format (also supported by stand-alone Sony electronic dictionaries).

10-03-2008, 02:41 PM	#184
markrich Member Posts: 14 Karma: 580 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: European Union Device: Kobo Aura One, Samsung tablets	I've been on the fence for a while with the readers. I would like one, but have been trying to jusify one to myself. With my iPod I carry all my music around because I listen to all my music. With my library I carry a book and replace with another when read. I don't add a second and third to my bag in case I want to read the first one again. However something about the reader keeps drawing me back. Perhaps it's the surpressed gadget freak? Perhaps it's the need for a new toy? Perhaps, like my iPod its the desire to buy more and more of the things I want digitally because I am running out of physical space at home? :-) I played with the 550 at the Waterstones in Bristol, UK and liked it, save the screen refresh part. I know it's not slow but it isn't fast either and seemed distracting. From other sites I understand Sony has worked on this for this new reader with some electronic wizardry and the screen refreshes much faster and nicer. However the touch screen part seems to be the most exiting part of the new model. I did feel with the 550 that this was it's primary weakness. In a landscape now accepting touchscreen as the way forward, buttons seem well....so twentieth century. :-) I wish Sony would sort themselves out on release dates and do things globally rather than concentraing on one market and moving on. They are a big company and can do it if they wish. I am disappointed that the new machine wasn't announced for the EU market at the same time and if I do get one I may have to order from America online. Oh well, I guess someone has to prop up the American economy somehow ;-) Overall, it has its weaknesses I admit. What new toy doesn't. However for me I think I may yet dabble. I have been disappointed by the abilities of fbreader on my Nokia N810 and it would be good to carry with me in my bag when I travel around Europe and not take up too much space. Plug in the iPod, fire up the reader and a 3 hour flight should disappear. May even distract me from the arse in the next seat shouting into her mobile phone when the airlines enable that function. My reading habits are varied. I do like the classics so I guess I am well catered for. However perhaps can anyone answer this little question for me re the 550 and 700? Can the readers display Cyrilic as well as Latin alphabets? I like to read Russian literature in the original where I can. Last edited by markrich; 10-03-2008 at 02:53 PM.

10-03-2008, 04:36 PM	#188
TheRealBillc evangelist Posts: 42 Karma: 48 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jersey City, NJ Device: PRS-700 deceased now 950	Ok. Now I have a plan "Finally, there will be a wireless version. Steve said this is down the road because they want to launch wireless on a open platform. That is one that will have different bookstores and book suppliers, not just the Sony store. This will take a bit of time to set up. No target date was given." From Paul Biba at the Teleread site. This is very exciting news. Now I know what to buy. I was waiting for the Astak 6 inch with wifi and touch, but it looks like the Sony will beat them to it. The first one with an open platform, touch, and wifi gets my money (and one for my wife too). We live in a 750 sq ft apartment just outside of New York City with free wifi everywhere in the complex of 10 buildings and some of the outside spaces, so it's important to me. I prefer less buttons and I think an on screen touch keyboard is overdue for devices like this. The light integrated into the device is a really nice touch. With the wifi version of this for personal use and a Plastic Logic for business use I'll be set until color comes along. '

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10-03-2008, 01:55 PM	#181
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	When it comes to consumer electronics you usually see one of two things happen over time: either rapid price drops, or performance/capacity increases at about the same price point. Sony seems to be following the latter strategy. It's not the one I would prefer, but it's normally how things work when the components dictate a price floor, which is the case with E-ink. The screen seems to enforce a hard price floor at about $300, which is where the Sony is sitting right now. Given those circumstances, the PRS-700 is probably the best thing Sony could have done. It's not what I wanted, but it makes a lot of sense for Sony. It widens the range and provides tangible additional functionality for an added cost. By keeping the same screen it also avoids raising the price floor.

10-03-2008, 02:17 PM	#182
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	Well, I think the big reason that Sony is not dropping prices is because it is facing little in the way of competition on price. Lets face it, the only dedicated eReader that is actually cheaper than the Sony is the ebookwise reader. And while I know it has many fans, lets face it, it is old technology and is likely not going to steal many buyers from Sony and Amazon. The one device that might force Amazon and Sony to reassess their pricing is the iPod... its not much cheaper, but it can do a lot more (Though I grant there are many people, especially here, who would never be happy with it as their primary method of reading ebooks). -- Bill

10-03-2008, 02:25 PM	#183
PsyDocJoanne Loves her 505 and her Z4! Posts: 157 Karma: 631 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Weston, FL Device: Sony PRS-505	I think Sony's pricing for the 700 is fine. Think about it...the 505 retails for $299. Add to that the integrated lightwedge/cover, at $65 + tax, and you're up to ~$370, which is only $29 less than the 700, and you get the added benefit of the touchscreen, if you view that as an asset, as well as the integrated frontlight. I'm not interested in upgrading because I can't justify the extra $100 for the way I use my 505 reader (see my other posts), but for someone new to the ebook reader market, I think it's very competitive with the pricing for other devices. Getting a low-priced (sub-$100) reader is a pipe dream for now, I think...the cost of producing the eInk technology is just too high, and I don't think Sony (or Amazon, or other reader manufacturers) can anticipate enough ebook sales volume to sell these devices as loss leaders. Just my $.02

10-03-2008, 02:49 PM	#185
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,188 Karma: 32196 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	I'm intriged. I like the idea of a larger built in memory card. the touch screen has potential, though I'd really like to know if the stylus works like a mouse pointer? thinking about table of contents and being able to select links without having to use the buttons to go down the list. (hope that made sense) I think this is a step in the right direction. though I think I'll buy when I know for sure the device can handle more than 2000 books device without such a slow start up time. I know it's better to have smaller SD cards, but I'm a pack rat when it comes to book and I like the idea of carrying my entire ebook library with me at all times.

10-03-2008, 03:51 PM	#186
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	I dont think the touch screen to turn pages is a good thing, it'd be nice as a secondary option but the best way to turn the page is with a button. They jumped the gun a little on that. I would love to see how you can turn a page with one hand with this. I hope they didn't overlook this since I use my reader when I'm commuting and I need a hand free to hold on so I dont fall.

10-03-2008, 04:38 PM	#189
tekchic Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 120 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro	Since it responds to single-touch commands, my hope is that you can just tap the right margin of the screen to flip pages rather than an actual swipe gesture. All speculation of course until I see a video of it, but that's what I'm hoping for.

10-03-2008, 04:59 PM	#190
cernunos` Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony prs505	If the 700 had the wifi support or would allow me to read password protected PDF files I would buy it in a minute. I am very happy with the 505 but it was impossible to find here in Canada. I was on a trip to Florida and dropped into a Sony store and was shocked to find the box was in English and French, all ready for the Canadian market. I would have expected english only or english/spanish for the US market

10-03-2008, 05:28 PM	#193
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I think it's mainly that the 700 will allow any individual word to be highlighted. It's been reported that the BBeB (and epub, I think) standard allows for integration of a dictionary lookup, but no one's ever implemented one.