Would Sony Ever Make A Reflective Color LCD Reader?

BBRags · 04-14-2010, 09:33 PM

Is it cost effective to do this as a way of competing with the iPad? Since reflective LCDs can be read in sunlight, that could be a big advantage over the iPad, although the iPad would still be more versatile unless Sony expands the power of the reader's operating system.

grooks · 04-14-2010, 11:47 PM

If they ever were to make a device to compete with the iPad it would probably be a tablet-like device that would have a regular OS similiar to a netbook. I'm sure this device could also be used as an ebook reader but it would not be the primary function.

BBRags · 04-15-2010, 12:07 AM

Would Sony be likely to position its reader to compete with the iPad, feature for feature? Sony makes laptops so they have the technical skills to produce a tablet. A tablet with a transreflective screen would get my dollars. The iPad is being hailed now as the definitive Kindle Killer. If it kills the Kindle, there's not much hope for Sony eInk readers either.

pilotbob · 04-15-2010, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBRags

Is it cost effective to do this as a way of competing with the iPad? Since reflective LCDs can be read in sunlight, that could be a big advantage over the iPad, although the iPad would still be more versatile unless Sony expands the power of the reader's operating system.

eInk is working on a color version using their tech... they are also supposed to be faster and allow video and such. I'd expect once these are available Sony will start working on one.

BOb

Mike_73 · 04-15-2010, 08:24 AM

I too think that once color-eInk is available, there'll be dedicated readers. I would also take the reflective LCD version if battery live is ok.
Anyways, what I want to say is, that I'll most likely will buy a color ereader once it's available, but for more (email, video, etc.) I won't go with a tablet. I allready have my laptop and I can type with all my 10 fingers. So a touchscreen for text-input just won't cut it for me.

Geppetto · 04-15-2010, 02:19 PM

I think people - journalists, mostly - who say: "iPad will kill Kindle" or "will iPad kill Kindle?", and so on, are people who WANT iPad kill ereaders, because they do believe ebooks will eventually kill publishing industry. They think: "look at what happened to mp3s and music industry: ebooks will do the same to publishers".
A load of crap, of course.

Penforhire · 04-15-2010, 02:27 PM

I'm seeing the acceptance of the iPad and I think the future does NOT belong to e-ink, even if it goes color. The average person will buy a tablet that does video and has 10 hour battery life ahead of one that has a slightly better display for reading and battery life of weeks. Unless e-ink refresh rates ever approach LCD's, that means the market for e-ink displays is peaking about... now.

We'll see. I could easily be wrong but I expect a major product shift and, yes, it is Apple's fault.

Mike_73 · 04-15-2010, 05:39 PM

There'll probably be a shift due to mainstream demand. But I think there will still be enough people out there who will appreciate a nice slow eInk device

So even if eInk is peaking right now, I think that this peak will persist (meaning that I still would buy an eInk instead of a backlit LCD). Theres just something about ereaders that a tablet won't cut. My Laptop and cell phone play mp3s, still I prefer my dedicated mp3-player.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against video. But an eInk like they are now just resembles books better for me than something like the ipad. So I love the "slowness" of the reader but prefer the small size and additional functionality over pbooks.

m-reader · 04-16-2010, 01:32 AM

Sony's had Vaio UMPC devices on the market for donkey years (UX series).

BBRags · 04-16-2010, 10:01 AM

Legibility in sunlight is VERY important. Transreflective LCD screens were once a little fuzzier than the better LCDs. I don't know how the screens compare today.

Is there any reason Sony can't use more than one type of screen in their reader line? eInk, transLCD, even OLED for a variety of uses.

Besides the screen technology, Apple's pricing on ebooks will be key, but Apple will have pricing power due to its huge user base.

04-14-2010, 09:33 PM	#1
BBRags Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: None	Would Sony Ever Make A Reflective Color LCD Reader? Is it cost effective to do this as a way of competing with the iPad? Since reflective LCDs can be read in sunlight, that could be a big advantage over the iPad, although the iPad would still be more versatile unless Sony expands the power of the reader's operating system.

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04-14-2010, 11:47 PM	#2
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	If they ever were to make a device to compete with the iPad it would probably be a tablet-like device that would have a regular OS similiar to a netbook. I'm sure this device could also be used as an ebook reader but it would not be the primary function.

04-15-2010, 12:07 AM	#3
BBRags Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: None	Would Sony be likely to position its reader to compete with the iPad, feature for feature? Sony makes laptops so they have the technical skills to produce a tablet. A tablet with a transreflective screen would get my dollars. The iPad is being hailed now as the definitive Kindle Killer. If it kills the Kindle, there's not much hope for Sony eInk readers either.

04-15-2010, 08:24 AM	#5
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	I too think that once color-eInk is available, there'll be dedicated readers. I would also take the reflective LCD version if battery live is ok. Anyways, what I want to say is, that I'll most likely will buy a color ereader once it's available, but for more (email, video, etc.) I won't go with a tablet. I allready have my laptop and I can type with all my 10 fingers. So a touchscreen for text-input just won't cut it for me.

04-15-2010, 02:19 PM	#6
Geppetto Addict Posts: 232 Karma: 748 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony PRS600, Cybook, Hanvon N520, Sony PRS300, Onyx Boox, Kindle 3	I think people - journalists, mostly - who say: "iPad will kill Kindle" or "will iPad kill Kindle?", and so on, are people who WANT iPad kill ereaders, because they do believe ebooks will eventually kill publishing industry. They think: "look at what happened to mp3s and music industry: ebooks will do the same to publishers". A load of crap, of course.

04-15-2010, 02:27 PM	#7
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I'm seeing the acceptance of the iPad and I think the future does NOT belong to e-ink, even if it goes color. The average person will buy a tablet that does video and has 10 hour battery life ahead of one that has a slightly better display for reading and battery life of weeks. Unless e-ink refresh rates ever approach LCD's, that means the market for e-ink displays is peaking about... now. We'll see. I could easily be wrong but I expect a major product shift and, yes, it is Apple's fault.

04-15-2010, 05:39 PM	#8
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	There'll probably be a shift due to mainstream demand. But I think there will still be enough people out there who will appreciate a nice slow eInk device So even if eInk is peaking right now, I think that this peak will persist (meaning that I still would buy an eInk instead of a backlit LCD). Theres just something about ereaders that a tablet won't cut. My Laptop and cell phone play mp3s, still I prefer my dedicated mp3-player. Don't get me wrong. I'm not against video. But an eInk like they are now just resembles books better for me than something like the ipad. So I love the "slowness" of the reader but prefer the small size and additional functionality over pbooks.

04-16-2010, 01:32 AM	#9
m-reader Guru Posts: 785 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)	Sony's had Vaio UMPC devices on the market for donkey years (UX series).

04-16-2010, 10:01 AM	#10
BBRags Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: None	Legibility in sunlight is VERY important. Transreflective LCD screens were once a little fuzzier than the better LCDs. I don't know how the screens compare today. Is there any reason Sony can't use more than one type of screen in their reader line? eInk, transLCD, even OLED for a variety of uses. Besides the screen technology, Apple's pricing on ebooks will be key, but Apple will have pricing power due to its huge user base.