Official Sony PR re PRS-300/600 - Page 11

komugi · 08-06-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Blue

[/B]

Attachment 33687 Close enough ? ? ?

Requiem · 08-06-2009, 10:19 AM

I would have to think that for the companies that are going to carry this, (Such as WalMart, who already carries the 505 but not the 700) require a certain price point to stock an item. But that is such a prime location for exposure that it drives the prices down also.

Another thing is that the page turns might come in faster, due to only having to render 8 grayscale rather than 16. Frankly I don't use the picture viewer on my reader whatsoever (I have a 700) and don't think that 16 different grays are necessary to render text in books. Though PDF support is going to be necessary to fully support educational and technical uses, the implementation is not right to render textbooks yet. It is pointless to rush a product out that doesn't even effectively accomplish what the main selling point is. (pointing at the DX here) So if the pdf full page issue is what you are concerned about, you might want to hold out.

I believe sony is going to become the juggernaut in the industry, their implementation and design is typically sooooo much better, though seemingly behind the kindle. They will probably be the first of the two to do a well made full pdf support A4 size e-ink tablet. (I know it has already been done with lcd screens, but thats not the same is it?)

I think the kindle is a ugly hunk of plastic that seems like a bunch of compromises to make it to market faster at the expense of the quality of the product.

wallcraft · 08-06-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Requiem

Frankly I don't use the picture viewer on my reader whatsoever (I have a 700) and don't think that 16 different grays are necessary to render text in books.

It isn't yet clear that 16 grey scales, as currently implemented, beats 8 grey scales. One example is anti-aliasing of the font on the Kindle 2 (16 grey scales) leading to a "worse" result than on the Kindle 1 (4 grey scales). For how well the Sony PRS-505 already does with 8 grey scales, see More display issues on the DR.

I'm not arguing that 16 grey scales are a bad idea, only that there are additional software changes required to make them work well. It is very clear that Sony's new devices are refined versions of existing designs, and that is not a bad thing. If they had switched to 16 grey scales, there would have been one more thing to get wrong.

ProDigit · 08-06-2009, 12:17 PM

Sony dropped prices of new books too?
It really is becoming the most interesting device out there!

Who would have thought that from a company originally starting with audio and hifi stuff..?

GlennD · 08-06-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

I'm not arguing that 16 grey scales are a bad idea, only that there are additional software changes required to make them work well. It is very clear that Sony's new devices are refined versions of existing designs, and that is not a bad thing. If they had switched to 16 grey scales, there would have been one more thing to get wrong.

It's almost like they've been lurking on Mobileread, looking at the complaints/wishlists/feedback of both the Kindle and the Sonys, and put their time and money into developing what people really want.

In most of the discussions I've seen between the sony and the kindle dictionary support and notes were the two biggest points of comparison. 16 grey scales vs 8 is occasionally mentioned but it's more of a niche for people who use their reader for a lot of PDFs or comic books.

And wireless seems to be a double-edged sword lately...

herbdb · 08-06-2009, 03:23 PM

What the Kindle has is not a true WiFi setup. Using cell towers to access a dedicated proprietary server is not WiFi.

I would go for a system that would access the internet through a regular WiFi network or at least allow me to move files to and from a LAN computer.

The ability to buy something from Amazon via cell phone doesn't do it for me. Not to mention the privacy violations that occurred recently.

rebarnmom · 08-06-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alecE

Clearly patience is a virtue,
I am not patient,
Therefore I am not virtuous.

(Something I'd long suspected)

There are lots of other virtues. Patience is only one of them!

Barcey · 08-06-2009, 07:49 PM

I think both models look really good. I am disappointed in the Canadian pricing though. I compared a couple of cameras between the Canadian and USA sites and it was about $0.87 to $0.88 on the dollar which isn't that far off the exchange rate of $0.93.

These readers are at $0.72 and $0.75 on the dollar. It would appear that Sony is going to fund it's price war with Amazon at the expense of the rest of the world. Hopefully the pricing in other countries will be more reasonable.

sminarovich · 08-06-2009, 09:24 PM

Yess!! I was just about to update to the 505, but the 600 looks great, although I was sort of hoping for a 16 grade grey scale...so the official annoucement has been made, when can you actually buy one...does anyone know??

sminarovich · 08-06-2009, 09:42 PM

Sorry, I wanted to clarify does the end of August release also mean Canada???

wallcraft · 08-06-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sminarovich

when can you actually buy one.

Now (for August 25, 2009), see Borders has new Sony Readers listed for pre-order. Probably for Canada too, since they will be released in the Netherlands on Aug 26th.

pjssilva · 08-06-2009, 10:05 PM

One of the main advantages of the 600 reader, at least for me, is that it supports annotations. However, I would like to be able to own my annotations. By owning I mean being able to retrieve the annotations and see then in different readers or, at least, in some general purpose software.
I understand that you can see the annotations in Sony's desktop software. But does it have some kind of export feature?

For example, I use Xournal to annotate PDF files in my desktop. Xournal can export a PDF version with the original file + annotations so that I can send it to anyone that can read PDF. The person would not need to have Xournal installed to see the annotated files. I am a university professor. I great deal of my work in based on reading and annotating what I read. It is important to me to be able to send annotated version of my files to third parties (students, colleagues).

Alfy · 08-06-2009, 11:39 PM

I would stop being exicted about the 600 until someone has tested the screen. It SHOULD be better than the 700, with the "light" layer missing, but I would still want to have somebody's report on it before I consider the purchase...

Barcey · 08-06-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sminarovich

Sorry, I wanted to clarify does the end of August release also mean Canada???

Yes, end of August in Canada too.

http://www.sony.ca/view/press_816.htm

Quote:

The Reader Pocket and Touch Editions, available for $279 and $399 respectively, as well as accessories such as adaptors, cases and covers with reading lights, will be available at the end of August at http://www.sonystyle.ca/ and Sony Style retail locations across Canada. Book lovers interested in trying out a Reader in person will also be able to find them for sale at Best Buy and Future Shop.

Wouldn't it be nice if one could fall off of a truck into Verencat's lap for one of the MobileRead meetups.

doreenjoy · 08-07-2009, 12:13 AM

I plan to buy the first red 600 I can get my hands on, and will probably be making the rounds of local stores on the 25th until I find one. Even if the screen is less than ideal, I can justify the buy as a business expense.

08-06-2009, 10:05 PM	#162
pjssilva Member Posts: 23 Karma: 170 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony T1	Format for annotations One of the main advantages of the 600 reader, at least for me, is that it supports annotations. However, I would like to be able to own my annotations. By owning I mean being able to retrieve the annotations and see then in different readers or, at least, in some general purpose software. I understand that you can see the annotations in Sony's desktop software. But does it have some kind of export feature? For example, I use Xournal to annotate PDF files in my desktop. Xournal can export a PDF version with the original file + annotations so that I can send it to anyone that can read PDF. The person would not need to have Xournal installed to see the annotated files. I am a university professor. I great deal of my work in based on reading and annotating what I read. It is important to me to be able to send annotated version of my files to third parties (students, colleagues).

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08-06-2009, 10:19 AM	#152
Requiem Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 490328 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: USA Device: Asus Transformer	I would have to think that for the companies that are going to carry this, (Such as WalMart, who already carries the 505 but not the 700) require a certain price point to stock an item. But that is such a prime location for exposure that it drives the prices down also. Another thing is that the page turns might come in faster, due to only having to render 8 grayscale rather than 16. Frankly I don't use the picture viewer on my reader whatsoever (I have a 700) and don't think that 16 different grays are necessary to render text in books. Though PDF support is going to be necessary to fully support educational and technical uses, the implementation is not right to render textbooks yet. It is pointless to rush a product out that doesn't even effectively accomplish what the main selling point is. (pointing at the DX here) So if the pdf full page issue is what you are concerned about, you might want to hold out. I believe sony is going to become the juggernaut in the industry, their implementation and design is typically sooooo much better, though seemingly behind the kindle. They will probably be the first of the two to do a well made full pdf support A4 size e-ink tablet. (I know it has already been done with lcd screens, but thats not the same is it?) I think the kindle is a ugly hunk of plastic that seems like a bunch of compromises to make it to market faster at the expense of the quality of the product.

08-06-2009, 12:17 PM	#154
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Sony dropped prices of new books too? It really is becoming the most interesting device out there! Who would have thought that from a company originally starting with audio and hifi stuff..?

08-06-2009, 03:23 PM	#156
herbdb Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony PRS-700	What the Kindle has is not a true WiFi setup. Using cell towers to access a dedicated proprietary server is not WiFi. I would go for a system that would access the internet through a regular WiFi network or at least allow me to move files to and from a LAN computer. The ability to buy something from Amazon via cell phone doesn't do it for me. Not to mention the privacy violations that occurred recently.

08-06-2009, 07:49 PM	#158
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	I think both models look really good. I am disappointed in the Canadian pricing though. I compared a couple of cameras between the Canadian and USA sites and it was about $0.87 to $0.88 on the dollar which isn't that far off the exchange rate of $0.93. These readers are at $0.72 and $0.75 on the dollar. It would appear that Sony is going to fund it's price war with Amazon at the expense of the rest of the world. Hopefully the pricing in other countries will be more reasonable.

08-06-2009, 09:24 PM	#159
sminarovich Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 3133 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: sony ereader 500 & 600	Yess!! I was just about to update to the 505, but the 600 looks great, although I was sort of hoping for a 16 grade grey scale...so the official annoucement has been made, when can you actually buy one...does anyone know??

08-06-2009, 09:42 PM	#160
sminarovich Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 3133 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: sony ereader 500 & 600	Sorry, I wanted to clarify does the end of August release also mean Canada???

08-06-2009, 11:39 PM	#163
Alfy Liseur de Bonne Aventure Posts: 374 Karma: 2176666 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Paris, France Device: PRS T1	I would stop being exicted about the 600 until someone has tested the screen. It SHOULD be better than the 700, with the "light" layer missing, but I would still want to have somebody's report on it before I consider the purchase...

08-07-2009, 12:13 AM	#165
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I plan to buy the first red 600 I can get my hands on, and will probably be making the rounds of local stores on the 25th until I find one. Even if the screen is less than ideal, I can justify the buy as a business expense.

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