Sony Readers Missing from Stores?

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by mwheinz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Re...dition_PRS-650

http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknews...-edition_b8225

Wikipedia is quoting as its source the UK store that is currently selling the supposedly discontinued 650, and the mediabistro article cites us as a source and also claims the US Sony Store is out of the 650, which it hasn't been for over a week -- in either red or black.

Sony Store could run out five minutes from now, of course. But it's interesting they haven't so far.

[mwheinz]

Sony Store could run out five minutes from now, of course. But it's interesting they haven't so far.

Right. It's all still quite speculative.

It's a shame because the Sony line are very well built. Mine put up with quite a lot of abuse.

[Pomtroll]

Originally Posted by mwheinz

Okay - just a heads up for everybody; when I went into Best Buy, the space for the Sony 350 was empty and there was a little sign on it that said "clearance" - so it does seem likely that either Sony is getting ready to replace the current models or else vendors just don't want to carry them any more.

So did you walk out with a Nook or Kindle? I wouldn't blame you if you did. Both are nice readers (I have them) , though I do prefer the Sony. It does seem like Sony is driving people to buy other readers.

[mwheinz]

Ended up with the Nook - I like them both from a hardware viewpoint, but all my existing stuff is in ePub format, cracking the security and converting them all to mobi didn't really appeal to me.

It does seem like Sony is driving people to buy other readers.

Well, it's always that trade off between features and build quality - compared to the kindle and my son's kobo, the PRS6xx is built like a battle tank - but when you can buy a Nook Color for the exact same price....

[Pomtroll]

I hear you. So did you get the Nook Color? You'll have to let us know how you like it.

[Prestidigitweeze]

PRS6xx is built like a battle tank - but when you can buy a Nook Color for the exact same price....

When you can get a pedestrian LCD color screen in a plastic casement for the same price, I'd still prefer a Pearl eInk screen in a black aluminum casment for reading.

The leaked Kindle tablet with a switchable color LCD looks interesting, but I'd still prefer Mirasol for a reader and a real tablet or UL for everything else.

[sonyreaderfan]

Where did you get the rumor that Amazon tablet will have switchable LCD/ b&w eInk display?

From what I've been reading, it seems that Amazon tablet will be like Nook Color. Some blogs says that it will have Advanced Fringe Field Switching lcd display, but that's just a technology for LCD, not implying switching between e-ink and color lcd. It's like saying iPad or Nook Color has IPS lcd displays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_...ing_.28AFFS.29

[wallcraft]

The digitimes report was confusing, but, as sonyreaderfan says, the Kindle Tablet is rumored to have a color LCD screen very similar in features to the Nook Color. The screen size is not yet known.

The Pixel Qi screen is switchable from color to greyscale. It is currently only available in the Notion Ink Adam tablet (Engadget Reviews the Notion Ink Adam). There is a 7" version coming soon, see ZTE introduces 7” Tablet PC with Pixel Qi’s Sunlight Readable Low Power Display.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mimosavj

Thank you very much JSWolf. I bit the bullet again and ordered myself a RED 650. I'll keep my fingers crossed

Once you get it, I know you'll enjoy using it.

[mwheinz]

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

I hear you. So did you get the Nook Color? You'll have to let us know how you like it.

I posted my snap-comparison of the Nook Color versus the PRS-600

[Pomtroll]

Thanks. So not any device is a clear winner in all categories. But with the Sony being so hard to find ....well....

[Shopaholic]

Just an FYI for anyone interested, Target hasn't had any Sony's in their stores since the fall of 2010. I don't know why the Sony Style site directed you there but they haven't had them in a long time. We were at a Borders store last week that had them on clearance for $129.

The Sony stores here in Canada don't seem to have a shortage of them. The 350's at least. I didn't inquire about the 650's.

[Wetdogeared]

The sonystyle at my local mall had both the PRS-350 and PRS-650 on display and working.

Both the PRS-350 and PRS-650 were in stock.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

Where did you get the rumor that Amazon tablet will have switchable LCD/ b&w eInk display?

That's the second post I wrote too hurriedly this week. I thought I'd corrected it but now realize my connection timed out and I forgot about it entirely. Then the Metropolis clock-arms of drudgery strapped themselves to my arms and only freed me for the weekend moments ago.

No worries; corrected it to reflect actual specs instead of the Pixel Qi/IPS splice I wish someone would make.

The 650 is still the best reader I've used, though I'm running into too many situations in which the Kindle 3 is more convenient in terms of work compatibility.

Pity, that, and pity for Sony's market share. Thoughtless access seems to mean a lot to many Stateside consumers. The recent PSN fiasco didn't bolster people's confidence either.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

The recent PSN fiasco didn't bolster people's confidence either.

Got that right! I bought a $25 Sony Reader gift card at Walmart last night. Not only were they having a hard time connecting to the network to activate the card but the sales person commented that the only way they'd buy anything online from Sony was with a gift card.