All this Kindle love by the press...how about the Sony Reader? - Page 2

Ervserver · 05-08-2009, 12:32 PM

Keep in mind Sony manufactures many electronics products, many more profitable than the reader. It would be unwise to pump a lot of money into something like the reader right now when tvs and laptops, cell phones, etc. have bigger volumes. Amazon only has one device, the Kindle so of course they put all their resources into it, and of course they are in the book selling business.

Falbe Publishing · 05-08-2009, 12:47 PM

There was an ad for the Sony reader in this month's issue of Costco Connection and I saw the Sony in a couple catalogs at Christmas time. Sony just does some anemic low key marketing whereas Amazon is obviously paying big bucks to a really good PR agency that can spoonfeed the media. The wireless shopping does give the Kindle some dazzle for the media outlets to ooh and ahh over, so that helps. Amazon also has a huge interest in making the Kindle a huge hit and switching large amounts of readers to digital content. Amazon sells content and if they can engineer the market to consume more digital content, Amazon can make huge money without fussing with warehouses and shipping as much as it does now. They will probably succeed. They seem to know what they are doing. In comparison, Sony probably can't justify pumping huge promotional cash into their reader. It's probably one of their least expensive products...still Sony could use it as a way to get a lot of people on board with their brand, but maybe they are anyway. It's hardly an obscure company. Most people probably have something from Sony in their houses.

anotherchance · 05-08-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

When I bought my Sony, it came with some cards. I need to find those.

I mentioned this in another thread...
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcgwp9bk_3273ssbpfz

Go here to make your own version... https://docs.google.com/templates?ca...st&view=public

DixieGal · 05-08-2009, 01:01 PM

Yours are better than mine by a mile. May I steal them for myself?

Satans Puppet · 05-08-2009, 05:38 PM

You also gotta remember that the kindle will create business for some news outlets with subscriptions to their papers and what not.

The new DX looks nice but would look nicer without the keyboard... I'm waiting for that kinda size ereader with a colour screen so hopefully one day we'll be able to download comics direct from marvel or at least graphic novels

tomtt2 · 05-08-2009, 06:35 PM

I have the Sony 505 and really like the device. I like the range of formats supported and the ease of loading files. A friend upgraded to the new Sony 700 but all I really noticed different was the built in light. Not enough to fork over another $150.

Kindle's whispernet is an interesting idea for instant gratification. With the broad spread use of bluetooth, I wonder why Sony didn't make the Sony 700 bluetooth capable. Then users could down load files from their cell phone if instant downloads are that critical.

lilac_jive · 05-08-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomtt2

I have the Sony 505 and really like the device. I like the range of formats supported and the ease of loading files. A friend upgraded to the new Sony 700 but all I really noticed different was the built in light. Not enough to fork over another $150.

Kindle's whispernet is an interesting idea for instant gratification. With the broad spread use of bluetooth, I wonder why Sony didn't make the Sony 700 bluetooth capable. Then users could down load files from their cell phone if instant downloads are that critical.

I'd rather see Wifi, with the amount of places that have it. But that all depends on whether they would have a built in browser. I honestly wouldn't have a darn clue how to use the bluetooth, I couldn't even get a headset to work WITH instructions.

Aurora W · 05-08-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'd rather see Wifi, with the amount of places that have it. But that all depends on whether they would have a built in browser. I honestly wouldn't have a darn clue how to use the bluetooth, I couldn't even get a headset to work WITH instructions.

WiFi would be SO wonderful.

And if Sony can put a browser (and Wifi) in the PSPs, I don't know why they couldn't do it with the 505 or 700. Just add a small writing area that you can drop to the bottom of the screen when not in use (like on the Palm TX)...oh, that would be so sweet.

As for the Kindle - getting all the press is nice, but a lot of people still like to physically see and handle something before they buy it. That's hard to do for a device that's only sold online.

Gideon · 05-08-2009, 10:05 PM

The problem with Sony is almost always software. It takes them forever to do something, and when it is it's almost always poorly implemented. Spend five minutes with the web browser on the PS3 to see. It's been out for a few years now and it's just recently able to use sites like Hulu, etc.. and even then badly.

The PSP's browser is just terrible, and both are terribly slow even on wifi.

The Sony bookstore used to be an abomination... I don't know how it is now.

This is all very sad, of course.. Both the PSP and PS3 are powerful devices, but Sony is so bad at software that it hardly ever taps into it.

tech_au · 05-09-2009, 01:20 AM

As one of the posts on teleread said, Sony are establishing a strangle-hold on the rest of the world while Amazon p##s about with minor enhancing features like non-drm pdf and no other adobe support and try to remain domininant in the US.
As I said before their marketing prowess is first class considering how many they have sold in the US.

Gideon · 05-09-2009, 01:25 AM

Amazon really needs to get their feet in the international water... I understand the difficulties in doing so but they really do need to get into the bigger market.

Noritje · 12-10-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

Amazon really needs to get their feet in the international water... I understand the difficulties in doing so but they really do need to get into the bigger market.

Ditto.

I actually nearly bought Kindle now that they shipped to the Netherlands. They have amazing book store and I can even imagine how awesome it would be if I could download those book on the fly.

But then.... I am not known for someone so patient to wait for the Kindle to arrive, lol. I am also known to have gadgets with vain factor (read: sexy beautiful looking machine). So, at the end I got myself PRS 300 in pink, which was so easy and I don't need to wait for any delivery. Just a trip to a local store

PRS 300 is great, it does what it should be doing while looking very sexy.

IF only Kindle has that sexy looking gadget thingy like all Sony product does! I think I would have tell myself to be patient with the shipping time.

kwjones · 12-10-2009, 09:35 AM

I don't know how many times I've seen the recent Kindle commercial, but I've only seen this Sony commercial once.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cONRdBIFXA

pitcher23 · 12-12-2009, 04:25 PM

While advertising has a lot to do with it, as well as the low prices at Amazon, I believe it is the Whispernet that gave the Kindle a huge lead. Most of us here are computer savvy and have no problem using alternative means of transferring purchased books to our respective readers, but the Kindle appeals to people who don't want to deal with a computer to buy a book for their reader.

I am waiting to see the selection of newspapers that Sony has available before deciding on the 900. I have my fingers crossed for a Newspaper direct model of all you can eat for X amount of dollars. If not, I may wait on the Irex DR800.

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05-08-2009, 12:32 PM	#16
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Keep in mind Sony manufactures many electronics products, many more profitable than the reader. It would be unwise to pump a lot of money into something like the reader right now when tvs and laptops, cell phones, etc. have bigger volumes. Amazon only has one device, the Kindle so of course they put all their resources into it, and of course they are in the book selling business.

05-08-2009, 12:47 PM	#17
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	There was an ad for the Sony reader in this month's issue of Costco Connection and I saw the Sony in a couple catalogs at Christmas time. Sony just does some anemic low key marketing whereas Amazon is obviously paying big bucks to a really good PR agency that can spoonfeed the media. The wireless shopping does give the Kindle some dazzle for the media outlets to ooh and ahh over, so that helps. Amazon also has a huge interest in making the Kindle a huge hit and switching large amounts of readers to digital content. Amazon sells content and if they can engineer the market to consume more digital content, Amazon can make huge money without fussing with warehouses and shipping as much as it does now. They will probably succeed. They seem to know what they are doing. In comparison, Sony probably can't justify pumping huge promotional cash into their reader. It's probably one of their least expensive products...still Sony could use it as a way to get a lot of people on board with their brand, but maybe they are anyway. It's hardly an obscure company. Most people probably have something from Sony in their houses.

05-08-2009, 01:01 PM	#19
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Yours are better than mine by a mile. May I steal them for myself?

05-08-2009, 05:38 PM	#20
Satans Puppet Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 100 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony Reader PR(whusit)505	You also gotta remember that the kindle will create business for some news outlets with subscriptions to their papers and what not. The new DX looks nice but would look nicer without the keyboard... I'm waiting for that kinda size ereader with a colour screen so hopefully one day we'll be able to download comics direct from marvel or at least graphic novels

05-08-2009, 06:35 PM	#21
tomtt2 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Sony 505	I have the Sony 505 and really like the device. I like the range of formats supported and the ease of loading files. A friend upgraded to the new Sony 700 but all I really noticed different was the built in light. Not enough to fork over another $150. Kindle's whispernet is an interesting idea for instant gratification. With the broad spread use of bluetooth, I wonder why Sony didn't make the Sony 700 bluetooth capable. Then users could down load files from their cell phone if instant downloads are that critical.

05-08-2009, 10:05 PM	#24
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	The problem with Sony is almost always software. It takes them forever to do something, and when it is it's almost always poorly implemented. Spend five minutes with the web browser on the PS3 to see. It's been out for a few years now and it's just recently able to use sites like Hulu, etc.. and even then badly. The PSP's browser is just terrible, and both are terribly slow even on wifi. The Sony bookstore used to be an abomination... I don't know how it is now. This is all very sad, of course.. Both the PSP and PS3 are powerful devices, but Sony is so bad at software that it hardly ever taps into it.

05-09-2009, 01:20 AM	#25
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 516 Karma: 4056 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650	As one of the posts on teleread said, Sony are establishing a strangle-hold on the rest of the world while Amazon p##s about with minor enhancing features like non-drm pdf and no other adobe support and try to remain domininant in the US. As I said before their marketing prowess is first class considering how many they have sold in the US.

05-09-2009, 01:25 AM	#26
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Amazon really needs to get their feet in the international water... I understand the difficulties in doing so but they really do need to get into the bigger market.

12-10-2009, 09:35 AM	#28
kwjones Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rising Sun, MD Device: Sony PRS-505; Motorola Droid	I don't know how many times I've seen the recent Kindle commercial, but I've only seen this Sony commercial once. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cONRdBIFXA

12-12-2009, 04:25 PM	#29
pitcher23 Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York USA	While advertising has a lot to do with it, as well as the low prices at Amazon, I believe it is the Whispernet that gave the Kindle a huge lead. Most of us here are computer savvy and have no problem using alternative means of transferring purchased books to our respective readers, but the Kindle appeals to people who don't want to deal with a computer to buy a book for their reader. I am waiting to see the selection of newspapers that Sony has available before deciding on the 900. I have my fingers crossed for a Newspaper direct model of all you can eat for X amount of dollars. If not, I may wait on the Irex DR800.

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