Forbes not impressed by Sony's PRS700

[humzai]

I went to the Sony Style store in Paramus earlier this week to fondle the prs 700 and I found the page turn buttons on the left to be quite usable. For a few a seconds I too thought that they should have had buttons on the right but the swiping is so natural that there really is no need for buttons on the right. I found that the keyboard was large enough to be easily used with your fingers and it registers a lot faster then the kindle does. Typing on the kindle is quite annoying due to the slow registration of button press. I also like the speed of the device, I am hopefully going to get this thing near release, and am looking rather forward to it.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I wonder how much the Kindle would actually cost if Amazon added in a touchscreen and a frontlight. I bet it would go over the $400 price mark. So Forbes saying that the 700 is too expensive is crazy. Look at all the people who purchased the Kindle before the price dropped.

I wonder how much the Sony would cost if Sony started selling books at more reasonable prices??

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by Charbax

No wireless is like having a computer without the Internet connection. Not a usable experience.

Also the touch-screen and the front-light are gimmicks. Cause the touch-screen isn't precise enough to be used to annotate using the stylus.

Now, I disagree with both of those statements. Mind you, I have no desire to own a Sony reader, there is very little about it that appeals to me.

However, I don't see the front light as a gimmick. I've seen enough of the front light style book lights for the Sony to think they are a big step up from your average book light.

Also, not having wireless is not that big a deal, really. I use my wireless connection on my Kindle so seldom (probably once a month max ... maybe twice if I find myself out and about and really keen on seeing if a particular book is available for the Kindle at Amazon.com). If it went away tomorrow, I would miss it from time to time, but I'd get over it.

And ... not from your post, but from others, I really wonder where it is that all of you seem to have this strange idea that Kindle owners can only purchase books from Amazon?? Or that there are so many limitations on format that we are somehow unable to access books from other sources?

I'm glad you all like your Sonys ... stick with what you like; it's a good rule to live by. But, I swear, you all act like Amazon and the Kindle mean certain death for your favorite reader. There is room in the world marketplace for more than one device.

[ProDigit]

it's just that the wireless feat on the kindle only allows you to go browsing on wikipedia and Amazon.
I find it an amazing feat to include Wikipedia in the kindle's ability to browse around!
However, I do not feel that a wireless connection that only gives me a huge encyclopedia for study purposes for free, and a huge library of books for purchase a gadget that would make me turn my head..
If Amazon could give internet access for say 5 to $10 per month, then I would definately buy it!
Appart from a few forums, and mail I don't really need internet, but am currently paying like what..$30 per month?
Ofcourse, if amazon would include a cheap payed internet for free, then they will most likely cap the monthly volume

[humzai]

What is with the ignorance regarding the kindle on this forum? Anywhere else it could be expected and while the kindle has some major usability flaws that are really getting to me, the device is quite capable. The internet connection on the kindle is full featured in that you can browse the web fairly normally on the device. I am sure there are plenty of sites that do not work but a lot do. The other funny idea people have is that people you are bound by the wireless connection and can not connect to a computer. I only mention that because I find it funny.

[guguy]

Anyway, I think most people owning an ebook reader also have a
cell phone featuring 3G or EDGE. Isn't it much better to browse
with opera mini on a color lcd screen (even if it's small) than with
an ebook reader?

And for those who really wanna be able to download new books anywhere, wouldn't
it be smarter to make ebook readers able to use cell phones 3G/edge/...
modems (via bluetooth) ? That would definitely be much more flexible
(and eco-friendly) since otherwise you would need to have integrated
Wifi+3G+Edge+Wimax support to satisfy everyone.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by guguy

Anyway, I think most people owning an ebook reader also have a
cell phone featuring 3G or EDGE.

I'm doubtful of this, as while a minority , i.e. the early adaptors may have had it, the majority may not.

Also while people may have the facility available on the phone, a very small percentage are aware of it at actually use it with any regularity.

Data rates, until recently were pretty high, and even now can still be quiet expensive if you don't have a package.

And for those who really wanna be able to download new books anywhere, wouldn't
it be smarter to make ebook readers able to use cell phones 3G/edge/...
modems (via bluetooth) ? That would definitely be much more flexible
(and eco-friendly) since otherwise you would need to have integrated
Wifi+3G+Edge+Wimax support to satisfy everyone.

Again, I'm doubtful, as its adds another layer of difficulty, which kind of defeats the plug and play mentality of the Kindle, where you don't have to think about connecting, it just is.

Bluetooth can be a real, pain, especially networking as while there is a standard, it is still treated is its own way by different companies, and if its such a pain with PC's or even PDA's its going to be more difficuly with a simpler device like a Reader, not unless they put in more powerful systems.

As such while Geek's like us may enjoy and use it, I'm doubtful of the general public.

[ProDigit]

I also think it's a great idea, to use the download capabilities of the phone! however,I know few people who actually are able to browse on their laptops through a cellphone connection,let alone an e-reader.
I myself have difficulty enabling the internet on my phone, and like mentioned the price is just way too high. Besides anything non 3G (like eg standard data transfert through cellphone signal) costs about $1 per minute @ a speed of like 112kbits/sec?
that's less than 13kB/s.
I remember I bought a game in a store for my cellphone a while ago, which costed me $11, and $4 to register (enable) it via the internet.
That's not going to convince me to ever buy another game again on my cell.
Ever since then I stopped using my cell as an internet device.

So when prices drop to an equivalent of home internet (say either $24 per month with same speeds, or price adjusted relative to the speed,options of one time internet instead of a monthly subscription, or just like calling tariff per minute) I might consider using a service like that.

[bbusybookworm]

Well just for info sake data prices in the Uk have dropped quiet a bit in the last year or so.

Basic packages with about a gig of bandwith start at £5 with an average between £10-15.

But these price drops are pretty recent and require you to have it on your plan or to buy the add on in advance otherwise the price is still high.

And most people who've had similar bad experiences, I.e. Being hit with high data charges are pretty sceptic and often refuse to believe the drops and don't want to risk it.

[lilac_jive]

Am I the only one that is happy the Reader doesn't have wifi? I for one would rather have the extra battery life than the ability to download at will.

Not saying that isn't the case for everyone...

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Am I the only one that is happy the Reader doesn't have wifi? I for one would rather have the extra battery life than the ability to download at will.

Not saying that isn't the case for everyone...

Ahh nevermind, missed pages 2 and 3 of this thread...

[thibaulthalpern]

Originally Posted by Charbax

No wireless is like having a computer without the Internet connection. Not a usable experience.

Also the touch-screen and the front-light are gimmicks. Cause the touch-screen isn't precise enough to be used to annotate using the stylus.

Wow! Have we so forgotten already the time when the internet was really not part of mainstream society? It was only a little over 10 years ago. I would not say a computer without internet connection is "not a useable experience". It certainly can be used for lots of things. A lot of us use the word processor and a computer without internet access can still do those things.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by thibaulthalpern

Wow! Have we so forgotten already the time when the internet was really not part of mainstream society? It was only a little over 10 years ago. I would not say a computer without internet connection is "not a useable experience". It certainly can be used for lots of things. A lot of us use the word processor and a computer without internet access can still do those things.

I agree. Anyone who says that obviously did not derive hours of pleasure from Oregon Trail.

Best. Game. Ever. Rocked it on my Apple IIGS.

[ChelC]

For the record, if I hold my reader in my right hand toward the bottom, the buttons line up with my right thumb. Still I find myself doing the thumb swipe instead because it's easiest for me.

We thought our commodor 64 was useful

[el.astrologo]

Wow talk about necromancy...