Sony's new 13.3" digital paper DPTRP1 released

[LarryNYC]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Are you sure that it is the same system under both devices? If the RP1 has a much newer version of Android running on it, then keeping functionality is probably a lot more work than than dropping it. And browsers and their plugins and CA certificates require constant updating for security and protocol upgrades. It doesn't take long before a non-updated browser becomes frustratingly useless on current websites. Some of my older ereaders have browsers, and it's not even worth trying them anymore.

Exactly. I had a flashback over dinner to my browsing experience on the Kindle DX. Awful. Remember that device?

The more I think about it, the more I'm in agreement with what Sony has done. They've focused the device on what it is good at and have eliminated the things that it is not good at. I think it took courage on their part because I'm sure they knew they would face criticism.

To me, the whole point of the RP1 is that it allows me to easily create unstructured data. I have enough tools that force me to create data in a structured way, I want something that lets me sketch, draw diagrams, doodle, write down a few numbers, do some math, all things that are not easily done in other programs.

I spent four years writing software for a large container shipping company. Even with all of the typing I did, I still had a fountain pen on my desk and a notebook, because I could sketch things out more quickly with a pen than I could ever type them in. Fountain pens glide on the page, writing with a ballpoint pen is like writing with a nail.

The RP1 is a powerful tool if it's not forced to be a laptop, desktop, or a standard tablet.

[juegos]

Originally Posted by LarryNYC

The more I think about it, the more I'm in agreement with what Sony has done. They've focused the device on what it is good at and have eliminated the things that it is not good at. I think it took courage on their part because I'm sure they knew they would face criticism..

Courage to me is improving things that are not performing well - simply removing them reflects cowardice. Courage is also developing new software features which Sony did not do.

And the predecessor DPT-S1 was good at certain things that they removed - such as directly downloading documents from the cloud (e.g. Dropbox) - for which you need the app now and be near your PC.

[fgdas]

Originally Posted by juegos

Rather than developing new features, they spent a year on removing features that were in the DPT-S1 but are no longer in the DPT-RP1:

So it seems unlikely to me they're going to turn the clock back a year software-wise and return all the features that made its predecessor the DPT-S1 so useful, let alone develop new features.

Originally Posted by rkomar

Are you sure that it is the same system under both devices? If the RP1 has a much newer version of Android running on it, then keeping functionality is probably a lot more work than than dropping it

I am afraid RP1 is not based on Android anymore.
I don't believe Sony reversed the code they had from S1.
Looks like the started from from scratch again and that's why so many features are missing.
I am not surprised given it's Sony.

[LarryNYC]

Originally Posted by juegos

Courage to me is improving things that are not performing well - simply removing them reflects cowardice. Courage is also developing new software features which Sony did not do.

And the predecessor DPT-S1 was good at certain things that they removed - such as directly downloading documents from the cloud (e.g. Dropbox) - for which you need the app now.

It takes courage to remove features that don't work well and admit that the functionality is not suited to the device because of the nature of the device. eInk tablets will never have refresh rates that make web browsing an enjoyable experience when compared to desktops or laptops.

Sony developed new features. The Print "Send PDF to Digital Paper" option is new and it is absolutely brilliant. I'm using it like crazy. Find an article you want to read, Print - PDF - Send to Digital Paper, boom, it shows up right away on the screen. This is a lot more convenient than adding documents to DropBox.

The home screen and the menus are a lot less cluttered on the RP1 than on the S1, the interface has certainly been streamlined.

Nobody has answered my question about the Control Server. What is a Control Server and how is it set up? What does it do?

[Kumabjorn]

So, to summarize the @LarryNYC and @juegos debate, in order to move on to other aspects, like user reviews, the DTP-RP1 is a hardware upgrade, a software downgrade provided you expect the same utility you got with the previous generation. And a perfect PDF reader/annotator for those who require no more, no less.

Let's move on to reviews and possible hacks.

[LarryNYC]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

So, to summarize the @LarryNYC and @juegos debate, in order to move on to other aspects, like user reviews, the DTP-RP1 is a hardware upgrade, a software downgrade provided you expect the same utility you got with the previous generation. And a perfect PDF reader/annotator for those who require no more, no less.

Let's move on to reviews and possible hacks.

Calling it a PDF annotator glosses over the device's ability to create handwritten documents from scratch. To me, that is its most compelling feature. If it had only allowed me to write some short annotations, I would not have bought it.

We are talking about the features of the RP1 and I used the device all day today and it worked well for me.

Someone asked if the surface texture was objectionable or something like that. I'm ok with it, it's better than having a stylus skate on a glass surface.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by LarryNYC

Calling it a PDF annotator glosses over the device's ability to create handwritten documents from scratch. To me, that is its most compelling feature.

Fine, let's add a notebook feature then. My point is that you are not going to convince each other that you and your view of the device is the right one. You have different needs and expectations that run parallel, they don't join up. That energy can be used in more productive and constructive ways.

[svosg13]

I'm not sure why we have to debate or convince others how good (or bad) the device is... I like it, so I buy it, both the S1 and the RP1 . And I'm super happy with the 2nd device. I own the S1 for 2 years, never use the browser more than 2 times. Sync is inconvenient, but still works, I can live with that. With the new digital app I'm more than happy. I don't need fancy sync feature such as Dropbox as my company blocks it any way . Most documents I use on the device also comes from the laptop, so sync-ing with laptop makes more sense than the cloud. Anyway I'm a happy customer with the RP1 (although their new connection method using USB Ethernet is kinda stupid)

[YasBean]

I am not an expert in network security, but I can see how removing direct access to the internet is a security feature for larger institutions. You can do whatever you want via your computer, then sync/send/print to the RP1. I can understand that. It may not be the fashionable direction of software development, these days of internet refrigerators, etc. but it must have been a choice. I just hope Sony refines page navigation for larger documents and books, and embedded notes.

[digiflash]

Originally Posted by YasBean

I am not an expert in network security, but I can see how removing direct access to the internet is a security feature for larger institutions. You can do whatever you want via your computer, then sync/send/print to the RP1. I can understand that. It may not be the fashionable direction of software development, these days of internet refrigerators, etc. but it must have been a choice. I just hope Sony refines page navigation for larger documents and books, and embedded notes.

Yes and as a software designer and developer you are able to add options to enable or disable a feature.... not just kill it

[digiflash]

Originally Posted by LarryNYC

Yes, there is a Two Page Spread mode that lets you look at two pages side by side in landscape orientation and write on both sides. There is an option to specify whether the document has a cover or not. If the document has a cover, then the first page will be displayed as a cover and everything after that will be displayed as two page spreads.

Ok, thank you. But for now I have to say, that Sony really killed many features that should have been in the first firmware too. Yes they can and hopefully will add these features again via FW updates, but for now it is some kind of perplexity. Will wait till my device arrives on Tuesday and build up my own opinion.

[kingbob]

I just got mine from amazon. The writing experience is much better than the s1 and it is very fast. Although, I noticed two small issues:

1. There is a visible mesh in the background of the screen (I attached a picture).

2. Some places of the screen are not flat and your finger can feel it when moving through.

I was wondering if I got a defective unit...

[LarryNYC]

Originally Posted by kingbob

I just got mine from amazon. The writing experience is much better than the s1 and it is very fast. Although, I noticed two small issues:

1. There is a visible mesh in the background of the screen (I attached a picture).

2. Some places of the screen are not flat and your finger can feel it when moving through.

I was wondering if I got a defective unit...

I noticed the mesh and figured it was just how the screen was constructed. I only see it if I look closely at the display.

We have talked about how the area around the home button at the top has seemed to develop some wrinkles. I don't think I noticed them anywhere else.

We're all in the new car phase of ownership during which we look for the smallest blemishes. :-) After a few weeks I don't think we notice these things anymore.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by LarryNYC

I noticed the mesh and figured it was just how the screen was constructed. I only see it if I look closely at the display.

Looks to me like the grid of fine wires for the inductive touchscreen that the stylus uses.

[LarryNYC]

I forgot to echo what was said, that the writing experience is vastly improved over the S1. I guess it took changing the way the stylus communicates with the tablet. Sony went ahead and did it although they could have stuck with the original way.

The handwriting experience is the most important aspect of the tablet, in my opinion.