Sony Preparing New E-Book Reader to Challenge Amazon

[EatingPie]

Originally Posted by jswinden

It has a lot to do with marketing and availability; the latter you talked about. Amazon gets the word out on its Kindles better than any other eInk manufacturer. Sony is dead last in marketing. I doubt I ever would have heard of the Sony x00 and x50 readers if not for sites like this one. I might have stumbled across one in a retail store, but Sony is also dead last in the availability category too.

Dead last compared to the Kobo? Or even the Nook? Kobo advertises not at all, while the Nook is limited to print ads, and even then I don't remember the last I saw. Advertising is dominated by Kindle, and everyone else is basically dead last!

In terms of availability, the PRS-350 is probably the most widely available online e-Ink device. Just check Google marketplace. But in general, the big-three are all selling primarily from their own stores. Brick and Mortar is super hit and miss. I cited the example of Target in this thread, or maybe another: originally Sony exclusive, moved to Kindle, punted that for the iPad, then added the Nook! Never did they have two brand of Readers in stock at once.

Originally Posted by Waba

Sony is to Kindle as PC gaming is to consoles...

Able to more and do it better, but the masses are more interested saving time and money than the best experience.

Sony should drop the 6" line, for simplicity. After reading on a 7" reader, I don't think I can ever go back.

I agree on the console analogy, but disagree on the PRS-350.

First of all, the PRS-350 is the most widely available Sony Reader. Secondly, it's the most unique: nobody else produces a 6'' model. Thirdly, it's the highest resolution screen in terms of dpi of any Reader. And, finally, it's Sony's cheapest.

There is no reason for Sony the eliminate the PRS-350. It sells for them, and seems to be their focus in North America.

-Pie

[sun surfer]

I am looking forward to Sony's new models. I wouldn't mind having a smaller model this time, but they better have two-page landscape mode (I'm addicted to it), wifi or 3G, and a finger and stylus touch screen on at least one model or I won't switch.

Is it too early in the game for the possibility of these being colour e-ink?

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by EatingPie

Secondly, it's the most unique: nobody else produces a 6'' model. Thirdly, it's the highest resolution screen in terms of dpi of any Reader. And, finally, it's Sony's cheapest.

There is no reason for Sony the eliminate the PRS-350. It sells for them, and seems to be their focus in North America.

-Pie

I think that you meant to write 5" model. I love my 350 and I do hope that they continue with the 5 inch models. It really is a great size option

Pocketbook also offers a 5 inch e-book reader, but while it looks like a really snazzy device, it doesn't have the Pearl screen, and thus wasn't an option for me at the time I purchased my 350.

[Waba]

I love the 350, no way should Sony discontinue it... If I'm on the go, or even in bed, AND reading fiction (or straight text) I would prefer to read it on the 350.

On the other hand, the 950 is the only thing I'll read PDFs on.

The fun loving kid in me loves the 350... The hard working adult loves the 950.

The 650? I'm not sure where it fits in.

[prsita]

J have bought first the 650, second the prs 350 and then the prs 950 and j have to admit that the sceen of the 350 is much superior, not only because its enanced resolution, but also because have a background with less grey. Paradoxally j read, even at home, more with prs 350 than with the other two.

J think that in the new models, they should:

1) improve the resolution of the screens (as did the recent Iriver Story HD or at least as do the PRS 350 - 200pt);

2) modify the operating system, allowing the change of the fonts, of line spacing and rendering more gradual the changing of the size of the fonts;

3) for commercial reasons (so allowing to buy ebook on line directly) installing a wifi in all models and improving the browser that is now installed in the prs 950.

J would like also if they install a solar cell (even if separate to put in the back of the device and sold separatelly) to recharge the device.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sony does better at selling readers then Amazon. Sony sells out. Amazon does not.

That has to be one of the dumbest and most illogical statements I've read! If you make a few thousand readers for the USA market and sort of sell out of them that somehow means you out perform a competitor who makes and sells millions of readers? You need to get over your lovefest with Sony and look at the facts.

[EatingPie]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I think that you meant to write 5" model. I love my 350 and I do hope that they continue with the 5 inch models. It really is a great size option

Pocketbook also offers a 5 inch e-book reader, but while it looks like a really snazzy device, it doesn't have the Pearl screen, and thus wasn't an option for me at the time I purchased my 350.

Oops.

-Pie

[Mark Nord]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sony does better at selling readers then Amazon. Sony sells out. Amazon does not.

Originally Posted by jswinden

That has to be one of the dumbest and most illogical statements I've read! If you make a few thousand readers for the USA market and sort of sell out of them that somehow means you out perform a competitor who makes and sells millions of readers? You need to get over your lovefest with Sony and look at the facts.

May you have missed the <ironic on> </ironic off> tags?

[Salgueiros]

Originally Posted by jswinden

That has to be one of the dumbest and most illogical statements I've read! If you make a few thousand readers for the USA market and sort of sell out of them that somehow means you out perform a competitor who makes and sells millions of readers? You need to get over your lovefest with Sony and look at the facts.

Sales mean nothing if you don't get a profit on them. Plus, the less time you have your product in a stock pile the better. Adding to that the fact that you also spend money producing the products, so producing more means also spending more, you have to recognize the post is not wrong.

Just think of car manufacturers. While a luxury brand sells few cars but makes a lot of profit (not necessarily bigger than companies that sell a lot of cars, but more profit per dollar invested), some low end brands have to sell thousands of cars to get an acceptable profit, so there is more to it than we can see.

We would have to know more to say who is better right now, and you should be more sure about something in particular before you call someone's opinion dumb and illogical.

[Halk]

This thread went nowhere. In summary

"OMG my Kindle is cheaper than your Reader and it has the wifis. I'm such a smarter person than you for making this decision. I'm going to totally ignore that you seem happy with it, and contest that I know better about what you want than what you"

Then

"Well, in all fairness I do understand why Kindle sells lots, and I don't feel threatened. It'd be nice if Sony got their Readers with wifi and cheaper though"

Repeat.

Literally.

[KrowNB]

People that have used a Sony X50 know it is a superior product and don't mind paying a premium. However newcomers to the ereading market look at the readers that are available in-store on the shelf, compare the features in the box, and buy what they think is the best bang for the buck. They see the Sonys are quite a bit more expensive and "don't even have wifi" so think the Kindle, Kobo, whatever is a better value. Most never get the opportunity to try a Sony to compare and happily go away thinking they have discovered the best thing since sliced bread. It's only been those more discerning buyers that take the time to kick the tires that settle on the Sony. If Sony continues to make premium readers at a premium price, they will never be a top seller. Maybe their marketing people are happy with that. And consumers will be too if they know they're getting something for their extra dollars/euros/yen.

[readingglasses]

Although there is some truth in your praise of sony and its discerning customers, it is not quite so cut and dried.

[Pinecone]

The other point that has not been brought up is, if Sony is selling enough readers to make them happy, and make money, and keep doing it, WHO CARES if Amazon sell smore Kindles.

Using the car analogy, Toyota sells more cars than BMW or Mercedes, but neither of them care.

[Flip Martian]

That's a shame, I thought this thread was to discuss possible new Sony models, not the usual Kindle v Sony "debate". We all made our choices about what we bought; this thread (from the title at least) isn't the place to talk about that.

[carpetmojo]

I think we must have covered just about every combination of what Sony could/would/don't care if they do or not by now ?

We could now just wait for the first model sneaked out the back door of a factory...?
Or the first earth-shattering photo from an employee's phone......... ?

Nah, wouldn't have anything to speculate about then......