Sony PRS-650 discontinued, new model soon?

[SeaBookGuy]

An "upgrade" as in a completely new (wifi-enabled?) 6" model -- or a firmware upgrade?

[doreenjoy]

Originally Posted by sovre

I've been waiting to get a 650; but I've noticed that although they have now been in-stock at Sony's site for awhile, they haven't come into stock at any of the major retailers.

Best Buy.

[sovre]

Barium,

The rumors I have encountered about the model being discontinued and upgraded come from blogs I discovered randomly and threads in these forums. If I remember correctly, you can find posts on this subject in the threads dealing with "discontinued" and "out of stock" issues. One person actually said they were told this by a Sony representative when they called to inquire. (To which someone else countered that that representative probably had false information). Some people speculate wifi is going to be added.

What is really happening with the model I don't know; but I find the supply situation odd. Why is the model not being distributed for sale to places like Amazon, etc. though Sony is selling it through their own online store? 350s and 950s are available and in-stock at all major online stores. I would very much like to order a 650 right now from Sony's site; but I'm waiting because I know I will regret the decision if two months from now it is discontinued and a new model, with more features, appears in its place.

Doreenjoy,

Does your local Bestbuy have it? Mine didn't have the model in stock last I checked and the Bestbuy internet store invariably gives the message: "Sold out online."

[Cpl Punishment]

Originally Posted by sovre

Barium,

The rumors I have encountered about the model being discontinued and upgraded come from blogs I discovered randomly and threads in these forums. If I remember correctly, you can find posts on this subject in the threads dealing with "discontinued" and "out of stock" issues. One person actually said they were told this by a Sony representative when they called to inquire. (To which someone else countered that that representative probably had false information). Some people speculate wifi is going to be added.

What is really happening with the model I don't know; but I find the supply situation odd. Why is the model not being distributed for sale to places like Amazon, etc. though Sony is selling it through their own online store? 350s and 950s are available and in-stock at all major online stores. I would very much like to order a 650 right now from Sony's site; but I'm waiting because I know I will regret the decision if two months from now it is discontinued and a new model, with more features, appears in its place.

Doreenjoy,

Does your local Bestbuy have it? Mine didn't have the model in stock last I checked and the Bestbuy internet store invariably gives the message: "Sold out online."

My local BestBuy has numerous, both the 650 and 950....But we bought the last Color Nook !!!

[astra]

If 350&950 are available and the problem is with 650 only then it is easy to explain.
6" screen is used by many different brands, so there are might be a shortage of 6" screens, while 5" and weirdo 7" are not used that much by others.

[Poppaea]

astra, the 950 is no weirdo size, actually it is the size of that ugly weirdo Kindle but instead of that stupid keyboard you'll get screen... That makes it the most used size on earth, doesn't it?

[kartu]

Originally Posted by astra

If 350&950 are available and the problem is with 650 only then it is easy to explain.
6" screen is used by many different brands, so there are might be a shortage of 6" screens, while 5" and weirdo 7" are not used that much by others.

But does it explain "discontinued"?

[astra]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

astra, the 950 is no weirdo size, actually it is the size of that ugly weirdo Kindle but instead of that stupid keyboard you'll get screen... That makes it the most used size on earth, doesn't it?

You are comparing p&p, or princes to peasants (my invention).
I compared 650 and 950

Originally Posted by kartu

But does it explain "discontinued"?

Unfortunately, no.
But sony.co.uk says temporarily unavailable.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by astra

You are comparing p&p, or princes to peasants

It is quite hard not to fall for you head over heels...

[porkupan]

I would bet against "discontinued". Supply problems - yes.

SonyStyle and some resellers listed the Readers as "discontinued", but that appears to have been a bug in their inventory system. It is also possible that the country-centric SonyStyle operations are so separated from the actual manufacturing and supply (headquartered in Japan?) that there is virtually no communication of facts between the two. The lack of expected availability date in the relatively near future automatically triggers the "discontinued" notice in the store. Right now the 650 covers are listed as discontinued, but the Readers have been arriving back in stock, and I know for a fact that those are the newly manufactured units, not the returns from the field.

I think it's a rather safe assumption that the covers will follow. Why they weren't reordered in time is a very good question. Perhaps Sony is looking to roll out a new cover, but I don't know if that is the case. The sales associates at SonyStyle don't know either.

Sony seems to be hoarding the Readers right now, selling mostly from their own online operation, not shipping to any authorized retailers. Perhaps they are waiting for the shipment of covers to arrive from China.

Amazon, of course, is also having problems with keeping the covers in stock, but for a different reason. The covers apparently were found defective, causing a static discharge and resetting the Kindles. So Amazon is recalling the regular covers and anyone who wants a new cover-with-the-light can now get it from them for free provided they have a proof of owning an actual Kindle.

[tk_]

Originally Posted by porkupan

I would bet against "discontinued". Supply problems - yes.

...

I think it's a rather safe assumption that the covers will follow.

Very good to hear, especially if it turns out to be true. Although, for me, it may be that Sony lost a cover sale due to poor planning. I am thinking I'm going to get one of the Tuf-Love cases and just add a light on my own.

Back to the OP's topic, though, for me--so what if it becomes discontinued. After all the shopping, testing, researching we did, I'm very happy with my 650. If a new version introduces WiFi, I'm not interested --just one more way for hackers to try to get into my wireless network. Someday, I may get a tabletPC, then wireless would be a necessary feature, but not for an ereader.

Until then, I'm lovin' my 650, and I've never -ever- been much of a reader.

[GraceKrispy]

Still looking for it to be on a good sale... I'm sure it'll be a while since it has supply issues

My trusty, well-loved constant companion (my 505) has just suffered its first real injury- a small block in the top right corner where it no longer shows words of any sort. Annoying, but not debilitating. Still, I'm sad..... I need a (cheaper) 650!

[vbkun]

Originally Posted by astra

But sony.co.uk says temporarily unavailable.

Depends on sony Center... this last friday (01/30) Tottenham Court , Westfield and Woodgreen had it in stock . (actually then my uncle managed to get one for me yesterday at westfield's store ).

Actually I've checked, those 3 stores still have the 650 avaible.

[doreenjoy]

Originally Posted by sovre

Doreenjoy,

Does your local Bestbuy have it? Mine didn't have the model in stock last I checked and the Bestbuy internet store invariably gives the message: "Sold out online."

Last time I checked they had all 3 models. They may be out of the 650 by now.



I forget who mentioned Amazon not having the Sony Reader -- Amazon won't carry it because they manufacturer the Kindle. The Reader is only available from Marketplace sellers, not from Amazon direct.



I don't think the x50 series is going to be discontinued before September. C'mon, it's Sony. They've released a new reader model every October since the dawn of time.

[JSWolf]

Seems the 650 is just that popular that it keeps being sold out.