New Sony model to be called PRS-300 and PRS-600

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I hate to mention this, but the two PDFs posted are both copyrighted materials.

Shhhhh.... someone might hear you

[ahi]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I hate to mention this, but the two PDFs posted are both copyrighted materials.

Copyrighted materials that have been copywronged... oh so copywronged!

- Ahi

[LBJay]

Has anybody thought that Sony may offer a Wi-Fi option by SD card? Like the Eye-Fi card for cameras.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Actually, the Boeing 717 was originally released long after the 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, and 777.

That is because the 717 was not a Boeing product. It was originally the MD95, built by McDonnell Douglas, and acquired by Boeing who renamed it.

[junkyardwillie]

I hope that's a joke, did they steal the Kindle designer to roll out their new line?

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by Skydog

That is because the 717 was not a Boeing product. It was originally the MD95, built by McDonnell Douglas, and acquired by Boeing who renamed it.

The MD95 never flew. The only bird of that design that flew was the Boeing 717. (But of course you are correct it started as a McDonald Douglas program)

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by LBJay

Has anybody thought that Sony may offer a Wi-Fi option by SD card? Like the Eye-Fi card for cameras.

Can't imagine why they'd do that, since they reluctantly support SD and generally refer their own proprietary MemoryStick stuff. With only a few exceptions, I really don't care for Sony's proprietary habits...for instance...

When Hi-MD (high capacity mini disc) players became available, I was excited about the potential and picked one up, only to realize that only Sony made the media, which at the time couldn't play mp3 files unless they were converted by Sony software into a Sony format that was only recognized by Sony Players and had to be loaded onto the Sony disc with aforementioned Sony software. I'm rather surprised it worked on a conventional battery and not a Sony proprietary Lithium Ion job. Trying to lock people into technology always irritates me, but that's precisely what a lot of these ebook reader players are trying to do. Independent companies who have little to gain by adding proprietary features are the ones who will probably focus on flexibility (iRex comes to mind).

Well if Sony decides to downgrade their hardware without an enormous price drop ($200 is not cheap or even reasonable, especially for technology of this caliber), I won't be too affected because I don't plan on getting another ebook reader even if my current 505 breaks, unless they're under $100 without being tied to a specific store that I don't want to deal with. The chances of a worthwhile upgrade existing by the time my 505 peters out are pretty slim, so I'll probably just save my money.

[radius]

Originally Posted by igorsk

Another thing I found... it seems the PRS-300 uses the older CPU (Dragonball MX1) that was used in PRS-500 and not the MXL of 505... are they trying to cut costs by using old stock of processors that they piled up?

(PRS-500 board image from http://www.msh-tools.com/ebook/internals.html)

Hmm... does that mean that it is more likely that any firmware improvements in the 300 can be backported all the way back to the 500 by Sony?

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by rrburton

Personally, I would want wifi so that I don't have to jerk around with connecting the reader to the computer, etc. etc. I would just be able to pick it up somewhere within my home wifi zone and then navigate to the home server where I store files so that I may retrieve whatever book it is that I wanted at that moment.

The problem I see with wi-fi, is if you have a very small memory, wifi would be good to switch back and forth. If you have enough memory or SD options, wifi really isnt needed. Do you plan on moving files over one a day? every week? If not, then wifi is a waste of battery power and price.

As for the design of the 300, what a waste. All that room. 5" inch is designed for pocket portability, this is a 6"-screened device with a 5" screen". It's acomplete and utter waste of space. I see the arguments of "that's where you can hold the device" but still. that's a lot of room.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by porkupan

I don't think it's relevant whether the Wi-Fi is really needed. It's the main advantage of the Kindle - being able to load the content without connecting to the computer. That's why people want Kindle.

I understand it is not a big deal to connect the USB cable. I've been doing it for years and years. But that's not what the customers want. The customers want their books downloaded directly to the ebook reader.

In fact, I am quite shocked that after so many rumors and customer requests Sony came up with two unconnected readers whose only advantage seems to be their "lower" price. Absolutely ridiculous.

But given their October release dates, maybe they have another reader yet to be released with a larger screen and wifi. And if Sony is going with the flxi screen for a larger screen, then that would make sence why no information now.

[porkupan]

Originally Posted by radius

does that mean that it is more likely that any firmware improvements in the 300 can be backported all the way back to the 500 by Sony?

Absolutely not. As far as Sony is concerned, PRS-500 has been totally dead and forgotten for 2 years.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by astra

I hoped for 8" model....
Disappointed.

Just because we have leaked info of the 300 and 600 does not mean a larger screen reader is not also in the works. I'm hoping if Sony does one it will use the new forthcoming flexi screen.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

The problem I see with wi-fi, is if you have a very small memory, wifi would be good to switch back and forth. If you have enough memory or SD options, wifi really isnt needed. Do you plan on moving files over one a day? every week? If not, then wifi is a waste of battery power and price.

You are not thinking about new usages. Obvious functionality when you are net connected is to synchronize the current page, bookmarks and annotations between different readers.

Another aspect when you read the book at the same time as friends and can add comments and questions that your friend will see when they get to the relevant position in the book.

But the development to these new nice functionalities will be delayed if people just react as "why should I pay for something that I cannot see will be useful".

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by tompe

You are not thinking about new usages. Obvious functionality when you are net connected is to synchronize the current page, bookmarks and annotations between different readers.

Another aspect when you read the book at the same time as friends and can add comments and questions that your friend will see when they get to the relevant position in the book.

But the development to these new nice functionalities will be delayed if people just react as "why should I pay for something that I cannot see will be useful".

Or, if you're really mean, you could drop spoilers about 20 pages before the climax, and ruin the book for him

[Lord_Pall]

Is it the same ultra fragile glass substrate screen as the 505?

Until they fix that, these are nonstarters..