|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
07-30-2010, 06:05 AM | #1 | |
Guru
Posts: 785
Karma: 100000
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)
|
Sony's Response To New Kindle: Not Chasing "Cheapest E-Reader" Title
http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/201...-reader-title/
Quote:
|
|
07-30-2010, 06:17 AM | #2 |
Groupie
Posts: 174
Karma: 1062434
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Netherlands
Device: Kobo H2O (2th edition), Kindle PW11
|
Well, I think they have a point; my metal darkblue PRS-300 IMO looks and feel classier then the other plastic 5 inch readers available now. I like that and I'm glad I will still have the choice in the future to spent more and get better hardware.
|
Advert | |
|
07-30-2010, 06:45 AM | #3 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,742
Karma: 32912427
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Yorkshire, UK
Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus
|
I think they've got a few problems with this approach, but it depends on what new machines they bring out over the next few months.
I'm going to concentrate on what I expect the average consumer will think, not what we here think about closed vs open formats, etc. At the moment (prior to any new Sony releases): The availability of a 6" reader with wifi from Amazon at £109 is likely to dent their ability to sell the 5" PRS-300 at £124. Particularly as the Kindle has 4GB of storage and the PRS-300 has 512MB. With the arrival of Amazon's UK eBook store the other UK offerings are going to get blown away by the number of available titles. Waterstone's is great, it's got less than 30,000 eBook titles, including the free ones. Amazon are going to launch with 400,000 excluding free titles. Sony are going to get a lot of confused customers saying "What do you mean I can't buy books from Amazon?" Sony have a gap in their range for a non-touch screen 6" device. I spent a short time in the stores comparing the Touch with the 300 and the Elonex 511EB and it was clear that the non-touch screen devices were more legible. Not everyone will spot that but plenty will. I was going to compare the Daily edition with the iPad and forthcoming Android tablets, but I can't find anyone selling it anymore. It's not even featured in the Sony Reader range on the UK Sony site. Did I miss that being discontinued? Graham |
07-30-2010, 07:02 AM | #4 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,531
Karma: 8059866
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Canada
Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3
|
I don't believe that the price war has ended with Amazon's latest announcement. The kindle, nook and kobo readers can all be sold below cost with the expectation of making profit off of the 30% profit they're guaranteed in ebook sales.
I suspect that Sony isn't driving enough sales through their own ebook store to get into that battle. Sony's response makes sense but I hope they can deliver. |
07-30-2010, 07:08 AM | #5 |
Guru
Posts: 973
Karma: 4269175
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Europe
Device: Pocketbook Basic 613
|
I wonder who'll be the first to adopt some kind of recurring payment scheme. You know, give the reader away for free in return for buying a book a month for three years or something like that.
|
Advert | |
|
07-30-2010, 07:34 AM | #6 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 97
Karma: 128170
Join Date: Sep 2008
Device: Palm & PPC
|
I hope Sony continues to develop its line of PRS-600/PRS-900 readers - I am a big fan of touchscreens, and I don't see many firms other than Sony developing this technology. A new PRS-900 with an improved screen would get my money.
|
07-30-2010, 07:37 AM | #7 |
Member
Posts: 21
Karma: 430
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Göttingen, Germany
Device: Kindle 2, Kindle 3 Wi-Fi
|
Or better, like emusic subscriptions have done (e.g. Spotify), pay a monthly fee to read whatever you want...without keeping your own copy. What would you pay for that?
|
07-30-2010, 07:55 AM | #8 | |
Addict
Posts: 297
Karma: 1018140
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: PRS-505, iPad
|
Quote:
And yeah... well I think Sony's been always all about the hardware. And I really like the solid feel of my prs-505. But if Sony's all about the hardware with ebooks too... they are disapointing heavily on the 9,X" reader department =( GJMS |
|
07-30-2010, 08:01 AM | #9 |
Guru
Posts: 688
Karma: 2090
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-900 & PRS-950, Amazon Kindle2
|
If you think about, their PRS-900 (Daily Edition) is the best priced out the high-end readers right now so Sony is playing games. They should be emphasizing this fact in the USA. It's now priced at $249 (so you are getting an extra 1.1 inch screen, touchscreen, cover, hard case) all for an extra $50 or $60 it would cost you to buy a 3G Nook or Kindle. Now they are giving you an extra battery with your purchase until September. The screen of the PRS-900 is not as bad as PRS-600, so they should put the new screen technology in and add wifi and sell the PRS-900 everywhere.
|
07-30-2010, 08:14 AM | #10 | |
Wizard
Posts: 4,334
Karma: 4000000
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Paris
Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1
|
Quote:
Yeah why not, admiting it have enough choise (and I don't need to buy books in addition not in the subscription). And if the prises are responsable, and DRM not a pain. |
|
07-30-2010, 08:21 AM | #11 |
Addict
Posts: 232
Karma: 748
Join Date: Feb 2010
Device: Sony PRS600, Cybook, Hanvon N520, Sony PRS300, Onyx Boox, Kindle 3
|
If they don't launch new models very quickly, they're finished.
|
07-30-2010, 08:37 AM | #12 |
Busy Read'n
Posts: 980
Karma: 5039283
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Auburn, WA
Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5
|
Yay Sony. I admit, I am biased. At my house we have a Bravia TV, a PlayStation 2 and 3, a PSP, a Vaio F-series laptop and, of course, the Reader.
Sony never make the "cheapest" anything, so I am not surprised by this statement of theirs. I'm excited to see what Reader they will come out with next, though. |
07-30-2010, 08:46 AM | #13 |
Professional Contrarian
Posts: 2,045
Karma: 3289631
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie
|
Very hard to say what will happen with Sony without seeing any real numbers.
It is possible though that they are losing market share, but still selling more units as the general market for ebooks grows. However, in terms of press they are largely out of the game -- seems like it's Amazon and Apple for the moment. |
07-30-2010, 09:00 AM | #14 | ||
Guru
Posts: 785
Karma: 100000
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)
|
Quote:
Quote:
I really do hope Sony comes up with new generation of e-readers soon. What they offered in this original article is nothing but marketing fluff. |
||
07-30-2010, 09:03 AM | #15 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 98
Karma: 161
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Quebec, Canada
Device: PRS-600
|
My PRS-600 looks very classy and in the same time its construction is robust (not the cheap plastic as other readers).
However, the selection of books in Sony Store is its limiting factor. IMO, with a better screen (contrast), this model would have been great and no cheap competitor could have beaten them (in spite of price). I agree with banjobama - my home is full of Sony products, too (my TV, my MP3 player, the computer I am writing on, DVD player) and these are long-lasting and quality products. I respect their decision. |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Yep. It's official. Sony Reader has "ruined" books for me. A final "review." | WilliamG | Sony Reader | 48 | 01-14-2011 03:49 AM |
So überholt das "Kindle" Sonys "E-Reader" | Marc_liest | Amazon Kindle | 6 | 10-23-2009 02:08 AM |
CNN Story about Sony's "latest salvo" into eReader Wars | purl4peace | News | 17 | 08-12-2009 02:11 AM |
Sony's eBook Store begins "stocking" Short Stories! | NatCh | Sony Reader | 13 | 02-04-2008 11:52 AM |
The depressing history of Sony's Connect Software - CNET - "An Unmitigated Disaster" | Fugubot | Sony Reader | 20 | 01-10-2007 10:20 AM |