505 spotted at CES

PHugger · 01-08-2008, 08:33 PM

http://www.engadget.com/photos/sonys...tour-1/568599/

PCH

NatCh · 01-08-2008, 10:04 PM

Heh, I heard about that thing, what a great pic!

Bob Russell · 01-09-2008, 12:36 PM

Now that's one big screen!

yvanleterrible · 01-09-2008, 01:20 PM

Doesn't that defeat the portability advantage? Not Mobile Reading anymore.

Ervserver · 01-09-2008, 01:31 PM

wonder what the battery life is

NatCh · 01-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Doesn't that defeat the portability advantage? Not Mobile Reading anymore.

Heck, with it that size, you can leave it in one place and still read it from 30 feet away, more if you use the M or L setting -- the Reader may not be mobile, but the reader still can be!

... of course now the need for a remote page turner is even greater.

yvanleterrible · 01-09-2008, 01:42 PM

A house reader. How do you keep your neighbor from reading over your shoulder... annoying!

NatCh · 01-09-2008, 03:01 PM

Easy, just close the blinds!

nathantw · 01-09-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHugger

http://www.engadget.com/photos/sonys...tour-1/568599/

PCH

That should silence those critics that keep saying they need a bigger screen. But will it display PDF's?

spooky69 · 01-10-2008, 10:02 PM

Nothin' gets 'em going like The Other Boleyn Girl! I suppose an e-book reader can't really have a "killer ap," but I swear it seems like Sony is doing everything they can not to sell this thing. The official website for the Reader still shows the 500 model, and the only links on that site to buy the reader (all one of them) still go to the PRS-500's page on the SonyStyle website, which is just a blank white page now.
This is actually even worse than it was a month ago when they had two links to that page, which actually did show up, but listed the PRS-500 as being unavailable and had no links to the order page of the newer model. It only took me 20 minutes to find a way to send some sort of generalized feedback form (which very clearly informed me that I would not be getting a reply) so that I could let them know about this. It looks like something may have gotten through, as they went and removed the flash movie menu bar at the top that had a "Buy Now" link in it. I guess some web designer at Sony solves the problem of misdirected links by making sure that there aren't any working links at all.
Like I said, it really seems like Sony is doing everything they can to not sell this product. While the Kindle's release should have been a kick in the ass, it really seems like it's just terrible business practices as usual. Instead of constructing a giant version of the 505, they should have updated their website with pictures of the current model and working links to the product purchase page. On that off chance that somebody from Sony is actually on here reading the opinions of its most dedicated fan base, I'm officially telling you to get your act together!

sindget41 · 01-12-2008, 06:40 PM

spooky69....

Ummm, I don't see the same thing at all. Try this:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921644523780

Notice it only mentions the 505 models
Also note, they stopped advertising for the most part -- as all e-ink readers are currently not availale -- presumably because e-ink can no longer stay current as a screen provider for both Sony and Amazon. I haven't personally seen an estimate of when e-ink based 6" screen readers will become available again....

spooky69 · 01-13-2008, 04:24 AM

sindget41...

Ummm, try looking at the actual "Sony Reader Home Page" (quoting the header, there):
http://products.sel.sony.com/pa/prs/index.html

Notice that there are no links on there to anything resembling the page you linked me to.
Also, note that Sony selling out of the Reader is most likely due to unexpected demand, which indicates the overperformance of their second generation product. This is, given Sony's noted lack of advertising before, during, and after the launch of the 505, a significant miscalculation that amounts to leaving money on the table. This, in and of itself, isn't unusual, but the fact that the notability of the very market in which this device resides has grown by several factors in the past months, and the official website for the product still sucks (in fact, having started to suck more, possibly because of my very own input as a concerned customer), is indicative of the Reader product line's organization within Sony as being very out-of-whack. If you can offer a better breakdown of why Sony does not have a working link to a place where people can spend their $300 on the Sony Reader (any model) from the official website of the product itself, then feel free to correct my reply.

HarryT · 01-13-2008, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sindget41

I haven't personally seen an estimate of when e-ink based 6" screen readers will become available again....

Bookeen are due to restart shipping the Gen3 the week starting 21st Jan, so presumably that's when their next batch of devices is due. No particular reason to doubt the truth of that - their previous estimates have all been pretty accurate.

HarryT · 01-13-2008, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spooky69

Also, note that Sony selling out of the Reader is most likely due to unexpected demand, which indicates the overperformance of their second generation product.

The shortage of ALL eInk readers (Sony, Bookeen, Kindle, iLiad) is due to capacity issues at the Taiwan screen manufacturer (PVI) whom they all use. PVI are ramping up their production facilities, but currently the demand is exceeding their manufacturing capabilities.

spooky69 · 01-13-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The shortage of ALL eInk readers (Sony, Bookeen, Kindle, iLiad) is due to capacity issues at the Taiwan screen manufacturer (PVI) whom they all use. PVI are ramping up their production facilities, but currently the demand is exceeding their manufacturing capabilities.

Doesn't mean Sony hasn't f-ed up their marketing, which they clearly have, to my mind.

01-08-2008, 08:33 PM	#1
PHugger Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 8443 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NJ Device: Kindle 3G, Sony PRS-505	505 spotted at CES http://www.engadget.com/photos/sonys...tour-1/568599/ PCH

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01-08-2008, 10:04 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Heh, I heard about that thing, what a great pic!

01-09-2008, 12:36 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Now that's one big screen!

01-09-2008, 01:20 PM	#4
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Doesn't that defeat the portability advantage? Not Mobile Reading anymore.

01-09-2008, 01:31 PM	#5
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	wonder what the battery life is

01-09-2008, 01:42 PM	#7
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	A house reader. How do you keep your neighbor from reading over your shoulder... annoying!

01-09-2008, 03:01 PM	#8
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Easy, just close the blinds!

01-10-2008, 10:02 PM	#10
spooky69 Stats: Posts: 233 Karma: 1189 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505	Nothin' gets 'em going like The Other Boleyn Girl! I suppose an e-book reader can't really have a "killer ap," but I swear it seems like Sony is doing everything they can not to sell this thing. The official website for the Reader still shows the 500 model, and the only links on that site to buy the reader (all one of them) still go to the PRS-500's page on the SonyStyle website, which is just a blank white page now. This is actually even worse than it was a month ago when they had two links to that page, which actually did show up, but listed the PRS-500 as being unavailable and had no links to the order page of the newer model. It only took me 20 minutes to find a way to send some sort of generalized feedback form (which very clearly informed me that I would not be getting a reply) so that I could let them know about this. It looks like something may have gotten through, as they went and removed the flash movie menu bar at the top that had a "Buy Now" link in it. I guess some web designer at Sony solves the problem of misdirected links by making sure that there aren't any working links at all. Like I said, it really seems like Sony is doing everything they can to not sell this product. While the Kindle's release should have been a kick in the ass, it really seems like it's just terrible business practices as usual. Instead of constructing a giant version of the 505, they should have updated their website with pictures of the current model and working links to the product purchase page. On that off chance that somebody from Sony is actually on here reading the opinions of its most dedicated fan base, I'm officially telling you to get your act together!

01-12-2008, 06:40 PM	#11
sindget41 Fanfic Idiot Posts: 19 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Park City, Utah Device: Sony PRS 500, PRS 505, PRS 300, iTouch	spooky69.... Ummm, I don't see the same thing at all. Try this: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921644523780 Notice it only mentions the 505 models Also note, they stopped advertising for the most part -- as all e-ink readers are currently not availale -- presumably because e-ink can no longer stay current as a screen provider for both Sony and Amazon. I haven't personally seen an estimate of when e-ink based 6" screen readers will become available again....

01-13-2008, 04:24 AM	#12
spooky69 Stats: Posts: 233 Karma: 1189 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505	sindget41... Ummm, try looking at the actual "Sony Reader Home Page" (quoting the header, there): http://products.sel.sony.com/pa/prs/index.html Notice that there are no links on there to anything resembling the page you linked me to. Also, note that Sony selling out of the Reader is most likely due to unexpected demand, which indicates the overperformance of their second generation product. This is, given Sony's noted lack of advertising before, during, and after the launch of the 505, a significant miscalculation that amounts to leaving money on the table. This, in and of itself, isn't unusual, but the fact that the notability of the very market in which this device resides has grown by several factors in the past months, and the official website for the product still sucks (in fact, having started to suck more, possibly because of my very own input as a concerned customer), is indicative of the Reader product line's organization within Sony as being very out-of-whack. If you can offer a better breakdown of why Sony does not have a working link to a place where people can spend their $300 on the Sony Reader (any model) from the official website of the product itself, then feel free to correct my reply.

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