PRS-350 Wired review the PRS-350.

dminoz · 10-04-2010, 05:02 PM

Wired posted a review of the 350. I didn't like it, so I had to react, and the result is here:

http://dminoz.posterous.com/wiredcom...s-350-pushes-m

The original, on the Wired site, with a comments thread, is here:

http://www.wired.com/reviews/product...lComments=true

/David

Pegster · 10-04-2010, 05:10 PM

Very nice response - I can't believe that Wired is so blinkered!

SeaBookGuy · 10-04-2010, 05:18 PM

A truly effective rebuttal!

Anyone in such need of instant gratification that they must be able to purchase a book instantly: the 350 and 650 are not for you! It would have to be some sort of truly unusual scenario for me to run through all the books on a device, needing another before I could transfer one.

JSWolf · 10-04-2010, 05:25 PM

Can we please stop with hidden URLs? The forum software doesn't need them. It does work with full length non-hidden URLs. So can the OP please edit the message and put in the full URLs? There are some of us here that do not click them as they can go anywhere and we have no clue where till we get there.

khalleron · 10-04-2010, 05:27 PM

Yeah, they do seem to miss the point of what an ereader is for - reading! They're all blinded by bells and whistles while missing - oooh! shiny!

Bilbo1967 · 10-04-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can we please stop with hidden URLs? The forum software doesn't need them. It does work with full length non-hidden URLs. So can the OP please edit the message and put in the full URLs? There are some of us here that do not click them as they can go anywhere and we have no clue where till we get there.

Can I suggest a good anti-virus for you; or a decent psychologist to get past these persecution delusions.

I've clicked on both links (I know, I'm just a dare-devil), and they both go to exactly where the OP stated.

dminoz · 10-04-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Can I suggest a good anti-virus for you; or a decent psychologist to get past these persecution delusions.

I've clicked on both links (I know, I'm just a dare-devil), and they both go to exactly where the OP stated.

No worries, I've lengthened the urls, I didn't know it was an issue. Actually, I still don't, but there you go...

SeaBookGuy · 10-04-2010, 06:38 PM

It seems to be the big whoop with the Kindle's Amazon sync'ing is that there's basically nowhere else to obtain Kindle-compatible material!

jswinden · 10-04-2010, 07:29 PM

Actually, I thought the article was fair and I agreed with most of his points even though he got his facts wrong on occasion. Except for the "Sony is God" group most of know that the Sony Reader Library software is garbage and that the Sony Store has a mere fraction of the books that it should. I like my 350, but if I was a typical ebook reader I would undoubtedly be put out by Sony's lackluster software and pathetic book store and their way overpriced readers. But being geeky I can get around those issues and even put Amazon books on my 350. But the typical person who buys an ebook reader is not going to be that geeky and they will have issues if they use the Sony Reader Library software.

There is no reason to get upset because someone likes or dislikes a particular brand. We should leave that bit of ugliness to the cult of Applephiles! I personally like my K3 as much as my 350. Both have good points and both have things that could use great improvements.

Squirsier · 10-04-2010, 07:39 PM

Wired wasn't mentioning that the PRS-350 was the flagship of the series, but the flagship of the POCKET reader series, which is true.

As for the Sony Software, they're right, and I would bet you that the article is aimed towards people who are used to Kindles ; ie, all-in-one solutions. If someone without much computer knowledge were to install the Sony Software and see how bad it is, they might really think the whole package is flawed. When the software hangs on transfer, people will assume it's the reader's fault.

Not everyone has the time or will take the effort to find alternatives, which is Wired's main point : there shouldn't be a need for any!

Your rebuttal is justified but you make it sound like a fanboy, no offense, but writing it as such removes much credibility. I would, instead, bring up your valid points with suggestions and links for people to follow who might find your article and be interested in software alternatives and eBook Stores (which is the STRONG suit of the Sony Readers ; short of B&N's ePubs, they read all of them).

Cheers!

Edit : Looks like I was typing all this while jswinden was writing his own reply

doreenjoy · 10-04-2010, 07:59 PM

Personally I've always found the gripes about the Sony Software to be overblown. I've been using it since the release of the PRS 500 and never had a problem with the software. Just lucky I guess. The UI for Calibre is too non-standard for me.

One thing that irritates me about some of these pro-Kindle reviews is that no one mentions that with Kindle, the average user is stuck buying from Amazon. Which is fine if you like buying from Amazon, but at least point it out.

induna · 10-04-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

Personally I've always found the gripes about the Sony Software to be overblown. I've been using it since the release of the PRS 500 and never had a problem with the software.

I agree. I too have been using the Sony software for years with few issues, other than performance on the earlier releases. It has also improved significantly over the years, as has the book store in both content and usability. Of course I can also buy my books elsewhere if I choose.

dminoz · 10-04-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirsier

...you make it sound like a fanboy, no offense, but writing it as such removes much credibility. I would, instead, bring up your valid points with suggestions and links for people to follow who might find your article and be interested in software alternatives and eBook Stores (which is the STRONG suit of the Sony Readers ; short of B&N's ePubs, they read all of them).

I can live with having little or no credibility, ask my kids.... it is what it is.

a list of sources for Sony-compatible EPUBs, it's been done before, no doubt, but still, I can feel a post coming on...

Squirsier · 10-04-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dminoz

I can live with having little or no credibility, ask my kids.... it is what it is.

a list of sources for Sony-compatible EPUBs, it's been done before, no doubt, but still, I can feel a post coming on...

Yes, I guess I'll be there when I get kids of my own...

Do it. You never know when someone's gonna stumble on your blog first!

jj2me · 10-04-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by induna

I agree. I too have been using the Sony software for years with few issues, other than performance on the earlier releases. It has also improved significantly over the years, as has the book store in both content and usability. Of course I can also buy my books elsewhere if I choose.

And another with no problems with the Sony software.

But why oh why can't I buy from the web link? Don't companies love links? They bring you right to the purchase, before you think too much and possibly change your mind. (Links also help your search ranking.)

Why must I be told by the web version of the Sony Reader Store to open up Reader Library and navigate back to where I just was (except more slowly in the Reader software). Instead, have the Sony web page just open Sony Reader Library and download to there, similar to how other stores open ADE, or even open the Sony Reader Library, in the case of public library websites (OverDrive developers are great and very responsive). (Of course, also have a button to download the Reader software for people who don't yet have it.)

How dopey of Sony. Make purchasers jump through unnecessary hoops (unnecessary to everyone except Sony's lazy or underfunded development group), probably losing some percentage of sales that way. The analogies to physical purchases are few, only for items that are very cumbersome to deliver or pick up, like a web site for real estate or heavy machinery.

No one does digital Sony's way. It's a totally complete and totally fake storefront, that only turns around the customer, who already has the item within grasp, to some other location, with instructions to completely repeat what they just did! Dopey, dopey, dopey.

10-04-2010, 05:02 PM	#1
dminoz Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 30000 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650	Wired review the PRS-350. Wired posted a review of the 350. I didn't like it, so I had to react, and the result is here: http://dminoz.posterous.com/wiredcom...s-350-pushes-m The original, on the Wired site, with a comments thread, is here: http://www.wired.com/reviews/product...lComments=true /David Last edited by dminoz; 10-04-2010 at 05:33 PM. Reason: put it long urls, as requested

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10-04-2010, 05:10 PM	#2
Pegster Devourer of Books Posts: 135 Karma: 508928 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Southeastern US Device: Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-350, Sony PRS-T1, Samsung S5	Very nice response - I can't believe that Wired is so blinkered!

10-04-2010, 05:18 PM	#3
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	A truly effective rebuttal! Anyone in such need of instant gratification that they must be able to purchase a book instantly: the 350 and 650 are not for you! It would have to be some sort of truly unusual scenario for me to run through all the books on a device, needing another before I could transfer one.

10-04-2010, 05:25 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,749 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Can we please stop with hidden URLs? The forum software doesn't need them. It does work with full length non-hidden URLs. So can the OP please edit the message and put in the full URLs? There are some of us here that do not click them as they can go anywhere and we have no clue where till we get there.

10-04-2010, 05:27 PM	#5
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,700 Karma: 3605799 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour	Yeah, they do seem to miss the point of what an ereader is for - reading! They're all blinded by bells and whistles while missing - oooh! shiny!

10-04-2010, 06:38 PM	#8
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	It seems to be the big whoop with the Kindle's Amazon sync'ing is that there's basically nowhere else to obtain Kindle-compatible material!

10-04-2010, 07:29 PM	#9
jswinden Nameless Being	Actually, I thought the article was fair and I agreed with most of his points even though he got his facts wrong on occasion. Except for the "Sony is God" group most of know that the Sony Reader Library software is garbage and that the Sony Store has a mere fraction of the books that it should. I like my 350, but if I was a typical ebook reader I would undoubtedly be put out by Sony's lackluster software and pathetic book store and their way overpriced readers. But being geeky I can get around those issues and even put Amazon books on my 350. But the typical person who buys an ebook reader is not going to be that geeky and they will have issues if they use the Sony Reader Library software. There is no reason to get upset because someone likes or dislikes a particular brand. We should leave that bit of ugliness to the cult of Applephiles! I personally like my K3 as much as my 350. Both have good points and both have things that could use great improvements.

10-04-2010, 07:39 PM	#10
Squirsier Addict Posts: 280 Karma: 51156 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Longueuil, QC Device: Sony: PRS-300, PRS-350. Kobo: Aura v2, Clara HD, Libra 2, Colour	Wired wasn't mentioning that the PRS-350 was the flagship of the series, but the flagship of the POCKET reader series, which is true. As for the Sony Software, they're right, and I would bet you that the article is aimed towards people who are used to Kindles ; ie, all-in-one solutions. If someone without much computer knowledge were to install the Sony Software and see how bad it is, they might really think the whole package is flawed. When the software hangs on transfer, people will assume it's the reader's fault. Not everyone has the time or will take the effort to find alternatives, which is Wired's main point : there shouldn't be a need for any! Your rebuttal is justified but you make it sound like a fanboy, no offense, but writing it as such removes much credibility. I would, instead, bring up your valid points with suggestions and links for people to follow who might find your article and be interested in software alternatives and eBook Stores (which is the STRONG suit of the Sony Readers ; short of B&N's ePubs, they read all of them). Cheers! Edit : Looks like I was typing all this while jswinden was writing his own reply

10-04-2010, 07:59 PM	#11
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Personally I've always found the gripes about the Sony Software to be overblown. I've been using it since the release of the PRS 500 and never had a problem with the software. Just lucky I guess. The UI for Calibre is too non-standard for me. One thing that irritates me about some of these pro-Kindle reviews is that no one mentions that with Kindle, the average user is stuck buying from Amazon. Which is fine if you like buying from Amazon, but at least point it out.

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