PRS-900 Sony, if you're listening

chiefwili · 12-31-2009, 08:24 PM

My rant for the new year is directed at Sony for its shortsightedness when it comes to their prs900's market strategy. With just a few tweaks the prs900 could be the iphone of the electronic reader world, leaving behind all comers. How so? Sony needs to remember that unlike Amazon and B & N, they are in the business of selling electronic devices and not books. The greatest resistance to buying any ereader comes from paying for a device that still requires purchasing books. The easier, cheaper and more available Sony makes acquiring ebooks the more desirable over other devices the prs900 becomes. Its ability to use a greater number of formats has been a strong selling point, especially since abandoning BBeB in favor of EPub, but now Sony needs to take the next step towards openness by providing internet browsing capability beyond just the Sony Store. Allowing access through WiFi to vast collections of ebooks and RSS feeds (many of which are free) only makes the purchasing decision more of a slam dunk in Sony's favor. Let's get real, making available paid subscriptions to dailies (WSJ) only sells subscriptions not more devices. While I have your ear why not also give serious consideration to abandoning the less than notable Reader Library software and purchasing Calibre. Anyone with a reader that isn't using Calibre simply hasn't discovered it yet or its RSS features. Having Reader Library load automatically doesn't make it the software of choice. Just one guy's opinion.

Spectrum · 12-31-2009, 10:11 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Brilliant! I hope Sony listens to you.
Simply letting wifi and RSS features will make me buy one immediately.
Hope it in PRS-1000 model?
How about 9 or 10 inch screens to go with it?
It will start biting netbook market!

dhiru · 12-31-2009, 11:15 PM

yes sony needs to free the capabilities of its reader other wise they are going to loose this battle too despite being early adapter of this technology as they did with sony ericsson and p800. they are reactive and not proactive. they are providing features only when others are providing it. if they can provide following features they can be winner-
1. any programme like calibre on reader itself so i dont have to depend on computer.
2. wi-fi and 3g without any restriction.
3. good pdf support with suitable size of screen.
4. no geographical restrictions.
sony can not become number1 just by talking they need to provide breakthrough features as iphone did and now almost all phones are just following it.

MerLock · 01-01-2010, 12:35 AM

They probably would need to restrict 3g access since they aren't a telecommunication business and have to pay someone for data usage. Either that or pass that over to the consumer in terms of a subscription. I doubt that Sony likes geographic restrictions, I'm guessing that has to do more with the restrictions set by publishers. Like the region code on DVD's. Just my guess.

Sony should definitely need to improve their software.

dhiru · 01-01-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerLock

They probably would need to restrict 3g access since they aren't a telecommunication business and have to pay someone for data usage. Either that or pass that over to the consumer in terms of a subscription. I doubt that Sony likes geographic restrictions, I'm guessing that has to do more with the restrictions set by publishers. Like the region code on DVD's. Just my guess.

Sony should definitely need to improve their software.

in countries where they do not have any telecom partners, user should be allowed to choose their service providers off course on payment.

HarryT · 01-01-2010, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefwili

With just a few tweaks the prs900 could be the iphone of the electronic reader world

You mean ludicrously expensive, with so many gimmicks added that it overwhelms the primary purpose of the device, which is to make telephone calls?

No thanks. I want a telephone which concentrates on making telephone calls, and a book reader which concentrates on reading books.

farmersteve · 01-01-2010, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You mean ludicrously expensive, with so many gimmicks added that it overwhelms the primary purpose of the device, which is to make telephone calls?

No thanks. I want a telephone which concentrates on making telephone calls, and a book reader which concentrates on reading books.

couldnt agree more Harry what next mobile phones with cameras https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ima...lies/smile.gif

NeilHawkes · 01-01-2010, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerLock

They probably would need to restrict 3g access since they aren't a telecommunication business and have to pay someone for data usage. Either that or pass that over to the consumer in terms of a subscription. I doubt that Sony likes geographic restrictions, I'm guessing that has to do more with the restrictions set by publishers. Like the region code on DVD's. Just my guess.

Sony should definitely need to improve their software.

Surely they could use their Sony/Ericsson connections to develop this?

Yottie · 01-01-2010, 09:15 AM

Having Sony LICENSE Calibre would have some merits,if only so that we could dispense with Adobe DE and the Sony e Reader software completely...however, Kovid and the team do a great job of responding to their users, and developing something that truly enhances our experience, and I would hate to see this destroyed by the corporate interference that would no doubt result from too close a relationship with Sony.

Also, my next reading device (or one owned by another member of my family) might not be a Sony. I would like to be able to retain the same library management across whatever platforms we happen to own. That would be harder if Calibre were tied to a specific device.

Hogan · 01-01-2010, 10:24 AM

Opening up the wifi would be a excellent move. It would give users access to a whole range of content without the need for a computer. I really dont understand why they have to restrict the wifi anyway. Maybe they want me to buy all my books from the Sony store but that just isnt going to happen anyway.

JSWolf · 01-01-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yottie

Having Sony LICENSE Calibre would have some merits

If Sony licensed Calibre, then Calibre would have to have DRM support added in.

trevgriff · 01-01-2010, 11:03 AM

Does the 900 already incorporate wifi I thought it only had 3G?

chainring · 01-01-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You mean ludicrously expensive, with so many gimmicks added that it overwhelms the primary purpose of the device, which is to make telephone calls?

No thanks. I want a telephone which concentrates on making telephone calls, and a book reader which concentrates on reading books.

I have to agree, and I'm a real tech head that loves having email, web, etc... wherever I go. An iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android phone is for that access, not an eBook reader.

Unrestricted WiFi and 3G? Think about this for a moment. The web is a media rich environment, and as such it has items that are refreshing constantly. Each refresh is a page turn. Translation: decrease in battery life.

Here's another thing to think about. Amazon, B&N, and Sony are in the business of selling books for their respective eReaders; if you're browsing the web, you're not reading a book, thus not likely to purchase another one any quicker.

Spectrum · 01-01-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chainring

I have to agree, and I'm a real tech head that loves having email, web, etc... wherever I go. An iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android phone is for that access, not an eBook reader.

Unrestricted WiFi and 3G? Think about this for a moment. The web is a media rich environment, and as such it has items that are refreshing constantly. Each refresh is a page turn. Translation: decrease in battery life.

Here's another thing to think about. Amazon, B&N, and Sony are in the business of selling books for their respective eReaders; if you're browsing the web, you're not reading a book, thus not likely to purchase another one any quicker.

We are not talking a single model with all the features.

They can have:

(1) Basic reader
(2) Advanced reader with wifi and rss capable
(3) Ubergeek model with wifi, 3g, camera
(4) crazy model that has the above and portable ps3
(5) add you own configuration..

In this era of globalization, any geo restriction does not make sense.

Happy New Year!

bookwormfjl · 01-01-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You mean ludicrously expensive, with so many gimmicks added that it overwhelms the primary purpose of the device, which is to make telephone calls?

No thanks. I want a telephone which concentrates on making telephone calls, and a book reader which concentrates on reading books.

I'm with you on that, Harry

12-31-2009, 08:24 PM	#1
chiefwili Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: sony PRS-700	Sony, if you're listening My rant for the new year is directed at Sony for its shortsightedness when it comes to their prs900's market strategy. With just a few tweaks the prs900 could be the iphone of the electronic reader world, leaving behind all comers. How so? Sony needs to remember that unlike Amazon and B & N, they are in the business of selling electronic devices and not books. The greatest resistance to buying any ereader comes from paying for a device that still requires purchasing books. The easier, cheaper and more available Sony makes acquiring ebooks the more desirable over other devices the prs900 becomes. Its ability to use a greater number of formats has been a strong selling point, especially since abandoning BBeB in favor of EPub, but now Sony needs to take the next step towards openness by providing internet browsing capability beyond just the Sony Store. Allowing access through WiFi to vast collections of ebooks and RSS feeds (many of which are free) only makes the purchasing decision more of a slam dunk in Sony's favor. Let's get real, making available paid subscriptions to dailies (WSJ) only sells subscriptions not more devices. While I have your ear why not also give serious consideration to abandoning the less than notable Reader Library software and purchasing Calibre. Anyone with a reader that isn't using Calibre simply hasn't discovered it yet or its RSS features. Having Reader Library load automatically doesn't make it the software of choice. Just one guy's opinion.

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12-31-2009, 10:11 PM	#2
Spectrum Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 570 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: iPad 1 and iPad 4, KF HD 8.9"	Welcome to the forum! Brilliant! I hope Sony listens to you. Simply letting wifi and RSS features will make me buy one immediately. Hope it in PRS-1000 model? How about 9 or 10 inch screens to go with it? It will start biting netbook market!

12-31-2009, 11:15 PM	#3
dhiru Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iphone, Irex iliad, sony prs950, kindle Dx, Ipad	yes sony needs to free the capabilities of its reader other wise they are going to loose this battle too despite being early adapter of this technology as they did with sony ericsson and p800. they are reactive and not proactive. they are providing features only when others are providing it. if they can provide following features they can be winner- 1. any programme like calibre on reader itself so i dont have to depend on computer. 2. wi-fi and 3g without any restriction. 3. good pdf support with suitable size of screen. 4. no geographical restrictions. sony can not become number1 just by talking they need to provide breakthrough features as iphone did and now almost all phones are just following it.

01-01-2010, 12:35 AM	#4
MerLock Evangelist Posts: 411 Karma: 1034889 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	They probably would need to restrict 3g access since they aren't a telecommunication business and have to pay someone for data usage. Either that or pass that over to the consumer in terms of a subscription. I doubt that Sony likes geographic restrictions, I'm guessing that has to do more with the restrictions set by publishers. Like the region code on DVD's. Just my guess. Sony should definitely need to improve their software.

01-01-2010, 09:15 AM	#9
Yottie Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Sony PRS505	Having Sony LICENSE Calibre would have some merits,if only so that we could dispense with Adobe DE and the Sony e Reader software completely...however, Kovid and the team do a great job of responding to their users, and developing something that truly enhances our experience, and I would hate to see this destroyed by the corporate interference that would no doubt result from too close a relationship with Sony. Also, my next reading device (or one owned by another member of my family) might not be a Sony. I would like to be able to retain the same library management across whatever platforms we happen to own. That would be harder if Calibre were tied to a specific device.

01-01-2010, 10:24 AM	#10
Hogan Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 5228 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Motorola Xoom	Opening up the wifi would be a excellent move. It would give users access to a whole range of content without the need for a computer. I really dont understand why they have to restrict the wifi anyway. Maybe they want me to buy all my books from the Sony store but that just isnt going to happen anyway.

01-01-2010, 11:03 AM	#12
trevgriff Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 1001622 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: iPad Mini - Main Reader (iPad 3 backup, iPhone 4s back to my backup)	Does the 900 already incorporate wifi I thought it only had 3G?

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