Sony Readers: Are the cheaper versions worth checking out?

Yesterday we talked about the basics of the new Sony Reader line, including the $399 behemoth that has a lot of buzz. Today, we talk with Clayton Morris from Fox News, and Ross Rubin from The NPD Group about the lesser known kids, the $199 and $299 Pocket and Touch editions.

So far, I'm most impressed with Sony's embrace of open standard ebook formats like ePub, which seems like Sony's new direction. What's your take? Do you want one of these devices, or are they still too pricey? Sound off in the comments Distributed by Tubemogul.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• sony
• reader
• guest
• Ross
• Rubin
• Clayton
• Morris
• company
• ebook
• ereader
• kindle

[HoboZombie]

Did he say "public liberry"?

[kerohime]

@Visionism I completely Agree. I cant imagine not being able to put the books I've collected over the years already into the ebook. And I know my internet resources, I like the freedom of being able to choose where I download books from, and if I cant find it, I'll just buy it from the store.

Plus, you need a wire to charge ANYTHING anyway, so whats wrong with sending the books over via wire while you charge?

[grimeldasnodpocket]

@Visionism I agree with you completely, and even though the wireless feature is nice (especially in Europe) it's more than cancelled out by being tied to a single manufacturer.

Also kind of surprised that they focussed so much on the wireless issue without going into the other advantages that Sony models have.

[Visionism]

Ross Rubin hit the nail on the head. The beauty of Sony is that they've reversed their usual "proprietary everything" policy and made a reader that supports a plethora of different file formats. For this reason above all else it blows Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook out of the water. Anyone who, like me, has been collecting ebooks for years now and has multiple file formats, both DRM and not, is going to choose the Sony over either. Wireless is a minor issue by comparison.

[wayneleon100]

If Sony wants more consumer power then they really ought to stop pricing people out of the market for their goods.

Why the price tag of over three hundred dollars for this piece of technology? There is no rhyme or reason for it.

They did the same thing with the Sony PS3 when that console first came out. Even with the PSP, you have to purchase the other bits and pieces {such as the camera, the speakers, the sim cards etc etc}. Why are Sony so determined to price people out of the market?

[adonian]

Who the hell needs Wireless?!?! It got my wife the pocket. If she want's a book, she can get it when she gets home.

I got the ectaco jetbook, when I want a book, I'll just download it when I get home.

Sony's PDF is a little problematic, but oh well.

[DejectedPanda]

Yeah, they hold over 300 books so I don't know why it would be so important to download a book wherever you are. A basic web browser would be nice though, for checking the news and whatnot.

[HTaddict]

Why the f*** would a wireless option be so important? As if you would need to be able to start reading a book in a few seconds! Of course it is nice to have the option, but it is something I would probably NEVER use, as browsing the net will probably be more comfortable on my computer plus I would want to backup the books on my computer anyway.

[shrumpkin]

I need a Sony reader sooooooo badly. I think I need to start some kind of donation fund, as I am awaiting back surgery right now and cannot work. :(

I love these readers.

[Ly4nna]

Problem with the Kindle is twofold: you are stuck with the Amazon shop, and it's not available for European readers.

Wireless doesn't interest me at all. I will simply download my books on my laptop and store them on the device. There you go ;) As a European, I'm definately interested in the Sony eReader. Not sure which one to buy though.