Sony is preparing to launch a new eBook reader with an E Ink display and touchscreen navigation. It looks like a minor update to last year’s PRS-T1, and last week a leaked product page suggested the new Sony Reader PRS-T2 could sell for $130.
Now it looks like some retailers could sell the new Sony Reader for $100 — or about the same price as the latest touchscreen Kindle or NOOK.
Update: Sony is now offering the PRS-T2 for $130, but some retailers may still offer better prices… even if only for limited-time promotions.
That price includes a free Harry Potter book, which might sweeten the deal if you haven’t read it yet — or if you only own a paper copy.
The Sony Reader line of eReaders offer support for PDF, TXT, and EPUB files and work with Adobe DRM. That means you can read eBooks purchased from the Sony Reader store as well as the B&N NOOK Shop or a number of other sites. You can also read public library books checked out using the Overdrive system.
But Amazon and B&N are clearly the bigger names in the eBook space — at least in the US. While you can do some pretty nifty things with a Sony Reader (like turning it into an E Ink Android tablet), I suspect a lot more people buy an eReader linked to one of the largest digital book stores.
Maybe I’m wrong. Do you read eBooks? If so, what do you read them on?
I still use my Sony 505 because Sony is still the only major brand e-reader that handles collections (series) managed by Calibre metadata. The Nook and Kindle require fiddling, weird naming schemes or spending hours in the devices moving things around to handle series.
I just wish Sony would do another front lit reader, only done right this time. I really like my wife’s Nook Glow Light. If not for the software limits that lock 3rd party apps from editing shelves I’d toss my Sony. But for now, Sony is the best option for my reading and library management habits.
I read eBooks extensively, but I don’t have a dedicated e-reader device. Instead I use Aldiko on my Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Tab2 7.0, and Asus Infinity.
The S3 is always with me, so I do a lot of reading on it while I am out and about. It’s like the old saying about the best camera is the one you have with you… the best ebook reader is the one you have with you when you want to read.
The Tab2 7.0 is the best size for reading, and I use it mainly at home. It’s easy to hold in one hand like a hardback book. If I were a woman and carried a purse, the Tab2 would definitely be my primary reader device and would go with me everywhere.
The Infinity works, but it’s too large a screen for easy reading, and it’s too heavy to hold in one hand for extended periods.
I have a PRS-650, which was my second Sony Reader (had the original Pocket before that). I’ve been happy with it overall, but am now eyeing the LED-lit Nook. I do enough reading in bed that the edge lighting + e-ink is a killer combo. I wish Sony had incorporated something like it in this latest model, I’d have happily stayed with them for another year or more.
Hmm… so no frontlighting on the new Sony? Weird.
I’ve been waiting for color eReaders for a while now. Too bad the technology doesn’t seem to be improving much. They still aren’t that great and cost a lot. I still use an old E-Ink Kindle since there isn’t much reason to buy any of the new eReaders.
I’ve been waiting for higher refresh rate grayscale screens. I don’t like the flashing of the current tech.
Doesn’t the fact the ad indicates the unit regularly sells for $129, indicates it is a sale price.
That depends… often the “regular” prices listed in this type of ad is an MSRP which nobody ever actually charges.
Take a look at the prices listed for nearly every product at Lenovo.com to see what I mean. 🙂
I can’t believe Sony’s 6″ e-reader sales justify new models. I wish Sony would put a toe into the academic e-reader market, where we desperately need a device with an 8.5″x11″ screen (13.9″ diagonal) for reading academic papers and textbooks at natural resolution. I can only assume the market research has shown there’s not enough money there, and we’ll continue to see an endless parade of 6″ readers that differ only in name and minor features.
+1 on the larger screen!
Another +1 for a larger screen. Sony eReaders in particular are good at handling PDFs but much of the software cleverness around this is to overcome the constraint that a 6″ screen imposes. I’d like to be able to view textbooks and PDFs a whole page at a time. Even a 10″ tablet size eReader screen would work for me. Something light, fast and visible in full sunlight!
Yeah, Kindle and B&N are the dedicated e-readers to beat. Sony lowering prices is a good place to start and their hardware does look nicer than Sony (visually)… but I’m hoping for a new sharper front-lit Kindle in the next week or three.