Comments on: Sony Reader sold out at TigerDirect.com after $99.99 price earlier today (updated) http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:35:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Ebook Readers: Looking for Just Right « The Reader http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-472652 Ebook Readers: Looking for Just Right « The Reader Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:12:20 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-472652 [...] In both cases, the price vs. functionality equation is not necessarily compelling for most. But the buying rush prompted by a recent deal on the Sony Reader demonstrates the pent-up demand for a low-cost but capable device of this type. Similarly, the huge interest in an expensive but highly functional device like the iPhone indicates that given a powerful feature set and outstanding usability (mixed with a good dash of marketing élan), a high price tag would not necessarily be a deterrent for a device of this type. [...] [...] In both cases, the price vs. functionality equation is not necessarily compelling for most. But the buying rush prompted by a recent deal on the Sony Reader demonstrates the pent-up demand for a low-cost but capable device of this type. Similarly, the huge interest in an expensive but highly functional device like the iPhone indicates that given a powerful feature set and outstanding usability (mixed with a good dash of marketing élan), a high price tag would not necessarily be a deterrent for a device of this type. [...]

]]> By: Flametoad » Blog Archive » Origins 2007: The E-book Angle http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-466138 Flametoad » Blog Archive » Origins 2007: The E-book Angle Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:13:33 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-466138 [...] However, as far as I’m concerned this is still moot. I still haven’t found an e-book reader that meets my standards. The Sony Reader is edging there, but it’s still a couple of generations away. (Incidentally, the 1st generation is was on sale for $99, most likely to clear the warehouses for the 2nd generation.) When it comes to e-readers, I don’t want an all-in-one device like the iphone. I’ve decided I’d rather have a dedicated reader device that does that job well. I want a screen the size of a paper tablet, with no more than double the weight. Needless to say it needs to render text and illustrations crisply. It needs to read the new e-pub format as well as text files and PDF without a lot of hassles with conversion. It needs wifi so I don’t have to physically connect to my desktop to transfer books. That means it needs a file manager. It also needs to support USB so I can attach a thumb drive and transfer books. It needs to have respectable battery life–certainly much better than a laptop. [...] [...] However, as far as I’m concerned this is still moot. I still haven’t found an e-book reader that meets my standards. The Sony Reader is edging there, but it’s still a couple of generations away. (Incidentally, the 1st generation is was on sale for $99, most likely to clear the warehouses for the 2nd generation.) When it comes to e-readers, I don’t want an all-in-one device like the iphone. I’ve decided I’d rather have a dedicated reader device that does that job well. I want a screen the size of a paper tablet, with no more than double the weight. Needless to say it needs to render text and illustrations crisply. It needs to read the new e-pub format as well as text files and PDF without a lot of hassles with conversion. It needs wifi so I don’t have to physically connect to my desktop to transfer books. That means it needs a file manager. It also needs to support USB so I can attach a thumb drive and transfer books. It needs to have respectable battery life–certainly much better than a laptop. [...]

]]> By: Jon Morgan http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-450094 Jon Morgan Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:26:27 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-450094 I just recently got my hands on a Sony eBook Reader this weekend at the Border's bookstore in Flint. I instantly fell in love with the size and over all design of the device. I am bummd that I didn't take advantage of the $99 deal at TigerDirect, because I definitely couldn't have afforded the $349 price at the bookstore. Then again, I don't exactly have $100 just laying around here either. But, this is some reassuring news, either that the device will come down in price, or that something better is coming along, or a little bit of both. I just recently got my hands on a Sony eBook Reader this weekend at the Border’s bookstore in Flint. I instantly fell in love with the size and over all design of the device. I am bummd that I didn’t take advantage of the $99 deal at TigerDirect, because I definitely couldn’t have afforded the $349 price at the bookstore. Then again, I don’t exactly have $100 just laying around here either.

But, this is some reassuring news, either that the device will come down in price, or that something better is coming along, or a little bit of both.

]]> By: Robert Nagle http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449937 Robert Nagle Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:14:25 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449937 The $150 worth of ebooks seems to be different. It's now $50 of ebooks and $100 worth of public domain classics. As the mobileread guys have speculated, it's likely that Sony is clearing out their inventory in preparation of their next batch of Vizplex displays. My guess is that Sony will be making an announcement next Monday. NAEB, where are you? (Personal note: I awoke 9:30 to the sound of David R.'s excited phone message about this deal. I could hardly believe my eyes/ears). The $150 worth of ebooks seems to be different. It’s now $50 of ebooks and $100 worth of public domain classics.

As the mobileread guys have speculated, it’s likely that Sony is clearing out their inventory in preparation of their next batch of Vizplex displays. My guess is that Sony will be making an announcement next Monday. NAEB, where are you?

(Personal note: I awoke 9:30 to the sound of David R.’s excited phone message about this deal. I could hardly believe my eyes/ears).

]]> By: Rob Preece http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449803 Rob Preece Wed, 04 Jul 2007 21:00:27 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449803 I was thinking about it--and by the time I'd made up my mind, they were out. Darn. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com I was thinking about it–and by the time I’d made up my mind, they were out.

Darn.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

]]> By: Ben http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449593 Ben Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:40:31 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449593 I just purchased one of these readers myself. I have the old Gemstar GEB1150 and will relay my experiences with the Sony eInk display once I get this bad boy. At $99 maybe I should buy 2? I just purchased one of these readers myself. I have the old Gemstar GEB1150 and will relay my experiences with the Sony eInk display once I get this bad boy.

At $99 maybe I should buy 2?

]]> By: Robert Nagle http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449586 Robert Nagle Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:23:31 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449586 i bought that. Thanks! i bought that. Thanks!

]]> By: Bookman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449572 Bookman Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:49:03 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449572 These guys won't sell me a reader. I live in Canada they won't take my credit card and were not helpful. They won't help figure out how to get the money to them. Anyone got any ideas. These guys won’t sell me a reader. I live in Canada they won’t take my credit card and were not helpful. They won’t help figure out how to get the money to them. Anyone got any ideas.

]]> By: Marcus Sundman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449498 Marcus Sundman Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:15:34 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449498 I called the order help line and the rude guy who answered spoke bad english and asked me directly where I'm from and when I said "Finland" he said "you can't use a credit card with us" and immediately hang up before I could say anything else. I called the order help line and the rude guy who answered spoke bad english and asked me directly where I’m from and when I said “Finland” he said “you can’t use a credit card with us” and immediately hang up before I could say anything else.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449493 David Rothman Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:11:30 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449493 To Scandinavia, the shipping is outrageous---but here's my grand total for a buy from Alexandria, VA: Total for all Items: $99.99 Shipping & Handling: $8.49 Sales Tax: $0.00 Grand Total: $108.48 My sympathy about your Sony Reader situation, Marcus, but then, considering the healthcare situation and other stuff over there, maybe in the end life's a tie. Thanks, David To Scandinavia, the shipping is outrageous—but here’s my grand total for a buy from Alexandria, VA:

Total for all Items:
$99.99
Shipping & Handling: $8.49
Sales Tax: $0.00
Grand Total: $108.48

My sympathy about your Sony Reader situation, Marcus, but then, considering the healthcare situation and other stuff over there, maybe in the end life’s a tie.

Thanks,
David

]]> By: Marcus Sundman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449491 Marcus Sundman Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:11:13 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449491 And the only method of payment is a wire transfer which costs an additional $25! And the only method of payment is a wire transfer which costs an additional $25!

]]> By: Marcus Sundman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/07/04/sony-reader-on-sale-at-tigerdirectcom-for-99-but-hurry/comment-page-1/#comment-449485 Marcus Sundman Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:56:27 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6788#comment-449485 Too bad the shipping is $76. :-( Too bad the shipping is $76. :-(

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