Full specs on Sony’s upcoming eBook readers emerge
Watch our there, Amazon, Sony is prepping two new eBook readers and placing the Kindle series squarely in its sights — well, sort of. The duo of rumored Sony readers have yet to be made official by our favorite nose diving consumer electronics giant, but J&R reportedly outed the pair when it accidentally posted complete specs on each device to its site. Sony Insider caught the snafu before the pages were pulled and, well, you know how it goes. Neither reader really poses a direct threat to the Kindle 2 or the Kindle DX where capability is concerned — if the reported specs are on target, that is — but the PRS-300 pictured above in red will supposedly be available for $199 when it launches. An ultra-portable eBook reader with a 5-inch display for $100 less than the Kindle 2 could definitely be attractive to many potential buyers, especially if it goes on sale for the holiday season. Hit the jump for each readers’ specs.
PRS-600 (pictured above, left):
- Price: $299
- Screen Size: Vizplex 6 inches
- Resolution: 800 x 600 pixels
- Gray Scale: 8-levels gray scale
- Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion (battery: DC 3.7 V)
- AC Power: DC 5.2 V
- Battery Life (Approx): 7,500 (BBeB Book)
- 6.9″ L x 4.8″ W x 4″ D, Weight: 10.1 oz.
- Ships with a USB cable
Media Formats Supported: Unsecured Text: EPUB File (Non DRM/ Adobe DRM protected), BBeB Book (Non DRM/ PRS DRM protected), PDF file (Non DRM/ Adobe DRM protected) DRM Text: Text file, RTF file, Word file (unsecured), Unsecured Audio: MP3 (Non encrypted), AAC (Non encrypted) Image: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP
PRS-300 (pictured above, right):
- Price: $199
- Screen Size: Vizplex 5 inches
- Resolution: 800 x 600 pixels
- Gray Scale: 8-levels gray scale
- Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion (battery: DC 3.7 V)
- AC Power: DC 5.2 V
- Battery Life (Approx): 7,500 (BBeB Book)
- 6.2″ L x. 4.2″ W x 2″ D, Weight: 7.76 oz.
- Ships with a USB Cable, Sleeve, Quick Start Flyers
Media Formats Supported: Unsecured Text: EPUB File (Non DRM/ Adobe DRM protected), BBeB Book (Non DRM/ PRS DRM protected), PDF file (Non DRM/ Adobe DRM protected) DRM Text: Text file, RTF file, Word file (unsecured)
2nd!
I don’t think your guys’ depth measurements are right. 4″ and 2″ deep? Is it supposed to be *point* four and *point* two?
^^ that’s what she said lol
Call me crazy, but what ever happened to owning an actual book and reading that? I just don’t get these e-readers. I understand some people do alot of traveling and may not have the time and room for a paperback, but has our society become so lazy for things like to sell what they do?
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
I agree Cliff, the next generation will prby be too lazy to wipe their spoiled asses.
@Cliff – Ebook readers are more suitable for a city lifestyle. Small apartments, long public transit rides and fast paced lifestyles all favor a Ebook reader.
Sony needs a major shakeup…whats with all of these ill times releases?
The PS3 dropping months after 360 made a solid fan base…the Experia dropping months after the hype died down…now this.
They know Apple is going to release a touch screen device with e-book functionality soon…this thing is going to get blown away.
I just can’t see the apple “e-book” reader taking much of the kindle/sony e-reader share. I say that because it’s supposed to be color screened/movie capable, exactly the opposite of what makes these e-readers so great. It’ll kill battery life, and will probably be back-lit like their other screens making long term reading harder on the eyes. I’m guessing the new apple device will compete more directly with devices like the archos 5/7 etc.
@ Jason Bourne lets be non fan boys for a second ok. 1st when apple and if apple releases that device we been hearing about for years, it will and it wll cost about triple the price of just one of these sony ebook readers. This so called device will and it will be so locked down (cause we know apple does this best)that it will never reach its full power of use. last but not least how many basic features of this device will be missing? spell check, copy and paste, video, etc that will be release on the 2nd ver of this device. so is sony really thinking about apple when its making a ebook reader i think their more worried about kindle. from a non fan boy point of view
LOL @ fanboy.
I have never owned an Apple product in my life and im in no rush to.
I just know that if they release a touchscreen device with e-reader functionality as has been rumored, sales will be through the roof and this Sony reader will be quickly pushed to the side.
The ebook market is steadily growing, but at this stage of technology the main thing that could push sales through the roof would be lower prices and thats not the sort of thing apple tends to do.
Until colour screens become a viable option without destroying battery life there are limits to how far any hardware manufacturer could push things.
all things considered, probably not a bad strategy, playing the price game, given sony’s distinct disadvantage to amazon in lining up titles, even in light of its recent partnership with google. click on the kindle tag on fiftylinkslater.com for more on everyone’s favorite device.
there are over 28,000 completely free ebooks readily available online. All that’s necessary is a vehicle with which to read them. I’ve tried reading them on small screens like an iPhone and it’s tedious. On laptops comfort (both due to ergonomics and eyetrain) are really compromised. I don’t see ebook readers as replacing paper anytime soon, but even in the here and now, they most definitely have their place.
i can’t wait to buy an apple e-book, where I can only purchase books from itunes, and not be allowed to use the free downloads from my local public library. that is going to be fantastic. who cares that I’ll have to pay so much extra for each book, the reader will look awesomes!
@ Cliff
“Call me crazy, but what ever happened to owning an actual book and reading that?”
Dude…you’re writing your response on an iPhone.
Nuff said.
I have over a 600 books at home and I live in an apartment. I hate seeling the books but I have had to sell a lot of them. This would be a great space saver but the main reason I am considering it is because when I go on vacation I read a lot and taking books adds weight.
Well, Amazon and Sony have shown that entering the ebook reader market is means entering the content as well. Why would Apple enter a market crowded with Amazon, B&N and Sony when their business is media distribution? Plus, color tablets are unsuitable for books, which often take hours.