Today Sony released their new eBook Readers line, all of them sporting touch capability and the new eInk display with improved contrast and speed. All of them have the same 2GB memory but unlike Amazon’s Kindle, they also feature a SD card / Memory Stick slot if carrying 2,000 books at a time is not enough for you. The best (and most expensive) in the newly released series is the Daily Edition PRS-950 which beside a larger 7″ screen also features 3G and WiFi connectivity. The next one in terms of price / performance comes the Touch Edition (PRS-650) for $229 with a 6″ eInk display and the cheapest one is the 5-inch PRS-350 Pocket Edition for $179 although at this size you better use your smartphone. All the devices allow you to take notes directly on the screen using the included stylus. Now, I can see the more expensive Daily Edition model being sold as a luxury item and I have to admit I would like one myself, even if only for the 7″ eInk screen, but who in the world would pay that much for the non 3G non WiFi lesser models which are far more expensive than the Amazon’s Kindle 3 – review here (3G, WiFi, 4GB memory) without really justifying their price? Sony being Sony however, still doesn’t get the market and, especially during recession times, the market is driven by cost…of course, if you want to position yourself as a luxury provider, you can do that as well, but forget about selling millions in this case.
