Sony Reader hitting Target stores

(Credit: Sony)

I just got a news release from Sony that talks about how its $300 PRS-505 Reader Digital Book is slated to show up in Target stores nationwide this weekend along with its accessories. As I previously reported, Sony has a Reader event slated for October 2 as rumors of a next-generation Sony e-book continue to percolate (one CNET reader claims the new Reader will be called the PRS-700 and feature a built-in "lighting feature").

Here's what is in today's release:

This weekend, the Reader Digital Book by Sony will be available in Target stores nationwide. Beginning September 14, the PRS-505 model will be featured in the "Discovery Hub" endcap in the electronics section of all 1,634 Target stores. With the purchase of a Reader, consumers will also receive a coupon code to download a free copy of 'The Other Queen' by Philippa Gregory from the eBook Store by Sony. 'The Other Queen' is slated for release on September 16.

Alongside the device, the endcap will display Reader accessories including: eBook Store prepaid cards, Cover with Light Accessory, AC Charger and a Crocodile pattern cover with pouch for AC charger and USB cable.

Is mainstream America ready to buy e-book readers? Let us know what you think.

[Renegade Knight]

If eBooks are like their eMusic counterpart, I'll buy the book on CD and rip it to my eReader. When they get around to releasing the eFile on CD anyway...

Buying a disposable book for more than normal prices has no appeal.

[Mac User Too]

First of all, ebooks cost less, not more. Why would a publisher adopt the CD as a media for ebooks when the CD is dying a slow death in the music industry. Haven't you heard? Purchased downloads of music now exceed purchased CDs. Second, I do not thing eReaders will catch on with casual readers in the near future, but for an avid reader, they make a lot of sense.

[cmbPDX]

Absolutely agree.

[BoManiac]

Why do so many out there think that people don't read anymore? Just look at book sales. I'm waiting for the Kindle version 2. Sony already makes enough money from me.

[CinCbad]

I like the idea of an eBook reader. Especially the prospect of carrying multiple titles around in one package. But the costs are waaaay out there. Even taking the "early adopter" premium in to account it is too expensive. Plus one of the great things about books is sharing them with friends and the DRM prevents that. I might not care so much if the books were all much cheaper than hardcopy. In the end, that is going to be the biggest issue for me in deciding when to purchase an eReader: getting the price of the media down to where it makes sense.

[nomedia]

I have one, which I addicted to. Yes, the book's price is expensive, but the experience of carrying all different books and articles in this little one is priceless. When people get to know it, they will get it.

[jes834]

the touch version of windows mobile has a program called ms reader thats the way to go even if the books still cost a little bit to much.

[zman_11]

I think book readers are pretty cool, but honestly, I use Mobipocket reader on my Blckberry and Windows mobile 6 phones, and with an sd card, I can carry pretty much anything that I want with me anywhere. Also, Mobi automatically takes any file, work, PDF, etc and changes it into it's own file type when I drop it on the program on my PC. Then I just synch it up with either of my phones, and I am off wherever I want to go with one less thing to carry (a mobile book reader).

Johnny

[ofmyony]

Not going to be a success without being able to connect and display web content. It's just not ready. I like book readers but I need a web reader

[pjcamp]

Sony is off on their proprietary trip again. This device will only display books purchased from Sony's store. I've got no use for that.

[LMcCarter]

Actually last month Sony released a patch update that lets you download Adobe DRM material from your local library. Free content (paid by our tax dollars) if your local library supports it ebooks.

This is heads and shoulder over the Kindle. Free books from our local library (sorry no Mobireader, only Adobe books). In the last 10 days, my wife has read 5 library books on her Sony.

Her only intent was to get the loaned library books, she actually has been tempted to buy a book from the now reduced Sony bookstore (which is still anemic in choice, compared to Amazon's kindle).

This was an upgrade from reading off her PDA: bigger, crisper fonts and 10 days between charges.

[zorathruster]

For years, publishers cited the "cost of production" as the reason books cost so much and authors got so little per copy. Now E-readers have solved that problem. Supposedly those massive costs of publication are now, since the user pays for the reader medium, essentially zero. So where are the "savings" going? The publisher is reaping a huge "windfall" profit from this and the user gets to pay full price as if it was an opportunity to stick it to them.

As long as publishers stick to this business model, E books and E readers will flounder. When some very smart publisher combines the efficiencies of production and outlays the windfall to the user, E reader will succeed beyond anyone's wildest dream. Until that day, and it looks like it hasn't arrived yet, this venue is doomed.

[Composer_1777]

This should be a mandatory requirement for Universities and that they switch all their overpriced, convoluted text book stores to digital download stations. Then we could all happily download gastly overpriced, so overpriced it should be illegal, books without the hassle of carrying the books. Also should have translator or language teaching software.

[Tec Consumer]

Yeah, this will be a hit. I can see it now, Target will be opening up Lenscrafters express in every store that sells these and offer 20% off the second pair of reading glasses or the upgrade to bifocals or trifocals needed to use it.

[ongre09]

I wish for a reader with lots of memory, good audio output, wireless connection and many types of readers pdf, microsoft reader .doc, etc. actually a very little computer with a ton of solid-state memory and a long lasting battery.
Last I looked, this Sony device was locked into proprietary software and Sony owned sources. Ditto for the Kindle. Not what i am looking for at all. A small laptop that can flip to a reader configuration would be cool, like the OLPC XO. but for grownups.
I imagine siting on an aircraft or at the gate listening to music or an audio book or the radio while reading the book or web site of my choice.

[ev61]

If you had some sort of library option for this, allowing me to buy the reader and check out books for a limited time, I would have one already. For now, I will stick with the local library.

[LMcCarter]

Check previous comment: Sony has a new firmware update that lets you check out your local library Adobe ebooks.

[pablouk1]

The display one I have seen in Books etc in London has already broke.
It only worked for 4 hours before the screen died and two of the buttons stuck..

Still wanna get one.

[arshield]

As crazy as it may seem, the Sony reader is actually more open than the Kindle. It reads more formats than the Kindle and you can buy Sony formated books at a variety of stores. I do wish it was Audible.com compatible but since Amazon bought Audible that is unlikely. Also the point of ereaders is that they actually have good screens, much better on your eyes than a computer screen and the text size is adjustable (unlike a regular book).