Yesterday, news briefly surfaced of the launch of Sony's Digital Notebook , or DPT-S1, its real name. This eReader will be the first to have a 13,3-inch screen, or the size of a standard sheet of paper . According to the latest reports, Sony was testing the DPT-S1 model at several Japanese universities to assess its performance in a student environment . Apparently, the results have been so positive that the Sony DPT-S1 will go on sale at the end of the year, just in time for the holiday season, for the " modest " price of 754 euros.
Although it finally seems that the main and only purpose of this eReader or digital notebook will be the business world, since its capabilities are going to be quite limited in relation to its price. On the other hand, this price is not a student price, but rather approximates thicker pockets.
Final features of the DPT-S1
Surprisingly, the DPT-S1 can only read PDF files . Perhaps the most surprising thing is that it won't read EPUB, much less EPUB3, unlike its siblings . Regarding the processor and memory, Sony 's official documentation is silent, although according to this documentation, the Sony DPT-S1 is ideally suited for server use, so the processor and RAM wouldn't be critical factors. The screen is 13,3 inches with a resolution of 1.200 x 1.600 , is touch-sensitive, and has a 16-level grayscale. It has 4GB of internal storage, although only 2.8GB is available to the user. However, it does have a microslot that supports up to 32GB, meaning you can actually have up to approximately 35GB. It features a powerful Wi-Fi connection that doesn't significantly impact the device's battery life, which is approximately two weeks with moderate Wi-Fi use and three weeks without.
Another important feature of the DPT-S1 is its weight, 358 grams , a weight that truly earns it the nickname " Digital Notebook ." It's worth noting that the Kindle DX , currently the eReader with the largest screen at 9,7 inches, weighs 536 grams, and the two latest iPad models weigh between 438 and 600 grams, all with smaller screens.
The DPT-S1 comes with a power adapter for charging and a stylus, a useful tool for writing and annotating documents. In addition to its specifications, the price of this device has also been set. Unfortunately, it's not within everyone's reach, but rather for a select few, at approximately €754. This price definitively puts it out of reach for students and the general public, since for that price, schools, universities, and individuals alike could buy the latest iPad model and still have money left over.
From what I can gather from the technical information, the DPT-S1 is designed for teamwork, where one person would use a server and the rest would work on the documents with the DPT-S1 and its stylus, being able to view and share their work with the other devices. Basically, it uses the classic client-server architecture that's still common in academia. Despite this, it's been disappointing that Sony has priced this promising device so high. Furthermore, the exclusive use of PDF format discourages any purchase, as many don't use PDF as a standard format. Supporting HTML or DocPort, not to mention EPUB, would have significantly increased interest in the DPT-S1 . I don't know what you all think, but I've found this launch frustrating and disappointing, and I hope Sony reconsiders its price and software. Otherwise, I imagine Sony will completely overtake the DPT-S1 in Europe, don't you think?
More Information – Sony's digital notebook makes another appearance , A new look at Sony's "notebook of the future"
Source and Image – Sony Japan