Sony hasn't abandoned the eReader market, although it's true that the days when their eReaders were tied to online bookstores are long gone. In the last few hours, Sony has unveiled a new large-screen eReader called the Sony DPT-CP1.
This eReader is more like a digital notebook than a traditional eReader, yet it offers many features that users will appreciate. The Sony DPT-CP1 has a 10,3-inch screen with a resolution of 1404 x 1872 pixels, or 272 ppi . The screen is not E-Ink but rather from Netronix. Unlike other eReaders, this device doesn't have a Freescale processor but a Marvell IAP 140 quad-core processor with 16 GB of internal storage . This SoC isn't found in many devices, but Sony claims it can offer the same monthly battery life as other devices, and also utilizes Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi . Yes, the Sony DPT-CP1 has NFC connectivity, allowing you to pair the eReader with other accessories such as speakers and headphones, and even make payments through the notebook.
The screen will be compatible with a stylus or digital pen that comes with the device, so we can take notes or highlight readings and save them on the device.
The Sony DPT-CP1 is a device that will arrive in Japan in June for $650, approximately €525 . While this is a high price for an eReader, it's possibly one of the lowest prices in the digital notebook market and can even compete with some high-end tablets.
Sony created the DPT series for business environments, which is why these devices focus on the stylus and not on offering an online library. This explains the attractive price and the improvement over its predecessor, which was more expensive, had lower resolution, and fewer features. We don't yet know how many units of this Sony DPT-CP1 will be sold, but something tells me it won't be a small number. What do you think? What are your thoughts on this new eReader? Would you buy one of these devices?