imageYou apparently can already preorder the $399 Sony Reader Daily Edition, the one with a 7.1-inch E Ink screen and 3G wireless from AT&T in the U.S.

Go here, and let us know if there’s a problem preordering the PRS-900.

Nov. 18 had been mentioned earlier as the starting preorder date by TechFlash in Eric Engleman’s Q&A with Steve Haber, president of the Sony digital reading division.

The Daily Edition will actually begin shipping on or around December 18 if information from a TeleRead community member is correct (thanks, eBook Reader!).

December is also the month when Sony is to reveal the newspapers and magazines that will be available for the device. I just hope the presentation of news content is more efficient than the Kindle’s. I can’t get to the stories lickety-split the way I can reading the New York Times mobile edition on my little iPod Touch.

So who’s carrying Sony Readers right now, or about to? “Wal-mart, Best Buy, Target, Staples, Borders,” Haber has told TechFlash. “Last season was about 3,500 outlets. This year it’s 9,000. Best Buy, this is the first time they have it in stores. It was just online last year. This is a significant push for them. Wal-mart will be more stores than last year. And Staples is all new. Toys R Us.”

Meanwhile, if you own the original Sony PRS-500, you can either update your firmware or trade in the 500 for a new ePub-capable model and get a $50-$75 discount (via MobileRead). You’ll have to send in the 500 for an update—your can’t do it at home.

(Updated at 9:30 a.m.)

Related: Sony, B&N better on DRM than Amazon—but still a long way from perfection.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I was very interested in the 900 but didn’t have the funds to buy it, so I went with the Pocket Edition (which I love, btw).

    It should also be noted that the B&N Nook won’t ship until Dec. 18 either. Demand for ebook readers appears to be skyrocketing right now. Yay!

  2. I am interested in the Sony Daily Reader. Will I be able to get the New York Times on it in Shanghai where I live part-time? Will I be able to get ebooks through Borders as well? Any update on when it will be available in stores?

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