Comments on: My daughter on the Sony Reader, et al. http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:46:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: joblack http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-645941 joblack Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:56:34 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-645941 I´m 31 and I was waiting for a good ebook reader for almost half of my life. It´s not my fault that the older ebook reader sucked. If they were as good as the actual ones I would have got an ebook reader 10 years ago ;o). I´m 31 and I was waiting for a good ebook reader for almost half of my life. It´s not my fault that the older ebook reader sucked. If they were as good as the actual ones I would have got an ebook reader 10 years ago ;o).

]]> By: ebook designer http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640668 ebook designer Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:44:01 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640668 I must disagree with Erin, and I am close to her age (32). While I am an electrical engineer, an MIT grad, and male, I actually don't like gadgets that much. I don't have a laptop (I need a desktop and giant LCD at work to do engineering and use a mac mini at home), I don't have any portable video game platforms, or a smart phone, or even an iPod. My cell phone is ultra-basic (motofone F3), and the only other thing I carry around in my bag is a small digital camera. But I absolutely see the utility of an ebook. I am an avid reader, which apparently most people in my generation are not. Boston Globe (yes, I even read newspapers, which is even more rare for someone my age) had an article the other day that said something like 50% of people my age _never_ read a book for pleasure. I buy tons of books from Amazon every year, and its mostly stuff that I'm not going to want to clog up my bookshelves with and won't ever re-read. A lot of sci-fi, vampire romances, etc. So to me something like a Kindle would make a lot of sense. A good quality, reflective screen, good battery life, getting books from Amazon is easier cheaper and faster than paper, and stuff from other places is easy enough to get on there via usb or kindle email. I think DRM is annoying but I don't care that much since for 90% of what I read I'm never going to read it again or want to read it on another device; so I can accept it as long as the use model is compelling enough. I am mystified why people feel like color or touch (much less multitouch) is required to read novels, or why the are going to want to be watching sports clips or whatever while trying to read a book. I can see why ebooks are not for everyone though. I must disagree with Erin, and I am close to her age (32). While I am an electrical engineer, an MIT grad, and male, I actually don’t like gadgets that much. I don’t have a laptop (I need a desktop and giant LCD at work to do engineering and use a mac mini at home), I don’t have any portable video game platforms, or a smart phone, or even an iPod. My cell phone is ultra-basic (motofone F3), and the only other thing I carry around in my bag is a small digital camera. But I absolutely see the utility of an ebook.

I am an avid reader, which apparently most people in my generation are not. Boston Globe (yes, I even read newspapers, which is even more rare for someone my age) had an article the other day that said something like 50% of people my age _never_ read a book for pleasure. I buy tons of books from Amazon every year, and its mostly stuff that I’m not going to want to clog up my bookshelves with and won’t ever re-read. A lot of sci-fi, vampire romances, etc. So to me something like a Kindle would make a lot of sense. A good quality, reflective screen, good battery life, getting books from Amazon is easier cheaper and faster than paper, and stuff from other places is easy enough to get on there via usb or kindle email. I think DRM is annoying but I don’t care that much since for 90% of what I read I’m never going to read it again or want to read it on another device; so I can accept it as long as the use model is compelling enough.

I am mystified why people feel like color or touch (much less multitouch) is required to read novels, or why the are going to want to be watching sports clips or whatever while trying to read a book.

I can see why ebooks are not for everyone though.

]]> By: Minda http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640396 Minda Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:11:57 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640396 I have a hard time letting Erin speak for our generation- sure, the last time I went on a trip I had an iPod, iPhone, Sony Reader, MacBookPro and listened to Sirius Satellite Radio, but I didn't feel that all of those devices made the Sony Reader pointless- it actually replaced the many books I otherwise take on trips. The iPhone isn't kind enough to the eyes for a long read. Does anyone remember Penny from Inspector Gadget? When they make the Computer Book she had I'll go with a convergent device. Until then each of my devices has a place in my media-saturated life! I have a hard time letting Erin speak for our generation- sure, the last time I went on a trip I had an iPod, iPhone, Sony Reader, MacBookPro and listened to Sirius Satellite Radio, but I didn’t feel that all of those devices made the Sony Reader pointless- it actually replaced the many books I otherwise take on trips. The iPhone isn’t kind enough to the eyes for a long read.
Does anyone remember Penny from Inspector Gadget? When they make the Computer Book she had I’ll go with a convergent device. Until then each of my devices has a place in my media-saturated life!

]]> By: ava http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640085 ava Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:10:15 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640085 Paul, It would be interesting to see what Erin thought of www.booksinmyphone.com while Sony and Kindle are fresh in her mind. They offer books you can read in cell/mobile phones, it's a fairly easy converged device reading experience to try. Paul,

It would be interesting to see what Erin thought of http://www.booksinmyphone.com while Sony and Kindle are fresh in her mind. They offer books you can read in cell/mobile phones, it’s a fairly easy converged device reading experience to try.

]]> By: Liviu http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640080 Liviu Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:57:06 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640080 As mentioned in another post, for me e-ink is a major bust right now (slow, no integrated lighting, no touch screen outside of the super expensive Iliad). Its selling features - long battery and outdoors reading are sort of irrelevant for me; my 770 does 4-5 hours, I rarely want to read in full sunlight and anywhere else it works beautifully; pdf is slow but I started using the iPod Touch for that and is much better though it still needs true e-book support not ad-hoc hacks Regarding reading experience, if I want print like, well I'd rather read a print book; both 770 and the Touch have better than print experience for me, with customized background color (black) and text (yellow-orange) for the 770 As mentioned in another post, for me e-ink is a major bust right now (slow, no integrated lighting, no touch screen outside of the super expensive Iliad).

Its selling features – long battery and outdoors reading are sort of irrelevant for me; my 770 does 4-5 hours, I rarely want to read in full sunlight and anywhere else it works beautifully; pdf is slow but I started using the iPod Touch for that and is much better though it still needs true e-book support not ad-hoc hacks

Regarding reading experience, if I want print like, well I’d rather read a print book; both 770 and the Touch have better than print experience for me, with customized background color (black) and text (yellow-orange) for the 770

]]> By: steve http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640074 steve Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:35:01 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640074 I would have to disagree with your daughter and I'm near her age group. Multi-use devices are ok as a convenience but a specialized reader will do better for day to day reading. I read a lot, I've used PDAs laptops and even crts to read books and technical manuals. One of the main problems with all of the portable devices like PDAs is that they can not display a full size PDF. Many of the technical manuals I read have graphics or are formatted for full sheet size. The larger the screen size the more useful the device will be for graphic novels, PDFs, images, magazines, and newspapers. Color would be great on a reading device but not a requirement. The main things I want in a reading device are: large screen, long battery life, annotations, searchable text, and be able to handle DRM free formats. Nice to haves include touch screen and wireless access. I will buy a dedicated reader when the price/performance meets my needs. I would have to disagree with your daughter and I’m near her age group. Multi-use devices are ok as a convenience but a specialized reader will do better for day to day reading.

I read a lot, I’ve used PDAs laptops and even crts to read books and technical manuals. One of the main problems with all of the portable devices like PDAs is that they can not display a full size PDF. Many of the technical manuals I read have graphics or are formatted for full sheet size. The larger the screen size the more useful the device will be for graphic novels, PDFs, images, magazines, and newspapers.

Color would be great on a reading device but not a requirement. The main things I want in a reading device are: large screen, long battery life, annotations, searchable text, and be able to handle DRM free formats. Nice to haves include touch screen and wireless access.

I will buy a dedicated reader when the price/performance meets my needs.

]]> By: Angel http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640072 Angel Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:28:18 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640072 The problem with convergence is that a lot of times certain features suffer. They usually do one thing really good and other functions so-so. I can read ebooks on my Treo 750, but the screen is too small and the battery life will suffer if I read too long. That's unacceptable since I have to use it as a phone. I could read ebooks on my iPod Touch, but I don't particularly care for having to use my finger to flick to the next page. I prefer a hard button to turn the page. If there were a convergence device that actually succeeded functionally in all areas without sacrificing battery life, I would definitely buy it. Until then, I'll continue to buy dedicated devices. The problem with convergence is that a lot of times certain features suffer. They usually do one thing really good and other functions so-so. I can read ebooks on my Treo 750, but the screen is too small and the battery life will suffer if I read too long. That’s unacceptable since I have to use it as a phone. I could read ebooks on my iPod Touch, but I don’t particularly care for having to use my finger to flick to the next page. I prefer a hard button to turn the page. If there were a convergence device that actually succeeded functionally in all areas without sacrificing battery life, I would definitely buy it. Until then, I’ll continue to buy dedicated devices.

]]> By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640063 Mike Cane Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:17:03 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640063 Several things: 1) My personal fear is that if I have an ebook reader with a web browser, I will be pulled away from the book by the Call of the Net http://www.sciencehumor.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/research-paper.jpg 2) When I was using the 770 as an ebook reader, I was always conscious that I was using electrons on reading instead of -- you guessed it -- WiFi for the Net 3) We have absolutely no idea what is in the labs right now in terms of early prototype screens or power sources. Eventually, those two things will converge and the Ultimate Device will emerge. I'd just like to still be alive (with good enough eyes and sound enough mind) to see that. 4) Of course, even with #3, we'll still have the DRM and file formats battles. Several things:

1) My personal fear is that if I have an ebook reader with a web browser, I will be pulled away from the book by the Call of the Net

http://www.sciencehumor.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/research-paper.jpg

2) When I was using the 770 as an ebook reader, I was always conscious that I was using electrons on reading instead of — you guessed it — WiFi for the Net

3) We have absolutely no idea what is in the labs right now in terms of early prototype screens or power sources. Eventually, those two things will converge and the Ultimate Device will emerge. I’d just like to still be alive (with good enough eyes and sound enough mind) to see that.

4) Of course, even with #3, we’ll still have the DRM and file formats battles.

]]> By: Gerry Manacsa http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640060 Gerry Manacsa Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:05:56 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640060 I agree with the convergence arguments. General purpose machines with excellent screens, long battery life and responsive interfaces will eventually take over the space that dedicated readers are trying to create — just as the iPhone and its ilk are already in the process of displacing dedicated music players like the iPod. While I have a Sony Reader and a tablet PC, I find that I now use my iPhone for nearly all of my ebook reading (except for comics and graphic novels, which demand a bigger screen). I always have the iPhone on me, the battery life is good, the screen is beautiful and its interface is responsive and gets out of the way. None of the other devices come close to this combination. Once it has true support for ebooks, it will be even better. And when an iPhone-like device optimized for larger-screen tasks becomes available, then dedicated readers will go extinct — unless they can compete with drastically lower prices. I agree with the convergence arguments. General purpose machines with excellent screens, long battery life and responsive interfaces will eventually take over the space that dedicated readers are trying to create — just as the iPhone and its ilk are already in the process of displacing dedicated music players like the iPod.

While I have a Sony Reader and a tablet PC, I find that I now use my iPhone for nearly all of my ebook reading (except for comics and graphic novels, which demand a bigger screen). I always have the iPhone on me, the battery life is good, the screen is beautiful and its interface is responsive and gets out of the way. None of the other devices come close to this combination. Once it has true support for ebooks, it will be even better. And when an iPhone-like device optimized for larger-screen tasks becomes available, then dedicated readers will go extinct — unless they can compete with drastically lower prices.

]]> By: Heath Brown http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640025 Heath Brown Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:49:43 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640025 If convergence means going any smaller, then it just isn't going to work for me. I read mainly ebooks now on a couple different devices (770 and DT375). The 770 is a little small for me even. I want a reader with a 5.6" or larger screen. I want one that has backlight so I can read in bed without an addon light or lamp. I would be willing to pay $300 or so for it. I don't agree that this generation of readers will not buy a dedicated device for reading. Many of us already have them. I would, however, welcome a unified device as long as it matched the specs above. I don't think e-Ink will work if it doesn't have a backlight (especially if it is a unified device). P.S. I forgot I also have an EB-1150, although I don't use it anymore. :) If convergence means going any smaller, then it just isn’t going to work for me. I read mainly ebooks now on a couple different devices (770 and DT375). The 770 is a little small for me even. I want a reader with a 5.6″ or larger screen. I want one that has backlight so I can read in bed without an addon light or lamp. I would be willing to pay $300 or so for it.

I don’t agree that this generation of readers will not buy a dedicated device for reading. Many of us already have them. I would, however, welcome a unified device as long as it matched the specs above. I don’t think e-Ink will work if it doesn’t have a backlight (especially if it is a unified device).

P.S. I forgot I also have an EB-1150, although I don’t use it anymore. :)

]]> By: thadine http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640023 thadine Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:44:54 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640023 Well, I'm 29 and I love ebook readers. I have a CyBook, and am longing to get an e-ink device. Personally, I don't like convergence devices - they seem to do a lot of things badly, instead of doing a few things really well. Sure, I use my Palm to read books when I'm out and about, but at home I would much rather read something with a decent sized screen. Well, I’m 29 and I love ebook readers. I have a CyBook, and am longing to get an e-ink device. Personally, I don’t like convergence devices – they seem to do a lot of things badly, instead of doing a few things really well. Sure, I use my Palm to read books when I’m out and about, but at home I would much rather read something with a decent sized screen.

]]> By: Julie Ridl http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-640015 Julie Ridl Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:35:42 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-640015 When textbook publishers make their content available in ebook form, reaching all the way down into high schools, then you'll have generations growing up with a comfortable reading device. It won't be long, though, before comfortable reading/viewing devices will all be one personal gadget. Personally, I like reading devices because my eyes are getting bad. Loved my Rocketbook. Waiting for my Kindle.. and fearful that the Kindle won't be as good for hot flash reading late at night as my Rocket was. When textbook publishers make their content available in ebook form, reaching all the way down into high schools, then you’ll have generations growing up with a comfortable reading device.

It won’t be long, though, before comfortable reading/viewing devices will all be one personal gadget.

Personally, I like reading devices because my eyes are getting bad. Loved my Rocketbook. Waiting for my Kindle.. and fearful that the Kindle won’t be as good for hot flash reading late at night as my Rocket was.

]]> By: Greg Schofield http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-639999 Greg Schofield Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:10:07 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-639999 Convergence is a major trend and a very good one. However, there are technical limits and we stand on one of those limits. Eink, not a reader per se, is the vital element. Eink's paper-like display is essential from a book reading perspective. The niche market is book readers, i.e. those who already carry books with them, hence a lessening of what is carried and not an extra. But it is not just the quality of the display, it is its power requirements, that it only uses power to change pages. That is essential, long battery life, many page turns is a critical characteristic. For convergence to happen, it converges towards eink, which presently is too slow, uncolourful and non-video AT THE MOMENT. It relies, if more processing is required developments in battery capacity, lightness and charge times, and a significant lessening of CPU power demands. All of this will come, but not overnight. For serious readers, and there are a lot of us, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantage of an extra device. For non-readers it is obviously unnecessary and until technologies converge, they will make-do with PDAs (as some dedicated readers have) and laptops (talk about lugging about something that is almost impossible to read under all but ideal conditions). So the odd thing is not that readers become more like present day computers and phones, but in the end computers and phones become more like readers. My view, for what that is worth will happen when flexible, fast and colourful eink is used, can be rolled up and and better input devices than keyboards are created. That is some years off yet. Meanwhile a reader is no extra for readers. Convergence is a major trend and a very good one.

However, there are technical limits and we stand on one of those limits.

Eink, not a reader per se, is the vital element.

Eink’s paper-like display is essential from a book reading perspective. The niche market is book readers, i.e. those who already carry books with them, hence a lessening of what is carried and not an extra.

But it is not just the quality of the display, it is its power requirements, that it only uses power to change pages. That is essential, long battery life, many page turns is a critical characteristic.

For convergence to happen, it converges towards eink, which presently is too slow, uncolourful and non-video AT THE MOMENT.

It relies, if more processing is required developments in battery capacity, lightness and charge times, and a significant lessening of CPU power demands.

All of this will come, but not overnight.

For serious readers, and there are a lot of us, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantage of an extra device. For non-readers it is obviously unnecessary and until technologies converge, they will make-do with PDAs (as some dedicated readers have) and laptops (talk about lugging about something that is almost impossible to read under all but ideal conditions).

So the odd thing is not that readers become more like present day computers and phones, but in the end computers and phones become more like readers.

My view, for what that is worth will happen when flexible, fast and colourful eink is used, can be rolled up and and better input devices than keyboards are created. That is some years off yet.

Meanwhile a reader is no extra for readers.

]]> By: Rob Preece http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-639970 Rob Preece Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:19:51 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-639970 I've always been a believer in converged devices and agree with the notion that eBooks would succeed better if they could migrate seamlessly to the best available reading device. If you're sitting, waiting for the boss to show up for a meeting, read on your blackberry. If you're at your desk and want to look busy, at your desktop. If you're going to be sitting and reading for a while, though, a lightweight larger-screen reading device is perfect (which is why I join so many in hoping for a universal eBook format). I use my iPaq and Palm for reading but prefer my eBookWise when I'm going to really be settling in to read. I know Paul is simply reporting what his daughter said, but I always keep a grain of salt handy when one person claims to speak for his/her entire generation. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com I’ve always been a believer in converged devices and agree with the notion that eBooks would succeed better if they could migrate seamlessly to the best available reading device. If you’re sitting, waiting for the boss to show up for a meeting, read on your blackberry. If you’re at your desk and want to look busy, at your desktop. If you’re going to be sitting and reading for a while, though, a lightweight larger-screen reading device is perfect (which is why I join so many in hoping for a universal eBook format). I use my iPaq and Palm for reading but prefer my eBookWise when I’m going to really be settling in to read.

I know Paul is simply reporting what his daughter said, but I always keep a grain of salt handy when one person claims to speak for his/her entire generation.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

]]> By: Sam J. Miller http://www.teleread.org/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/comment-page-1/#comment-639951 Sam J. Miller Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:08:12 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/11/27/my-daughter-on-the-sony-reader-et-al/#comment-639951 I'm a 28 year old writer, and I completely agree. While I love print books, I also love the possibilities that digitization creates for publishing and distributing great writing that's free of the expense involved with print publishing. With that said, I will never buy a reader that includes DRM, or proprietary file formats, and i won't buy some 2 or 3 or 400 dollar machine just to read books. My PSP - a video game system - can also get on the internet, play mp3s, hold my photo collection... and read books in PDF format (although I had to download special software to do that, and the manufacturer frowns on it). As Cory Doctorow has argued, the ideal e-book reader won't be an e-book reader at all. It'll be a machine with a nice screen that can read books and blogs and surf youtube and play music and do a ton of other stuff... most importantly, it'll be something whose manufacturer ENCOURAGES third-party software and other forms of customization, and won't try to limit what I can do with content. I’m a 28 year old writer, and I completely agree. While I love print books, I also love the possibilities that digitization creates for publishing and distributing great writing that’s free of the expense involved with print publishing. With that said, I will never buy a reader that includes DRM, or proprietary file formats, and i won’t buy some 2 or 3 or 400 dollar machine just to read books. My PSP – a video game system – can also get on the internet, play mp3s, hold my photo collection… and read books in PDF format (although I had to download special software to do that, and the manufacturer frowns on it).

As Cory Doctorow has argued, the ideal e-book reader won’t be an e-book reader at all. It’ll be a machine with a nice screen that can read books and blogs and surf youtube and play music and do a ton of other stuff… most importantly, it’ll be something whose manufacturer ENCOURAGES third-party software and other forms of customization, and won’t try to limit what I can do with content.

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