I have been purchasing ebooks for many years now and reading them on my Palm pilot. I am constantly hearing people say how they prefer to have a "physical, paper book that has tactile response". Whatever! The fact that I can carry a library in my pocket is amazing and now I can read anywhere and anytime I want by taking out a small unit from my pocket. I often take those "in-between" times when standing in line, waiting for someone, etc. to pull out my Palm and start reading. Books are bulky. From an ecological standpoint, not having to transport, produce, etc. physical books is great. In fact my major gripe about ebooks is that they are too expensive - why the high expense when these factors no longer apply? (Shelf space, paper, transport, etc.) When I see these dedicated ebook readers I wonder why they keep coming out with the large sizes. The major benefit I see with ebooks is portability, why make it a large unit again? Hopefully this is just a bridge to get people weaned off physical books to ebooks in a smaller format. And for you traditionalists - yes, I still buy books, but now very rarely. It IS nice that the battery doesn't go out and such, but I find with my highly mobile lifestyle that ebooks are just so much better in general.
I would switch to ebooks in a second if the price were right. From my experience there is little difference in price for the digital version, and I refuse to support it to any degree until some of that savings is passed along to the consumer!
Hope not. Not at least till I can curl up in bed with one, relax with one on a deck chair, mark it, shove it in my back pocket, give it to a friend, resell it,read it in the bus or train even while standing, line the book shelves with old dog eared ones showing the owner's name and date of purchase..............,
The only thing you talk about is mark it as my own, but I can underline, make notes, etc. Ownership is less important to me... I'll go with the Tablet anytime...
I've used my 4705 Ipaq to read e-books for about 3 years now. also keep all my notes, business contacts and friend contacts on it... only wish I could use it as a phone and camera too! E-books are great! I like reading at night since the screen lights up...don't need a book light. I'm completely hooked on e-books. Used to buy from Amazon, but lately haven't been able to find any there.
As much as I love holding, smelling, touching a book it would be such a pleasure to change it's type size or increase it's background light. Sorry, but being "able" to read the book trumps the book reading experience.
Most people have tons of books that have a nice, tactile, feel to them, and they could buy a bunch more for $300. On the other hand, it would be cool to be able to access any part of many books when you're out on a stroll. So if they get it so that it really is about the size of a book, and it really does look like paper and doesn't give you a headache after about an hour, and they get that price reasonable, they probably will sell some. And someday, some kid trying to leaf through a book to find something, will say, "I don't see why they ever invented these things."
Well I have been an avid e-book reader for about 8 years now. There are cheaper alternatives to the 2 E-book" readers that Amazon and Sony market. Any $100 PDA can use pocket pc reader (they make it for palm as well), Adobe reader, and Microsoft reader. (all of which are free). And there are many websites with a huge selection (ereader.com is my personal favorite). Some books (such as Scott Addams "God's Debrie" came out on e-book before it came out on print. It was also not copy protected, he "encouraged" you to share the book with friends. Also, website keep track of your books you bought, so in case you loose your reader, (Or card it is on) it is a simple matter of logging in to your account and downloading the books you purchased.
I am active duty military and it is nice to be able to pull out the PDA and read a book while standing in line, while laying in my sleeping bag (I don't need an external light) and being able to bookmark passages and go right to them. Also most PDA have wi-fi capability already...
If Sony and company want to make a good "reader" Then here is what they should shoot for: Cost no more than $100. Manageable LCD Screen (4"x7") Large Memory (@ least 2GB) Good Battery (16-20 hours) multi card reader (SD/Memory stick/etc) Touch screen / jog wheels
My "reader" is an Ipaq 6315 PDA, that has most of these abilities (on SD cardreader). Wasn't the greatest as a phone, but great as other things, including a reader. I paid $500 for it in Singapore in 2004, so there is no reason the technology can't give us something similar at the $100 mark for just a "Reader". As for the paperback issue, if made affordable, it just like i-pods, they cost enough that you will care more about your reader than you do the paperback.
I've been reading ebooks for years on my PDA. I love it. I carry around thirty books in my pocket and read to fit my mood. I won't be buying a single purpose reader since a multi-use gadget is the answer for me. Long live ebooks!
I've been a avid reader all of my life but the numbers don't work. I would have to read from 80 to 150 books to save at all. The only draw then is immediacy or status. It's a book the first doesn't matter, and if the second matters you probably can't read anyway.
I think that e-books will evolve into something else. I think it would be great for downloading the morning paper or magazine subscriptions. The paper saving factor is great but it will take a while to evolve into something would resemble an actual book or our perception of a book.
I read the New York Times everyday on my Tablet... I know I sound like I'm proselytizing, but I have no other interest than being a user... a convinced user.Try a Tablet!
Being partialy handicapped and having a difficulty in holding books- I look forward to the future of this device, however, I will not buy one of these yet. The general public doesn't know it but the printing business has got a lock on our schools. The students books average over $100 each, weigh up to ten pounds each, and are constantly being outdated. The average grade schooler has a 50 lb backpack if they take home all their books at one time (If you think I'm egsagerating - you haven't checked out the school lately.) I would like the reading screen to be capable of a larger reading area for these types of books, a way to bookmark, and a way to color-code/highlight interesting or vital portions. I would like to be able to buy the book TO KEEP at the price I can get a hardbound used copy off the web. (right now you get a three month viewing liscense on textbooks that offer online versions) and I would like to be able to take clips from the books I read - they are welcome to automaticly attach source and copyright info- to use in school paper I or my gradkids write. (Yes- I'm back in schol , too).
School kids and college and handicaped. Text books take waaay to long in print and things are moving too fast anyway. But schools should rent them to students (with allowances for poor folk) same for handicaped. Also Paper. Oops, forgot about those, but still it costs to much. Now
Your comments reflect many of my own... until I discovered the Toshiba Tablet pc... I'm concerned because I am not tied in any way to Toshiba or Tablets other than being a user... but I am convinced! The issues you raise are generally addressed by the Tablet... try one for yourself! I'd be really surprised if your concerns weren't addressed.
I decided to try reading ebooks on my palm T|X and though it took some getting used to, I've come to like it very much. It's especially good for traveling because it holds a slug of books.
It's not good for reading outside in bright light, but it's wonderful indoors, especially where lighting isn't good, because the pda is backlit. On a train in Botswana, where I shared the sleeping compartment with three other people, I was able to read without bothering anyone.
I also like the ability to purchase a book and download it (to my PC) on a whim.
My only complaints are these: - The battery life on the T|X is not long enough sometimes for very long flights. I hate it when my book goes dead!
- While the availability of books is quite good, there are holes in what's available. For example, I saw an interview of the author who wrote the biography, "Ike", about Dwight Eisenhower, and it was not yet available on ereader.com.
- Also, I think the pricing structure stinks. If the book is available only in hardback, then the ebook price approaches that price. Not nice. I think "Ike" is $35.00. I hate to think what the ebook price would be. Here's where the Amazon model for the the Kindle is much better.
I have been buying and reading e-books for years. I started when I was using an Audiovox Pocket PC, then went to a Sharp Zaurus 5500 (which I still have 2 of), and now I read on my laptops and a Palm Tx. I still buy printed editions, but I usually buy the e-book as well. The publishers must LOVE me for buying the same books twice. I have over 600 .pdf, over 600 .pdb and over 700 .lit book files. I read almost every day from one of my devices. The only gripe I have is the STUPID encryption of e-books. I will only buy unencrypted e-books anymore since I have upgraded my devices and am TOTALLY tired of trying to keep track of device IDs for the encrypted files. Everytime I get a new PDA or Laptop, my files are unreadable on the new device. But I still love reading on a PDA or laptop. I'll keep buying e-books forever! I will not buy encrypted e-books any longer, though.
I don't think enough people understand e-books and their various formats. Personally, a standard e-book doesn't interest me as you have to read it but an audible e-book is a wonderful thing. I load them onto my iPod and listen to them like the old time radio theater shows. I usually listen while driving or at bed time. I find that I now have the time to read/listen to a book or more a week. It's a digital age and we get info any way we can - I just don't have the time to sit down and work my way through a good book like I use to.
It's ridiculous to debate the value of a new product that is just a replica of the old, but costs 20 times as much. eBooks can never replace printed books - they must complement the printed word by offering capabilities not possible in print. The power and value of eBooks will only be realized when people can search, catalog, take notes, cut/paste/share, use audiovisual enhancements, and hypertext link across its contents. These features are best exploited with nonfiction books and fact-laden historical books. A grad student would LOVE to carry all his books in a 10 oz. reader, but who else? When the publishers and sellers finally realize that they need a new concept of the book to fit the technology, THEN everybody will see an eBook as a must-have product like the iPod. After all we've been through in recent years, WHY isn't this obvious?
At this time I can only speak of my Palm PDA. Although it's slightly different technology than Amazon or Sony employ, the basic concept is the same. I have a multitude of books stored on my PDA, and I've found it to be a blessing in several regards. I can carry my library with me, I can hold an otherwise heavy book in my palm (no pun), and I don't need to keep cluttering my house with more and more paper books. I can read in bed without disturbing my wife, in my instance since the Palm is backlit. When I first began reading "electronically", I found it awkward, but now, having adapted to it, I prefer it to paper books, finding them confining...pages to turn, trying not to bend or tear sheets, etc., whereas there are no such concerns with the electronic versions of same. And, of course, there's always the issue of the environment...yes, it WOULD be nice to save a few trees! My take on all this...over time, people will adapt to the new technology, as they always have in the past, and someday in the not too distant future, no one will even remember what the hubbub was all about.
I really like sitting with a book. I guess I have been reading for so many years that it's hard to teach an old dog so to speak. On the other hand I love electronics and gadgets and like having the newest on the market. I have a few book collections like Agatha Christie, Tom Clancey, Nora Roberts and Dianna Gaboldon. I can see the benefits of having ebooks but my old eyes hurt enough being on the computer so much. Besides, I have a 19" laptop which is harder to hold and charge etc. I could invest in something smaller but it all seems like antics to me. Also, sometimes I pick up a book or two at second hand stores that are like new. I lend my books to those I trust to look after them and friends have lent theirs to me as well. I just can't seem to throw any away. I have a few that I have read 3 times because they were just so good, like Tom Clancey's "Without Remorse." I always have to have 2 books in the waiting while I'm reading the current one. It's funny that I hated reading in school but once my mother-in-law got me reading at the cottage....I got hooked. Books or Ebooks....it's each to their own for sure!!!!!
I am totally enthralled about new technology display and avidly read about the latest breakthroughs. I was considering at one point of buying one of the new e-readers that are currently available but have been somewhat dismayed by the price range, proprietary file formats, screen size, and the limited gray scale range. The e-ink display really shines when in comes to power consumption using the current battery technology except when you decide to attach a Wi-Fi device then you are back to the power limitations of the conventional laptop. This leaves in a lurch when it comes to having thousands of documents at hand only to find yourself lugging a transformer around your local coffee shop or bookstore seeking out that hidden outlet to insure that you are able to download your electronic newspaper or new book and begin a comfortable reading experience. I tend to vote with my wallet when it comes to new technology and will wait till the 5th or 6th generation of e-ink technology is available in at least 8.5?x 11? display size, has the same white appearance as generic #20 bond paper that you put in your printer, has a video refresh comparable to your personal computer, is in 16 million colors, is flexible and can be folder into quarters or eights and stuck in your back pocket, needs to be recharged approximately every three months with a solar cell recharger that runs on ambient indoor light and can be purchased for $30 off an unsecured display rack at the Wal-Mart check out line.
I like paper books - they're usually lightweight, fairly inexpensive (in paperback), easy to carry and, if you happen to lose one you can replace it for a couple of bucks. All you need is a book and a light source, and you're set to go. I don't really understand the benefit of downloading an e-book to an expensive device. Really...what's the point? And, downloading magazines is foolish - part of their appeal is their larger format. No e-books for me, thanks.
I've been reading eBooks on my PDA phones for several years now. Before PDA phones, I read them on my color Handspring Prism with it's really bright screen, then the Kyorcera 7135 Palm OS PDA smart phone. Now I have the Sprint HTC Mogul (6800) WM6 Mobile phone. Both Windows Mobile and Palm OS allow me to use eReader which supports Palm and Windows mobile as well as several other formats. I don't have an extra device to charge and carry since my phone is my eBook reader. The little screen is like reading a newspaper column - seems very easy on the eye to me. A really nice benefit is being able to use them to read in bed without a night light. If I fall asleep reading, the screen automatically goes dark when it enters powersave after a while, so I don't have to wake up and turn off a light. I still prefer a paperback for the beach, but for indoors eBooks are great. I wish someone would offer a promotion that allowed you to purchase the eBook for $1 when you buy the paper version. I sometimes buy both so that I can read one outside, but have the other for when it's not convenient to have the paper version or for night reading without having to turn on a light or if I want to give the book to someone else to read But generally the price of eBooks is too high to splurge on both. I have not found them to be particularly cheaper than the paper counterpart. New releases are priced a lot like hardback new releases and older best sellers are about what you'd pay for the paper version at a store like Costco or a little more. The traditional paper versions are actually a lot easier to share. I like the eBook format and convenience, but I think they are somewhat overpriced. They must be selling fairly well or the selections wouldn't be growing as fast as they seem to be, but it seems like a lot more people would give them a try if they were less pricy and I would definitely be an even more frequent buyer if the prices were more reasonable.
I vote for audio books. My city library has downloadable versions of fiction and non-fiction. It takes an MP3 wma digital rights device to accept them. The library also has "playaways" which are MP3 players preloaded with a book, that you take out from the library in the same way that you would check out a book. Of course there are audio books on cassette (they're still around)or CD. Listening is very convenient while you commute on trains, buses, bicycles, in your car, or on your walk to work. I listen to two books a week this way - spanning from history to mystery. The History of Afghanistan was 13 hours of fascinating information. In was for 200 plus years the largest Empire ever, in the history of the world.
As one who is faced with moving four large bookcases full of large, heavy books from one state to another, I'll admit that the idea of storing all of those and more on something that fits into my pocket intrigues me. However, I'll agree with the sentiment that nothing quite beats relaxing with a "real" book and an iced tea. So I'll vote a definite 'maybe.' :-)
I started reading ebooks about 4 or 5 years ago on a Toshiba e700 series PDA. I enjoy reading them this way for a lot of reasons but 3 stand out: 1) at my age (62) having variable font sizes is better. 2) a book that has it's own light source is handy. In bright sunlight, I was surprised to find out the Toshiba's screen be read easily with the sun's reflection. 3) The ability to carry around a lot of reading was valuable... Not just purchased books, but articles printed to a txt file and published as an ebook (using Mobipocket software), public domain material from Project Gutenberg which is available at no cost in a txt format and published the same way. Bonus) a hyperlinked dictionary us great for the vocabulary-challenged reader, not that I would need such a thing.
Now comes the new E Ink models from Sony and Amazon, which are very exciting. Depending on their ability to had some of the free or self generated material, both the Sony and the Kindle are something I would buy... at a much lower price. $300... $350... $400? No way unless they provide great, long-term warrantee and cheap insurance against loss or accidental damage. Ever leave a book on an airplane? I have, many times.
Right now, I would buy the Kindle for $99 and books for $5. If they want these to catch on they have to lower the price point, quickly.
I swear I saw Jean Luc Picard reading ebooks all the time. I think ebooks will hit big eventually. I love reading. I love books, but "easy on the eyes" is my mantra. I plan to buy a reader soon.
i'm an avid reader - 2 or 3 books at a time - and i've been buying ebooks and loading them on my IPAQ for years... it's great!... always have the IPAQ with me, so if i get 10 or 15 min free, i can get in some reading... still buy the occasional first run in hardback, and agree with the comment that there's nothing like a book (paper), shade tree/fire place, and several hours to kill... but it's hard to find that kind of time... as to ebook readers, i wouldn't spend that much money on another gadget to drag around - don't need one b/c of the PDA... if i hadn't stumbled onto ebooks, i wouldn't give one a second thought; from the reactions i've gotten from people who have seen me reading on my PDA, i doubt any of them would give a reader a second thought either (especially when they cost more than a top of the line music/video player)... bottom line - without a marketing strategy to attract first time buyers, they're doomed...
Manage updates with the Download App
Not till then
E-books are great! I like reading at night since the screen lights up...don't need a book light. I'm completely hooked on e-books. Used to buy from Amazon, but lately haven't been able to find any there.
I couldn't read without ebooks on my PDA.
I am active duty military and it is nice to be able to pull out the PDA and read a book while standing in line, while laying in my sleeping bag (I don't need an external light) and being able to bookmark passages and go right to them. Also most PDA have wi-fi capability already...
If Sony and company want to make a good "reader" Then here is what they should shoot for:
Cost no more than $100.
Manageable LCD Screen (4"x7")
Large Memory (@ least 2GB)
Good Battery (16-20 hours)
multi card reader (SD/Memory stick/etc)
Touch screen / jog wheels
My "reader" is an Ipaq 6315 PDA, that has most of these abilities (on SD cardreader). Wasn't the greatest as a phone, but great as other things, including a reader. I paid $500 for it in Singapore in 2004, so there is no reason the technology can't give us something similar at the $100 mark for just a "Reader". As for the paperback issue, if made affordable, it just like i-pods, they cost enough that you will care more about your reader than you do the paperback.
My 2 cents!!
I won't be buying a single purpose reader since a multi-use gadget is the answer for me.
Long live ebooks!
CathWren
Also Paper.
Oops, forgot about those, but still it costs to much. Now
It's not good for reading outside in bright light, but it's wonderful indoors, especially where lighting isn't good, because the pda is backlit. On a train in Botswana, where I shared the sleeping compartment with three other people, I was able to read without bothering anyone.
I also like the ability to purchase a book and download it (to my PC) on a whim.
My only complaints are these:
- The battery life on the T|X is not long enough sometimes for very long flights. I hate it when my book goes dead!
- While the availability of books is quite good, there are holes in what's available. For example, I saw an interview of the author who wrote the biography, "Ike", about Dwight Eisenhower, and it was not yet available on ereader.com.
- Also, I think the pricing structure stinks. If the book is available only in hardback, then the ebook price approaches that price. Not nice. I think "Ike" is $35.00. I hate to think what the ebook price would be. Here's where the Amazon model for the the Kindle is much better.
Cheers, Marty
good, like Tom Clancey's "Without Remorse." I always have to have 2 books in the waiting while I'm reading the current one. It's funny that I hated reading in school but once my mother-in-law got me reading at the cottage....I got hooked. Books or Ebooks....it's each to their own for sure!!!!!
The e-ink display really shines when in comes to power consumption using the current battery technology except when you decide to attach a Wi-Fi device then you are back to the power limitations of the conventional laptop. This leaves in a lurch when it comes to having thousands of documents at hand only to find yourself lugging a transformer around your local coffee shop or bookstore seeking out that hidden outlet to insure that you are able to download your electronic newspaper or new book and begin a comfortable reading experience.
I tend to vote with my wallet when it comes to new technology and will wait till the 5th or 6th generation
of e-ink technology is available in at least 8.5?x 11? display size, has the same white appearance as generic #20 bond paper that you put in your printer, has a video refresh comparable to your personal computer, is in 16 million colors, is flexible and can be folder into quarters or eights and stuck in your back pocket, needs to be recharged approximately every three months with a solar cell recharger that runs on ambient indoor light and can be purchased for $30 off an unsecured display rack at the Wal-Mart check out line.
Now comes the new E Ink models from Sony and Amazon, which are very exciting. Depending on their ability to had some of the free or self generated material, both the Sony and the Kindle are something I would buy... at a much lower price. $300... $350... $400? No way unless they provide great, long-term warrantee and cheap insurance against loss or accidental damage. Ever leave a book on an airplane? I have, many times.
Right now, I would buy the Kindle for $99 and books for $5. If they want these to catch on they have to lower the price point, quickly.
as to ebook readers, i wouldn't spend that much money on another gadget to drag around - don't need one b/c of the PDA... if i hadn't stumbled onto ebooks, i wouldn't give one a second thought; from the reactions i've gotten from people who have seen me reading on my PDA, i doubt any of them would give a reader a second thought either (especially when they cost more than a top of the line music/video player)...
bottom line - without a marketing strategy to attract first time buyers, they're doomed...