How many eBook readers are out there? Do you read eBooks with an eBook reader? I don’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I tried loading text files on to my iPod. That was shear misery. I don’t wish that on anyone – well, maybe my worst enemy I would. Reading a text file on an iPod is like a heroin addict sniffing glue. The high is painful at best, and terribly destructive to the eyes and the brain.
Oh eBook, let me list the kinds: Sony Portable Reader, Bookeen Cybook Opus, PocketBook 301, 302, 360, HanLIn eBook V5, Polymer Vision Radius, Hanvon WISE Readers (a whole family), Azbooka WISE Reader, Amazon Kindle, COOL-ER Classic, txtr reader GmbH, NUUTbook Neolux, iriver Story, Barnes and Noble Nook, iTex DR800SG, iLiad, Digital Reader 1000, Astak Mentor Electra, Plastic Logic Que, and many older devices.
And you expect me to make a buying decision on what? Color? Size? Who knows how long these devices are supposed to last? If I buy one now, I already know it will be obsolete by February (probably as soon as I test drive it, it will be obsolete). Some features standout. The Sony Portable reader comes in pretty colors. That’s important. A 5 inch reader fits in my bag easier than a 6 inch reader. But my old eyes can see the screen on a 6 inch reader better than on a 5 inch reader.
- Weight - The device can’t be heavy. It has to be light enough for me to lug around, and yet it also has to be sturdy.
- Touch screen – I like using a stylus on the Nokia N97 phone. So I anticipate that I’ll like a touch screen on a reader.
- Memory – this is probably the most important feature in my book. I want to store lots and lots of books. I’m always in the middle of reading 2 or 3, sometimes 4.
- Interface – this is second most important. How am I going to get my eBooks onto the device? If I have to mess around with lots of drivers, forget it.
- Supported formats – this is right up there with memory. No, I do not want to be limited to Kindle format. Can I get a reader that supports all formats? Don’t think so.
- Font size – my old eyes need help. This can be a deciding factor if all other factors are equal.
- Text to Speech – this is not important to me. But, however, wait a minute, as soon as I get one without text to speech I’m sure there will be a great need to have it.
Notice I said nothing about price? They all run in the same range, which is why I have not yet purchased one. Sigh, anyone want to give me an eBook reader to test? I’ll try my best to use it in adverse conditions. I’ll test boundary conditions. Until the time I scrape up the money (or someone takes pity on my poor whining self) I’ll have to be content with drool laden pictures of the latest eBook readers.
As a recent Amazon Kindle owner, I can say that there are two categories missing from your list: image quality and book price. What convinced me to purchase a Kindle is that it has the best image quality which seems to be very important and reduces eye strain. Most Kindle books are $10 or less, whereas most of the books for other readers cost around $20 per book.
I look forward to following your eBook discussion.
As a publisher I am very concerned over Amazon's ebook pricing policy and their policy of not supporting any eBook format except Kindle. On top of that, I cannot get Kindle books outside the US; I can purchase other eBooks. As for image quality, the Nook may overtake the Kindle. And rumors of the iPhone eBook ability may also prove to be a major contender. That said, I don't know that I am ready, yet, to invest in an eBook reader, mainly because there is still a great deal of work to be done for the reader to become as common place a choice as a book on my shelf.
As a publisher I am very concerned over Amazon's ebook pricing policy and their policy of not supporting any eBook format except Kindle. On top of that, I cannot get Kindle books outside the US; I can purchase other eBooks. As for image quality, the Nook may overtake the Kindle. And rumors of the iPhone eBook ability may also prove to be a major contender. That said, I don't know that I am ready, yet, to invest in an eBook reader, mainly because there is still a great deal of work to be done for the reader to become as common place a choice as a book on my shelf.