eBook Formats and Readers ?'s

[JWolf]

snakespeare wrote:

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You are still in denial? January 27th. Be there.

Even if it was to become reality, it's not going to be all that wonderful as a reader.

[Turbo]

JWolf wrote:

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Even if it was to become reality, it's not going to be all that wonderful as a reader.

Dude. It's coming. Every single leak from Apple points to it.

That said, I do agree that it won't be as good as a reader. My mom got a Kindle for Christmas and I must say that I was shocked at how different it is reading books on the Kindle as opposed to a computer or iPhone. I could certainly see myself doing it much more often on the Kindle.

[snakespeare]

In an article today at Wired they are quoting data from Flurry that is tracking application downloads. It says there are about 50 devices inside the Cupertino campus that are likely iSlate models and it lists the type of apps that are being downloaded. Top DL's are games, with entertainment 2nd, and books and news services 3rd, AHEAD OF MUSIC! Take that for what it's worth.

[Ktrek]

snakespeare wrote:

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In an article today at Wired they are quoting data from Flurry that is tracking application downloads. It says there are about 50 devices inside the Cupertino campus that are likely iSlate models and it lists the type of apps that are being downloaded. Top DL's are games, with entertainment 2nd, and books and news services 3rd, AHEAD OF MUSIC! Take that for what it's worth.

That still doesn't mean that the islate is worth the money to use as an ereader. I cannot see how any backlit device will be any good for extended ereading. I have tried it on a 42 inch HDTV I have and also on my laptop and the most I can do is about 40 minutes without getting a headache but I can read on my nook for 4 hours with no headache nor any eye fatigue. I'm not willing to invest a thousand dollars in the islate just to look cool. To me Apple products are like designer clothes....way too flashy and overpriced!

Kevin

Kevin

[snakespeare]

^granted. There is a limitation to use of that sort of reader on the bus. I ride everyday and I see NO kindles, nooks, or other e-readers. I only see people reading paperbacks, and the occasional trade edition, but rarely hardcover and so far, no ebooks. So it may have a lot to do with the flickery way the light is when you ride past a stand of trees, or turn a lot of corners.

[Ktrek]

^ Or it could just be that not many people in your neck of the woods are aware of ereaders yet. This is still a relatively new technology and this past year the ereader market has really grown.

Kevin

[JWolf]

Ktrek wrote:

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^ Or it could just be that not many people in your neck of the woods are aware of ereaders yet. This is still a relatively new technology and this past year the ereader market has really grown.

Kevin

There were a lot of new readers shown at CES.

[Kataaran]

I know I'm likely the exception that proves the rule but I read a lot on my iPhone and don't suffer eyestrain from it. I am prone to headaches (I have some specially tinted glasses to help with light induced migraines). I think it must be a size thing, a great big lump of light from a 20 inch monitor causes me problems but a tiny mobile screen never bothers me.

[snakespeare]

I think the really big thing that is going to change tomorrow is the distribution system for ebooks. Details are sparse, but they appear ready to go forward with what is being called the "agency model". Right now it just sounds like a marketting scheme. We'll know more when they announce it tomorrow.

What I'd like to see is something similar to a subscription service where you could pay a monthly fee and read any book in the catalog, but when your month runs out they all become inaccessible. But that's just my imagination. If they did that, I'd be the newest fan of Sonya Gomez!

[JWolf]

snakespeare wrote:

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I think the really big thing that is going to change tomorrow is the distribution system for ebooks. Details are sparse, but they appear ready to go forward with what is being called the "agency model". Right now it just sounds like a marketing scheme. We'll know more when they announce it tomorrow.

What I'd like to see is something similar to a subscription service where you could pay a monthly fee and read any book in the catalog, but when your month runs out they all become inaccessible. But that's just my imagination. If they did that, I'd be the newest fan of Sonya Gomez!

The problem is that the DRM has been stripped or will be stripped. ePub & Mobipocket already have time limiting DRM but both can be streipped and there goes the time limits.

[snakespeare]

Another problem is royalties. How will our hardworking writers here get their royalties if I am only renting the ebook.

As for the other, the answer is cloudware.

[snakespeare]

Battery life, you say? How about 10 hours?

It's aliiiiive!!

http://www.macworld.com/article/1458...tml?lsrc=top_1

[reech]

But it's still a *screen*, and backlit one, meaning for achy eyes :/ I loved the convenience of reading on my iPod Touch, but I really, really found it tiring and sore on the eyes after a bit.

I'll have to see it in store before deciding. I think they're model for eBooks and selling is very clever, but will see if the device is any use later...

[snakespeare]

But look how BIG it is (no, I am not talking about Greg Oden! LOL!)

Hopefully, that big 9.7" screen will make it easier on the eyes. I heard they are working on the organic LED development and that may be less "backlit".

It's also a game device, and it's $500 base price.

So, we'll see...

[Ktrek]

Just because an Ipad screen is larger does not mean it will be easy on the eyes. If that was the case reading on an HDTV laptop would be a fine experience but it's not. Anyone who spends long hours reading will not enjoy the experience as much as they would enjoy reading on an eink screen. Now as far as internet, movies, games, photos and music I doubt the experience could be beat but not for ebooks. Internet reading and book reading are not the same btw. We read internet much differently because it's a contstantly moving around experience. Rarely does anyone read straight through 50 to 100 pages of internet text on their computer.

As far as I can tell Apple has really brought nothing new to the table except for a humungus Iphone called the Ipad without the phone capability. It caters to the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh just fine but I do not see it as a "must have" device for a lot of people. An interesting poll on MSNBC asks if the device is a must have or epic failure. The majority side with either must have or meh. Only 25% think it is a must have but I wonder how many of that 25% will actually shell out the big bucks. I think even $499 is a little steep for the trimmed down version. If I were to buy one it would have to be the best one they sell. Here is the article:

http://msnbc.newsvine.com/_question/...e-or-epic-fail

Kevin