The first time I saw e-paper I didn't realize I was looking at a live display. I was duly impressed. That being said, I would miss color...not that most of my books have color beyond the cover.
E-paper's the kind of display that the Kindle et al. use. It's designed to approximate the appearance of paper, versus, say, an LCD. It really was fairly impressive.
So the iPad is a bit heavy for some people. I guess they've never read a hardback edition of some of Tom Clancy's novels....
I've had the same thought only in reverse. As much as the ipad appeals to my geek side, I thinking why in hell would I want to spend the money for an Ipad when I can get a 13 inch Macpro for not a whole lot more money? As for the Kindle, I love mine and really like the e-ink feature. I really do believe it's much easier on my eyes than trying to read a LCD screen.
I agree. I've seen a Kindle in action and it's actually really cool how much it looks like real paper. And it doesn't suffer from the glare you'd normally experience with a computer screen or an old-style monochrome liquid crystal setup.
I don't think it is a matter of it actually being heavy. It is more just an issue of getting tired from holding it a certain way for an extended amount of time. I've noticed it with my old video iPod.
I've held some heft books, laptops and things of that nature quite often. I just cannot comprehend a 24oz weight being anything to tire over.
Seriously the weight is an issue? Ok, whats the heaviest book they have read? I mean seriously. I personally have several books that weight that much from old text books, to books of fiction. And I often would read them for hours and hours. And I was seriously going to buy the Kindle late last year, until this was announced. I typically read 2 to 4 hours a day. And thats never in direct sunlight (its always inside) so that issue is a non issue for me (but if you are an outdoor reader I would recommend the kindle). I am never going to be reading weeks straight with out access to recharging. So that length of the charge isn't an issue (at least not with users saying more then ten hours) the only time this would ever be an issue is when I used to go camping, and thats been twenty years ago. And I am sorry but color is a huge, huge issue. I have been reading and collecting comics since 1972. The idea that I can scan those items and input them into the device (which I have done with both desktops and laptops), but one that I can easily take around the house, read while laying down or sitting crazy in a recliner (which even the smaller netbooks suck at) is a huge huge selling point. As is the increase in size and the smaller image the harder to few full scenes (and be able to read the dialogue). I mean seriously I was going to spend nearly $300 for a smaller B&W reader that would not be able to work with a about a third of what I want to read. And I can't use either laptops or desktops for comfortable reading, period. I have tried for decades. They suck (at that comfort). But not only that I can get a huge sized MP3 player with it (using both together), I can use it as a very portable video player that works with all of my 3 TB of film and tv and again can be used in comfort in positions that I can't use a desktop, laptop or my computer hooked up to my HDTV). This for me is a complete no brainer. For example, I can now have my ipad and go to sleep with my boyfriend, watching,listening or reading to whatever I want (and so can he). We don't have to fight for space to fit to laptops (since if we are both reading it would be to different things), we don't have to have the lights or a small lamp running. If we want to both watch different films of shows to sleep with (we normally are either reading or watching shows to sleep to) we don't have to argue about what to watch, we can each watch what we want (and again not have to worry about lap tops taking up too much room or the HDTV being heard and seen by all. Seriously just for the ease of sleep its like a huge, huge plus. And even if I personally had no use for this device (which will be the case for some people, after all we all do have different uses for electronics) getting this product (and the others) out is only going t0 be good for the development of seriously mobile devices that do at some point int he future became more then just media devices but serious computers as well.
Oh and I laid down on my back held it up over my face and watched Trek, no problems. And I am not strong by any stretch and after using it for that playing around earlier, and such it still had 80% charge. Not bad for probably 4 hours of use with 2 being video.
I was a little worried about the keyboard, but in landscape mode I can type with both hands just fine (and fast), in upright position its a different story, though it's still much better than on the iPhone. Don't get it without the apple case, that one is really useful.
I suspect we're only a year or two from the first color e-paper devices. A quick Google search shows there's plenty of research ongoing.
Yeah I am not using for serious writing or data entry so I am not needing to hit 40 wpm, but for a quick email (something I rarely do) or more likely posting on a forum) it works fine for me (for anyone who can use any phone or Palm like device) it's far more comfortable. Though I would imagine the larger your fingers are the more discomfort (though how anyone with huge hands could use a phone or Palm is beyond me). I will say the one thing that did slightly disappoint me is the size of the device. It's fractionally smaller then I imagined.
Yeah I'm interested in that, and I am glad to see its in development. But I am so glad I don't have to wait. For reading, Color is so important for anything that mixes pure text with visual elements, and there is so much of that out there. I mean for myself thats magazines (of all types), newspapers and comics all told about half to a 2/3rd of my reading. And for those with children, or those in college or school with almost all text books using color today. Its a huge part of the reading landscape.
By the end of the month my boyfriend and I will make the call on buying another (seriously just the sleeping aspect is beyond huge for us). But he bought this first one (and lucky for me he is at work today, so I get to play freely), and that will give us a few weeks to discover hidden joys and hidden disappointments. But based off of the last 5 hours now, I would guess we will have our 2nd one in a month or so.
Really? I was thinking it is larger than I expected. It makes sense to keep one around the house, and since I intend to carry one with me, we are going to *need at least one more.
I'm loving mine but no it's not light as a cracker. But color was definitely an issue for me, since I do a lot of 3D image work. I'm sure in the future when they improve upon it I'll probably get another one. But this one has a while to impress me and it's got a good start.
Are people buying it because it's useful or because it's an Apple product? Now I'm not one of those Apple haters out there but I seriously have to ask sometimes. Some people seem to love anything Apple. I personally don't mind this device. It reminds me of Star Trek padds. The day where everything is written on a padd instead of paper is a beautiful tree saving day. I can't wait for it. To bad for the Finns though.