Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Yes
or
No
Matthew Miller
Best Argument: No
Audience Favored: No (63%)
The moderater has delivered his final verdict.
Opening Statements
Why carry two devices when one will do?
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: This is the mantra that has seen the camera, GPS receiver, media player, portable games, and much more all converge into portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. Why? Simple. It is far easier to carry one device than many.Given that post-PC devices have already put a myriad of consumer electronics devices on the endangered list, it is only a matter of time until the humble e-reader is kicked to the curb by the tablet. And why not? Both devices are flat, slate-like objects designed to be held in the hand, with a screen on one side.
Another factor is price. When the only mainstream tablet available to was the iPad, cheap e-readers were an attractive option; but as the price of tablets have fallen, this factor is now moot. Why would someone choose a single-purpose device when they can get a multi-purpose tablet for roughly the same price?
The days of the e-reader are numbered.
I always go back to my e-book reader
Matthew Miller: I own a few tablets (iPad, Surface RT, Nexus 7, HP TouchPad, HTC Flyer) and primarily use them for media consumption or content creation. They all support multiple e-book applications and can be used for reading, but I always go back to my Kindle or other e-book reader. My book reading experience is much better on a dedicated e-reader because I get a distraction-free period of time on an eye comforting display to dive into my books. It is not enjoyable to read e-books on an iPad at the beach or by the pool and also can be a financially dangerous move.Prices have dropped to just about $100 for most e-readers, which is still less than half the cost of most tablets so there is a cost savings if your primary intent for a tablet is to read books. It has been a long road for e-reader manufacturers to convince the public that reading electronic books can be just as good as paper books and there are still many who prefer paper (my oldest daughter for one), but I think the exposure to devices like the iPad are convincing people to take a second look at e-books.
Tablets may actually help the e-reader market as people first discover they can enjoy books on an electronic device and then find that the book reading experience is even better on a lightweight, eInk-based e-reader that is less expensive and has a battery that lasts forever.
Talkback
Do They Have e-Ink Tablets?
Key word in title: "driving"
Different devices
Why would one need a dedicated e-reader when...
Personally, my Android phone has become my emergency book collection (much nicer than reading magazines in doctor's offices). A lot of great public domain books have been published over the last three millennia or so (currently, I'm working on Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations").
It's not just functionality that matters
Your use of the word "emergency" says it all.
Over time the two devices will converge.
The problem I have with e-readers in general is unlike a physical book you don't own the ebook, you just have a license to read them and that license can be revoked at any time. Something I'm not comfortable with considering the cost of physical books and ebooks are nearly the same and in some instances physical books are actually cheaper.
When was the last time your e-book licenses were checked?
How about lending that e-book
The argument is that tablets will replace ebooks
That said, I have over 100 books on my ereader and I haven't paid cent one for them. They are all in the public domain. Most of them are classics that I have never felt the need to buy simply because I don't want to lay down my cash for a book I may not want, and some of the classics I've read I'm glad I didn't pay for.
As for borrowing, my Kobo Touch is capable of downloading content from our public library. In other words I can borrow "books" without having to worry about carting home the physical book. There is a time limit to read the book before it locks, but there was always a time limit with borrowing books. I've paid my share of fines to the library.
I prefer my ereader because it is easier on my eyes and I can sit for longer periods reading than I can looking at a back lit screen. I don't have to worry about if it's too bright out to read, not like my friends who have to try and shade their smart phone screens to read (usually text messages).
Just for the record, Kobo Touch can access the internet through Wi-Fi but it is not a good experience but it does provide Sudoku for the times I don't feel like reading, and I may be addicted to that.