or something great like a color pdf reader for less than $200.
think i'll pass for now.
just read my star trek books the old fashioned way.
.
CES 2010: Top 10 new e-book readers
by Andrew Nusca | January 9, 2010 1:50pm PST | Image 1 of 10
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Top 10 e-readers at CES 2010: Skiff Reader
The Skiff Reader and service was launched with the backing of magazine and newspaper behemoth Hearst. It features the largest and highest-resolution electronic-paper display for an e-reader, an 11.5-inch, 1200 by 1600 pixels (UXGA) screen that's flexible and made of stainless-steel foil. It uses Wi-Fi and Sprint 3G for connectivity. Pricing and availability were not yet available at the show.
E-book readers exploded in popularity on the show floor at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, in an array of colors, shapes, sizes and capabilities. Here are the top 10 e-readers I saw at this year's show.
Read the original post: CES 2010: Top 10 new e-book readers
E-book readers exploded in popularity on the show floor at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, in an array of colors, shapes, sizes and capabilities. Here are the top 10 e-readers I saw at this year's show.
Read the original post: CES 2010: Top 10 new e-book readers
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thought you were going to show me something new, like the color e-ink tech.
or something great like a color pdf reader for less than $200.
think i'll pass for now.
just read my star trek books the old fashioned way.
.
or something great like a color pdf reader for less than $200.
think i'll pass for now.
just read my star trek books the old fashioned way.
.
I agree, under $200 is the only way I'll look at buying an e-reader. I care less about snazzy features and more about having essential functionality at a good price.
I'm going to look at this one. The price is one I'll pay
What's so good about Blio?
It does what Adobe Acrobat PDF does, but is not an industry standard. (Yes, PDF supports interactive multi-media through Flash and Javascript).
It does what Adobe Acrobat PDF does, but is not an industry standard. (Yes, PDF supports interactive multi-media through Flash and Javascript).
Ebooks need to stay affordable or they will not be around long. I'm not sure what reasearch these companies are doing that shows people will fork over several hundred dollars for an e-reader. Not in my circle of friends/co-workers.
Unless you have super-ultra discerning detectors
where most of us have eyes, you will have lots of
fun staring at your black tablet screen, sitting
in the garden on a sunny day.
Readers most definitely have great advantages.
where most of us have eyes, you will have lots of
fun staring at your black tablet screen, sitting
in the garden on a sunny day.
Readers most definitely have great advantages.
I think between three to five years, the color e-
ink, oled, batteries or some other technology will
come to market making ebooks pointless.
And BLIO? Isn't that just Acrobat, only different?
ink, oled, batteries or some other technology will
come to market making ebooks pointless.
And BLIO? Isn't that just Acrobat, only different?
That's nice, except for one little detail. We
happen to
live now, not in three to five years from now.
The
probable availability of something in five years
from
now, is of no help whatsoever to me at this very
moment.
BLIO seems indeed nothing particularly
interesting. And it is still vapourware. It is
hard to use something that is not yet available
^_^
happen to
live now, not in three to five years from now.
The
probable availability of something in five years
from
now, is of no help whatsoever to me at this very
moment.
BLIO seems indeed nothing particularly
interesting. And it is still vapourware. It is
hard to use something that is not yet available
^_^
Totally different screens. Materials that are comfortable to read REFLECT light; they don't emit it.
That's something that OS vendors forgot, and they're still foisting inverse color schemes on customers by default (although thankfully you can change that on most systems, with one notable exception).
That's something that OS vendors forgot, and they're still foisting inverse color schemes on customers by default (although thankfully you can change that on most systems, with one notable exception).
326,315 reasons to embrace ereading !!!
http://www.ereaderuniverse.com/profiles/blogs/326315-reasons-to-embrace
http://www.ereaderuniverse.com/profiles/blogs/326315-reasons-to-embrace
Personally, I don't see the need. I prefer books on audio for when I am driving - - it's too dangerous to actually READ when driving
And if I am sitting to where I can read, I prefer the actual book - - it will surely never run out of battery power in the middle of the good part!
And if I am sitting to where I can read, I prefer the actual book - - it will surely never run out of battery power in the middle of the good part!
Folks like dlandrum have obviously never used an actual ereader. Paper books never lie flat. They are either big and heavy with good paper or small with crappy paper. Compare holding a paperback with one hand while reading lying down and holding a Kindle 2. The ereader is far easier to deal with. As for running out of battery during the good parts, my K2 runs for a week or so without being plugged in and my whole bookshelf weighs about 7 ozs. And textbooks? That's a no brainer. Let's see, 50 lbs of text books or 12 ounces of ereader? let's see, hhmmm.
While not available for all books, most of the ones I have purchased on my Kindle have text-to-speech that's not half-bad. Doesn't match the quality of an Audio CD book, but far more versatile.
Obviously, the reviewer did not visit the Astak booth in the eBook Tech Zone. Astak was showing a new Touchscreen and Wi-Fi 6 inch that was lighter than 6 ounces and had a CLEAR Touchscreen! THAT was news!!
Astak also showed the 5 inch Pocket PRO with a scroll wheel and the Epson Controller and Text-To-Speech. This device cost $199 and was what the aattendees were after.
I think too many reviewers go for the new and expensive only. Anybody can build an expensive device. The trick is to build a device that runs quickly, is full-featured, is light and fun to hold, and sells for around $200.
Astak also showed the 5 inch Pocket PRO with a scroll wheel and the Epson Controller and Text-To-Speech. This device cost $199 and was what the aattendees were after.
I think too many reviewers go for the new and expensive only. Anybody can build an expensive device. The trick is to build a device that runs quickly, is full-featured, is light and fun to hold, and sells for around $200.
Tablet screens are not reader friendly, nor is lugging a "slate" or a battery charger.
I read a LCD all day long (programming and web browsing and doing email and editing documents.) Been doing that for years without a problem.
You just need to turn off the flourescent lights - that's what's causing eye fatigue.
And don't you have to lug a battery charger for your cellphone/iPhone and iPod?
And don't you have to connect your iPod to a computer to get new content?
You just need to turn off the flourescent lights - that's what's causing eye fatigue.
And don't you have to lug a battery charger for your cellphone/iPhone and iPod?
And don't you have to connect your iPod to a computer to get new content?
"And don't you have to connect your iPod to a computer to get new content?"
Well yes and no. If you are using an older iPod, you'll be tethered. With the iPod Touch, you can grab quite a bit of content direct from the Internet or you can use the app store from the iPod Touch.
I have seen the future -- it was small and unreadable.
Well yes and no. If you are using an older iPod, you'll be tethered. With the iPod Touch, you can grab quite a bit of content direct from the Internet or you can use the app store from the iPod Touch.
I have seen the future -- it was small and unreadable.
I agree. Except that I would not use a Kindle. My 2 Sonys
are bad enough. I was hoping that PlasticLogic would
bring me something I could really use, but they are
sorely disappointing. Skiff seems better, but only
marginally. I am waiting to find a DIN A4 or letter sized
device. That would at least cover most books and most
printed office/study material.
are bad enough. I was hoping that PlasticLogic would
bring me something I could really use, but they are
sorely disappointing. Skiff seems better, but only
marginally. I am waiting to find a DIN A4 or letter sized
device. That would at least cover most books and most
printed office/study material.
Yes, I did. I like it better than the
PlasticLogic one
for two reasons: it is an inch larger and it has
an
expansion SD slot. However, it is only 11.5
inch,
which is slightly less than 2.5 inch smaller
than a
letter size sheet (which is 13.9 inch) and
nearly 3
inch smaller than a DIN A4 size (which is 14.35
inch).
By the way, a thing that is not often talked
about
when comparing readers is that some Sonys (Such
as my
PRS-505 and PRS-700 have 2 expansion slots: 1
for SD
cards, and 1 for Memory sticks). This allows for
a
maximum of 64 GB.
PlasticLogic one
for two reasons: it is an inch larger and it has
an
expansion SD slot. However, it is only 11.5
inch,
which is slightly less than 2.5 inch smaller
than a
letter size sheet (which is 13.9 inch) and
nearly 3
inch smaller than a DIN A4 size (which is 14.35
inch).
By the way, a thing that is not often talked
about
when comparing readers is that some Sonys (Such
as my
PRS-505 and PRS-700 have 2 expansion slots: 1
for SD
cards, and 1 for Memory sticks). This allows for
a
maximum of 64 GB.
1. The price of even the cheapest e-reader could buy at least 15 paperbacks, or 10 hard cover books.
2. After buying an e-reader I would have to wait two years to afford the price of the first book I could put on it.
3. By the time I could afford the first book the e-reader would be obsolete, and I would need to purchase a new e-reader.
4. Many books are available as audiobooks of which I have listened to more than 100 since getting my Ipod as a birthday gift in May 2009, most of them free clasics.
5. I have plenty of time to listen, but very little time to read.
Maybe by the time I retire the price of e-readers will come down to the price of no more than 3 or four paper backs. Then I will have the time and money to buy one.
2. After buying an e-reader I would have to wait two years to afford the price of the first book I could put on it.
3. By the time I could afford the first book the e-reader would be obsolete, and I would need to purchase a new e-reader.
4. Many books are available as audiobooks of which I have listened to more than 100 since getting my Ipod as a birthday gift in May 2009, most of them free clasics.
5. I have plenty of time to listen, but very little time to read.
Maybe by the time I retire the price of e-readers will come down to the price of no more than 3 or four paper backs. Then I will have the time and money to buy one.
1. When the iPod (with hard drive) first came out, it was priced like eReaders are now.
2. iPod took off because music was easily available (iTunes), cheap and/or free.
3. Classic eBooks are already available for free, as are most other books (just like music MP3s are - through file sharing)
4. The availability of one standardized eBook format (ePub) that all eReaders can view will set the stage for mass sharing of eBooks, just like MP3 did for music.
2. iPod took off because music was easily available (iTunes), cheap and/or free.
3. Classic eBooks are already available for free, as are most other books (just like music MP3s are - through file sharing)
4. The availability of one standardized eBook format (ePub) that all eReaders can view will set the stage for mass sharing of eBooks, just like MP3 did for music.
If you look at it purely as a business decision, then no, it doesn't make sense. But then, would you ever take a cruise? Go camping? Take the family out for dinner? Movies? How long before these things pay for themselves?
Lots of people would rather pay for the convenience of having their library with them wherever they go, or having whatever book they want as close as their computer.
Mine was a gift. How much money is spent on gifts that never even get used?
Of course the price will eventually come down. Some people are just willing to pay more now for something they enjoy than to wait until then.
By the way - I enjoy audiobooks too. They aren't mutually exclusive.
Lots of people would rather pay for the convenience of having their library with them wherever they go, or having whatever book they want as close as their computer.
Mine was a gift. How much money is spent on gifts that never even get used?
Of course the price will eventually come down. Some people are just willing to pay more now for something they enjoy than to wait until then.
By the way - I enjoy audiobooks too. They aren't mutually exclusive.
@rolnmrbl@...
You clearly do not know what you are talking about.
One question: How long did it take you to buy your first computer? Because with your logic, you already owned a typewriter and calculator so why would you need a computer?
I own a Kindle 3. With 3g and WiFi its still under $200. Most books are half price for the Kindle version, so YES, you can afford them. Recently, a $30 dollar hard copy book cost me under $10 for the Kindle. And they are not just book readers. I have magazines and newspapers on mine. Its great when I travel. I still get my local newspaper no matter which city I am in. And it syncs automatically. Even a brainless person like you can do it without a hassle.
In addition, Amazon has Kindle software for the PC, Smartphones, iPad, etc. You buy the book once and can sync it to any and ALL devices. I have the same books on my Kindle 3, my Droid X and my PC.
Most of the books on the Kindle 3 support text-to-speech so once again, YES, they do support audiobook capabilities.
Before you poo-poo ebooks, do your homework and stop being such a cheap a**. eBooks are here to stay and they are popular for a reason: you can put store thousands of books/magazines/newspapers on a single device. It's easy to read and you don't have to worry about ripped pages and the frustration folded pages . eBooks are the way to go.
You clearly do not know what you are talking about.
One question: How long did it take you to buy your first computer? Because with your logic, you already owned a typewriter and calculator so why would you need a computer?
I own a Kindle 3. With 3g and WiFi its still under $200. Most books are half price for the Kindle version, so YES, you can afford them. Recently, a $30 dollar hard copy book cost me under $10 for the Kindle. And they are not just book readers. I have magazines and newspapers on mine. Its great when I travel. I still get my local newspaper no matter which city I am in. And it syncs automatically. Even a brainless person like you can do it without a hassle.
In addition, Amazon has Kindle software for the PC, Smartphones, iPad, etc. You buy the book once and can sync it to any and ALL devices. I have the same books on my Kindle 3, my Droid X and my PC.
Most of the books on the Kindle 3 support text-to-speech so once again, YES, they do support audiobook capabilities.
Before you poo-poo ebooks, do your homework and stop being such a cheap a**. eBooks are here to stay and they are popular for a reason: you can put store thousands of books/magazines/newspapers on a single device. It's easy to read and you don't have to worry about ripped pages and the frustration folded pages . eBooks are the way to go.
1. The quality needs to be improved over the models I've seen. (The skiff reader may have accomplished ths. I'd have to see it.)
2. I look for books on Amazon and the paper copy is almost always cheaper than the e-book. That's a complete rip-off. It costs nothing to get an e-book into the hands of the reader so it should cost at most 50% the cost of the hard copy. Until they do this I won't go near an e-book.
2. I look for books on Amazon and the paper copy is almost always cheaper than the e-book. That's a complete rip-off. It costs nothing to get an e-book into the hands of the reader so it should cost at most 50% the cost of the hard copy. Until they do this I won't go near an e-book.
One of my favourite fantasy/SF publishers is Baen Books pretty for that reason. The price of their ebooks is reasonable and you get multiple formats which I find easier than converting formats.
Oh, and their free library is great though not updated as regularly as could be.
YMMV.
Oh, and their free library is great though not updated as regularly as could be.
YMMV.
On the surface it seems that ebook prices are nuts, but the costs are a lot higher to produce them than you would think. We are just in the process of converting our publications, so here's a bit of an inside peek.
First, the time involved to convert previously formated books and documents is way more than you would imagine. Kindle and its brothers require a flowable, flexible layout, and books don't work that way. PDF cannot be converted directly and be readable. Everything has to be converted into html, and by and large, it all has to be re-edited by hand, graphics changed, etc.
The person-hours cost if pretty heavy.
Now, on the flip side is how much a publisher receives on the basic retail sales cost. It's about 30% give or take. Retailers get about half the retail price.
So, for small publishing companies the numbers really don't work unless you can sale massive numbers of copies. Now, I'd be quite happy to sell a million kindle versions of something and make a buck each, but that' just isn't going
First, the time involved to convert previously formated books and documents is way more than you would imagine. Kindle and its brothers require a flowable, flexible layout, and books don't work that way. PDF cannot be converted directly and be readable. Everything has to be converted into html, and by and large, it all has to be re-edited by hand, graphics changed, etc.
The person-hours cost if pretty heavy.
Now, on the flip side is how much a publisher receives on the basic retail sales cost. It's about 30% give or take. Retailers get about half the retail price.
So, for small publishing companies the numbers really don't work unless you can sale massive numbers of copies. Now, I'd be quite happy to sell a million kindle versions of something and make a buck each, but that' just isn't going
Yes, I did. I like it better than the
PlasticLogic one
for two reasons: it is an inch larger and it has
an
expansion SD slot. However, it is only 11.5
inch,
which is slightly less than 2.5 inch smaller
than a
letter size sheet (which is 13.9 inch) and
nearly 3
inch smaller than a DIN A4 size (which is 14.35
inch).
By the way, a thing that is not often talked
about
when comparing readers is that some Sonys (Such
as my
PRS-505 and PRS-700 have 2 expansion slots: 1
for SD
cards, and 1 for Memory sticks). This allows for
a
maximum of 64 GB.
PlasticLogic one
for two reasons: it is an inch larger and it has
an
expansion SD slot. However, it is only 11.5
inch,
which is slightly less than 2.5 inch smaller
than a
letter size sheet (which is 13.9 inch) and
nearly 3
inch smaller than a DIN A4 size (which is 14.35
inch).
By the way, a thing that is not often talked
about
when comparing readers is that some Sonys (Such
as my
PRS-505 and PRS-700 have 2 expansion slots: 1
for SD
cards, and 1 for Memory sticks). This allows for
a
maximum of 64 GB.
Where did you come up with the numbers you used? 14.35 inches is not even a standard size -- closest would be a Japanese JIS B4 at 257 x 364 mm (10.1 x 14.3 inches).
Last time I looked, a DIN/whomever else standards body A4 sheet was 210 x 297 mm (8.3 x 11.7 inches). A letter size sheet is 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279mm). Only thing close to your stated 13.9 inches for a letter size sheet would be a B4 sheet which is about 16% wider and would not fit through most printers/copiers designed for letter/A4 printer.
Mit der Dummheit kaempfen Goetter selbst vergebens -- Schiller
Last time I looked, a DIN/whomever else standards body A4 sheet was 210 x 297 mm (8.3 x 11.7 inches). A letter size sheet is 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279mm). Only thing close to your stated 13.9 inches for a letter size sheet would be a B4 sheet which is about 16% wider and would not fit through most printers/copiers designed for letter/A4 printer.
Mit der Dummheit kaempfen Goetter selbst vergebens -- Schiller
I measured it. A mistake many people make is
that
they compare the size of a reader (which is a
diagonal) with the height of a sheet of
paper (which is vertical). That way, they have
the
illusion that their book will look fine... until
they get it.
Not so dumb after all. It is called "insight".
that
they compare the size of a reader (which is a
diagonal) with the height of a sheet of
paper (which is vertical). That way, they have
the
illusion that their book will look fine... until
they get it.
Not so dumb after all. It is called "insight".
That's nice, except for one little detail. We
happen to
live now, not in three to five years from now. The
probable availability of something in five years
from
now, is of no help whatsoever to me at this very
moment.
happen to
live now, not in three to five years from now. The
probable availability of something in five years
from
now, is of no help whatsoever to me at this very
moment.
Where is the COOL-ER? They are 3rd biggest seller globally, No.1 in Europe and No. 2 in UK.
Seems crazy to have missed them out
Seems crazy to have missed them out
As a writer and publisher there is nothing more exciting on the horizon than new ways to put my work in front of prospects. Thank you, Will Decker
This is the one to watch. One would want this in addition to the Ipad!
Check out this unit. Talk about flying under the radar. It's 7"
screen has no buttons because it's Color Touchscreen
eReaders at $200 less than the iPad. And it has USB ports.
Apple had a brain fart.
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0035Z3SHO
screen has no buttons because it's Color Touchscreen
eReaders at $200 less than the iPad. And it has USB ports.
Apple had a brain fart.
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0035Z3SHO
I think you guys need to check out the BeBook, sold in Europe, Netherlands
With it's unrivaled collection of supported file formats (currently 23 file formats) it's a top choice for the demanding eReading community.
It comes in a classic black case and with it's capability of viewing 7000 pages on a single battery charge it's the ideal travel and business companion.
I bought 2 of them so far for my kids and beside the price I have nothing but praise.
Ron
With it's unrivaled collection of supported file formats (currently 23 file formats) it's a top choice for the demanding eReading community.
It comes in a classic black case and with it's capability of viewing 7000 pages on a single battery charge it's the ideal travel and business companion.
I bought 2 of them so far for my kids and beside the price I have nothing but praise.
Ron
I have a Nook it is good for reading books and keeping PDF stuff for work. The 3G is ok if you buy books from B&N which I do on occasion. However, I am thinking of selling it and getting something that you just side load stuff onto. The advantage for me having 3G or wifi on an ebook reader is nill if the web brouser is no better than the one on the nook. The Ipad is to proprietary to suite me. I like the BeBook as well. I might go to that and get an MP3 player w/Android for web searching.I am always on the road and work outside alot so I seem to struggle with this stuff a bit.
I have a laptop in my vehicle for work but it is wired in and set up there. I would like something to take to cafe's to brouse along with my ereader.
I have a laptop in my vehicle for work but it is wired in and set up there. I would like something to take to cafe's to brouse along with my ereader.
Has anyone actually seen a Skiff? Have a look at their less-than-interesting website: http://www.skiff.com
Skiff doesn't even seem to be part of the vapourware category any longer.
Skiff doesn't even seem to be part of the vapourware category any longer.
They promised us the moon, showed us something shiny that wasn't even remotely like anything they promised and then simply disappeared without ever having put a product on the market. It seems that they still exist, though.
Has anyone actually been able to see and buy a e101? The last time the device was even mentioned on Samsung's website is 10 February 2010:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/news/newsRead.do?news_seq=17656&page=1
http://www.samsung.com/uk/news/newsRead.do?news_seq=17656&page=1
There is an e-book reader in my future, together with a tablet device when on the move, PDA/(very)smartphone for everywhere and a potent desktop for serious work . The price is not a great issue if the features are there for the buck (for any of the devices for that), but only when a full colour feature becomes available and the device is so flexible that it can be rolled and tucked in the back pocket like a newspaper.
What about the Nookcolor? (not sure about the name). I saw it at B & N the other day and it looks very attractive and efficient. A bit pricey at $249.00, but it seems like a good choice if you are looking for an ereader.
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