Have any of you received a PM about taking part in a 30-minute phone survey about ebook readers? I'm always wary of giving out my phone number, and wondered if the survey was legitimate.

Edited to add: Never mind! I found another thread about a similar topic. Thanks anyway!

Edited again to add: I would still welcome feedback from others who have participated in the survey. I've responded to the e-mail, indiciating my interest in participating.

no, we haven't

Yeah It's legit. It's McKinsey Group. They are a large management consulting firm. They will ask you some questions and let you bable on about ereaders and then they will pay you.

more info here :)

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21631&highlight=survey

I did not receive an PM from them, but sent an e-mail and told them I was interested. Took the survey and my Visa Gift card is on the way.

I hope this does not turn out to be another HOLIDAYGIFT because if it does, we'll have to start removing these sorts of messages that because the people who are supposed to getting whatever to not get it because people who were not supposed to be getting it got it instead.

Remember, anyone who used HOLIDAYGIFT without deserving it is a 100% CRIMINAL! Stole $50 in store credit.

I hope this does not turn out to be another HOLIDAYGIFT because if it does, we'll have to start removing these sorts of messages that because the people who are supposed to getting whatever to not get it because people who were not supposed to be getting it got it instead.

Remember, anyone who used HOLIDAYGIFT without deserving it is a 100% CRIMINAL! Stole $50 in store credit.

Jon, are you implying that I am a criminal just because I took the survey. So what if I did not receive a personal invitation. I wanted to participate and e-mailed them. They asked for my MobileRead screen name and apparently felt that I had something to add to their survey. They did not have to pick me, I did not hold a gun to their head.

Jon, are you implying that I am a criminal just because I took the survey. So what if I did not receive a personal invitation. I wanted to participate and e-mailed them. They asked for my MobileRead screen name and apparently felt that I had something to add to their survey. They did not have to pick me, I did not hold a gun to their head.
Nope.. I'm saying people who used the holiday gift code are crooks.

If anyone who did get the invite cannot take the survey because it's full due to people taking who did not get the invite, then that's just wrong. But it is a similar issue to posting the holiday gift code. Not the same result of course. Using the holidy gift code made people theives. People taking the survey without being invited or knowing if you are taking a slot from someone who was invited is also wrong. Just not illegal.

Nope.. I'm saying people who used the holiday gift code are crooks.

If anyone who did get the invite cannot take the survey because it's full due to people taking who did not get the invite, then that's just wrong. But it is a similar issue to posting the holiday gift code. Not the same result of course. Using the holidy gift code made people theives. People taking the survey without being invited or knowing if you are taking a slot from someone who was invited is also wrong. Just not illegal.

Can you offer some proof that I took someone else's slot?

Can you offer some proof that I took someone else's slot?
Not at present. Can you offer proof you did not?

The real problem is someone posting a private offer to the public such that it's possible for people who should be getting in on the offer cannot because too many people got in on the offer who should not have. That's what really needs to stop. If you see an offer that you know is not for you, don't take it. That would be the moral thing to do.

I don't mind people using my "slot". But i think there will be surplus slots available because the people whom McKinsey messaged may not all take on the survey anyways. That being said, $75 is quite an amount, and I also think someone really big is coming into the eink scene.

Not at present. Can you offer proof you did not?

The real problem is someone posting a private offer to the public such that it's possible for people who should be getting in on the offer cannot because too many people got in on the offer who should not have. That's what really needs to stop. If you see an offer that you know is not for you, don't take it. That would be the moral thing to do.

I just realized not all of you received the email. umm... Hope I didn't destroy their survey by giving access to their email to everyone and not the selected users. I'll edit out the email if McKinsey group wants me to.

Well the e-mail is still listed under Spirits original post. So it appears to me that the McKinsey group has no problems with the e-mail being published.

Also you brought up the charge that I may have took someone else's slot. You should prove that I did. I do not have to prove that I did not. Since you are a moderator on this site I am unable to block your posts. I have asked another moderator if it would be possible for me to block you. I am tired of reading your often unintelligible drivel. Hopefully he can help me.

Here are some great news for an extra slot, and another reason why Canada suck

"We are currently focusing our research on US consumers. We will circle back if we expand the scope.

Best regards,

McKinsey eBook Research Team "

I've always known Canada suck, but didn't know the extent until I read this e-mail :p

btw, I'd want the privilage to block JSWolf also after he "messed" with my post. I'm just using the same word as you've used on Nate.

Sorry but subject/verb ordinal issues really bug me.

What you mean to say is "Canada Sucks".

Unless of course, if Canada stopped sucking, then you would say "I have always known that Canada Sucked". But, since Canada shows no signs of giving up sucking, we should probably go with "I have always known Canada sucks."

I think the only time you could put the words "Canada" and "suck" together is if it were proceeded by a interrogative type clause in order to form a question such as "What does Canada suck?"

All this aside... I'm curious who is backing the survey.

It's likely Amazon, I'd guess... but if Apple is planing on producing a microPC or tablet, I could see them looking into this to add an ebook functionality into the device.

All this aside... I'm curious who is backing the survey.I was too, and specifically asked. Unsurprisingly, they declined to tell me, nor would they tell me if the backer is already in the e-reading device game or not. I expect they're under some sort of NDA. :shrug:


The question about whether McKinsey want's us all to know about this survey is kind of answered by the fact that they've taken out ads about it on this forum (banner ads), I saw one Friday afternoon. :nice:

I smell Apple and I don't like that smell.

Then again, maybe not. They asked a lot of questions about using the kindle in a business setting and seemed interested in exactly how I was doing that and how I would justify it to management.

I told them I couldn't.

Personally, I think it'd be great. I'd kill for a sleek Mac tablet that had the usability of their iPhone systems. Add some ebook aspects and... voila.

I really like tablets, but... the software just sucks. Microsoft did a rather horrid job because they thought you just add a pen instead of a mouse and there you go, but that's a terribly awkward way to work. I'd love to see someone come and take a solid crack with usability in mind, and Apple does that well.

And if they actually used a computer instead of a hardware reader, your DRM options would be significantly reduced as would multiple formats.

Not sure I'd like it better than eInk, however. But once device that could do it all... I'd be all over it.

I took the opportunity to put a bug in their ears about my oft' wished for professional grade e-ink device which would be capable of handling A4/letter sized "pages" as they are plus annotations and such, that would be of interest to folks like lawyers, doctors, professors, etc. They seemed interested.

I really do hope something comes of it, it sounds like they should be in a position to put the idea into a head that might be able to make it happen. I s'pose a year or two or three will tell. :shrug:

I have sent a few referenece documents (Unix command structures and such) to my Kindle and I like having it there when needed. Also, when I get detailed "white paper" type material I have started just sending it to the K. I just wish they would improve the PDF translation. I thought that's what you Apple people were good for anyway. WHY is PDF not PORTABLE to the Kindle. Can't they just scale everything down and make it look like a page?
</rant>

Mostly I don't recommend companies shell out the dough for Kindles for their IT folks mostly based on the IT folks I work with. They don't read unless they HAVE to and then they just skim. They look at my reading jones as somthing akin to my fly fishing hobby.

I took the opportunity to put a bug in their ears about my oft' wished for professional grade e-ink device which would be capable of handling A4/letter sized "pages" as they are plus annotations and such, that would be of interest to folks like lawyers, doctors, professors, etc. They seemed interested.

I really do hope something comes of it, it sounds like they should be in a position to put the idea into a head that might be able to make it happen. I s'pose a year or two or three will tell. :shrug:

If you could get textbook companies on line with that you could have a ton of students interested, too. That's a huge market and would get young people in the habit of using a reading device. I would've loved something like that when I was in school.

The textbook thing is trickier, though.

Textbook companies are kind of notoriously out of touch and monstrously profit hungry. For it to be taken up by students a few things would need to happen.


PC(mac, whatver) - Interface for their texts they've bought (for ease of reference, etc.)
Academic discount on the hardware - the company can make this up in their cut of book sales
Much cheaper than regular editions of the book - this is important for a number of reasons. For a book you have to be really heavy into, the portability doesn't quite equal the ease of use for a regular book. Also, you don't have a lasting product to either hold on to, or sell. Many students are very reticent to touch any text they don't think they can sell back.
Aggressively campaign to campuses, professors, and students. Get some small colleges set up with every student having an eReader device and making all the texts available for those students. You get some solid data that way, and if it is successful you get a lot of positive PR.
Whatever device does this needs to include the email type system the Kindle has. Professors could just email the article they want the student to read, the syllabi, etc.


I talked to them a lot about the academic side of things... whomever they are representing, I hope they pursue this line as this is the group that reads a LOT and are young so are more receptive to technology.

I think it's Sony, myself. Personally, I'd like to see Sony making the hardware and then interfacing with Amazon's store, but I doubt we'll see that happen. I really like Sony has a hardware company, but do not trust them at all when it comes to the software, content, etc.

Hell, look at the PS3 - they've been talking about movies, tv shows, etc.. all downloadable from the device for a long time (something the 360 has had for ages now) and they still (despite being a production company of many movies, tv shows, etc) have no such content and a very bad UI on the device. I really love my PS3, and use it all the time to stream media, but it'd be great if they had a huge HD movie selection as well.

But, it's Sony... so I just assume that won't ever happen in a decent way and use my cable box, blockbuster, and my 360 to order movies instead.

WHY is PDF not PORTABLE to the Kindle. Can't they just scale everything down and make it look like a page?Absolutely they could. As to why they didn't ... well, they probably read some of the infinite (well almost) rantings in the Sony Reader forum about how bad an A4/Letter sized page (~13" diagonal) looks when it's scaled down to a 6" diagonal display. All you can see is the formatting -- you pretty much can't read it unless the original font was ridiculously huge, or you have microscopic vision. :shrug:

If you want to get an idea for yourself, try taking a regular page and shrinking it on a copier 'til it's 6" diagonal, you'll see what I'm talking about.

I have sent a few referenece documents (Unix command structures and such) to my Kindle and I like having it there when needed. Also, when I get detailed "white paper" type material I have started just sending it to the K. I just wish they would improve the PDF translation. I thought that's what you Apple people were good for anyway. WHY is PDF not PORTABLE to the Kindle. Can't they just scale everything down and make it look like a page?
</rant>


I have never heard of anyone that feels that a scaled down letter/A4 sized PDF is readable on any 6" device. They can easily scale it down but having put in the money you wouldn't like it anyway. Try looking at a Sony if you really want this feature.

Why are you blaming Apple for an Amazon unit? Even Rants are better if they are thought out.

Dale

Shucks, it's always safe to blame aPple, or even sTeve jObs directly. :wink2:

Shucks, it's always safe to blame aPple, or even sTeve jObs directly. :wink2:

A). And remember kids "It's FUN to be safe".

B). Now that you mention it, reducing the pages would not make much sense.

C). The textbook cartel is all tied up by the mafia. It's their second most lucrative endeavor. I guess if the mob bought out Amazon or Sony. Forgedaboudit.

D) . This post was moved for no particular reason.

Shucks, it's always safe to blame aPple, or even sTeve jObs directly. :wink2:

No it's not!!! I got my sword out and ready! Any my trusty chakram too....

Signed -- Mac person.

Sorry but subject/verb ordinal issues really bug me.

What you mean to say is "Canada Sucks".

Unless of course, if Canada stopped sucking, then you would say "I have always known that Canada Sucked". But, since Canada shows no signs of giving up sucking, we should probably go with "I have always known Canada sucks."

I think the only time you could put the words "Canada" and "suck" together is if it were proceeded by a interrogative type clause in order to form a question such as "What does Canada suck?"

You must remember that UK English is different from US English. Apparently (and remember I'm A US English speaker so this is supposition from observation) in UK English collective entities are not singular but are plural. Therefore since Canada is a collective entity, in UK English "Canada Suck" is the proper subject verb agreement. We must remember that English is really theirs. We speak American.:D

Just the opinion of one colonial.:chinscratch:

Here are some great news for an extra slot

"We are currently focusing our research on US consumers. We will circle back if we expand the scope.

Best regards,

McKinsey eBook Research Team "


So McKinsey took my survey despite my Canadian Nationality :)

"Please disregard the email below. We would actually be very interested in learning about your experiences with Kindle without Whispernet."

I need to encourage the timid ones who did not take the survey but received the email to go right ahead. The people at McKinsey are friendly & professional. You'd like it. Plus you're an important part of the survey too because they'd have enough extrovert as it is to respond to their calls. In terms of security, they really wouldn't put so much effort into asking you questions if they just want your contact.

As a side note, they asked for my username, so i don't know whether it has anything to do with checking to see if they previously messaged you or not.

I am very interested in this phone survey. Today all surveys are done through phone. It is very easy for the people.