MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - I'm glad Apple isn't making an ebook reader

Nate the great · 10-14-2009, 12:24 PM

For some time now I've been wondering what reading an an Apple device was like, so a few weeks back I got an Ipod Touch. If you want, you can read my rant about installing Itunes.

I think the Itouch is a bad ebook reader (when compared to other PDAs). Stanza is a fantastic program; it raises the reading experience from very bad to unremarkable. But Stanza isn't that stable or fault tolerant; the only thing it can do when it encounters a problem is crash. I will say, though, that I see the value of Stanza if you look at it as a bonus way to use your MP3 player.

I also don't like having a leashed shoved up my arse. I've never seen a handheld with such a closed system. And yes, it is locked down. I can only read on it with an app that I can only get from the App store. To get into the App store I have to have an Itunes account. And before you have an account you must first install Itunes. You can't even turn on the Ipod for the first time without plugging it into Itunes.

This dependancy on Itunes means that Apple has sold me a device that does not come with all the parts it needs to operate. I don't know if it's possible to convey what a colossal FAIL this was on the part of Apple.

10-14-2009, 12:24 PM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	I'm glad Apple isn't making an ebook reader For some time now I've been wondering what reading an an Apple device was like, so a few weeks back I got an Ipod Touch. If you want, you can read my rant about installing Itunes. I think the Itouch is a bad ebook reader (when compared to other PDAs). Stanza is a fantastic program; it raises the reading experience from very bad to unremarkable. But Stanza isn't that stable or fault tolerant; the only thing it can do when it encounters a problem is crash. I will say, though, that I see the value of Stanza if you look at it as a bonus way to use your MP3 player. I also don't like having a leashed shoved up my arse. I've never seen a handheld with such a closed system. And yes, it is locked down. I can only read on it with an app that I can only get from the App store. To get into the App store I have to have an Itunes account. And before you have an account you must first install Itunes. You can't even turn on the Ipod for the first time without plugging it into Itunes. This dependancy on Itunes means that Apple has sold me a device that does not come with all the parts it needs to operate. I don't know if it's possible to convey what a colossal FAIL this was on the part of Apple. Last edited by Nate the great; 10-14-2009 at 01:22 PM.