Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > News

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 09-10-2008, 09:22 PM   #1
charlieperry
Connoisseur
charlieperry doesn't littercharlieperry doesn't litter
 
Posts: 89
Karma: 174
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney
Device: Sony PRS 505
When are ebook readers going to become an essential enterprise tool?

A few decades ago now there was a tipping point when the electronic calculator became cheap enough and available enough that everyone had to suddenly have one on their desk.

I wonder how far away that point is for the ebook reader?

My desk at work is covered in paper. Whenever I have to read anything more than a couple of pages I print it out. If I had an A4 sized reader then I'd quite happily put a report on the reader to read it. Reading requires comfort. It requires a device which can be easily moved and lifted depending on what body position is most comfortable. I have three main reading positions: lying down, sitting back or sitting over a desk. Sitting bolt upright looking at a laptop screen on a desk is not a comfortable reading position for me. Reading at home and reading at work should be no different.

Some of the new big-screened readers like the Flepia and Plastic Logic's device look to me like they could be serious contenders in the enterprise space. I wonder if any large companies will make the leap and issue them to all staff.
charlieperry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2008, 10:10 PM   #2
nekokami
fruminous edugeek
nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
nekokami's Avatar
 
Posts: 6,745
Karma: 551260
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northeast US
Device: iPad, eBw 1150
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlieperry View Post
If I had an A4 sized reader then I'd quite happily put a report on the reader to read it.
I'd say this is one of the critical points. I'm willing to read on a small screen (the iLiad is bigger than most of the other readers out there, but still only A5) but most people want A4/Letter at least. If Plastic Logic manages to deliver large low-cost durable screens, and someone designs an intuitive interface for a device so it can, for example, receive a file by using the "print" function on a PC, I think it will change the way we deal with paper in offices.
nekokami is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2008, 10:26 PM   #3
khourianya
TechnoBookworm
khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.khourianya knows the square root of minus one.
 
khourianya's Avatar
 
Posts: 99
Karma: 7844
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Langdon, Alberta Canada
Device: Sony PRS-505, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Kobo Glo, Kobo Mini
Quote:
Originally Posted by nekokami View Post
for example, receive a file by using the "print" function on a PC, I think it will change the way we deal with paper in offices.
I completely agree. If I had the ability to do that - I would cease to use paper. I must add that annotation capabilities and then wireless transmission of a wireless document back to the PC would also make this something that would hold a great deal of appeal.
khourianya is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2008, 11:00 PM   #4
jamesdmanley
Groupie
jamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-books
 
Posts: 156
Karma: 817
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: houston
Device: prs-500
when its cheaper than paper and you can treat it like paper
jamesdmanley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2008, 08:34 AM   #5
nigeldb
email tragic
nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.nigeldb once ate a cherry pie in a record 7 seconds.
 
nigeldb's Avatar
 
Posts: 52
Karma: 1614
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Melbourne
Device: iLiad, Cybook, iPhone
and manuals

.....Know what you mean but I think the first big easy step will be to provide IT&T maintenance people with the reader. Think of the pro's...
1. IT technicians are generally very happy with new technology
2. They generally have the most advanced phones
3. If you've ever worked for one of the larger IT companies (Telco or computer) you could easily fill a filing cabinet with all the manuals. Most technicians have a full set stored in the garage.

This is a no brainer. The printing and distribution costs are massive.

Nigeldb
nigeldb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2008, 10:43 AM   #6
JayCeeEll
Connoisseur
JayCeeEll doesn't litterJayCeeEll doesn't litterJayCeeEll doesn't litter
 
JayCeeEll's Avatar
 
Posts: 87
Karma: 204
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Exeter, Devon, UK
Device: PRS-300
If we mis-apply Moore's Law which can be stated in two ways
1) the number of transistors on a chip doubles every 18-24 months, for the same cost
2) the cost of a given number of transistors on a chip halves every 18-24 months
then:

mid 2008: 6" screen, $300 or £180 or €215
late 2009: 6" screen, $150 or £90 or €108
mid 2011: 6" screen, $75 or £45 or €54
at this stage a Kindle/Sony type device costs about the same as two hard back books. This is the sort of price point that I think parents would be happy to buy their kids 1 device every year or so dependent on wear and tear/theft etc.

If users decide that a larger screen is their preferred size then if follows that the tipping point arrives at some later point in time.
JayCeeEll is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 03:16 AM   #7
Argel
Opinionated [but right]
Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.Argel is no ebook tyro.
 
Argel's Avatar
 
Posts: 276
Karma: 1412
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS 505, Kindle International, HTC Desire
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesdmanley View Post
when its cheaper than paper and you can treat it like paper
Spot on. That's what happened with digital photography. The erudite argument between luddites and evangelists was irrelevant.

One day Joe Public woke up and discovered that digital cameras were easier and cheaper and produced results which were just as good for the size of reproduction commonly used.
Argel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 06:05 AM   #8
sianon
Addict
sianon will become famous soon enoughsianon will become famous soon enoughsianon will become famous soon enoughsianon will become famous soon enoughsianon will become famous soon enoughsianon will become famous soon enough
 
Posts: 352
Karma: 572
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Melbourne
Device: Sony 500, Bebook, Kindle, Eco reader Drs and soon the Archos 9
The department I work for has recently implemented a new client data base system, the boffins at head office did not want there to be any print functionality on the system in order to be environmentally friendly. It was quickly pointed out to them, that our client files MUST be able to be printed out as they are frequently subpoenaed for court purposes. They then agreed for a print function but they totally crippled it and it take around 10 minutes to print a case note (although admin can do a bulk file print easily).

If there were an A4 size reader then it would make this concept of a paperless office so much more attainable. We might even be able to persuade courts and lawyers that it was a preferable way to present files which are heavy and bulky and hard to navigate through. I for one would love to have an A4 device that I could read PDF documents on.

Karen
sianon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 06:55 AM   #9
HappyMartin
Martin Kristiansen
HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HappyMartin ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
HappyMartin's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,546
Karma: 8480958
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Johannesburg
Device: Kindle International Ipad 2
I have had a number of people very interested in reading devices that decided to wait for prices to come down. I am not sure when or if that will happen but the fact is the price is too high at the moment for widespread adoption. That is not meant to be a judgment on the pricing policy of manufacturers.

As much as I support readers and e ink I also dont think that they are ready to replace paper. I used an iliad for a time and found that waiting 45 s for it to start up and then creating a blank document and so on was a lot slower and less convenient than a pen and paper.
HappyMartin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 09:02 AM   #10
jamesdmanley
Groupie
jamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-booksjamesdmanley has learned how to read e-books
 
Posts: 156
Karma: 817
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: houston
Device: prs-500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Argel View Post
Spot on. That's what happened with digital photography. The erudite argument between luddites and evangelists was irrelevant.

One day Joe Public woke up and discovered that digital cameras were easier and cheaper and produced results which were just as good for the size of reproduction commonly used.
exactly. with business, you have to offer more, do it better, and cost less. when that happens, e-ink will replace paper. i can definitely see some really promising possibilities for e-ink in the business setting, but not any time soon
jamesdmanley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 09:59 AM   #11
DMcCunney
New York Editor
DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DMcCunney ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
DMcCunney's Avatar
 
Posts: 6,384
Karma: 16540415
Join Date: Aug 2007
Device: PalmTX, Pocket eDGe, Alcatel Fierce 4, RCA Viking Pro 10, Nexus 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigeldb View Post
.....Know what you mean but I think the first big easy step will be to provide IT&T maintenance people with the reader. Think of the pro's...
1. IT technicians are generally very happy with new technology
2. They generally have the most advanced phones
3. If you've ever worked for one of the larger IT companies (Telco or computer) you could easily fill a filing cabinet with all the manuals. Most technicians have a full set stored in the garage.

This is a no brainer. The printing and distribution costs are massive.

Nigeldb
They are, which is why most software you buy these days comes with electronic documentation. I once wondered what a complete set of manuals for an IBM s370 series mainframe would look like. I once worked in that environment, and the answer to a question always seemed to be in a manual I didn't have, no many how many manuals I accumulated. (I suspect a complete set would fill a garage.)

But I don't see dedicated readers taking over this function. To be cost effective, they need to do other things besides display manuals. The tech in the field might well carry a laptop. He'll be reluctant to carry a laptop and a reader, in addition to whatever specialized tools he might need if he deals with hardware.
_______
Dennis
DMcCunney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 10:04 AM   #12
TheRealBillc
evangelist
TheRealBillc began at the beginning.
 
TheRealBillc's Avatar
 
Posts: 42
Karma: 48
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Device: PRS-700 deceased now 950
Cost vs True Cost

I think the cost of paper in a business setting is far greater than many realize. If the true cost of printing, distribution, filing, storage and retrieval, and eventual destruction, are taken into account, than adoption of e-readers will happen much faster than you might imagine, if the e-reader software tools answer business needs. As a records manager I see all these costs first hand. In my company alone, for just a single office, we are spending over $400,000 for offsite storage, onsite storage of work in process is even more expensive for this 600 person office. We are moving as rapidly as possible to printing less paper and storing as must as we can electronically. Management is not even aware of e-paper technology, so this is all happening without this tool. With a business sized reader available, even at a fairly high up front cost, I think we can accelerate our goals. When one is available I will cetainly buy one and do a show & tell to upper management.
TheRealBillc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 01:01 PM   #13
TheJohnNewton
Addict
TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.TheJohnNewton is not required to obey the law of gravity.
 
Posts: 256
Karma: 144599
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Boox Nova 2
As DMcCunney says above it will happen when the screens improve to the point that ereaders and general portable computing devices become one. Bascially what is needed is color, a good size, and a refresh rate that will support interactive business applications. Everyone who works in my office needs these things to get their jobs done. We don't sit around reading documents for hours and hours, we sit around working on documents for hours and hours along with using Word, Excel and other specialized business applications. Right now everyone has a laptop. If the screen were more readable that would be a bonus but it's not critical. I rarely print off documents now as the readability of a laptop screen is good enough for my work purposes. Plus at our desks we all dock the laptop and use large lcd monitors, some people even have dual monitors. What exactly would a dedicated ereader buy us in this environment? So to answer you directly I don't see a dedicated ebook reader ever becoming an essential general enterprise business tool. They are too specialized.

BTW, some background on me, I've worked in the IT department of a large (60,000 plus) global (we are in almost every country in the world) company for 19 years. We deploy standarized computing solutions to these 60,000 employees.

Last edited by TheJohnNewton; 09-12-2008 at 01:15 PM.
TheJohnNewton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 01:48 PM   #14
Alisa
Gadget Geek
Alisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongueAlisa can tie a knot in a cherry stem with his or her tongue
 
Alisa's Avatar
 
Posts: 2,324
Karma: 22221
Join Date: Aug 2007
Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)
To make a good enterprise business reader I think, like TheJohnNewton says, you have to be able to integrate it with business applications. If you could synch it to your computer, have cooperative editing of documents, have it synch with your contacts and calendar like a good PDA, etc. I do think the readability of the screen is important, though. Most people won't read long documents on their computers because it's uncomfortable. I don't think the screen tech we have is good enough yet but I think we'll get there. It does need to be faster and preferably color. I'd love to have a device that was a thin, light, low-power tablet that you could use with a touch screen or pair with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse or a lapop style keyboard base that it could clip into which would double as it's cover. It could be like an ultra-thin laptop with a removable touchscreen.
Alisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2008, 11:54 PM   #15
nekokami
fruminous edugeek
nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nekokami ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
nekokami's Avatar
 
Posts: 6,745
Karma: 551260
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northeast US
Device: iPad, eBw 1150
Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyMartin View Post
As much as I support readers and e ink I also dont think that they are ready to replace paper. I used an iliad for a time and found that waiting 45 s for it to start up and then creating a blank document and so on was a lot slower and less convenient than a pen and paper.
I still use my iLiad, but I admit that I find these delays frustrating as well, and I can't really recommend the iLiad to most people because of them. Hopefully a replacement will arrive (from whatever vendor) in the next few years that will offer a large screen, low weight and power consumption, and pen input, with a better sleep mode and faster screen responsiveness.
nekokami is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
enterprise, reader

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Proposal for an open source multi-format ebook authoring tool Jon Noring News 15 09-12-2008 12:17 PM
Ebook Formating Tool Wishlist aapezzuto Workshop 114 03-18-2008 07:45 AM
Is text input essential? wallcraft Which one should I buy? 2 12-22-2006 09:45 AM
Free MS Reader eBook Creation Tool Bob Russell Reading and Management 0 07-14-2005 03:50 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:39 AM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.