Essential characteristics of the 'perfect' E-book reader in 2010.

[DixieGal]

Wouldn't that be more related to the software that creates the ePub instead of the way the device presents it? Maybe if nothing else, add a thingy to Calibre to allow you to do those things? I dunno, my tech expertise level is "unplug it and replug it, and we will see what happens."

[Hellmark]

Yeah, all those are issues with the reader, not the format.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by corroonb

A replaceable battery (which you can easily buy) would be a huge plus point too as I think a lot of devices these days are limited by the battery's inevitable decline.

While I agree that replaceable batteries are a good thing, when you see hardware that has one getting criticised for being thicker than a rival model that doesn't then you can see why hardware manufacturers do decide to avoid them at times.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by corroonb

I don't like the numbers on the side and I don't like the limit on flow size (or whatever the sections of an ePub are called; limited to 300kb size IIRC). The lack of full justification is also an issue.

The first of those is a feature of the Adobe Digital Editions software; the latter two are restrictions specifically of the Sony Reader. There are ePub devices other than the Sony Reader out there, you know! Eg, the CyBook Opus has neither of these restrictions.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Crowl

While I agree that replaceable batteries are a good thing, when you see hardware that has one getting criticised for being thicker than a rival model that doesn't then you can see why hardware manufacturers do decide to avoid them at times.

+ the rate of technology change is such that there will probably be a better device available before the battery fails (assuming by old-age). That's they way it is with most cell phones these days.

Still if it costs no more to make it replaceable then

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by kennyc

+ the rate of technology change is such that there will probably be a better device available before the battery fails (assuming by old-age). That's they way it is with most cell phones these days.

Assuming you don't use your reader for mp3s then they also have the big advantage that they don't get charged anywhere near as often as most other portable electronics so thats another thing that will increase the lifetime of the battery.

I think for e-ink readers the best compromise of size and convenience would be user-serviceable batteries so you were able to replace them when they eventually failed, but it wouldn't be something you needed to change regularly.

[Crowl]

Anyway, my almost perfect e-book reader for 2010 is a 505, so I guess my perfect one would be an upgraded 505 with more memory, faster hardware and maybe wireless of some kind.

[Jack Tingle]

Wow! Most of the posters here are going to be badly disappointed for the forseeable future. A few of you might be happy with a 6" screen WinMobile or Maemo PDA. Good luck. See "Other Devices" threads.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[corroonb]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The first of those is a feature of the Adobe Digital Editions software; the latter two are restrictions specifically of the Sony Reader. There are ePub devices other than the Sony Reader out there, you know! Eg, the CyBook Opus has neither of these restrictions.

Of course but I happen to think the 505 is designed better than the Opus (apart from the EPUB issue). I think the physical design of the 505 is exceptionally good, as do many other people apparently.

Also, I think that exclamation mark was uncalled for.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by corroonb

Of course but I happen to think the 505 is designed better than the Opus (apart from the EPUB issue). I think the physical design of the 505 is exceptionally good, as do many other people apparently.

Also, I think that exclamation mark was uncalled for.

I wonder how people hold the PRS-505 comfortably without the cover. I've tried everything possible with my hands and kept coming to the same solutions: it needs to either be lighter for pinch-holding (left corner page-turning), the bottom corners need to be chamfered and radiused to settle into the palm, or the right-side buttons should be much higher to allow a side grip.

I've not known Sony products to ever be particularly well-designed for human use though. Don't have much positive to say about any of the other manufacturers though either.

[HansTWN]

why would you want hold the Sony without a cover? A cover is included, the cold metal doesn't feel so nice. You hold it like a regular book, either left thumb on the turn page button below left or right thumb on the turn page button at the right hand side. Depends on the exact position I am holding it. Well thought out and convenient, at least for some of us humans! With the added ergonomic advantage, that the eyes remain fixed on the same side of the "book".

The justification issue for EPub is a small irritation, but we are not talking a major issue here.

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

I wonder how people hold the PRS-505 comfortably without the cover. I've tried everything possible with my hands and kept coming to the same solutions: it needs to either be lighter for pinch-holding (left corner page-turning), the bottom corners need to be chamfered and radiused to settle into the palm, or the right-side buttons should be much higher to allow a side grip.

I've not known Sony products to ever be particularly well-designed for human use though. Don't have much positive to say about any of the other manufacturers though either.

The EBW1150 is bigger and 2 or 3 times heavier, but very well designed. There is a thick rolled edge with a comfy soft rubberish grip, and it balances on your hand so nicely that you don't notice the weight. The newer models are all going for thinner, so a handgrip such as the EBW1150 has would never make it. But I sure wish my 505 had a nice thick soft grippy section.

[dmaul1114]

Won't be here in 2010--and wouldn't be a dedicated reader.

9 or 10" tablet device with color touch screen and stylus. Does full internet surfing, e-mail, movies, music, games. Has a non-backlit mode for e-books. Can display PDFs flawlessly and the stylus works flawlessly to highlight and write notes in the margin just as easily as paper. Battery gets 10 hours with intensive tasks like movies, more for reading with no back lighting. Costs around $500.

I'd say 2015 is more reasonable for something like that.

[macminer]

None of the features already mentioned in this thread would make me run and buy a new e-book reader in 2010. However, if anybody creates a device that can have the following, I am the first one to buy it:

1. A foldable screen (eg. two 6" screens creating one reading space after unfolding)
2. An authentic quote/note feature. What I mean is a feature that enables to create a user quote/note set. This feature has been implemented in some Bible study programs and I find it really useful for study/research purposes. By "quote" I mean that one can select some text and with just one click append it to their note file (together with automatically generated reference). Obviously, this note file would have to be easily transferrable to the PC as text or RTF.
3. Multiformat (DRMed PDF, Mobipocked, eReader and ePub as a minimum set)
4. Either a touchscreen with handwriting recognition/software keyboard or some other usable form of text input. Most of existing devices impede rather than aid any text input. Writing a pencil note in a dead-tree book is so much faster...

[Jadon]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I sure wish my 505 had a nice thick soft grippy section.

It wouldn't be difficult for some company to come up with a case that provided that, though I doubt enough people have experienced decent ergonomics to want it. It would also be possible for a flat reader to have a flap that could fold out to provide at least some sort of gripping bulge. Or one could velcro-tape a piece of foam to a reader.