Will prices go down or quality go up? - Page 2

JSWolf · 03-09-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

For all the potential epub may have, its implementation currently blows. Blame the viewer software all you want, but until there's a good viewer that actually exists, that potential means absolutely nothing to me as a consumer.

Can you tell me what reflowable eBook format is actually better then ePub?

Elfwreck · 03-09-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you tell me what reflowable eBook format is actually better then ePub?

There isn't one, although depending on the device, some reflowable formats may look better than epubs. (LRF comes to mind. And my Clie doesn't read ePub, so eReader is a better format for it.)

However, non-reflowable formats *designed for user requirements* are currently better than ePub in some cases. A PDF that's designed for the screen size it's being read on, and set to the preferences of the reader (with/without margins, extra lines between paragraphs, indents, justification, etc.) is easier to read than ePub.

And while ePub is great for reading novels for entertainment, it's got some serious problems for academic use--lack of good page indicators makes it hard to use for reference work.

The fact that nothing reflowable is currently better than ePub doesn't mean ePub is perfect.

Bremen Cole · 03-09-2010, 02:26 PM

I think long term that price will go down, and quality up.... as the market slowly moves to a digital base.....

iPub is as good as any for general reading IMHO.... I convert most everything to it... academic and technical... are another matter.

LDBoblo · 03-09-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you tell me what reflowable eBook format is actually better then ePub?

As Elfwreck said, there's not really a better option for reflowable ebooks. I only read custom-made PDFs, as I can't stand LRF or ePub. It'd be great if I didn't have to go to such lengths to have decent quality ebooks. In the future, ePub may be good enough for me to quit typesetting PDFs. It's definitely not there yet though. Just being the "best" reflowable format doesn't make it good.

theducks · 03-09-2010, 04:02 PM

Price will go up.

Quality will remain the same. :/
The reason: There are just too many screen size/resolution combinations out there.
With paper, the typesetter controled the environment. With e-readers, there is no control

PC with 28" Widescreen to a *-phone screen.

Auto Hyphenation, Auto-Page breaks. IMHO just don't make it.

HorridRedDog · 03-09-2010, 04:21 PM

It seems that there are many who are VERY dissatisfied with the lack of perfection in ebooks. If I were so obsessed I would sell my ereader and find a less stressful recreation.

================================================== ========================

Please note the picture on the feft? Perfection is a loooong way off. I can wait.

fugazied · 03-09-2010, 04:35 PM

I think quality has a long way to go yet. We might get some minor price decreases, but mostly new releases will be feature adding.

In about 2-3 years the technologies will be sufficiently advanced that most new releases will be adding minor features, but getting cheaper. Eventually It will be similar to the iPhone which now just adds somewhat minor features (like 3G) and lowers the price.

But until all of these readers have color touchscreens, internet access, easy to read display technology like mirasol but better, and better form factors and high battery life, they have a lot of technological improvements to achieve.

03-09-2010, 04:21 PM	#21
HorridRedDog Addict Posts: 322 Karma: 1592 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-600 EB-1150	It seems that there are many who are VERY dissatisfied with the lack of perfection in ebooks. If I were so obsessed I would sell my ereader and find a less stressful recreation. ================================================== ======================== Please note the picture on the feft? Perfection is a loooong way off. I can wait. Last edited by HorridRedDog; 03-09-2010 at 04:28 PM.

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03-09-2010, 02:26 PM	#18
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	I think long term that price will go down, and quality up.... as the market slowly moves to a digital base..... iPub is as good as any for general reading IMHO.... I convert most everything to it... academic and technical... are another matter.

03-09-2010, 04:02 PM	#20
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,779 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Price will go up. Quality will remain the same. :/ The reason: There are just too many screen size/resolution combinations out there. With paper, the typesetter controled the environment. With e-readers, there is no control PC with 28" Widescreen to a *-phone screen. Auto Hyphenation, Auto-Page breaks. IMHO just don't make it.

03-09-2010, 04:35 PM	#22
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	I think quality has a long way to go yet. We might get some minor price decreases, but mostly new releases will be feature adding. In about 2-3 years the technologies will be sufficiently advanced that most new releases will be adding minor features, but getting cheaper. Eventually It will be similar to the iPhone which now just adds somewhat minor features (like 3G) and lowers the price. But until all of these readers have color touchscreens, internet access, easy to read display technology like mirasol but better, and better form factors and high battery life, they have a lot of technological improvements to achieve.

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