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Old 08-30-2010, 02:33 PM   #1
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What Took so Long?
This year was the first I've heard about digital readers bursting out of media headlines with the iPad, Kindle and e-Ink technology. But why did it take digital books so long to emerge? Looking at an eReader at first I though it looked like something from the 80's. Shouldn't this technology be up to date with like HD 1080p e-Ink technology by now?

Here's what I mean... http://cgi.ebay.ph/VINTAGE-CASIO-Z-7...-/270619854502
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Old 08-30-2010, 02:50 PM   #2
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So far, ebook piracy hasn't been widespread enough to encourage many far eastern manufacturers to build reading devices, so the cost of the devices has remained fairly high.
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Old 08-30-2010, 03:07 PM   #3
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Moving an established, old fashioned industry to a whole new way of doing business is a long, hard slog.
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Old 08-30-2010, 04:28 PM   #4
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There are also many people out there who prefer to avoid e-readers. The only dead tree books I can think of buying for myself in the past 5+ years are the Monster Blood Tattoo books (bought for the art), and a few technical books not available in ebook format.

I'm taking a momentary break from reading "Graceling" on my Kindle to catch up on Mobileread. At the same time, my teen son has finished mowing the lawn and is reading "Mockingjay" in dead tree hardcover. He's read some books on my Kindle, but, he just doesn't _like_ it. He likes turning the pages, the sense of accomplishment his bookmark gives him, and the nice book covers.

My enjoyment of ebooks comes from preferring the content to the delivery system. I love to _READ_, it doesn't matter if it's a cheap and tattered or high tech and glossy. With an ereader, I can carry as much of my library in one device as is humanly possible. The reader is physically lightweight, easy on the eyes, mindlessly easy to operate (one button push turns pages), etc.

Right now, I know I'm in the minority. The delivery system for ebooks is improving all the time. Eventually it'll be good enough that ebook fans will be in the majority.
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Old 08-30-2010, 04:31 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by thymaster View Post
This year was the first I've heard about digital readers bursting out of media headlines with the iPad, Kindle and e-Ink technology. But why did it take digital books so long to emerge? Looking at an eReader at first I though it looked like something from the 80's. Shouldn't this technology be up to date with like HD 1080p e-Ink technology by now?

Here's what I mean... http://cgi.ebay.ph/VINTAGE-CASIO-Z-7...-/270619854502
It may be the first you've heard of it, but eBooks certainly aren't new. I've been reading them for well over 20 years.
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Old 08-30-2010, 05:12 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by thymaster View Post
This year was the first I've heard about digital readers bursting out of media headlines with the iPad, Kindle and e-Ink technology. But why did it take digital books so long to emerge? Looking at an eReader at first I though it looked like something from the 80's. Shouldn't this technology be up to date with like HD 1080p e-Ink technology by now?

Here's what I mean... http://cgi.ebay.ph/VINTAGE-CASIO-Z-7...-/270619854502
Talk about a blast from the past. I remember the Geos operating system and when it was first ported to the PC. It was supposed to make Microsoft tremble. Instead, the company that owned it flubbed the release, didn't bother putting out an SDK until well after Microsoft had released Windows 3.1 and the rest as they say is history. As for ebook reading, I've been doing it since I was reading on my old Palm M100.
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Old 08-30-2010, 05:43 PM   #7
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They certainly aren't new, but unlike say, MP3s, there is no easy way for a person to convert their existing book library to a digital format.

I think that's a big drag.
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Old 08-30-2010, 08:14 PM   #8
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Talk about a blast from the past. I remember the Geos operating system and when it was first ported to the PC. It was supposed to make Microsoft tremble. Instead, the company that owned it flubbed the release, didn't bother putting out an SDK until well after Microsoft had released Windows 3.1 and the rest as they say is history. As for ebook reading, I've been doing it since I was reading on my old Palm M100.
Geos on the Commodores was a bloated piece of junk from the word go.
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Old 08-30-2010, 10:50 PM   #9
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Geos on the Commodores was a bloated piece of junk from the word go.
ahahah..but..it demoed great!

I remember being shown a preview of it on the 64 before it came out, and it looked like it could do anything a Mac could do. But then it came out
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Old 08-31-2010, 12:21 AM   #10
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...But then it came out
Unfortunately.
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Old 08-31-2010, 12:44 AM   #11
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I've been following ereaders since the NuvoMedia Rocket days...how I lusted after one of those before Goldstar bought 'em and they went to hell. I only bought an ereader a couple of months ago, when the Kobo came out. At that time, Kindle and Nook were still $259, which struck me as exorbitant. Not just a bit pricey, but exorbitant. It took some perceived competition to bring them down to earth.

The biggest stumbling block, though, is DRM. It should NOT be this hard to download a text file! I still get confused trying to buy a book from Kobobooks or anyone else, except Amazon and the Kindle (and I don't have a Kindle, just Kindle-For-PC). If they would just get over the DRM nonsense so that I could download a book easily from whatever store I chose, I'd be much happier. If you want "easy," you have to go with the Kindle.

Although my wife loves her Kobo, if it were up to her to try to download books to it, she wouldn't bother. She would get frustrated and throw the thing away.

Growing pains, I guess. I hope that's all it is.
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Old 08-31-2010, 12:52 AM   #12
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... Looking at an eReader at first I though it looked like something from the 80's...
The big secret: they all run on CP/M.
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Old 08-31-2010, 01:49 AM   #13
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The biggest stumbling block, though, is DRM. It should NOT be this hard to download a text file!
DRM is indeed a pain, however geographic restrictions simply has to be the worst impediment at current for those ebook lovers residing outside the US. Amazon has a massive amount of ebooks for purchase it is true, but the offerings due to GR for non US residents is a fraction of what is available for US residents.

If GR is removed and publishers go to a more modern global system of ebook distribution, then it would be reflected in higher ebook sales.
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Old 08-31-2010, 02:09 AM   #14
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They certainly aren't new, but unlike say, MP3s, there is no easy way for a person to convert their existing book library to a digital format.

I think that's a big drag.
This. And DRM making it confusing to shop around and support. A book is problem free.

And prices are still holding them down.

I just bought a hardcover of a book I really considered getting the ebook of, picked it up on ebay. But it is at full retail. I can get the paperback shipped from Amazon or B&N cheaper than the ebook. Makes no sense whatsoever. And it has no nasty DRM. I really wanted the e-book despite the DRM, but I wasn't going to pay full retail for it.

Instead, I bought a used hardcover off of ebay for ~$6.50 shipped, $1.50 cheaper than the ebook.

It's like if MP3 albums were priced at the retail $16.99 - $19.99 they used to charge for CDs. Yeah, like I'd pay that.
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Old 08-31-2010, 08:06 AM   #15
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<cough> Isn't it possible for naughty people to strip off DRM? </cough>
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