Mistaken Identity

Jaede · 11-10-2011, 05:31 AM

This is for fans of E-Readers.

I've browsed often through this forum, and learned many things about E-Readers from the many people who post here. I have owned a Sony PRS-505, a Nook 1E, a Kindle 3, and my latest reader the Nook Simple Touch.

I've never rooted these devices since the technical aspect of rooting intimidates me somewhat, but I have worked with them, researched them, and managed them with Calibre to such an extent that I feel they hold no secrets for me.

Note-I'm not knocking the Kindle, or Amazon. I rather like buying from Amazon, and loading those books onto the Nook, and if the Kindle had custom screensavers and expandable memory I honestly think it would be superior to the other readers on the market.

My rant, or question to the masses is this: How often have you been reading on an E-Reader that is not a Kindle, and had some ignorant noob look at it and ask if it was a Kindle? And then when you explain what it is they give you a blank look, a nod, and walk away still convinced what you held in your hands is a Kindle. Maybe it's just me, but each device is shaped so differently that it's relatively easy to tell them apart. I don't know about the rest of the readers out there who have given up paperbacks for E-Ink, but this bothers me every time it happens.

Any thoughts?

Torwan · 11-10-2011, 05:44 AM

That never happened to me.

OK, I own a Kindle, but people around me know that not every eReader is a Kindle, not every smartphone is an iPhone and not every notebook is an IBM ThinkPad. Just like not every car is a Volkswagen.

You have weird people around yourself.

Denko · 11-10-2011, 05:55 AM

Haven't had it happen to me. They usually ask "hey is that an ipad?"
But i appearantly have an iphone/ipod aswell. Could have sworn it said Google on the back of the phone

People connect a brand to a device, and once that's done it takes ages (if ever) to get rid of.
Kindle and ipod are just the latest example's. Think of ducktape, hansaplast etc etc aswell.

Billi · 11-10-2011, 06:14 AM

Torwan, maybe this is because you live in Germany and here Kindle isn't a synonym for eReaders yet (if any brand is connected to eReaders at all then I would think it's Sony).

What I observe regularly: in my library there is a very small exhibition of eReaders for testing and everytime someone comes testing them they start rubbing vigorously at the screen and being very disappointed when nothing happens. They treat them exactly like they would treat an iPad!

tubemonkey · 11-10-2011, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denko

People connect a brand to a device, and once that's done it takes ages (if ever) to get rid of.
Kindle and ipod are just the latest example's. Think of ducktape, hansaplast etc etc aswell.

Hansaplast

Never heard of it. Is it a Kindle?

abookreader · 11-10-2011, 06:40 AM

No but -- I was driving my Land Rover last weekend and somebody asked me if I like my truck.

Really I don't think most of the general population cares that much and in the US - Kindles are what you see on TV. Here, the average adult reads something like 1 to 2 books a year and they just aren't interested in whether there are 1 or 7 brands of eInk readers. They see the Kindle on tv, they call them Kindles.

tubemonkey · 11-10-2011, 06:55 AM

a- "Wanna Coke?"

b- "Sure"

a- "What flavor - orange or root beer?"

mldavis2 · 11-10-2011, 08:35 AM

There are lots of brand names that become nouns. Xerox, Coke, PC, Kleenex, Windex, Band-Aid, Jello, Scotch tape, etc. I think they're called eponyms.

DustyDisks · 11-10-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mldavis2

There are lots of brand names that become nouns. Xerox, Coke, PC, Kleenex, Windex, Band-Aid, Jello, Scotch tape, etc. I think they're called eponyms.

Agreed!

The word "Kindle" or some variant will in time be added too that list of nouns.

And the ad's that amazon are running for the kindles are mostly dominating the media will help imprint the association of the word kindle, with ebook reading.

ekster · 11-10-2011, 08:55 AM

I'm in Canada, so Kindles aren't that popular, most people have a Kobo.

However a lot of people did mistake my Kobo for an Ipad. :\

elemenoP · 11-10-2011, 08:58 AM

Actually I have had to use the word Kindle myself, to explain what it is: "It's an ereader." "A what?" "Like a Kindle, but made by Sony." My 5-year-old daughter called it a Kindle when I got it, and I corrected her until she said ereader. Well now she is in first grade and reading on Level E (Fountas and Pinnell scale) and she said to me, "hey mom, I'm an E-reader!" ha ha.

And once my nephew asked me if it was my phone! I laughed at that one!

eP

Pinecone · 11-10-2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mldavis2

There are lots of brand names that become nouns. Xerox, Coke, PC, Kleenex, Windex, Band-Aid, Jello, Scotch tape, etc. I think they're called eponyms.

Actually a Metonymy.

And companies fight veryhard to prevent thweir trademarked name from becoming a common usage, as they can lose their trademark status. Like aspirin, which as a Bayer trademarked name.

Jaede · 11-10-2011, 10:26 AM

But must we accept the inevitable? And if we must why can't it be with the Sony brand name such as Billi mentioned? They were the first, and what does it matter that Amazon is rising up faster than the Umbrella Corporation.

I don't mind the Kindle. It's a little tedious with the collection feature even if you use the Calibre plugin, Sony had the right of it by allowing management through the computer, but if the trend continues then before you know it the world will be full of Kindle-wielding zombies.

Rob Lister · 11-10-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaede

...
My rant, or question to the masses is this: How often have you been reading on an E-Reader that is not a Kindle, and had some ignorant noob look at it and ask if it was a Kindle?

Withstanding the 'ignorant noob' characterization, I'll agree it happens frequently. I answer in reply, "Kinda like a Kindle. It's a Nook actually. Here, have a look!" and I hand it to them for closer inspection.

Hellmark · 11-10-2011, 11:08 AM

Most people only really know the kindle, and it became kind of like Kleenex. People use it as a term for all ebook readers, even if they're not referring to a specific product. I've had people still call it a Kindle even after I've said my reader isn't a Kindle.

11-10-2011, 05:31 AM	#1
Jaede Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 494647 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T2	Mistaken Identity This is for fans of E-Readers. I've browsed often through this forum, and learned many things about E-Readers from the many people who post here. I have owned a Sony PRS-505, a Nook 1E, a Kindle 3, and my latest reader the Nook Simple Touch. I've never rooted these devices since the technical aspect of rooting intimidates me somewhat, but I have worked with them, researched them, and managed them with Calibre to such an extent that I feel they hold no secrets for me. Note-I'm not knocking the Kindle, or Amazon. I rather like buying from Amazon, and loading those books onto the Nook, and if the Kindle had custom screensavers and expandable memory I honestly think it would be superior to the other readers on the market. My rant, or question to the masses is this: How often have you been reading on an E-Reader that is not a Kindle, and had some ignorant noob look at it and ask if it was a Kindle? And then when you explain what it is they give you a blank look, a nod, and walk away still convinced what you held in your hands is a Kindle. Maybe it's just me, but each device is shaped so differently that it's relatively easy to tell them apart. I don't know about the rest of the readers out there who have given up paperbacks for E-Ink, but this bothers me every time it happens. Any thoughts?

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11-10-2011, 05:44 AM	#2
Torwan Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1063860 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Germany Device: Kindle3 (3G)	That never happened to me. OK, I own a Kindle, but people around me know that not every eReader is a Kindle, not every smartphone is an iPhone and not every notebook is an IBM ThinkPad. Just like not every car is a Volkswagen. You have weird people around yourself.

11-10-2011, 05:55 AM	#3
Denko Member Posts: 11 Karma: 206564 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Haven't had it happen to me. They usually ask "hey is that an ipad?" But i appearantly have an iphone/ipod aswell. Could have sworn it said Google on the back of the phone People connect a brand to a device, and once that's done it takes ages (if ever) to get rid of. Kindle and ipod are just the latest example's. Think of ducktape, hansaplast etc etc aswell.

11-10-2011, 06:14 AM	#4
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Torwan, maybe this is because you live in Germany and here Kindle isn't a synonym for eReaders yet (if any brand is connected to eReaders at all then I would think it's Sony). What I observe regularly: in my library there is a very small exhibition of eReaders for testing and everytime someone comes testing them they start rubbing vigorously at the screen and being very disappointed when nothing happens. They treat them exactly like they would treat an iPad!

11-10-2011, 06:40 AM	#6
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	No but -- I was driving my Land Rover last weekend and somebody asked me if I like my truck. Really I don't think most of the general population cares that much and in the US - Kindles are what you see on TV. Here, the average adult reads something like 1 to 2 books a year and they just aren't interested in whether there are 1 or 7 brands of eInk readers. They see the Kindle on tv, they call them Kindles.

11-10-2011, 06:55 AM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	a- "Wanna Coke?" b- "Sure" a- "What flavor - orange or root beer?"

11-10-2011, 08:35 AM	#8
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	There are lots of brand names that become nouns. Xerox, Coke, PC, Kleenex, Windex, Band-Aid, Jello, Scotch tape, etc. I think they're called eponyms.

11-10-2011, 08:55 AM	#10
ekster Currently without a title Posts: 203 Karma: 3209914 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Canada, Qc Device: Kobo Touch	I'm in Canada, so Kindles aren't that popular, most people have a Kobo. However a lot of people did mistake my Kobo for an Ipad. :\

11-10-2011, 08:58 AM	#11
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Actually I have had to use the word Kindle myself, to explain what it is: "It's an ereader." "A what?" "Like a Kindle, but made by Sony." My 5-year-old daughter called it a Kindle when I got it, and I corrected her until she said ereader. Well now she is in first grade and reading on Level E (Fountas and Pinnell scale) and she said to me, "hey mom, I'm an E-reader!" ha ha. And once my nephew asked me if it was my phone! I laughed at that one! eP

11-10-2011, 10:26 AM	#13
Jaede Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 494647 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T2	But must we accept the inevitable? And if we must why can't it be with the Sony brand name such as Billi mentioned? They were the first, and what does it matter that Amazon is rising up faster than the Umbrella Corporation. I don't mind the Kindle. It's a little tedious with the collection feature even if you use the Calibre plugin, Sony had the right of it by allowing management through the computer, but if the trend continues then before you know it the world will be full of Kindle-wielding zombies.

11-10-2011, 11:08 AM	#15
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	Most people only really know the kindle, and it became kind of like Kleenex. People use it as a term for all ebook readers, even if they're not referring to a specific product. I've had people still call it a Kindle even after I've said my reader isn't a Kindle.

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