Chronicle of Higher Education says closer, but still no banana.

[NatCh]

My wife takes the Chronicle of Higher Education, and they have an article in the latest edition (mostly) on the Reader, that discusses e-ink readers in general as well. Their conclusions are mostly that it's a good device, with promise, but isn't what they need yet.


Not really that much new, but here are a few interesting tidbits:

"The Reader was designed for more the type of reader who just reads a book on vacation and less as an academic tool," says David Seperson, a product manager at Sony who works on the Reader device. It will take more research to develop a device suitable for college work, he adds. "We are looking into what's the best way to approach the higher-education market."

But the new screen technology does show promise, several college officials say, and it points to a future in which computers will be far easier on the eyes.

Indications of interest from Academia, and that Sony recognizes the potential there ... hopeful signs.


There's also some discussion of interactions with publishers:

Mr. Seperson, of Sony, says that its e-book store will grow, but that some publishers and authors are still wary. Some in the publishing world fear that they might lose control of books the way musicians and record companies lost control of recordings in the file-sharing era.

"I hate to pass the buck, but it's not our fault," Mr. Seperson says, noting that in some cases the company is asking publishers for digital copies but the publishers are refusing. Even some popular authors, like J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame, refuse to allow their works to be distributed in electronic form, he says.

"There is definite interest in the textbook market," though, Mr. Seperson says. "The publishers there are very interested."

Mostly confirming what we suspected already, but that's good too.

[HarryT]

That's a very interesting article, Nat, and this is one reviewer who does, I think, have his head screwed on the right way. I think he's absolutely right in saying that the Reader in its present form is unsuited for Academia due to lack of search and annotation facilities. The former is perhaps "fixable", but the latter probably needs a touch screen. Perhaps "Reader Mk 2"?

[NatCh]

From discussions with my wife, I really think that an A4 display is needed for Academics, along with annotations and such, it's just a matter of the way they all seem to work on stuff.

[tcv]

"Higher education." AH! Whaddatheyknow? Pinko Commie Rag!

[RWood]

When Apple first brought out the Apple ][ it was not targeted at schools. Only after schools started to use them and some 3rd party software showed up in the market did Apple get serious about the "education" market. To be viable they (the education establishment) has to bring it in rather than have it "sold" to them. Sony is taking the right path for future success in that market.