Quote:
Originally Posted by leebase
There is just not enough of an advantage to eink to support advanced products in the wake of the iPad. The advanced ereading functionality is going to come in the form of iPad apps and android apps to follow.
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I think the main problem for eink tech development is that most people - certainly occasional readers (the iPad early adopters who raced to install a free book on their new device and will never read it) and even a few heavier readers who aren't bothered by eye-strain on backlit devices - would agree with Lee's opinions.
Most people who have an interest in reading won't even have seen an eink display, and certainly wouldn't go out of their way to seek one out to try. For many of those who are happy to use devices such as the iPad to read, it is far more important that they can convince themselves it is the best device to read on than that it actually be the best device to read on. They want to be able to say 'I own the best device for reading ebooks. I am a reader,' rather than actually read books (apologies to those serious readers who actually do find backlit displays give a comfortable reading experience).
So, to give this majority of 'convergence device' users, the next development in ebooks is more likely to be increasingly interactive 'Books 2.0
TM' with sound effects, links to Wikipedia pages and wizzy graphics, rather than actual screen developments in dedicated ereaders. Publishers (Apple certainly have aspirations to milk this market segment as well as hardware sales) will like this, as it will give a justification for keeping ebooks as expensive - if not more so - than pbooks.
The ebook future profit lies with those who think that an accelerometer mini-game integrated into page fifteen would be a good thing. This will be the 'advanced ereading functionality' Lee speaks of.
Who knows, perhaps the sales-success of the K3 will demonstrate that there is a decent-sized market out there for a dedicated device with a high-quality screen. For the time being, though, the screen that makes money is going to be a 6" one.