Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokeAndMirrors
Can someone please explain to me what the point of LCD e-readers is?
I thought e-readers existed so people could read on a screen that doesn't hurt their eyes, on a device that doesn't need to be plugged in after a couple hours of untethered use. As far as I can tell, there is no other reason for e-readers to exist.
An LCD e-reader fulfills neither of those needs. Why do they exist? Why do people buy them?
If it doesn't bother you to read on an LCD screen or to deal with the significantly shorter battery life, why wouldn't you just buy a real tablet?
You can buy a highly-rated Android tablet for $250-$300 these days - not much different than these LCD e-readers. It may not be the best specs in the world, but then again, neither are the LCD e-readers. And it saves you the trouble of having to root it. And it probably has a more recent Android release on it. And there are plenty of e-reading apps for any tablet OS.
Why would you buy a crippled version of something when you can get the full version for pretty much the same price?
And why is it called an e-reader if it doesn't do anything helpful to readers that any ole' computer couldn't do?
Frankly, I have a hard enough time understanding the point of tablets - it's either an overgrown smartphone that can't make calls, or an undergrown computer that can't do any substantial output - I'm not sure which.
But even a tablet makes more sense to me than an LCD e-reader.
In complete sincerity, can someone explain to me what the hell the purpose of these things is?
|
A LCD device does not need to be recharged every couple of hours. I recharge mine maybe twice a week. Some even last longer. They easily last a few hours at a time. Yes, the Kindle can last longer. Although in my experience not for a month as some people claim. I have to charge my K2/K3 about once a week. More with use since I have the wireless on when I'm using mine. But how many people read for days on end with no sleep? It's not that hard to plug something in when you go to sleep. So as long as it last a day, why is that an issue?
For me and others, it's e-ink that hurts our eyes. It's the low contrast. I can stare at a LCD for 16 hours a day, day after day, and I'm just fine. 15 mins with e-ink and I'm reaching for the aspirin. About the only place where e-ink works for me is outside in full sunlight.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...se-eye-strain/
As for why Amazon would sell a crippled version of a tablet? That's a good question. Obviously, they ordered this to compete against the Nook Color. By all reports, Amazon didn't develop it. They hired some other manufacturer to supply it. So by specs and pricing, it's the same as the Nook Color. The NC was great last year. Today.... Not so much. With ipad 1's selling for $300, Transforms/Iconias going for $300 and the TouchPad for $99 it doesn't seem like the Amazon Kindle priced at $249 is such a great idea. Unless it has an exclusive hot feature or they drastically lower the price. If it has KSO and free global internet, that would be enough to swing me. Many people still don't get the beauty of the KSOs. You can pay for a $249 Kindle by just taking advantage of a couple of offers. The free global wireless, priceless. Even a crippled tablet with a good browser and access to the Amazon app store with those two things would be worthly at $249.