MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Prediction: Apple Will Announce a new ebook reader near the end of February

TheRealBillc · 06-10-2008, 01:36 PM

It's going to take more than improvements in screen technology to make readers true multifunction devices, like a PDA or smart phone, if ever. Battery power would need to be improved significantly for one thing. Every other function is going to drain battery power, which is currently an advantage of a reader that I wouldn't want to give up. The other functions would also have to operate within the same form factor and weight, at least for me. One of the reasons I want a reader is so I can read & listen to books on the same device. I really don't need that device to do everything my phone does because my phone already does those things, and I'm not interested in adding a phone to a device that is 7 inches or more long and about 5 inches wide. I'd feel really silly holding that up to my ear. Conversely, I don't think my phone is of a size that makes for comfortable reading of a novel. I think having two devices is acceptable for the near future and maybe for my remaining time on the planet. I just want my reader to be very light, refresh as quickly as possible, hold some books, a dictionary, and provide a good reading experiance, my phone can do the rest - and still fit in a pants pocket.

06-10-2008, 01:36 PM	#70
TheRealBillc evangelist Posts: 42 Karma: 48 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jersey City, NJ Device: PRS-700 deceased now 950	tech improvements It's going to take more than improvements in screen technology to make readers true multifunction devices, like a PDA or smart phone, if ever. Battery power would need to be improved significantly for one thing. Every other function is going to drain battery power, which is currently an advantage of a reader that I wouldn't want to give up. The other functions would also have to operate within the same form factor and weight, at least for me. One of the reasons I want a reader is so I can read & listen to books on the same device. I really don't need that device to do everything my phone does because my phone already does those things, and I'm not interested in adding a phone to a device that is 7 inches or more long and about 5 inches wide. I'd feel really silly holding that up to my ear. Conversely, I don't think my phone is of a size that makes for comfortable reading of a novel. I think having two devices is acceptable for the near future and maybe for my remaining time on the planet. I just want my reader to be very light, refresh as quickly as possible, hold some books, a dictionary, and provide a good reading experiance, my phone can do the rest - and still fit in a pants pocket.