Quote:
Originally Posted by LouieChuckyMerry
I have a pile of epubs ready to go; I'm looking for a reader that has the simplest form factor, buttons much preferred (but it seems that buttons with a front-light presently isn't an option). Rooting my girlfriend's Kindle 4 NT was simple-if-slightly-annoying; however, Duokan is a bit inconsistent with regards to font size (or maybe a setting is off, although it's easy enough to choose a font and size). Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I think that if a company made a device without any connectivity that's strictly for reading--maybe two models, one non-touchscreen, one touchscreen--with a six-inch screen, a front-light, 1 GB of storage, and drag-and-drop capability, like a basic music player for ebooks, and sold it for $29.99 (NT)/$39.99 (T), then that company would find a large market. Most people who travel have a smart phone capable of performing myriad online tasks, making a full bells-and-whistles reader rather redundant. I understand that wifi is handy for downloading reading material but I can't believe every single ebook reader in the world needs that capability, and I'd personally love a basic reader that holds 1000 books and does nothing else but display those books, well lit and with e-ink, especially if it was affordable.
ProfCrash: I am quite annoyed by companies that make it difficult for me to use a product I pay my hard earned money for as I see fit (that's why I'll never own anything Apple), and actions such as my girlfriend's Kindle auto-updating its firmware and negating several hours of effort definitely factor into my decision making process when it comes to purchasing something.
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Fair enough. Although I prefer that to the many ways people try to say it (walled garden, proprietary, all that fun). I would point to the fact that many of the e-readers out there do the same thing or try and do the same thing but that is a different discussion.
As for e-readers without connectivity: Sony released a model without WiFi after Kindle and Nook had WiFi versions. It didn't work out well for Sony.
I think part of what is happening on this site, and probably others, is that die hard e-reader users and programmers come with a dream device in mind. Posters don't see why WiFi, page buttons, touch screen, removable battery, sd card, whatever it is is or is not available on device X. Said feature is/is not important for them and they know others who feel the same so why is it/isn't it there?
There are a lot of niches but e-readers don't sell enough to make niche devices. There is a reason that only Kobo makes a 5 inch screen, it didn't sell great for Sony (otherwise they would have continued theirs) and Amazon and Nook don't think it will sell well for them. There is a very passionate group of folks who love their 5 inch readers and think there should be more of them but it is a niche market.
There is a reason BN removed the buttons for their latest devices. Most people don't care/feel they take up space. BN is the last to remove them but there is a passionate group of folks who are upset by this decision. I admit that I never thought I would buy an e-reader without buttons but I love my PW2.
There is a reason Amazon removed the SD card slot. It was causing problems for them (I remember topics on customer service calls to Amazon because of problems with indexing and other issues on the K1). The Kindle sells really well without out the SD card slot because most people are fine with the space that they have. For those with mega libraries, the Kindle is not an option. Obviously that group is small enough that Amazon is not worried.
What it gets down to is people should look for the device that best suits their needs. I get stating what you want, that is probably why Amazon added library coverage after the Nook had it, but that is best done in an email or letter to the company. I would guess that Amazon added library coverage because they saw Nook sales hurting their sales and not because of what they read on a BB. Sony added WiFi after they saw their sales take a hit and not based on a BB.