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gerraldo · 06-08-2009, 07:15 PM

On the CyBook forum someone mentioned "Let the technology spread before it is terminated.". I've discussed something similar with a friend of mine just recently...

I can understand the fear of the technology/platform dying before it spreads. There are lots of things going on at the moment:
- new eInk devices appearing everywhere
- ePub format pushed for DRM standard in Europe
- Kindle looking for Europe
- nextGen readers being developed (WiFi, touchscreen, backlight, color)
- NetBooks, NetTablets, MIDs, etc. being announced/appearing
- and so on...

My POV:
- On the long-term eInk devices/eBook readers will die away and readers on other devices will take over (NetTablets, MIDs, smartphones etc.) - if there'll be ever those fuel cells available (with said 3-5 times battery life), this will even speed things up.
- If the DRM problem will not be solved soon (ONE de facto standard and/or no DRM at all - which I'd prefer) + reasonable pricing compared to pBooks (lower prices, budget eBooks, enhanced content, package deals, flat rates etc.), they'll have the same problems coming like the music biz.

You know the statistics? Most people read eBooks on other devices then eInk (PC and PDF being #1). If eInk devices don't get cheaper and more capable fast, they'll never be the most used device for eBook reading. Came to think of it, the cheapest eInk reader costs $ 200,-- and is of nothing more capable then reading eBooks (and this is even limited).

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my CyBook and all, but look over at MP3 players (4GB models with OK features from well-known manufacturers) cost a mere $ 20-40,--. To be reasonable priced, eBook readers need to drop under $ 100,-- and with touch/color models appearing even more.

Named other devices (NetTablets, MIDs, PMPs etc) are speeding up with more features, better hardware, longer battery life, less weight, better form factors etc. (all compared to already existing devices, not eInk readers!). We already have an equally priced MID - the SmartQ 7 (look in the "other devices" forum) and despite it's downsides it delivers a LOT for the money.

And people (me included) love multi-purpose devices that can be enhanced later with new software (not FW updates) + devices with more open OS, so one can write software for it (which Pocketbook tries at the moment for their product!). Just look what happened to Smartphones and PDAs - who needs a PDA these days?! Same is true for PMPs (playing music, video and now enhanced with games, apps, WiFi, touchscreens and internet capability) - the NetTablet/MID/PMP (whatever it'll be named in the end) WILL be the future.

And if eReaders (eInk or not) don't get to grips with all that (including DRM and format wars), they'll be sooner or later history.

(just my 2 cents)

06-08-2009, 07:15 PM	#1
gerraldo Anti-DRM Advocate Posts: 351 Karma: 960 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vienna/Austria Device: CyBook Gen 3, Palm Tungsten T3	eInk readers dying before they spread? On the CyBook forum someone mentioned "Let the technology spread before it is terminated.". I've discussed something similar with a friend of mine just recently... I can understand the fear of the technology/platform dying before it spreads. There are lots of things going on at the moment: - new eInk devices appearing everywhere - ePub format pushed for DRM standard in Europe - Kindle looking for Europe - nextGen readers being developed (WiFi, touchscreen, backlight, color) - NetBooks, NetTablets, MIDs, etc. being announced/appearing - and so on... My POV: - On the long-term eInk devices/eBook readers will die away and readers on other devices will take over (NetTablets, MIDs, smartphones etc.) - if there'll be ever those fuel cells available (with said 3-5 times battery life), this will even speed things up. - If the DRM problem will not be solved soon (ONE de facto standard and/or no DRM at all - which I'd prefer) + reasonable pricing compared to pBooks (lower prices, budget eBooks, enhanced content, package deals, flat rates etc.), they'll have the same problems coming like the music biz. You know the statistics? Most people read eBooks on other devices then eInk (PC and PDF being #1). If eInk devices don't get cheaper and more capable fast, they'll never be the most used device for eBook reading. Came to think of it, the cheapest eInk reader costs $ 200,-- and is of nothing more capable then reading eBooks (and this is even limited). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my CyBook and all, but look over at MP3 players (4GB models with OK features from well-known manufacturers) cost a mere $ 20-40,--. To be reasonable priced, eBook readers need to drop under $ 100,-- and with touch/color models appearing even more. Named other devices (NetTablets, MIDs, PMPs etc) are speeding up with more features, better hardware, longer battery life, less weight, better form factors etc. (all compared to already existing devices, not eInk readers!). We already have an equally priced MID - the SmartQ 7 (look in the "other devices" forum) and despite it's downsides it delivers a LOT for the money. And people (me included) love multi-purpose devices that can be enhanced later with new software (not FW updates) + devices with more open OS, so one can write software for it (which Pocketbook tries at the moment for their product!). Just look what happened to Smartphones and PDAs - who needs a PDA these days?! Same is true for PMPs (playing music, video and now enhanced with games, apps, WiFi, touchscreens and internet capability) - the NetTablet/MID/PMP (whatever it'll be named in the end) WILL be the future. And if eReaders (eInk or not) don't get to grips with all that (including DRM and format wars), they'll be sooner or later history. (just my 2 cents)