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momghoti · 06-09-2009, 06:04 PM

I wouldn't have wanted a multifunction device when I was a college student. For example, how could a tablet large enough to read a mathematics or physics text, with graphs and illustrations, be convenient as a phone? What if you want to visit while studying? Even with a dedicated device, it's going to have to be capable of referencing a second book--maybe switching between two books with a single click--to be really useful in a university situation. It's a niche market, true, but it's plenty large enough to make several fortunes, and it can be pretty pricey and *still* cheaper than buying five or six $100 books every semester.

I think the point of 'ebooks dying before they spread' is that epaper is still in it's infancy. If it has time, I think the issues--like refresh rate, fragility, color, interaction, cost, cost, and cost--will be solved and it will be adopted in other devices. If a 'good enough' substitution replaces epaper because it's cheaper/easier, I'm afraid epaper won't have enough financial impetus to reach its potential. I like the idea of epaper, I like reading on it. If a new tech came along that was as good for reading I'd go with that--but it would take a lot to convince me. I also wouldn't really be into a multifunction device; I like KISS. I don't even like the video-playing ipods that much.

06-09-2009, 06:04 PM	#24
momghoti Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 1000021 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hook, UK Device: Cybook Bookeen	I wouldn't have wanted a multifunction device when I was a college student. For example, how could a tablet large enough to read a mathematics or physics text, with graphs and illustrations, be convenient as a phone? What if you want to visit while studying? Even with a dedicated device, it's going to have to be capable of referencing a second book--maybe switching between two books with a single click--to be really useful in a university situation. It's a niche market, true, but it's plenty large enough to make several fortunes, and it can be pretty pricey and still cheaper than buying five or six $100 books every semester. I think the point of 'ebooks dying before they spread' is that epaper is still in it's infancy. If it has time, I think the issues--like refresh rate, fragility, color, interaction, cost, cost, and cost--will be solved and it will be adopted in other devices. If a 'good enough' substitution replaces epaper because it's cheaper/easier, I'm afraid epaper won't have enough financial impetus to reach its potential. I like the idea of epaper, I like reading on it. If a new tech came along that was as good for reading I'd go with that--but it would take a lot to convince me. I also wouldn't really be into a multifunction device; I like KISS. I don't even like the video-playing ipods that much.