Quote:
Originally Posted by MaggieScratch
I read my Cybook in public all the time and I get a lot of questions. Some have heard of the concept of an ebook reader, some have seen them, many are curious anyway. I have my spiel down pat. 
A conversation I had with a young man (college age, I guess) sitting next to me on the train last week:
Him: Is that a Kindle?
Me: It's an ebook reader, but not a Kindle. It has the same screen, it works pretty much the same way, but it doesn't have wireless download.
Him (nods knowingly): Oh, it's a cheap knockoff.
Me: NOT cheap. NOT a knockoff. Just a different device for the same function.
Him: *loses interest*
Sigh.
But as Bob said, flight attendants almost always ask about it. I think some of them are considering buying an ebook reader--they're so convenient for travel. |
Dear Maggie Scratch:
Totally and completely agree. IF people hear of eBook Readers, they almost always hear of Kindle. Kindle, Kindle, Kindle!! That is why I tell them "like a Kindle... but true Open Format. I can buy eBooks from hundreds of websites".
I do not say "it is better than a Swindel". I try to make them understand that just as TWA (Trans World Airlines) was never the only airline... Kindle is one device, and there are others, that can offer you more. Astak happens to make a great device, just as reliable or more so, but allows the end user to suit themselves on where they buy eBooks. Maybe I should have called it the EZ Reader "FREEDOM".
One thing that casual onlookers can relate to is "having a choice". Talking "Open Format" invites the reply "what do you mean?"... and they start to open their eyes.
Thank you, Maggie!!