MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Sir Stringer on the Reader: "We're not making enough..."

Cthulhu · 01-18-2007, 12:17 PM

@ radleyp:

Part of this debate rests on what we consider textbooks. A number of classes involve reading classic literature. Most great works are available for $5.00 (US) as a paperback or $12.00 for the fancier, bigger paperback. If one is stingy and crafty, many of the great works needed for a literature class--from 1st grade to senior level university courses--can be found at the local public library.

Due to the lapse of copyrights, nearly all of the same texts are available online at various websites devoting to preserving said texts in digital form.

Now, if a parent pays out the $378 (after taxes in my state) when their child heads off to 1st grade for a Reader and is then able to protect that Reader for a while--which may or may not be possible--the cost could be amortised and result in fewer books littering the house.

For education, it could be a fairly useful tool, especially if a school board was able to get a bulk rate for adopting a Reader program in their district.

Also, I think that one of the primary reasons for the Reader and subsequent e-ink devices is expressly to REPLACE paper. Otherwise you argue that the PRS-500 is just another stupid overpriced gadget.

I believe that adding wi-fi is what everyone says version 1.2 will have, even my coffeemaker. If the Reader had such capability, it could be used for RSS feeds from weblogs and online newspapers and magazines.

01-18-2007, 12:17 PM	#5
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	@ radleyp: Part of this debate rests on what we consider textbooks. A number of classes involve reading classic literature. Most great works are available for $5.00 (US) as a paperback or $12.00 for the fancier, bigger paperback. If one is stingy and crafty, many of the great works needed for a literature class--from 1st grade to senior level university courses--can be found at the local public library. Due to the lapse of copyrights, nearly all of the same texts are available online at various websites devoting to preserving said texts in digital form. Now, if a parent pays out the $378 (after taxes in my state) when their child heads off to 1st grade for a Reader and is then able to protect that Reader for a while--which may or may not be possible--the cost could be amortised and result in fewer books littering the house. For education, it could be a fairly useful tool, especially if a school board was able to get a bulk rate for adopting a Reader program in their district. Also, I think that one of the primary reasons for the Reader and subsequent e-ink devices is expressly to REPLACE paper. Otherwise you argue that the PRS-500 is just another stupid overpriced gadget. I believe that adding wi-fi is what everyone says version 1.2 will have, even my coffeemaker. If the Reader had such capability, it could be used for RSS feeds from weblogs and online newspapers and magazines.