Quote:
Originally Posted by advocate2
MG,
I just added to your Karma!! What a great thread. Wireless doesn't mean much to me. I have a computer available all the time and don't mind downloading to the computer and then moving to the reader. I,too, consider the cost of books to be the major factor.
Given your statements on the number of books purchased compared to the cost of the reader, how do you feel the Epub's available from ebook libraries (free) will impact purchase decisions and rankings on readers which don't have such access (Kindle)? Reviewers seem to be focusing on this issue since the recent Sony Press Conference at the NYPL. Does it affect your rankings?
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For me, lending books doesn't have any impact at all.
Honestly, I don't even know whether and how it's possible in Germany/Europe.
But even if it would be available, I most likely wouldn't use it.
I'm into collecting stuff, I want to own it.
I've bought about 1.200 eBooks within the last 10 months, way more than I actually will read in that period of time (I guess, I've read about 150 Books in that time).
There only would be a single exception for me: If certain books, for example "Harry Potter" would be available in public libraries, but not for purchase yet, I'd try to get them that way.
The Sony Daily Edition certainly is a nice unit, I'll probably pre-order it as soon as it's available. But to me, it's about the unique screen ratio ("ultra"-portrait) and the option (hopefully working in Europe) of getting newspapers, as we still can't use Whispernet over here.
Public focus on lending books in my opinion mainly is bashing against Amazon. Always the same: The Uber-succesful ones like Amazon or Microsoft seem to be magnets for unfocussed hatred. Sony is a major one as well, but in this scene it still seems to have some kind of "underdog" status. I'm pretty sure: As soon as Sony will gain market share, they'll be attacked the very same way...
To me, the actual readers already are close to perfection.
I've got no problem at all with inversion or having to wait 1 second for turning pages.
Contrast and readability are fine enough, battery life is phantastic already.
On one hand, I hate the diversity of formats. On the other hand, you've got the very same with XBox vs. PlayStation. I don't hear harsh comments in that area...
Last comment concerning lending books: I would have to check, how recent the books available actually are.
Can you lend the bestsellers and most recent stuff? Or is it mainly "classics"? I wouldn't want to wait for weeks or even months.
And I guess, Amazon, B&N and the other major ones will know how to protect their business. Already existing regional limitations probably will be extended by various release dates, i. e. purchase in the US, then purchase in Europe, then lending in US and so on...