Quote:
Originally Posted by Idoine
If you can try a e-ink device, you'll see... 
Before mine, I read on a laptop, too, and on a PocketPC.
I can say that it was a lot more straining for my eyes (due to the backlighting) than with my Cybook !
The e-ink screen is no more eye-wearing than a paperbook, for me...  |
Doubtful. I do most of my reading at night and I actually find reading a paperback to be more difficult than reading on a (smallish) laptop. The lamp I have is in a fixed position behind my head so I pretty much have to stay in one spot. I also have to be careful not to block the light and cast shadows on the book.
I've found the iPhone to be pretty good for reading. While I'd like a bigger screen, the iPhone's form factor makes it easy to hold and navigate with just one hand without my arm going numb. It's also pretty well-built. I'm not at all careful with my electronics and I often wake up with the iPhone digging into my stomach or lying on the floor. I have a feeling I'd break an e-ink reader the first night I use it.
That said, I wouldn't say that PC's are the best for ereading. I wouldn't doubt that they're the most used - market penetration of the PC is much higher than dedicated readers. However, the term "best" is relative and each person has their own preference. I actually think e-ink based readers are here to stay, at least until other display technologies catch up. As can be seen on MobileRead, there are quite a number of avid readers who prefer e-ink so there's certainly a market, however niche. This has been mentioned before: smartphones, PDAs, PCs and similar serve to widen the ebook audience. They're not a replacement for dedicated readers, yet.