Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaul1114
That's really the key question. Undoubtedly some will prefer dedicated readers. If reading is the only gadget-related hobby someone has, and they don't need anything like this (reader, tablet etc.) for work, there's not much reason. Also folks who are put off by more complicated technology.
But others will want something that can read as well as a dedicated reader (or close enough) and also do other things related to their other hobbies or stuff they need for work (better annotating with stylus, PDA, e-mail etc.).
The iPhone and other gadgets show a market for these type of multifunction devices. Time will tell if the same is true for multi function tablets and what effect they have on the e-book market, the netbook market etc. once they start rolling out.
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Many of the people I've known who like simple devices are the kinds of people who have done early adopting of crippled technology and have spent along time convincing themselves it was worthwhile for the "specialization".
This was really huge with digital SLRs when they started offering video and "purists" were whining about it. The "SLRs are highly specialized and designed for one use and do it really well" argument has been used for a long time to justify SLRs not having video when simple cheap point-and-shoot cameras have had video from nearly the beginning. I found it hilarious when DSLRs started offering video and people were threatening to boycott the companies because of the betrayal.
Ebook readers are currently crippled devices because the technology sucks. That's pretty much it. When that's fixed, the devices will cease to be so "specialized" (one man's specialized is another man's crippled).