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Originally Posted by kjk
The issue is that new entrants feel the need to differentiate themselves in the market-and the tendency is to add rather than subtract-the whole checklist approach to marketing.
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Unfortunately what they are adding doesn't really belong on an e-reader.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeccaAnn
To be honest, I wouldn't mind if my Reader did allow internet viewing. I spend a lot of time reading fanfiction on the net and would to lose my laptop/desktop and just curl up with a small Reader that can be held with hand, no need to brace it with my legs. It could even remain in grayscale, no need for color to read stories.
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Unfortunatley you are probably in a minority with this type of surfing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDBoblo
...I don't see a problem with diversifying functions in better devices, but they're not even really doing that. They don't even seem to get book reading right though, and that's just insane given the number of devices out there...
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Exactly. The problem is that some of the functionality that they are adding has nothing to do with reading books. A lot of what they seem to be putting in the new devices is only going to lead people to want a color screen to display it on (video, web surfing, etc). The resolution will get higher, color will be added and more powerful processors will be needed to drive it all. Eventually you will end up with a computer in your hand with a color LCD screen and low battery life (can you say netbook?). Meanwhile everyone will accept these devices as e-readers and forget where they started from and why.
I know that technology is always moving forward but what bothers me most about this is the speed. I've had my Kindle for 10 months and in that time the readers have mutated from several very useful devices to a mob of bloated hardware with features a lot of us don't want. Feature Creep.
Hopefully some of the basic devices will live on.
C.P.T.