[kilron]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Again, this is mobileread.com. Not ereader.com. We have subforums for PDAs and Smartphones which aren't ereaders specifically, but rather are devices which do a bunch of stuff but also can display e-books.

sorry.. i've not been to ereader.com. you're trying to differentiate between an ereader and the definition of "mobileread"? aren't we splitting hairs here??

ok... as a general consumer, if i had to guess, i'd say "mobileread" is implying being able to read things (implying books most likely) on any kind of mobile device (that includes laptops, phones, smartphones, ebook readers, etc.).

an eBook reader is a device that has a display for eBooks and an interface dedicated for reading eBooks. by that definition, i'd say an eBook reader is not only a dedicated, single purpose device, but also multi-purpose devices that easily translate to eBook readers like large-screen smartphones and tablet pc's.

i fully expect others to have differing opinions, but i'm sure we'll be splitting hairs and ultimately, i think the point is somewhat moot. its not a question of what you or I believe to be correct, its a matter of general public perception. and i guarantee you that the general public will see the iPad as a multi-purpose device and one of those purposes will definitely be as an eBook reader. case closed.

Dedicated readers need to be judged solely on their capabilities as an e-reader as that's all they do.

uhh... sure. how would we judge them otherwise?

Smartphones, PDAs, Tablets etc. need to be judged on all their capabilities. We should discuss what the reading experience is like on them. But people shouldn't bash them for shorter battery life, screens not as easy on the eyes etc.--at least not to the same standards you would something like the Jetbook (an LCD dedicated reader).

And that's because really no one with their head on straight is going to buy a tablet primarily to use as a reader, and will be aware that they're making tradeoffs on the reading front to get the net access, HD video, games, Apps etc. So know one EXPECTS it to be as good for reading straight text as a dedicated reader, because they're NOT buying it to be a device they mainly use for reading in most cases.

no one with their head on straight would by an iPad to use as an eReader? can you explain why exactly? you make such a big statement but don't back it up with any reasoning. also tell me why such a device would have such tradeoffs? you say that as though its common knowledge in some way, but i'm contending that the average joe would look at a kindle and iPad and see no advantages to the kindle other than batter life and that its slightly smaller and lighter (though smaller screen too), and then look at the iPad and see many many more advantages beyond being a great eBook reader.

a single device will never be perfect for everyone. someone who is a TRULY hardcore reader will probably have very very specific needs in an eBook reader and thus the majority of eBook readers won't be good enough. but something like the kindle and the nook and the iPad are marketed and were built with the average person in mind that likes to read, NOT the super hardcore reader. these are companies that want to make money and lots of it, thus they have to market and design towards the biggest audience possible. my contention simply becomes, the average person will look at both devices and see so many pluses in something like the iPad, most (not all) other eBook readers will seem dated in comparison.

discounting a multi-function device as an eBook reader simply because its a multi-function device is like saying that smartphones are bad phones and bad PDA's simply because they have the capability to do both.

i hear some people on here (who haven't seen an iPad in person yet), automatically discount it as an eReader because it doesn't have an e-Ink display. so my question is this... if Amazon or Barnes & Noble or Sony could produce high quality, color, backlit LCD displays with the same battery life and cost of an e-ink display, don't you think they would have that in all of their eReader devices instead of the eInk display?