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clockworkzombie · 03-06-2010, 06:42 PM

I would argue a netbook is a regular computer in a small form factor so it should be able to do anything a general purpose computer can do.

A mobile computing device like my iPod touch or my Nokia N95 can do some things a regular computer can do but its software is optimised for a different purpose. The N95 is made to make calls but can play music, video and browse the web. It does these things competently.

For any major change in the way we do things a device needs to be ubiquitous, look at the way the iPod has changed the way we listen to music. There were many mp3 players before the iPod and things like mini disc players but they were not a cheap mass market product that could be purchased on every street corner.

Ebook readers are surely at that pre ipod stage now, I purchased one to check it out as I did not know anybody with one and could not find a store to look at one. This is in Australia. I found the Bebook website and ordered from there. Now I can find a half dozen or so Australian sites I can purchase readers from though I cannot walk into a store and buy a dedicated reader in my town. Hopefully the iPad will be the spark that will make this class of device ubiquitous.

We have had 10" screens for years, look at all the older laptops for example. I cannot say I was enthused about the idea of reading my books on them.

I would say the most likely thing to change in ebooks will be multimedia, sounds or music to set a scene, images or video for illustration or even internet connectivity to change data depending on the time of day.

I played a video game once that involved hunting vampires and the cartridge has a solar sensor on it to detect sunlight. It was easier during the day harder at night and you could not kill a vampire at night.

My Bebook does not have a touch screen or stylus and is a different device to those with it. My usage is passive like an mp3 player. Is interactivity needed in books and will it be any better than the pick a path books of 20 years ago?

03-06-2010, 06:42 PM	#99
clockworkzombie Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 11962 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Queensland Device: iPad	I would argue a netbook is a regular computer in a small form factor so it should be able to do anything a general purpose computer can do. A mobile computing device like my iPod touch or my Nokia N95 can do some things a regular computer can do but its software is optimised for a different purpose. The N95 is made to make calls but can play music, video and browse the web. It does these things competently. For any major change in the way we do things a device needs to be ubiquitous, look at the way the iPod has changed the way we listen to music. There were many mp3 players before the iPod and things like mini disc players but they were not a cheap mass market product that could be purchased on every street corner. Ebook readers are surely at that pre ipod stage now, I purchased one to check it out as I did not know anybody with one and could not find a store to look at one. This is in Australia. I found the Bebook website and ordered from there. Now I can find a half dozen or so Australian sites I can purchase readers from though I cannot walk into a store and buy a dedicated reader in my town. Hopefully the iPad will be the spark that will make this class of device ubiquitous. We have had 10" screens for years, look at all the older laptops for example. I cannot say I was enthused about the idea of reading my books on them. I would say the most likely thing to change in ebooks will be multimedia, sounds or music to set a scene, images or video for illustration or even internet connectivity to change data depending on the time of day. I played a video game once that involved hunting vampires and the cartridge has a solar sensor on it to detect sunlight. It was easier during the day harder at night and you could not kill a vampire at night. My Bebook does not have a touch screen or stylus and is a different device to those with it. My usage is passive like an mp3 player. Is interactivity needed in books and will it be any better than the pick a path books of 20 years ago?