Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate the great
The only quibble I have with your historical comparison is that the Sony Reader is not the first ebook reading device - not by a long shot. If you want to compare the Reader to an MP3 player, then the closest would be the first Ipod.
After you think about it, maybe you'll understand why I feel that Sony could have done so much more.
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Unfortunately, the sony reader is merely a 2nd gen ebook reader using the eink technology, and thus has it's own limitations.
If you take all other ebook devices like pda's, laptops, tablet pcs into account, then it'd be like comparing mp3 players with a walkman.
And my comparison is also correct, because with each new technology/gadget out, it takes at least 3 generations before the required software reaches a mature state.
The MD-player got good after the 3rd generation. Small size, long playtime.
The MP3-player got good after the 3rd generation. The free tools hooked on. Windows 2000 recognized the player as removable HDD.
When the 3rd generation reader comes (and bookeen seems to be leading the pack), conversion tools are plenty. And see now: we've got PDFread, PDFrasterfarian for PDF-conversions. You've got mine and several other image-converting programs. You've got bookdesigner. Other OSes besides windows can still use the reader with libprs and other multiplatform tools.
When the 3rd gen launches, those buyers won't have trouble getting the software. It's all around the internet then.
This is all due to the efforts and pain of ourselves as the early adaptors. And luckily, a lot of these people are also on the edge of technology, able to write software and such, hacking a new route for other generation devices..