'Ebook readers are dumb' says Liam from Gizmodo

juj1n · 10-12-2009, 05:12 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I present to you: The death of the educated reader.

Quote:

I fell in love with the Kindle last year, but I think you're a fool to buy one now—let alone any of its lesser competitors—when so much new technology is about to hit over the next six months. I'm giving up on it. I am waiting for a tablet. Same size, different priorities. And unless you love novels and non-fiction more than TV, movies, cookbooks and glossy magazines all together, you should, too.

Oh yes I completely agree Mr Liam. You'd be a real idiot to buy a new and improved kindle now at nearly half the original price point not to mention save money and the environment on novels you'd buy at the book store.
I'm still confused as to how people think a laptop or tablet is a replacement for an ereader. Oh it's so terrible that ereaders can't surf the web better and play videos so people can watch youtube on it... Cmon now... I doubt any tablet would have 2 weeks of battery life and not cause eye strain. Don't get me wrong though I love technology and I have a billion gadgets.

The most concerning line however is " And unless you love novels and non-fiction more than TV, movies, cookbooks and glossy magazines all together, you should, too" What is happening to us? We've become so star struck and swept up in hollywood and youtube that we're becoming less educated as a society. Don't get me wrong I love funny online videos and watching movies but how does that trump or replace a good book or reading the newspaper? Do real world or other important issues even take any precedence? Maybe we're just too captivated by the tractor beam of 'modern' media with their hollywood scandals, viral youtube videos, and all that pointless drivel that we've isolated ourselves and are now living in this bubble. It's nothing new I know... Just a shocking re-realization. This is one movement I won't be joining.

Just my two cents though... Probably doesn't mean much.

http://gizmodo.com/5378234/why-i-thi...aders-are-dumb

Nate the great · 10-12-2009, 05:22 PM

What he said seems reasonable to me. Epaper based readers are a niche product. They're really only good for linear fiction. True, some of us read periodicals (and more) on our device, but the number is actually pretty small when compared to people who use an LCD based device for blogs, rss, youtube, etc.

Lemurion · 10-12-2009, 05:27 PM

I actually do love novels more than everything else mentioned in that list.

Current E-Ink based devices are very specialized, but they do what they're designed to do very well.

schmolch · 10-12-2009, 05:35 PM

It's not about e-readers being dumb but about books.
He says books are dumb but does not dare to write it like that because people who say "books are dumb" are generally considered stupid.

Solicitous · 10-12-2009, 06:01 PM

Wait for a tablet? This seems to be the typical stalling game when buying technology, "if I hang on 6 months or so something so much better and cheaper will come out" and in 6 months time you could use the same argument again.

6 months time a tablet may become available, but by then cheap flexible coloured e-ink may be on the horizon, do you not buy a tablet and wait for the new e-ink technology? At some point people need to say "what is on offer now is the best there currently is and it is good enough for me".

IMHO e-ink does one job really well, and that is displaying books/novels. If you like the concept and usability of e-ink buying now versus 6 months will mean nothing. A tablet from what I am reading starts to combine the use of a laptop and an e-reader, something which for me isn't the best piece of technology for me. Perhaps I am old school but I love technology that does one job and does it well. I don't have a fancy phone that plays music with a 5X optical zoom in the camera. I have a mobile that makes calls and texts, a separate dedicated MP3 player and a damn good digital camera. So I don't want an e-reader/tablet that offers the ability to read books as well as surf the internet, I have a computer already to do that.

Superlucky · 10-12-2009, 06:07 PM

I want portability and no eye strain. Period. My Reader does the job perfectly. I have another handy device for all that other crap - it's called a laptop and it's a crappy tool to read books on.

juj1n · 10-12-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schmolch

It's not about e-readers being dumb but about books.
He says books are dumb but does not dare to write it like that because people who say "books are dumb" are generally considered stupid.

That's kind of the impression I got...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solicitous

Wait for a tablet? This seems to be the typical stalling game when buying technology, "if I hang on 6 months or so something so much better and cheaper will come out" and in 6 months time you could use the same argument again.

6 months time a tablet may become available, but by then cheap flexible coloured e-ink may be on the horizon, do you not buy a tablet and wait for the new e-ink technology? At some point people need to say "what is on offer now is the best there currently is and it is good enough for me".

IMHO e-ink does one job really well, and that is displaying books/novels. If you like the concept and usability of e-ink buying now versus 6 months will mean nothing. A tablet from what I am reading starts to combine the use of a laptop and an e-reader, something which for me isn't the best piece of technology for me. Perhaps I am old school but I love technology that does one job and does it well. I don't have a fancy phone that plays music with a 5X optical zoom in the camera. I have a mobile that makes calls and texts, a separate dedicated MP3 player and a damn good digital camera. So I don't want an e-reader/tablet that offers the ability to read books as well as surf the internet, I have a computer already to do that.

I totally agree. There seems to be a tendency that when we get a device we went it to do more than what it should. Being the jack of all trades has it's downsides because now it does a bunch of tasks mediocrely. I want my ebook reader to do one thing well: read ebooks and other intended media i.e. newspapers. I have a laptop to surf the internet... why is web browsing on a kindle such a huge deal?! You're right as far as buying technology goes. You can buy now or wait for a better product to come out but by that time the original product might be getting revamped or the price might drop. You can't win against technology, it's always changing and improving.

HansTWN · 10-12-2009, 06:18 PM

The first wave of tablets will just be computers without keyboards. A little more convenient to hold, that is it. Great for surfing in the bathroom, to quote Steve Jobs. No improvement in screen technology or battery life. For reading serious magazines, like Newsweek, large screen ereaders are still the way to go.

It is a typical comment from a non reader. For us frequent readers, that one function is more than enough.

Phogg · 10-12-2009, 06:21 PM

Wait for a tablet?

there are any number of them now.

I have one myself. But realistically, I carry a power cord with me if I expect to use it long.

The newer keyboard less linux tablets would give you 5 or 6 hours on a 7 inch screen with wifi off, but that won't get you through a long day of travel.

These devices don't fill the same slot.

wodin · 10-12-2009, 06:52 PM

He's right, but not in the way he intended. Ebook readers ARE dumb, not dumb to buy, and not dumb to use, and not dumb to have thousands of books in your pocket. But they are PHYSICALLY dumb as compared to other devices.

But then, that's the point. They don't need to be as smart as Deep Blue, or even my SmartPhone. They don't do the same thing, and were never designed to.

They are however, much too expensive for being a dumb device. But that's changing too!

Idoine · 10-12-2009, 06:56 PM

TabletPCs are a lot more expensive than an ebooks reader device...
If I bought my Cybook, it's because the screen is bigger than my Windows Mobile device, and with no backlighting, so less straining for my eyes.
I have a device that could be considered as a Tablet PC (HTC Shift), but it's a lot heavier than my Cybook, and the screen is a LCD one, so straining...
I don't want a device with a lot of use, I want an ebooks reader, to read books. Point.

I don't want to use it to browse the net, nor to listen to music, nor to write emails, nor to phone. For that, I have my Samsung Omnia !

PS : Am I dumb too, because I don't regret buying my Ebook reader ?

JeremyZ · 10-12-2009, 07:33 PM

Just another chucklehead comparing apples to oranges. Nothing to see here.

Hellmark · 10-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Well, it is not a secret that all sorts of great tech is going to hit the ebook reader market in 6 months. Always sucks to get something, and have something better get immediately afterwards.

FragFrog · 10-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Personally I can see the point here though: I have a Sony Touch, which is an awesome device because it so seamlessly blends in with my normal activities. I can use it to sit on the couch and study, take it to lectures to annotate and finish the day off with a few chapters of a good novel in bed.

It does this so well because it is thin and light enough to fit snugly in my hand, yet at the same time big enough to use as scratchpad and reader. On the other hand, those of you who have browsed the internet using a mobile phone probably know just how tiny those screens really are - most of the time you're zooming in and out across a page to get to the spot you need, and when you're not using it they're often a thick brick in your pocket - not to mention most smartphones run out of juice after a day or two tops with average use.

I would very much welcome a hybrid with the adventages of both: a device that is light & thin (like the Touch), with a 6" ~ 7" (color) ePaper touchscreen, no big frame (like an iPod), a way to wirelessly connect to the internet (I'll be happy with just WiFi - in fact, I kind'a prefer big companies like Amazon not knowing where I am every minute of the day) and an open operating system (like Android, so I'm not stuck with the whims of a single company deciding what exactly I can do with my own property). In essence, a mix of eReader, tablet PC and smartphone.

Of course, it's not so far fetched - we'll probably see color eInkt within a year, there already are devices out there with internet and a touchscreen, as well as devices that are small and light enough to be comfortably held in one hand. An open operating system is still wishfull thinking as far as I know, but in due time I'm sure we'll see a rise of those. Allow some time to make the price drop and the end result is that in a year or two we might just see devices doing what I want.

Of course, this is coming from a guy who around '99 bought a 2x16Mb MP3 player, specially imported from Japan since Fujitsu did not even sell them here - and almost nobody had even heared about them. A decade later everyone uses them and for a fraction of the price I spend then I can now walk into any electronics store and come out with a 4Gb or more "digital audio multimedia output device" or whatever they're calling MP3 players these days. And still, I do not regret getting that first MP3 player for a second - just as I do not regret buying an eReader now, even though the technology is perhaps not fully matured yet. There will always be a better product some day, waiting for that will get you nowhere.

And yes, I do prefer reading a novel over TV, movies, cookbooks and glossy magazines all together, with perhaps the exception that I also enjoy watching a (digital) TV series or a good movie sometimes - but I spend far more time reading.

pilotbob · 10-12-2009, 08:22 PM

I can't understand why anyone would buy a car these days.

You can't fly it to a tropical island. You can't load it up dump stuff out of it. It doesn't have a front loader on it. It only has four wheels and burns a single type of fuel.

All a lame car can do is transport you from place to place if there happens to be a road connected to that location that your car will fit on. Pfft...

I will stick with my bike. It doesn't need any fuel, it can go where there are smaller roads, heck where there are no roads. I can also carry it upstairs and store it in my closet. With such a versital think who the heck would by a dedicated single purpose device like a car. LAME!

BOb

10-12-2009, 06:21 PM	#9
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	Wait for a tablet? there are any number of them now. I have one myself. But realistically, I carry a power cord with me if I expect to use it long. The newer keyboard less linux tablets would give you 5 or 6 hours on a 7 inch screen with wifi off, but that won't get you through a long day of travel. These devices don't fill the same slot. Last edited by Phogg; 10-12-2009 at 08:20 PM.

10-12-2009, 06:56 PM	#11
Idoine Which book will be next ? Posts: 661 Karma: 2172 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: France Device: Cybook Gen3 1.5, Sony PRS 600 RC, Samsung Omnia...	TabletPCs are a lot more expensive than an ebooks reader device... If I bought my Cybook, it's because the screen is bigger than my Windows Mobile device, and with no backlighting, so less straining for my eyes. I have a device that could be considered as a Tablet PC (HTC Shift), but it's a lot heavier than my Cybook, and the screen is a LCD one, so straining... I don't want a device with a lot of use, I want an ebooks reader, to read books. Point. I don't want to use it to browse the net, nor to listen to music, nor to write emails, nor to phone. For that, I have my Samsung Omnia ! PS : Am I dumb too, because I don't regret buying my Ebook reader ? Last edited by Idoine; 10-12-2009 at 07:04 PM.

10-12-2009, 08:16 PM	#14
FragFrog Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 32 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Device: PRS-600	Personally I can see the point here though: I have a Sony Touch, which is an awesome device because it so seamlessly blends in with my normal activities. I can use it to sit on the couch and study, take it to lectures to annotate and finish the day off with a few chapters of a good novel in bed. It does this so well because it is thin and light enough to fit snugly in my hand, yet at the same time big enough to use as scratchpad and reader. On the other hand, those of you who have browsed the internet using a mobile phone probably know just how tiny those screens really are - most of the time you're zooming in and out across a page to get to the spot you need, and when you're not using it they're often a thick brick in your pocket - not to mention most smartphones run out of juice after a day or two tops with average use. I would very much welcome a hybrid with the adventages of both: a device that is light & thin (like the Touch), with a 6" ~ 7" (color) ePaper touchscreen, no big frame (like an iPod), a way to wirelessly connect to the internet (I'll be happy with just WiFi - in fact, I kind'a prefer big companies like Amazon not knowing where I am every minute of the day) and an open operating system (like Android, so I'm not stuck with the whims of a single company deciding what exactly I can do with my own property). In essence, a mix of eReader, tablet PC and smartphone. Of course, it's not so far fetched - we'll probably see color eInkt within a year, there already are devices out there with internet and a touchscreen, as well as devices that are small and light enough to be comfortably held in one hand. An open operating system is still wishfull thinking as far as I know, but in due time I'm sure we'll see a rise of those. Allow some time to make the price drop and the end result is that in a year or two we might just see devices doing what I want. Of course, this is coming from a guy who around '99 bought a 2x16Mb MP3 player, specially imported from Japan since Fujitsu did not even sell them here - and almost nobody had even heared about them. A decade later everyone uses them and for a fraction of the price I spend then I can now walk into any electronics store and come out with a 4Gb or more "digital audio multimedia output device" or whatever they're calling MP3 players these days. And still, I do not regret getting that first MP3 player for a second - just as I do not regret buying an eReader now, even though the technology is perhaps not fully matured yet. There will always be a better product some day, waiting for that will get you nowhere. And yes, I do prefer reading a novel over TV, movies, cookbooks and glossy magazines all together, with perhaps the exception that I also enjoy watching a (digital) TV series or a good movie sometimes - but I spend far more time reading. Last edited by FragFrog; 10-12-2009 at 08:33 PM.

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10-12-2009, 05:22 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	What he said seems reasonable to me. Epaper based readers are a niche product. They're really only good for linear fiction. True, some of us read periodicals (and more) on our device, but the number is actually pretty small when compared to people who use an LCD based device for blogs, rss, youtube, etc.

10-12-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I actually do love novels more than everything else mentioned in that list. Current E-Ink based devices are very specialized, but they do what they're designed to do very well.

10-12-2009, 05:35 PM	#4
schmolch Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 2394 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Germany Device: Kindle	It's not about e-readers being dumb but about books. He says books are dumb but does not dare to write it like that because people who say "books are dumb" are generally considered stupid.

10-12-2009, 06:01 PM	#5
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	Wait for a tablet? This seems to be the typical stalling game when buying technology, "if I hang on 6 months or so something so much better and cheaper will come out" and in 6 months time you could use the same argument again. 6 months time a tablet may become available, but by then cheap flexible coloured e-ink may be on the horizon, do you not buy a tablet and wait for the new e-ink technology? At some point people need to say "what is on offer now is the best there currently is and it is good enough for me". IMHO e-ink does one job really well, and that is displaying books/novels. If you like the concept and usability of e-ink buying now versus 6 months will mean nothing. A tablet from what I am reading starts to combine the use of a laptop and an e-reader, something which for me isn't the best piece of technology for me. Perhaps I am old school but I love technology that does one job and does it well. I don't have a fancy phone that plays music with a 5X optical zoom in the camera. I have a mobile that makes calls and texts, a separate dedicated MP3 player and a damn good digital camera. So I don't want an e-reader/tablet that offers the ability to read books as well as surf the internet, I have a computer already to do that.

10-12-2009, 06:07 PM	#6
Superlucky Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 5952 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-350	I want portability and no eye strain. Period. My Reader does the job perfectly. I have another handy device for all that other crap - it's called a laptop and it's a crappy tool to read books on.

10-12-2009, 06:18 PM	#8
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	The first wave of tablets will just be computers without keyboards. A little more convenient to hold, that is it. Great for surfing in the bathroom, to quote Steve Jobs. No improvement in screen technology or battery life. For reading serious magazines, like Newsweek, large screen ereaders are still the way to go. It is a typical comment from a non reader. For us frequent readers, that one function is more than enough.

10-12-2009, 06:52 PM	#10
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	He's right, but not in the way he intended. Ebook readers ARE dumb, not dumb to buy, and not dumb to use, and not dumb to have thousands of books in your pocket. But they are PHYSICALLY dumb as compared to other devices. But then, that's the point. They don't need to be as smart as Deep Blue, or even my SmartPhone. They don't do the same thing, and were never designed to. They are however, much too expensive for being a dumb device. But that's changing too!

10-12-2009, 07:33 PM	#12
JeremyZ Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 1000702 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Nook ST, Kindle 2, Samsung Galaxy Stellar phone	Just another chucklehead comparing apples to oranges. Nothing to see here.

10-12-2009, 07:42 PM	#13
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	Well, it is not a secret that all sorts of great tech is going to hit the ebook reader market in 6 months. Always sucks to get something, and have something better get immediately afterwards.

10-12-2009, 08:22 PM	#15
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	I can't understand why anyone would buy a car these days. You can't fly it to a tropical island. You can't load it up dump stuff out of it. It doesn't have a front loader on it. It only has four wheels and burns a single type of fuel. All a lame car can do is transport you from place to place if there happens to be a road connected to that location that your car will fit on. Pfft... I will stick with my bike. It doesn't need any fuel, it can go where there are smaller roads, heck where there are no roads. I can also carry it upstairs and store it in my closet. With such a versital think who the heck would by a dedicated single purpose device like a car. LAME! BOb

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