Why are dedicated ebooks readers still popular?

jbcohen · 03-31-2021, 01:25 PM

When smart phones can do that as well?

I can understand when readers prefer the dedicated ebook reader eliminate distractions because of the unavailability of email and the internet.

However the dedicated ebook reader is something additional to carry and something to worry about getting smashed or lost. Isn't it easier to carry one device?

issybird · 03-31-2021, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

When smart phones can do that as well?

I can understand when readers prefer the dedicated ebook reader eliminate distractions because of the unavailability of email and the internet.

Seriously?

For starters, eink and all its advantages, including glare-free reading and long battery life, plus different, larger size options.

Quote:

However the dedicated ebook reader is something additional to carry and something to worry about getting smashed or lost. Isn't it easier to carry one device?

It’s not either/or. When it’s easier just to carry a phone, do so and you’ll always have something to read. But especially for people who always have some sort of purse/tote/backpack/manbag it’s generally not a hardship to carry an ereader also.

hobnail · 03-31-2021, 01:48 PM

A phone's screen is too small for my old eyes. I also don't like reading books on that type of screen. I only read PDFs on my tablet, never regular ebooks.

But yeah, it is a hassle having to carry two devices. Now if my kobo also had a phone built into it I'd be set.

Sydney's Mom · 03-31-2021, 01:52 PM

I love my ereader, because if I wake up in the middle of the night, I just increase the font, and I can merrily read along. Then during the day, I am appalled at what my tired eyes needed.

tomsem · 03-31-2021, 01:53 PM

At least since COVID lockdown, there’s no reason to read on a smartphone. If one is not commuting and traveling around, portability is not a factor and it’s an inferior experience to iPad mini or eReader, just because text layout is cramped (I do use a fairly small font).

When I was more mobile, I mostly just read on iPad mini and iPhone, Kindle was last in line. But now it is more 50/50 mini and Kindle (arbitrary split is ‘immersion reading’ on mini, everything else on Kindle).

If I didn’t have the mini, I’d probably have to get one. 10”+ tablets are too big, smartphones too small

John F · 03-31-2021, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

When smart phones can do that as well?

I can understand when readers prefer the dedicated ebook reader eliminate distractions because of the unavailability of email and the internet.

However the dedicated ebook reader is something additional to carry and something to worry about getting smashed or lost. Isn't it easier to carry one device?

There's this website, mobileread.com, where people have discussed this to death. Browse the site, and you will see many posts/opinions.

fathead · 03-31-2021, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobnail

But yeah, it is a hassle having to carry two devices. Now if my kobo also had a phone built into it I'd be set.

But you'd look like a complete prat with an ereader stuck to your ear

Uncle Robin · 03-31-2021, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

When smart phones can do that as well?

Besides all the other reasons mentioned already, there's the size issue. I have read on my OLED phone and found it tolerable, but even it's 6.6 inch screen involves WAY too much physical activity "turning pages" compared to the 7 inch screen of my Libra.

Fundamentally, though your question could just as well be asked of paper books: "why are dedicated pbooks still popular, when a smartphone can do that as well?" A paper book also "is something additional to carry and something to worry about getting lost". But you don't ask that, because the existence of paper books, single-purpose devices as they are, is widely accepted because people consider them to deliver a superior reading experience. Ditto e-readers.

hobnail · 03-31-2021, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fathead

But you'd look like a complete prat with an ereader stuck to your ear

Yeah, but a happy prat!

Sirtel · 03-31-2021, 02:21 PM

While I agree with reasons mentioned above (bigger screen and eink), I never take my ereaders out of my home. I don't read books while out and about (news, articles and the like, yes. And my phone is sufficient for that). I only read books at home, where I can concentrate in peace (apart from my needy cats, that is).

Apache · 03-31-2021, 02:28 PM

I also do not like reading on a phone. The screen is to small.
Apache

Apache · 03-31-2021, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

While I agree with reasons mentioned above (bigger screen and eink), I never take my ereaders out of my home. I don't read books while out and about (news, articles and the like, yes. And my phone is sufficient for that). I only read books at home, where I can concentrate in peace (apart from my needy cats, that is).

My eReader goes everywhere with me. My wife would think I was sick, or getting dementia, if I did not have my book with me.
Apache

4691mls · 03-31-2021, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Seriously?

For starters, eink and all its advantages, including glare-free reading and long battery life, plus different, larger size options.

It’s not either/or. When it’s easier just to carry a phone, do so and you’ll always have something to read. But especially for people who always have some sort of purse/tote/backpack/manbag it’s generally not a hardship to carry an ereader also.

I agree with Issy! If I have just a few minutes here and there to read I may read on my phone. If I know I'm going to have time to read for a while (like on a lunch break from work) it's easy to add an ereader to my purse or work tote.

JSWolf · 03-31-2021, 02:46 PM

@jbcohe, you try reading in direct sunlight using your phone. Also, the phone is a smaller screen with less battery between charges.

I know the Reader is another thing to carry and be careful of. But I like using my Reader to read more so then my phone.

DNSB · 03-31-2021, 02:56 PM

For me, I cart around a laptop bag with my laptop and iPad Pro (both supplied by my employer and needed for work). Tucking my Forma into one of the pockets adds little to the weight.

Comparing my iPhone to the Forma, the Forma has close to double the screen area (1.8 to be more exact) which allows me to use the larger font sizes my old eyes prefer and the 4x3 aspect ratio of the Forma allows me longer lines compared to the 16x7.4 iPhone aspect ratio (4.8" width compared to 2.8" width). The weight is pretty much a sawoff with the phone coming in about 30 grams heavier. I won't get into the Eink vs LCD vs OLED argument other than to say that I am able to read on my eInk Forma for hours comfortably while on my OLED iPhone, my eyes start bothering me before the first hour has passed. This restricts the phone to when I have a few minutes to kill.

03-31-2021, 01:25 PM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,029 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Why are dedicated ebooks readers still popular? When smart phones can do that as well? I can understand when readers prefer the dedicated ebook reader eliminate distractions because of the unavailability of email and the internet. However the dedicated ebook reader is something additional to carry and something to worry about getting smashed or lost. Isn't it easier to carry one device?

03-31-2021, 01:53 PM	#5
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,899 Karma: 27013865 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	At least since COVID lockdown, there’s no reason to read on a smartphone. If one is not commuting and traveling around, portability is not a factor and it’s an inferior experience to iPad mini or eReader, just because text layout is cramped (I do use a fairly small font). When I was more mobile, I mostly just read on iPad mini and iPhone, Kindle was last in line. But now it is more 50/50 mini and Kindle (arbitrary split is ‘immersion reading’ on mini, everything else on Kindle). If I didn’t have the mini, I’d probably have to get one. 10”+ tablets are too big, smartphones too small Last edited by tomsem; 03-31-2021 at 02:30 PM.

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03-31-2021, 01:48 PM	#3
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,581 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	A phone's screen is too small for my old eyes. I also don't like reading books on that type of screen. I only read PDFs on my tablet, never regular ebooks. But yeah, it is a hassle having to carry two devices. Now if my kobo also had a phone built into it I'd be set.

03-31-2021, 01:52 PM	#4
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I love my ereader, because if I wake up in the middle of the night, I just increase the font, and I can merrily read along. Then during the day, I am appalled at what my tired eyes needed.

03-31-2021, 02:21 PM	#10
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,092 Karma: 237627567 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	While I agree with reasons mentioned above (bigger screen and eink), I never take my ereaders out of my home. I don't read books while out and about (news, articles and the like, yes. And my phone is sufficient for that). I only read books at home, where I can concentrate in peace (apart from my needy cats, that is).

03-31-2021, 02:28 PM	#11
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,252 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I also do not like reading on a phone. The screen is to small. Apache

03-31-2021, 02:46 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,971 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	@jbcohe, you try reading in direct sunlight using your phone. Also, the phone is a smaller screen with less battery between charges. I know the Reader is another thing to carry and be careful of. But I like using my Reader to read more so then my phone.

03-31-2021, 02:56 PM	#15
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 44,531 Karma: 167913281 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For me, I cart around a laptop bag with my laptop and iPad Pro (both supplied by my employer and needed for work). Tucking my Forma into one of the pockets adds little to the weight. Comparing my iPhone to the Forma, the Forma has close to double the screen area (1.8 to be more exact) which allows me to use the larger font sizes my old eyes prefer and the 4x3 aspect ratio of the Forma allows me longer lines compared to the 16x7.4 iPhone aspect ratio (4.8" width compared to 2.8" width). The weight is pretty much a sawoff with the phone coming in about 30 grams heavier. I won't get into the Eink vs LCD vs OLED argument other than to say that I am able to read on my eInk Forma for hours comfortably while on my OLED iPhone, my eyes start bothering me before the first hour has passed. This restricts the phone to when I have a few minutes to kill.

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