Just how important IS color to you? - Page 2

DaleDe · 12-10-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Hudson

I have an eBook Technologies (ETI-1) color eBook reader, with which I am quite pleased. It's the only color eBook device that I know of.

Here's a link to the ETI-1 color eBook. Unfortunately, the pic doesn't do a great job of showcasing the color capability.

Is anyone aware of any other color eBook devices?

Rob Hudson
MyDistrict.Net: Newspaper Distributor Software

The REB1200 is the same hardware as the ETI-1. The only real problem with color is the reduced battery life as compared to grayscale devces.

Dale

HarryT · 12-10-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

The only real problem with color is the reduced battery life as compared to grayscale devces.

Dale

Absolutely! You could squeeze an absolute maximum of about 4h reading time from the original CyBook, with the screen brightness on the bare minimum. For me, at least, the "benefits" of that compared with weeks between charges on eInk devices just aren't worthwhile. Give me the improved battery life over colour any day.

linjohnny · 12-10-2007, 11:55 AM

To me, at the moment, grayscale is satisfying and comfortable. Yet I have to admit that color sometimes does have its niche. This is particularly obvious in reading charts. Just imagine how hard it would be to distinguish a blue curve from a green curve on a B&W E-ink reader.

athlonkmf · 12-11-2007, 10:24 AM

The poll does not have enough options.

For example: "I want a color reader, but could live with B&W for now"

It's quite important for me, because it DOES add a new dimension to the material. At least all coloured comics can be enjoyed as they're supposed to.

Without colours, comics would look too dark and somber like I said here

Also, with colours, magazines and other coloured material can also be digitized. Imagine the boost of ebookreaderssales, when popular magazines and comics can be enjoyed on them. It's like opening a whole new can of buyers. (which means pricedrops and further tech. improvements)

Of course. with current technology, coloured eink would means 1/3rd of the B&W resolution. But if the selling potential is increased 10-fold, technology would improve REALLY fast.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 12-11-2007, 11:51 AM

As much as I like reading books digitally, I would love just as much to be able to convert my magazine subscriptions to digital formats, and to be able to archive entire issues, or "clip and save" specific articles and pictures. I want color and good resolution for those pictures.

Maybe, like some desktop printers, a reader could turn its color settings on and off as needed, to save power and speed processing time.

kkingdon · 12-11-2007, 06:35 PM

When I annotate a paper book, I often use a highlighter to "underline" significant passages and a red pencil for margin notes. The different colors help to draw my eye to my notes when I am flipping through the pages. Annotations for e-books need not use color to exactly mirror my note-taking techniques, but I think they do need some mechanism for visually conveying the context of an annotation and for easily locating annotated selections of a document.

I don't annotate every book I read, but if a book is worth studying, it is worth annotating. Color is a convenient information channel for annotations, but not an absolutely essential one.

Rob Hudson · 12-13-2007, 09:46 AM

I think Steve hit the nail on the head.

I have stacks and stacks of technical magazines that I go back to frequently to find an article that addresses a particular need. If I could have all of those magazines available on an eBook device, and magazine subscriptions automatically delivered to that device, I would be in heaven.

However, I'm spoiled and high maintenance... and can't see getting the same enjoyment from my magazines if they were in B&W.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 12-13-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Hudson

However, I'm spoiled and high maintenance... and can't see getting the same enjoyment from my magazines if they were in B&W.

Hey, some stuff just needs color!

HarryT · 12-13-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Hey, some stuff just needs color!

... and some doesn't. Eg, the SF and Mystery mags that Fictionwise sell (Magazine of Fantasy and SF, Ellory Queen's Mystery Magazine, etc) work just fine in B&W. The experience of reading, say, "Playboy" on an eInk device would, I imagine, be "diminished"

.

yvanleterrible · 12-13-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Hey, some stuff just needs color!

Home Power in PDF.

jasonkchapman · 12-13-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The experience of reading, say, "Playboy" on an eInk device would, I imagine, be "diminished"

.

Unless, of course, you just read it for the articles.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 12-13-2007, 03:27 PM

And, of course, we all do that.

skk06 · 12-13-2007, 03:38 PM

Color is not very important to me at all. There are times when I wouldn't mind seeing something in color but overall if I had to select color or performance, i would go with performance. i think in time though speed and performance will be affected less by color features.

DaleDe · 12-13-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skk06

Color is not very important to me at all. There are times when I wouldn't mind seeing something in color but overall if I had to select color or performance, i would go with performance. i think in time though speed and performance will be affected less by color features.

If by performance you mean screen resolution and power requirements then I think it will be a while if ever.

Dale

nekokami · 12-13-2007, 09:48 PM

I wouldn't mind having it for magazine subscriptions. I get MAKE, National Geographic, and a bunch of jewelry design magazines, e.g. Bead & Button. The photos in these are important (especially in MAKE, where you could electrocute yourself if you don't follow the directions carefully enough!) But I'd need A4 size and high pixel density (at least 300dpi in color) before this would work. Meanwhile, I'll stick with b&w. I could probably read Scientific American on the iLiad, if the articles would flow. Photo quality is rarely important there.

View Poll Results: How important is color to you?
Don't need it.	43	39.81%
Have some use for it.	48	44.44%
Must have it by 5 p.m. tomorrow.	17	15.74%
Voters: 108. You may not vote on this poll

12-11-2007, 10:24 AM	#19
athlonkmf Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 1014039 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3, Sony PRS350, iPad 64GB	The poll does not have enough options. For example: "I want a color reader, but could live with B&W for now" It's quite important for me, because it DOES add a new dimension to the material. At least all coloured comics can be enjoyed as they're supposed to. Without colours, comics would look too dark and somber like I said here Also, with colours, magazines and other coloured material can also be digitized. Imagine the boost of ebookreaderssales, when popular magazines and comics can be enjoyed on them. It's like opening a whole new can of buyers. (which means pricedrops and further tech. improvements) Of course. with current technology, coloured eink would means 1/3rd of the B&W resolution. But if the selling potential is increased 10-fold, technology would improve REALLY fast. Last edited by athlonkmf; 12-11-2007 at 10:26 AM.

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12-10-2007, 11:55 AM	#18
linjohnny Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: D900/Nx70v	To me, at the moment, grayscale is satisfying and comfortable. Yet I have to admit that color sometimes does have its niche. This is particularly obvious in reading charts. Just imagine how hard it would be to distinguish a blue curve from a green curve on a B&W E-ink reader.

12-11-2007, 11:51 AM	#20
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	As much as I like reading books digitally, I would love just as much to be able to convert my magazine subscriptions to digital formats, and to be able to archive entire issues, or "clip and save" specific articles and pictures. I want color and good resolution for those pictures. Maybe, like some desktop printers, a reader could turn its color settings on and off as needed, to save power and speed processing time.

12-11-2007, 06:35 PM	#21
kkingdon Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 232 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hayward, CA, US Device: Cybook Gen3, Kindle Paperwhite	When I annotate a paper book, I often use a highlighter to "underline" significant passages and a red pencil for margin notes. The different colors help to draw my eye to my notes when I am flipping through the pages. Annotations for e-books need not use color to exactly mirror my note-taking techniques, but I think they do need some mechanism for visually conveying the context of an annotation and for easily locating annotated selections of a document. I don't annotate every book I read, but if a book is worth studying, it is worth annotating. Color is a convenient information channel for annotations, but not an absolutely essential one.

12-13-2007, 09:46 AM	#22
Rob Hudson Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: ETI-2	I think Steve hit the nail on the head. I have stacks and stacks of technical magazines that I go back to frequently to find an article that addresses a particular need. If I could have all of those magazines available on an eBook device, and magazine subscriptions automatically delivered to that device, I would be in heaven. However, I'm spoiled and high maintenance... and can't see getting the same enjoyment from my magazines if they were in B&W.

12-13-2007, 03:27 PM	#27
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	And, of course, we all do that.

12-13-2007, 03:38 PM	#28
skk06 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Nokia	Color is not very important to me at all. There are times when I wouldn't mind seeing something in color but overall if I had to select color or performance, i would go with performance. i think in time though speed and performance will be affected less by color features.

12-13-2007, 09:48 PM	#30
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I wouldn't mind having it for magazine subscriptions. I get MAKE, National Geographic, and a bunch of jewelry design magazines, e.g. Bead & Button. The photos in these are important (especially in MAKE, where you could electrocute yourself if you don't follow the directions carefully enough!) But I'd need A4 size and high pixel density (at least 300dpi in color) before this would work. Meanwhile, I'll stick with b&w. I could probably read Scientific American on the iLiad, if the articles would flow. Photo quality is rarely important there.