Writer's question: Future ebook reader name?

Steven Lake · 09-23-2009, 10:49 PM

Ok, I'm working on book 3 of my novel series and one of the topics that comes up is ebook readers. The guy who is in the story is a scientist who uses what I've tentatively called a "super cheetah". It's supposed to be an ebook reader on steroids basically. So in other words, it's primary job is as an ebook reader, but it can also do nearly everything but the kitchen sink. In his time (about 2029) all books are now ebooks and nothing is printed on paper anymore. So everyone has one of these. This includes everything from school books to novels to technical papers, etc. Internet is also ubiquitous, so it's got wireless, full internet browsing capability (for further research and ebook downloading), a music and media player (by then even that will be a "standard feature" on all devices) and a ton more.

Essentially it's a super PDA of sorts that just happens to be an ebook reader.

Anywho, I'm looking for a good name to give it that'd do it justice and actually sound like a real, true ebook reader, even if it does have a lot more features than just ebook reading.

(posting this here per recommendation of rwood)

Patricia · 09-23-2009, 10:56 PM

What about the Logos?

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Logos

Slite · 09-24-2009, 03:54 AM

Why not just call it a Companion?

Steven Lake · 09-24-2009, 08:30 AM

lol. Calling it a companion makes it sound like something out of Earth: Final Conflict. ^_^;; As for the Logos idea, that does sound interesting.

schmolch · 09-24-2009, 08:32 AM

How about "computer"?

pshrynk · 09-24-2009, 03:14 PM

Tabook as in tablet book.

astra · 09-24-2009, 03:27 PM

Allsefer

nomesque · 09-24-2009, 08:22 PM

I'd go for 'notebook' personally. Popular names aren't always the most descriptive or 'correct' ones, just... what most people finish up calling it. And notebook has a current usage which would still be applicable for the device you envisage.

Keep in mind, though, that names tend to simplify through the years. So personally, I'd have one generation calling it a 'notebook' and the younger generation calling it a 'book'. And possibly being castigated by their elders for not knowing what a book REALLY is

CarsP1 · 09-25-2009, 09:34 AM

Hmm, probably you want an unique and creative name for your reader. How about "bookbuddy" or "digass" (digital assistnent)? Or "Roboreader"?

I think my suggestions are not too creative but maybe you like one of them.

GeoffC · 09-25-2009, 12:11 PM

electromate

Wetdogeared · 09-25-2009, 01:11 PM

sMaRtAlEx ~ variation on smart alec

(Mobile Reader Automated Exchange)
(Mobile Reader Automated Enhanced)
(Mobile Reader Attitude Enhanced)

Marc

Mobile Enhanced Reading Computer

Seventh Son · 09-25-2009, 02:19 PM

Pip-Boy?

HistoryWes · 09-25-2009, 02:21 PM

In my book "His Robot Girlfriend", devices similar to ebooks are called TexTees (TexTee singular). My idea was that computers as a seperate device would eventually disappear as all other household devices gained computer-like functionality. So the main character surfs the web (and buys his robot) using the VueTee (TV).

Now a lot of people I know who've read the book, but don't have their own ebook reader, often ask me what I'm reading on my TexTee.

kindlekitten · 09-25-2009, 02:39 PM

I kind of like slates or tablets. partially as a nod to the historical usage of the terms, and part as an implication of the slim, relatively small size of the device

jinlo · 09-25-2009, 06:31 PM

And there were those that called it... "Tim!"

09-23-2009, 10:49 PM	#1
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Writer's question: Future ebook reader name? Ok, I'm working on book 3 of my novel series and one of the topics that comes up is ebook readers. The guy who is in the story is a scientist who uses what I've tentatively called a "super cheetah". It's supposed to be an ebook reader on steroids basically. So in other words, it's primary job is as an ebook reader, but it can also do nearly everything but the kitchen sink. In his time (about 2029) all books are now ebooks and nothing is printed on paper anymore. So everyone has one of these. This includes everything from school books to novels to technical papers, etc. Internet is also ubiquitous, so it's got wireless, full internet browsing capability (for further research and ebook downloading), a music and media player (by then even that will be a "standard feature" on all devices) and a ton more. Essentially it's a super PDA of sorts that just happens to be an ebook reader. Anywho, I'm looking for a good name to give it that'd do it justice and actually sound like a real, true ebook reader, even if it does have a lot more features than just ebook reading. (posting this here per recommendation of rwood)

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09-23-2009, 10:56 PM	#2
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	What about the Logos? http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Logos

09-24-2009, 03:54 AM	#3
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,837 Karma: 532407 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mölnbo, Sweden Device: Kobo Aura 2nd edition, Kobo Clara HD	Why not just call it a Companion?

09-24-2009, 08:30 AM	#4
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	lol. Calling it a companion makes it sound like something out of Earth: Final Conflict. ^_^;; As for the Logos idea, that does sound interesting.

09-24-2009, 08:32 AM	#5
schmolch Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 2394 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Germany Device: Kindle	How about "computer"?

09-24-2009, 03:14 PM	#6
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Tabook as in tablet book.

09-24-2009, 03:27 PM	#7
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Allsefer

09-24-2009, 08:22 PM	#8
nomesque Snooty Bestselling Author Posts: 1,485 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia Device: PRS-650	I'd go for 'notebook' personally. Popular names aren't always the most descriptive or 'correct' ones, just... what most people finish up calling it. And notebook has a current usage which would still be applicable for the device you envisage. Keep in mind, though, that names tend to simplify through the years. So personally, I'd have one generation calling it a 'notebook' and the younger generation calling it a 'book'. And possibly being castigated by their elders for not knowing what a book REALLY is

09-25-2009, 09:34 AM	#9
CarsP1 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: none	Hmm, probably you want an unique and creative name for your reader. How about "bookbuddy" or "digass" (digital assistnent)? Or "Roboreader"? I think my suggestions are not too creative but maybe you like one of them.

09-25-2009, 12:11 PM	#10
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	electromate

09-25-2009, 01:11 PM	#11
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,781 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Polar Vortex Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	sMaRtAlEx ~ variation on smart alec (Mobile Reader Automated Exchange) (Mobile Reader Automated Enhanced) (Mobile Reader Attitude Enhanced) Marc Mobile Enhanced Reading Computer

09-25-2009, 02:19 PM	#12
Seventh Son lurker Posts: 123 Karma: 356 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: EU Device: I should probably stop	Pip-Boy?

09-25-2009, 02:21 PM	#13
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	In my book "His Robot Girlfriend", devices similar to ebooks are called TexTees (TexTee singular). My idea was that computers as a seperate device would eventually disappear as all other household devices gained computer-like functionality. So the main character surfs the web (and buys his robot) using the VueTee (TV). Now a lot of people I know who've read the book, but don't have their own ebook reader, often ask me what I'm reading on my TexTee.

09-25-2009, 02:39 PM	#14
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I kind of like slates or tablets. partially as a nod to the historical usage of the terms, and part as an implication of the slim, relatively small size of the device

09-25-2009, 06:31 PM	#15
jinlo aka coco jinlo Posts: 415 Karma: 500002 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ-USA Device: Just purchased Sony 505, but alas, it is for the wife	And there were those that called it... "Tim!"