The Death of E-Readers Is All Your Fault

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by auspex

Simple - iphones sell like "hotcakes", not like "can openers". They're consumables. They are used for many more purposes, and so more easily broken, so in that sense much more "consumable". But also new phones keep coming out with new features, making the old phone insufficient for your "needs".

Hm, I just upgraded to an iPhone 4S after having an iPhone 3GS for 3 years and the only thing it does that I might use that my old phone didn't is facetime. Also it is faster and has a new battery, which I like.

A dedicated e-reader already does everything it's expected to do. I wonder how many users with Wifi e-readers even use the wifi?

I do use it, but with my kindle I'm very deliberate about how and for how long. When I commuted to work I had a long bus commute and would use the 3G on my 1st gen nook all the time...nothing as satisfying of finishing the 1st book of a series and buying the 2nd immediately after, while sitting in traffic on a bus.

[Cyclops]

I cant see a need for wifi on a reader. But then again our android tablet has wifi...

[gridlewak]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

I cant see a need for wifi on a reader. But then again our android tablet has wifi...

Same here. I have a VOX for reading and can't remember when I used WiFi.

Last week, I bought a Hipstreet 701 for $30 from Future Shop, and have started using that device. It's lighter and does all I want it to. Gonna wait a while before deciding if I want to keep the VOX or sell it.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Hm, I just upgraded to an iPhone 4S after having an iPhone 3GS for 3 years and the only thing it does that I might use that my old phone didn't is facetime. Also it is faster and has a new battery, which I like.



I do use it, but with my kindle I'm very deliberate about how and for how long. When I commuted to work I had a long bus commute and would use the 3G on my 1st gen nook all the time...nothing as satisfying of finishing the 1st book of a series and buying the 2nd immediately after, while sitting in traffic on a bus.

I clearly remember the first time I bought a book sitting on a bus. People around me ask me what I was doing, so when I told him I just bought a new book, they shook their heads in bewilderment.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

I cant see a need for wifi on a reader.

The only reason I turn on wifi/3G on my Kindle is to download a book or a software update. Other than that, it stays off.

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

I cant see a need for wifi on a reader. But then again our android tablet has wifi...

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

The only reason I turn on wifi/3G on my Kindle is to download a book or a software update. Other than that, it stays off.

Same for me. I activate the Wi-Fi (or 3G) on my Kindle only when I want to buy a book or download from the MobileRead library.

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I clearly remember the first time I bought a book sitting on a bus. People around me ask me what I was doing, so when I told him I just bought a new book, they shook their heads in bewilderment.

It's so exciting to buy a book at 30,000 feet now that airplanes have Wi-Fi!

[QuantumIguana]

I find Wi-Fi very useful on my Kindle 3. I generally only have it own when I am browsing books. I find it more convenient than downloading books on the computer and copying them to my device via USB.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I find Wi-Fi very useful on my Kindle 3. I generally only have it own when I am browsing books. I find it more convenient than downloading books on the computer and copying them to my device via USB.

I guess it depends on how many books people buy direct from amazon in the case of the kindle, but I have always found the wifi to be very convenient and have probably only used usb when I didn't wait for them to push out an update that way.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I find Wi-Fi very useful on my Kindle 3. I generally only have it own when I am browsing books. I find it more convenient than downloading books on the computer and copying them to my device via USB.

I search for books on Amazon from my computer and just have them sent wirelessly to my Kindle.

[soulfuldog]

I buy mainly from Amazon but prefer to 'liberate' my ebooks so usually sideload and only rarely have them sent wirelessly. I do download the odd free book directly to my Kindle though. And despite showing my Mum how to keep her ebooks on her computer and load them onto her Kindle, she uses the WiFi all the time as it's far quicker and easier for her.

For sheer speed and ease of use, the combination of Amazon, Kindle & WiFi is very, very good.

[cromag]

My preferred ereader doesn't have wi-fi, and I don't miss it. I prefer to keep shopping separate from reading.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

I search for books on Amazon from my computer and just have them sent wirelessly to my Kindle.

I prefer to search from the Amazon website, searching is much more flexible than it is to search from the Kindle. I search from the Kindle when I don't feel like getting out the computer.

[tompe]

I prefer to have my current position in the book synchronized across all my readers so they all need to be connected to the net always.

[ereadingdotcom]

Obviously, since we're entering the online bookstore space we have most of the devices. I personally prefer an iPad unless I'm in the sun, for all the reasons other posters have indicated.

I believe they'll eventually make a tablet that can simulate E-Ink, eliminating the need for a dedicated e-reading device. The only issue, again, would be battery time. However, while I find that not having to charge a Kindle for days is handy, the fact is that I'm rarely on the device or away from a plug for such a long period of time that I can't charge it. So that makes it moot.

But as fjtorrest said, your mileage may vary.

[Cyclops]

But then again Ive yet to buy a book!