Ebook Readers Obsolete?

[nekokami]

Wow. I used to keep up with what Jakob Nielsen was posting at the Alertbox site, but somehow I let that drop off my radar.

I wonder how much this visual pattern of "banner blindness" has changed over time? That is, I wonder if the Census site described would have worked 5 or 10 years ago?

[seanMc]

Originally Posted by igorsk

Actually, from looking around the site, it doesn't seem to be a device but rather another ebook format with a bundled reader program (Windows-only at a guess). Can't actually find any info on the site, but it didn't ask me for an address when I tried to check out so I doubt it's anything physical.

I bought one yesterday. Its not a device, its downloadable package. The thing is I may be a a bit of an outsider here. I read a lot, and I read a lot of ebooks (mostly from Gutenberg), but I don't own any form of reader. I've looked at a couple, but I am one of those people who lugs a laptop around (quite happily)
I think I'm looking at this 3d book very differently from most of the people who've commented.
Its what's been done with the book thats really hit me between the eyes (almost literally). I'm not looking at it as an alternative device. You still have to "read" as in reading any book. At the end of any particular section the writer has put together a short (2 mins?) audio video clip. Its not like watching a piece of news. For example,there is one clip that follows a story of a soldier trying to describe PTSD to a woman. The story's powerful and emotional in itself. then this clip, this visual of PTSD (!!) hits you like a shock wave. I don't know how to describe it accurately.
You can read the book without the audio and video. (You can also print the book out)
This is the best ebook I have ever read, irrespective of device or format.
Ps
I came to this site to see what the "hard core" commentators had to say about the "3d book" - unless I missed it, not one of you has actually read it?? So why/how are you all saying its rubbish?

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by seanMc

I came to this site to see what the "hard core" commentators had to say about the "3d book" - unless I missed it, not one of you has actually read it?? So why/how are you all saying its rubbish?

Sean, first of all, welcome to MobileRead. I have not looked at the product and I, too, am curious if others here have. I've been meaning to but I've not been particularly anxious since I don't like reading books on my computer (I prefer my "obsolete" Sony Reader) and since the hype made it sound like it would be much more than just reading (which is what I like to do). Mostly, I posted the original note because I was astounded by the vendor's claim that simple reading was an archaic act. Most of us here, I think, find that absurd.

I am glad to hear that you've actually looked at the product and I'm now more interested in checking it out. Can you tell us more? You've mentioned the clips at the end of sections. Is there more, too?

[seanMc]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I am glad to hear that you've actually looked at the product and I'm now more interested in checking it out. Can you tell us more? You've mentioned the clips at the end of sections. Is there more, too?

I think their press release has acted against them/the product (Ijust tried to see it again thru the link on your comment, but timed out - What was this comment about reading being archaic?)
This (the 3d book) doesn't appear to "compete" with ereaders. There was something in the article/press release I first saw about "increasing the writer's range of creative tools " - something like that. Thats what they've done here. I read the original White man black war in print format.
It was v good. This version (as a book) is much more about the "includes Objects In The rear View Mirror" as a full book, altho the original book is clearly seen. The writer (Moore-king) is a very very good writer about war and war themes. So you've got the writing, and you read it exactly as per normal. A section ends, you turn the page, and the visual takes over.The visual is directly related to the piece you've just read, but not in a documentary way. What you see you understand in terms of what you've just read. Thats what defines it. Its not like reading a war book, and then seeing news clips about war.
Anyway, I presume etiquette here means keep it short, which I'm not doing very well. I said the visual - its also about the sound. The piece I mentioned earlier about post traumatic syndrome has an audio track on that is shocking to the senses when taken in the context that has been defined by what you've just read. I can't forget the sound now, and the sound is tied in with the image of a drunken soldier "from a defeated army" sitting on a hill in Crete trying to explain whats happened to him. The two are totally intergratated. There are about 25 sections to the book. Some of the videos are brutal. The "page" looks like real paper, scrolls, turns, and you can bounce from page/video to page/video. You can select font. font size, and window size.
I don't think this competes with ereaders. I think it competes with other ebooks. It is a new and powerful way for a writer to "construct" a books.
My guess it will be running on ereaders fairly soon.
Its the normal ebook "structure" that this is competing with.
Sorry about the length of this.
PS I think a lot will depend on the type of writer and the type/style of writing - this particular combination works, but I don't know if you could apply this very well to many writers/books
PPS Summary : This is a new form of book/ebook (??)

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by seanMc

I bought one yesterday. Its not a device, its downloadable package. The thing is I may be a a bit of an outsider here. I read a lot, and I read a lot of ebooks (mostly from Gutenberg), but I don't own any form of reader. I've looked at a couple, but I am one of those people who lugs a laptop around (quite happily)

Hey, you sound like you fit in just fine around here -- at the fundamental level, we're about electronic reading -- however you go about it. The recent releases of usable portable reading devices has stacked the deck with portable reading device users, but we have more than a few "notebook readers" around here too.

So, welcome!

Originally Posted by seanMc

I came to this site to see what the "hard core" commentators had to say about the "3d book" - unless I missed it, not one of you has actually read it?? So why/how are you all saying its rubbish?

I think you're right that none of us has seen it, so, as vivaldirules observed, your impressions are of particular interest to us.

I think part of the ... less than joyous reception they've received is exactly what you've noted -- their press release claimed to be a replacement for e-reader devices, and we looked at it from that perspective. Clearly (from your comments, and the impressions that we've gleaned here) it's not, but something else entirely. I assume/guess that they decided that because e-book readers aren't really mainstream, but most folks have heard of the concept, that they were a good target to 'aim' at in their press release, and most folks wouldn't ever know that the comment was just so much hot air.

I think from your comments and the press release itself, that their marketing folks need to dig a little deeper and do a bit more work in the future, perhaps. They'll do better if they cast their product as what it actually is, rather than something else entirely.

If they'd claimed that their e-textbook made old fashioned textbooks obsolete, they'd have gotten rather a different response, I expect. There'd still be a debate over the claim, of course, but at least the claim would be on point, and that would make it easier for them to support.

[JSWolf]

If they had claimed to take reading ebooks on your computer to a new level, then that would have been fine. But it's saying that our portable ebook reading devices are obsolete. The problem is that these 3D books tie us down to something that runs Windows. So it's not in the true sense a replacement for the iLiad, 500/505, Gen3, Reb 1150 etc. It's just a new form of ebook using multi-media for a different experience other then just reading. I don;t think that's a problem at all. I don't think the idea is rubbish. I think the comment that it makes readers obsolete is rubbish.

[Freya]

I think you're right that none of us has seen it, so, as vivaldirules observed, your impressions are of particular interest to us.

Hello
Discovered your site googling for comment on White Man Black War (the 3d book version there's tons on the original short, print version).
My impressions;
I'm not too clear about the device debate. Like SeanM I use a laptop for everything from reading to work, music, watching dvds etc.
There is something extraordinary about this product, wahtever its called.
SeanM mentioned the sound of the insanity clip. It is really and truly unforgettable (and not in an "enjoyable" way but totally mesmerising) The mixture of the writing (moore-king can really write) the visual imagery and that penetrating sound is really unforgettable.
But I don't think SeanM has read further. There's a chapter where "Shannon" tracks down and shoots a rapist. The clip after this shows a man being shot. Theres no sound, except the two spaced shots.
The clip looks real to me. I don't see how it could have been acted. has anyone else seen this? I can't believe its real. But I can't see how its not.
The content of this book is gut-wrenching. Traumatic.Hypnotic.
Its also blatantly sexist. You read the long forword (written to fellow war veterans) and you can feel the anger and bitterness streaming out at everyone; politicians, civilians, voters, women, psychologists, parents.
The comments on women made me very angry. Then I got to his description of how and why war veterans crack up when they get home (not when they are in the battlefield), and I read the last few lines of the foreword, and I saw a frightened angry wounded cornered animal, and I wasn't so angry anymore.
And after I first experienced the insanity clip, I wasn't angry at all anymore.
Whatever this type of book or writing is called, like SeanM I have to say nothing I've ever read has hit me so hard.
It probably will redefine the book or ebook. It will probably make ebooks much much more popular as a form of book.
It must also be expensive to produce (and translate - 9 languages must have cost a lot)
Anyone else with comments on the clips and the reality, please let me know

[Oh, Why Not?]

Another e-book? Saw this via TeleRead: http://www.pressrelease365.com/pr/ar...mphed-1854.htm

[Lemurion]

I'm a multi-device guy myself. I read an ebook on my desktop this morning, even though I have a portable device.

[Trenien]

Am I the only one finding fishy that the two person (highly) praising that format happen to be new comers on the forums?

Yes, yes, I know. I've already been told I'm a cynical distrustful bastard.

[RWood]

Originally Posted by Trenien

Am I the only one finding fishy that the two person (highly) praising that format happen to be new comers on the forums?

Yes, yes, I know. I've already been told I'm a cynical distrustful bastard.

You are indeed. You are not alone.

If the concept is so wonderful I would expect a free downloadable sample (just a chapter) of one of the public domain books they offer. (Most of their catalog -- like King Solomon's Mines -- is available from Project Gutenberg or the MobileRead download section.) If the execution of the product is as good as the two people who have posted here about it say it is, then the sample would prime the sales.

Since they do not have a sample available, I choose to not spend the two and a half pounds for a pig-in-a-poke of a book I already have.

[JSWolf]

SeanMc this 3D-Book is not a portable device. I suggest you edit your profile and fix that.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by Trenien

Am I the only one finding fishy that the two person (highly) praising that format happen to be new comers on the forums?

I see what you're saying, Trenien. Spammers (we're all thinking the word ) generally come in and post a new thread or three on their topic and then disappear (fortunately, the spam filters mean that most MobileReaders are mostly unaware of this ). These particular new-comers joined an on-going discussion and made on-point comments regarding it. So they may be connected with the 3D-book somehow, or they may just be general folks participating in the discussion. Because they're playing nice, I tend to assume that they're just folks -- we were all new members once, after all. They may be associated with 3D-Book somehow, but we actually like connected folks to talk to us, we've had people from iRex, HanLin, Bookeen and others in the past, and they often give us tidbits that we can't get anywhere else.

If someone connected with 3D-Book should happen along, we'd love it if they told us so, and gave us an opportunity to ask questions. 3D-Book may not be
the death knell of e-reading devices its marketing types want to claim it to be, but it sounds like an interesting application, nonetheless.

Who knows? In a few years, there may be a full-color, full-motion e-ink device that can run this 3D-Book thing, and allow notes in the margins, then paper textbooks would be in serious trouble, and wouldn't that be nice?