CNET predicts dedicated ereaders are doomed technology

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by screwballl

CNET has also claimed that facebook would be shut down a few years ago, that the Beatles would never come to itunes, they claimed strict DRM would take over ALL digital media by 2010, they said plasma would be the largest TV type by 2010, they said HD-DVD would kill bluray quickly... and so on down the line... this is part f the reason I ignore "news" by CNET anymore.

Well, I think their news is actually okay. It's their analysis that leaves a lot to be desired. I almost started throwing things at the TV when Molly Wood and Natali Morris were talking about WikiLeaks.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

But notebooks and netbooks already have portability covered. In terms of sheer size, the iPad doesn't save you any size compared to a netbook. Unless you're talking about one of the smaller tablets (NC, Dell Streak, Galaxy Tab).

I won't bother trying to convince you, because I don't think it's worth the effort.

[jhempel24]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

But notebooks and netbooks already have portability covered. In terms of sheer size, the iPad doesn't save you any size compared to a netbook. Unless you're talking about one of the smaller tablets (NC, Dell Streak, Galaxy Tab).

But I don't have to set these in my lap like I would a net book, and can use a phone with one hand, they will overtake the netbooks very very soon if not already happening.

I have a notebook that I use, I have to open it up, set it on my lap, turn it on, wait for it to boot..

Tablet/eRreader/Phone=can use with one hand.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I won't bother trying to convince you, because I don't think it's worth the effort.

Just get in on the bet with me. In ten or twenty years, he'll be buying drinks for all of us!

[MrsJoseph]

I just can't see ereaders going anywhere. Heavy book readers are niche but readers are not. There are people who want to read their daily newspaper, their comics, their manga, etc. These are all things that dedicated ereaders do. The web-browsing is just to allow more reading functions (delivery of updated content) and impulse sales. I listen to a lot of music - sometimes while reading - thus an mp3 player.

I think that dedicated ereaders are going to get better and cheaper. And the iPad will still cost $600.

[zinj]

Markus, I agree with you, but do you work for E-Ink Holdings? As the editor of Good e-Reader you should know better than to confuse E Ink with e paper.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by jhempel24

Tablet/eRreader/Phone=can use with one hand.

I'm just saying that this is a somewhat confined user group: People for whom a netbook/laptop isn't convenient, but an eReader or smartphone are too small. If we were talking about $50-$100, then sure, I could see people getting yet another device.

I actually see some potential in some of the hybrids that were being shown off at CES: The netbooks that could convert into tablets by removing the screen. If those were sold for what the iPad goes for now, I could see its use, because that could replace a netbook/laptop.

I'm prepared to eat my words if I have to. We'll talk again in a couple years.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I'm just saying that this is a somewhat confined user group: People for whom a netbook/laptop isn't convenient, but an eReader or smartphone are too small. If we were talking about $50-$100, then sure, I could see people getting yet another device.

I actually see some potential in some of the hybrids that were being shown off at CES: The netbooks that could convert into tablets by removing the screen. If those were sold for what the iPad goes for now, I could see its use, because that could replace a netbook/laptop.

I'm prepared to eat my words if I have to. We'll talk again in a couple years.

Your reasoning doesn't make sense. The function of any gadget is not diminished by a high price. The gadget might be useful to many people, but they might not be able to afford it (yet). That does not diminish its functionality. Yet according to your original post, tablets serve no purpose that netbooks and laptops don't already serve.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Your reasoning doesn't make sense. The function of any gadget is not diminished by a high price. The gadget might be useful to many people, but they might not be able to afford it (yet). That does not diminish its functionality. Yet according to your original post, tablets serve no purpose that netbooks and laptops don't already serve.

I adjusted my position, based upon the fact that some people here seem to feel that tablets offer a portability factor over netbooks/laptops. That's a matter of form, not function, though. I still stand by my statement that tablets (iPad, et al) don't actually do anything that a netbook or notebook don't do. The question then becomes, is someone who's already got one of these other portable devices going to shell out the money for a tablet? That's why price is an issue. Shelling out $100 for something that functions somewhat like a device I already have (with the limitation of not having a hardware keyboard or as many ports) is different from shelling out $500 for the same thing.

Some of you might remember a couple years back when Palm introduced the Foleo. One of the criticisms of that was that it tried to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops, and people didn't feel that as a pressing need, for what they wanted to charge for it. Price makes a major difference.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I adjusted my position, based upon the fact that some people here seem to feel that tablets offer a portability factor over netbooks/laptops. That's a matter of form, not function, though. I still stand by my statement that tablets (iPad, et al) don't actually do anything that a netbook or notebook don't do. The question then becomes, is someone who's already got one of these other portable devices going to shell out the money for a tablet? That's why price is an issue. Shelling out $100 for something that functions somewhat like a device I already have (with the limitation of not having a hardware keyboard or as many ports) is different from shelling out $500 for the same thing.

Some of you might remember a couple years back when Palm introduced the Foleo. One of the criticisms of that was that it tried to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops, and people didn't feel that as a pressing need, for what they wanted to charge for it. Price makes a major difference.

It seems clear that millions of people are willing to shell out for tablets even at their current price points. It stands to reason that sales will go gangbusters as prices drop.

I'm not going to argue form vs. function, because the overlap is great with tablets.

[MikeFromHC]

Originally Posted by sabredog

This is the ereader prototype from Rand, shown to CNET during the 50's. It was a tad expensive and energy consuming, but they reckoned that a home's nuclear reactor would power it quite fine....

The wheel turns pages and the printer allows instant hard copy. The banks of dials measure page ahead and word count.

They could never lick the screen glare or neck crick though....

No, no, this is the real deal. Proof lies in the wheels. Note that is plural.

The outer wheel was for hardbound books and the smaller was for paperbacks.

You want more proof?

Originally there was just one wheel but it was found out that turning it at teh wrong speed caused drop outs in the text.
In a brilliant move Reader's Digest bought them and turned out a whole line of condensed books.

If you want more proof, make it up yourself.

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by MikeFromHC

No, no, this is the real deal. Proof lies in the wheels. Note that is plural.

The outer wheel was for hardbound books and the smaller was for paperbacks.

You want more proof?

Originally there was just one wheel but it was found out that turning it at teh wrong speed caused drop outs in the text.
In a brilliant move Reader's Digest bought them and turned out a whole line of condensed books.

If you want more proof, make it up yourself.

[BecomingMe]

I've read though all the posts...my own 2 cents...
I have the nook because of it's ease of reading, and because of arthritis...it was the weight factor for me AND ease of reading...

If a tablet offered a light weight, was easy on the eyes, and would be able to be used for 8 hours(because if I'm into a good book I want to read uninterrupted), then I will be ALL over that bad boy...

I liked the NOOK colour(esp for magazine subscriptions), but it was too heavy for the hands, same deal with the iPad, and both had a short battery life.

I know that dedicated e-readers may die out, but I want to enjoy books for awhile, and I'm pretty sure they will be around for at least 3-5 years, and that's good for me...and at a$139 price point, it's not too horrid a price, and kinda justifiable (as say 200+ would be)

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by MikeFromHC

No, no, this is the real deal. Proof lies in the wheels. Note that is plural.

The outer wheel was for hardbound books and the smaller was for paperbacks.

You want more proof?

Originally there was just one wheel but it was found out that turning it at teh wrong speed caused drop outs in the text.
In a brilliant move Reader's Digest bought them and turned out a whole line of condensed books.

If you want more proof, make it up yourself.

[Shopaholic]

My husband and I have this argument fairly frequently. I get rather tired of it. He whines about how stupid a dedicated ereader is when I asked for one last Christmas. Obsolute, useless, dum, pointless etc etc etc

Now that the iPad has come out he believes that it has confirmed his original thought. eReaders are stupid. uh huh....

He's not a reader. In fact, he hates books. Even picture books. He likes Marilyn Monroe and one Christmas I bought him a book containing pictures from her last photo shoot. Barely any words. There may have been some captions retelling how she felt at that moment or what they were talking about. He was mad that I bought him a book knowing he doesn't read. ??? *sigh*

My argument back to him is always the same. You don't read. You don't understand getting lost in the story of a book and not wanting to be disturbed. I don't want to have some stupid instant message pop up or a phone call or an email notification or a BBM or what have you or the pain my eyes go through when looking at a backlit screen for too long. Leave me alone, I want to read my book!

I don't think they will totally disappear. I do think they'll change and evolve as all things do. There is a whole market out there for people that just want to read uninterrupted. The world is not a one size fits all place. Not everyone wants an all in one everything.

And if I may add to the topic of GPS on phones...have you ever used your phone in another country? OMG! The rates are insanely high for phone calls nevermind data. I'll stick to my dedicated GPS when I travel thanks. I'm still recovering from the shock of using a Canadian cell phone in Walt Disney World during the per-second billing phase a decade ago. Hi hon! I'm here where are you? Ok meet you in 10 minutes. click Those were the extent of our conversations while there. Next month's bill was $700+. I'd go broke using data for mapping in the US or god forbid overseas. No thank you.