Survey of current and upcoming 2008 e-ink devices

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

wow, fan of apple to the point of creating a psychological block of all criticism !!! that's pretty extreme.

Guess you didn't see my :toungeincheek: smiley.

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Guess you didn't see my :toungeincheek: smiley.

BOb

no, i did ; i was using the same smiley.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

that's pretty extreme.

Well, since I got my Mac my Dell has been sitting pretty idle... Except when I need to use Quicken. Still trying to decided if I should convert to Quicken for Mac or Quicken Online... neither have the Home & Business edition. But, I could always track receivables with something else.

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

no need to try to convince me ; i like macs. the only reason i don't have one is can't afford one. but i'm perfectly happy to use other people's.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

no need to try to convince me ; i like macs. the only reason i don't have one is can't afford one. but i'm perfectly happy to use other people's.

Oh... so now I'm a rich Mac snob/fanboy.

[canicula]

Originally Posted by hidari

Apple does have good products...Yes most of their NEW products.....ie. iphone and ipod....offered nothing new technology wise...however they did offer good marketing and "coolness to the product".

And a human interface experience that was pleasant to use for the vast majority of people.

Originally Posted by hidari

ps. How well did that Apple/motorola phone sell?????

Badly as it had an awful interface.

Ian

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Oh... so now I'm a rich Mac snob/fanboy.

hey, where did this shovel come from ?? and how do i stop digging ????

[canicula]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Well, since I got my Mac my Dell has been sitting pretty idle... Except when I need to use Quicken. Still trying to decided if I should convert to Quicken for Mac or Quicken Online... neither have the Home & Business edition. But, I could always track receivables with something else.

Or run the Windows version in a virtual machine...

Ian

[da_jane]

The reason I am waiting for the Apple product is because I really love my touchscreen iPhone and if Apple were to sell something with a larger screen and greater capabilities with a bookstore similar to Amazon's Kindle, it would be a near perfect reading device for me.

I am not in love with the Kindle, but seeing my friend's in person and seeing how easy it is to convert (merely emailing the file) makes me lean a little more favorably toward the Kindle.

I recently made a convert of someone into e reading but after I explained the drawbacks of DRM, he was fine with the Kindle. Even though he said that he re-read a lot of his books, he wanted the convenience of buying instantly and he did not want to mess with conversion that may be required to use the Reader. The more non techies that I talk to, the more that I hear the same refrain - make it simple, stupid.

The iPhone and the iPod are geared toward exactly that, simplicity of use. My 4 year old can turn on the iPhone, recognize the iPod icon, choose a video and play it. She knows which button to push to keep the video at the end of the playing. She knows how to access the pictures, take a picture, and even email a picture to mom (programmed into the phone as mom).

When I look forward to Apple coming forward with an ereading device and companion bookstore, I do so in part because I know that alot more people will be open to accepting something like this from Apple and because the more people reading ebooks, the less difficulty ebook lovers will have in finding their favorite books in eform.

[Huyggy]

I doubt that somebody could say that the future (or expected) arrival of Apple in this market would be a bad thing.
...just hope that they don't sell that at the price of gold (or oil sooner ) like their computers or Iphone and try to make something simple and cheap.

[Amalthia]

Kind of wish the Astak supported more formats the "9" seems like it would make a great tool for supporting textbooks.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by canicula

And a human interface experience that was pleasant to use for the vast majority of people.

I really think that's key. I'm not an iFan but I won't dismiss their success as just clever marketing. They do have great marketing and it's quite important to the success of a consumer product but they also spend a good deal of time on design. Part of that is usability, as you say, but they also put a lot of effort into making things beautiful. While I will always choose function over form, I prefer to have both especially in an object I use all the time. It makes my day a little brighter when even mundane objects have some grace to them.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I really think that's key. I'm not an iFan but I won't dismiss their success as just clever marketing. They do have great marketing and it's quite important to the success of a consumer product but they also spend a good deal of time on design. Part of that is usability, as you say, but they also put a lot of effort into making things beautiful. While I will always choose function over form, I prefer to have both especially in an object I use all the time. It makes my day a little brighter when even mundane objects have some grace to them.

completely agree. all other things being equal, i will always choose the more aesthetic design. all other things *not* being equal, form will nonetheless weight my decision to some degree, although not as much as function. and macs really are pleasing to the eye, both the exterior design and the interfaces.

[Professor]

Hanlin V3 is very powerful in formats and languanges, it has the best price-performance ratio. And V9 is coming soon.

[gandor62]

Originally Posted by Tom90deg

*Warning, Rant Incoming!*

HEhe, sorry, but it really upsets me when I hear people say, "Oh, the iPhone is just as good, if not better than any e-reader on the market." The iPhone can read books, but that's not it's major function. It'd the difference between a scalpel and a Swiss Army Knife. Sure, both can cut, but one is designed for a specific purpose, and while the Swiss Army one may work in a pinch, a Scalpel is best for the job. Anywho, Flame away!

Heheh I purchased two iPod Touches just for reading Ebooks. One was for the wife.

But in all seriousness, I have never read an Ebook on an Eink device, Dont seem to be able to buy one here in Australia at the right price. I have been reading Ebooks for over 8 years now. I first started on a Palm Pilot and progressed to Ipaqs and now to an Ipod Touch. The Ipod touch is great, very nice resolution, good size screen and a backlight. I can get 10 hours on the battery.
But the main reason I would never buy a Eink Device is that it wont go in my pocket and if I take it to bed with me it wont work if the lights out, which would upset my wife, who needs the light off.


I read on average 6 hours a day, and have never suffered any irritation using a small screen or backlight. Maybe a sore thumb from pressing a button ever three seconds. But in conclusion I am really happy with the touch for reading.

Cheers