Is the ereader dead?

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

So I'm assuming, from the context of your words (and the rush to defend your innocence), that you have criteria for defining those folks as "real readers" that has nothing to do with their workplace preference for eink devices?

It's not like your personal workplace distinction actually gets you off the hook for making specious definitions of who's a "real reader" or not.

I expect he meant avid readers.

[Jean]

I consider myself an avid reader. It's what I am doing anytime I have the time to read. I take my Kindle to work and read at lunch and on breaks, but it's a tablet (a Kindle Fire). All I use it for is to read, nothing else. I've been using a Fire since I bought one to replace my K1.

If I happen to want to look something up on the internet for some reason I use my phone, the Fire is just too slow.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I expect he meant avid readers.

Well,yes. But even so... in my experience, "avid" has very little to do with screen technology (or where someone does their reading).

I was an avid reader at 10 when I stopped opening Christmas presents after I came to the first book.

I was an avid reader at 12 when my mother had to make sure the library knew that I needed to be set free from the juvenile section.

I was an avid reader when I first started buying ebooks and reading them on Palms and Windows CE devices. And I was an avid reader when I bought my first Kindle.

I don't believe I stopped being an avid reader when I retired that Kindle and started reading entirely on a tablet. I also don't believe reading at work is a requirement to be an "avid reader." I've never been a read-at-work person in my life. A half-hour just isn't enough time for me to eat AND get any quality reading time in.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I don't believe I stopped being an avid reader when I retired that Kindle and started reading entirely on a tablet. I also don't believe reading at work is a requirement to be an "avid reader." I've never been a read-at-work person in my life. A half-hour just isn't enough time for me to eat AND get any quality reading time in.

Same for me with the latter. Too much noise and distractions during the short breaks.

[BookCat]

Reading through this thread reminds me of this youtube vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdZAAT8n0kA

I'm glad the cat is only a soft toy!

[DiapDealer]

That video's nonsense.

[Alohamora]

Originally Posted by BookCat

Reading through this thread reminds me of this youtube vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdZAAT8n0kA

I'm glad the cat is only a soft toy!

I guess that guy never thought of turning on "airplane mode" when he doesn't want to be disturbed.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I remember reading that romance readers were early ebook adopters for that reason. I can't be bothered to find the source now though.

I remember reading something of the sort as well, though I don't recall the source either. Still it's likely enough to be accurate even without a citation.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I remember reading that romance readers were early ebook adopters for that reason. I can't be bothered to find the source now though.

The covers on those romance novels are often quite cringeworthy. I used my tiny 3.5" iPhone (Stanza) to read and not e-ink readers, though.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Well,yes. But even so... in my experience, "avid" has very little to do with screen technology (or where someone does their reading).

I was an avid reader at 10 when I stopped opening Christmas presents after I came to the first book.

I was an avid reader at 12 when my mother had to make sure the library knew that I needed to be set free from the juvenile section.

I was an avid reader when I first started buying ebooks and reading them on Palms and Windows CE devices. And I was an avid reader when I bought my first Kindle.

I don't believe I stopped being an avid reader when I retired that Kindle and started reading entirely on a tablet. I also don't believe reading at work is a requirement to be an "avid reader." I've never been a read-at-work person in my life. A half-hour just isn't enough time for me to eat AND get any quality reading time in.

I think you are bringing too much of your personal bias to my anecdotal story of the electronic reading habits of my coworkers. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.

In a group of people that I have worked with over a large number of years (I've been there 16 years), the people that I know to be heavy readers (that is they regularly spend their breaks/lunches reading) that have moved on to e-books tends to predominantly favor e-ink devices (Kindles, specifically).

I do see others who occasionally read on their tablet. However if they have their tablets out they are just as likely to be playing games, checking Facebook or watching Netflix as reading (and I know that because the chairs in the break area are set in circles or squares, so that when walking back to your desk, you see other people's screens).

Make of that what you will. I don't care if you choose to read on a tablet, phone, paper or cereal box. I am only describing the habits of people that I have worked with for an extended amount of time. You didn't like my word choice and seem to assume that I am making some inference that applies to all of humanity.

[pwalker8]

I read on my iPad mini at lunch most days. Why the tablet rather than eInk? A number of reasons.

- I like to have all my books on the device and once you get past a certain number of books, the eInk devices become very slow and basically unmanageable.
- I like using Calbre Companion on by iPad to manage my book collection and decide what to read next
- I don't like carrying multiple devices and I can use the iPad for other things
- I'm not terribly fond of the new eInk touch screens. They seem slow to respond. I'm sure that is because I have around 200 books loaded on it.
- I like reading on a customization multi-color screen.
- I like the big format of the original iPad Pro (what I use to do most of my reading). The fonts are easier for me to read and I can read PDF's with no problem.

I'm sure that the vast majority of readers only have 1 or maybe no more than 5 books on their readers at a time.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think you are bringing too much of your personal bias to my anecdotal story of the electronic reading habits of my coworkers. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Yes. I'm bringing my personal bias to your personally biased story. Sue me.

You used the phrase "real" readers for a reason.

[Quoth]

A slim majority of eBooks are read on phones, because they are convenient, fit pocket etc, can be used in a free few minutes.
I mostly read at home and often part of the day and night, sometimes to the early hours. I have various tablets, an LCD eReader and various eInk.
The eInk screens are very expensive, so decent ereaders are maybe twice the price of an LCD tablet that can do many tasks.
The eInk is a niche. I do know nine people with them. One mostly reads paper. Number of books is 100s to 1000s.
Some people I know only read eBooks on the phone.
I have over 1000 books on my Kindle DXG and about 1200+ on my Kobo Aura H20. Doesn't make either slow. My Android Tablet is slower to load as is my phone (5 years old). My Win10 folio keyboard Tablet is slower. Slowest is the Binatone LCD eReader (about 8 years old), but usable.

I use Calibre on Linux to manage everything. The majority of books are classics from Gutenberg. Twenty three are my own novels (Kobo annotation is best). Some are bought. My wife & daughter buy the most eBooks.

Different people have different preferences and reading situations. Not everyone feels a decent eInk is worth the money.
eInk 6" and larger with 200 dpi to 300dpi screens with touch and annotation are much closer to reading on paper than LCD or OLED. Also up to x10 battery life. But a good enough LCD tablet for web, games, YouTube, eReader (7" 800 x 480) is about £37. Decent eReader is £80 to £250 and is only really useful for reading eBooks (not usually PDFs).
I worry that Amazon's predatory nature will kill of all not-Kindles. Being a big USA company, an internet version of Mail Order, NOT a Tech Company, they might get a monopoly and one day kill the eInk format.

Choice is good. Amazon doesn't like it. KDP Select, Amazon Prime and Kindle DRM destroy choice. Already Amazon has three different families of eBook formats. Two do not work on eInk readers (well, I'm not sure about Oasis or Voyager), only on Apps*. Some Amazon books only download to Kindles or tablet Apps, but curiously not available for the PC app.
[* The Kindle Fire, now called just Fire is a crippled version of Android for Amazon lock in instead of Apple, Google or MS lock-in. A cheap Android tablet will take Amazon Kindle App and be more "open" and as good for reading]

So eInk eReaders have probably peaked. Dedicated LCD eReaders are dead: Phones and Tablets. The eInk is niche loved by some and incomprehensible to others.
Obviously heavy home readers may prefer eInk, but many avid readers are happy with phones.

[montalex]

I still love my Kindle Keyboards. I'm really not looking for anything more than a portable device with an eink screen. These are not expensive and actually can save money for someone used to buying paper books. What surprises me is how few people have actually tried an ereader. I think that almost everyone who states that he prefer paper has never had the experience of reading eink. Most I've encountered personally state that they don't like reading on a screen, so they obviously haven't tried a reader. I'm all for reading on phones and tablets. For that matter, I have nothing against those commuters checking the news, texting, or playing a game on their phones. I don't feel superior, I'd just like to share the pleasure of ebooks, and I want ereaders to succeed to that I can keep using them. That said, they are clearly not going anywhere.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You used the phrase "real" readers for a reason.

It was all part of my nefarious plan to derail this thread.

Looks like we could both be in legal jeopardy.