Weather/Environmentally Sealed Reading Devices...where are they?

brecklundin · 09-05-2009, 02:06 AM

It's that simple of a question. Where are the sealed devices? And before the obvious knee-jerk "...it's too expensive..." comments consider the number of digital cameras that can be had from simple point & shoot's to DSLRS which can be had cheaply and in come P&S models able to withstand water depths of around 10-feet.

And for DSLR's, Pentax has had bodies with outstanding weather/environmentally sealing out for a number of years now. Basically it adds little to the cost of the devices. From day one electronic reading devices should have had such sealing...so where are the sealed devices I can run under the faucet like I can my dslr bodies in order to wash them off, of can drop on the beach or dusty trail/campground w/o worry of dirt/dust/grime working it's way into the device to kill it...I routinely rinse my Pentax K20D and now K7 after trips in the field and these are far more delicate and complex devices than an ereader.

It just is a glaring omission to me and long overdue...

Ervserver · 09-05-2009, 02:47 AM

I doubt they ever will be, no more than a laptop or an iPod will be weather sealed

DawnFalcon · 09-05-2009, 04:34 AM

Um, you do know there are quite a few suppliers of waterproof/rugged laptops, right Ervserver? Sure, a lot of them are geared up to provide the military, but some also do the civilian market.

Terralogic and so on.

Kali Yuga · 09-05-2009, 01:05 PM

Panasonic also makes a line of ruggedized computer products, by the way.

I don't think you will see truly weatherized ebook readers, though. It's much more likely that you will see some type of weatherized multifunction device with the ability to read an ebook. As long as a reader can survive a day on the beach, I expect the demand for a weather-sealed reader will be too low to make it economically viable.

susan_cassidy · 09-05-2009, 02:28 PM

It already exists - it's called a Kindle or Sony in a DryPak bag. :-)

Crowl · 09-06-2009, 12:26 PM

The ebook market doesn't seem like its big enough yet that it would support a niche product like that.

Another option as far as cases would also be http://www.aquapac.net/ukstore/water...es-2252-0.html

desertgrandma · 09-06-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowl

The ebook market doesn't seem like its big enough yet that it would support a niche product like that.

Not when sealing it in a gallon baggie (not the ziploc kind, the type you press and seal) works so well......

This works at pools, the beach, in the bath......I'm just sayin'.

Now, if you want to take your reader snorkling, or deep sea diving........thats another thing.

Crowl · 09-06-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Not when sealing it in a gallon baggie (not the ziploc kind, the type you press and seal) works so well......

This works at pools, the beach, in the bath......I'm just sayin'.

Now, if you want to take your reader snorkling, or deep sea diving........thats another thing.

I meant that making the actual reader itself waterproof would seem to be too much of a niche requirement for them to bother at this point, 3rd party cases that do the same thing seem far more likely to be wanted.

DawnFalcon · 09-06-2009, 02:40 PM

I'd agree, they're low power devices so heat is very unlikely to be an issue for a weather-sealed cover.

brecklundin · 09-06-2009, 03:37 PM

wow...I guess the first time someone kills their reading device by spilling water/coffee/soda/dropping it in the toilet (d'oh!!

) whatever and kills it your tune will likely change...and for those who feel the readers are "such low cost devices it would be too costly" to add seals have no idea about how cheap sealing is and what device can be had which are FAR MORE powerful and complex than a reader device. A fully sealed point & shoot camera can be had for under $300 and that is for a camera pressure sealed to 5-feet, not just water/environmentally sealed bodies...for example:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...3&q=optio+ws80

Face it the reason there are no sealed readers is so you do ruin them...

LDBoblo · 09-06-2009, 03:38 PM

Ziploc bag works well enough for my reader, and it seems to match the quality of the device pretty well.

brecklundin · 09-06-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

I'd agree, they're low power devices so heat is very unlikely to be an issue for a weather-sealed cover.

yeah, I agree heat "should" not be an issue, but, if using wireless it might be...so who knows?? But for a basic reader no reason heat would ever be an issue.

acidzebra · 09-06-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brecklundin

I guess the first time someone kills their reading device by spilling water/coffee/soda/dropping it in the toilet

a) people who drop gadgets in the toilet deserve what they get. SRSLY.
b) from reading the many "my reader is broken" threads on here it seems that mechanical shock or pressure damage is far more likely to destroy a given reader.

Whichever way you go, these safeguards would add to the price of an already pricey device. Maybe when production costs drop.

brecklundin · 09-06-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidzebra

a) people who drop gadgets in the toilet deserve what they get. SRSLY.
b) from reading the many "my reader is broken" threads on here it seems that mechanical shock or pressure damage is far more likely to destroy a given reader.

Whichever way you go, these safeguards would add to the price of an already pricey device. Maybe when production costs drop.

Yeah that extra $1.50/device to seal them will make a huge difference...talk about gimme a break...

I mean do you even realize the difference between environmental sealing and waterproofing to just a depth of 5-feet? Night and day...as I clearly pointed out a $250 camera with sealing that also protects to that 5-foot depth exists...and there are cameras which protect to 10-feet for about the same price...we are not talking about an huge expense.

The Pentax camera's I indicated are a good example because of the low market share Pentax has in the camera world, even more true in the US. That low market share puts them in the ballpark (give or take a bit) sales wise of ereading device makers but with devices that cost LESS than an ereader.

It will not cost much, if anything, to the consumer, if sealing is added. I expect the new PVI plastic displays are naturally pretty water resistant so only a bit needs to be done to seal other weak points from dust and water. I see zero reason to buy a baggie....

acidzebra · 09-06-2009, 05:14 PM

Okay, good luck with your campaign for water-resistant reading devices. More power to you. Let us know how that works out.

09-05-2009, 02:06 AM	#1
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	Weather/Environmentally Sealed Reading Devices...where are they? It's that simple of a question. Where are the sealed devices? And before the obvious knee-jerk "...it's too expensive..." comments consider the number of digital cameras that can be had from simple point & shoot's to DSLRS which can be had cheaply and in come P&S models able to withstand water depths of around 10-feet. And for DSLR's, Pentax has had bodies with outstanding weather/environmentally sealing out for a number of years now. Basically it adds little to the cost of the devices. From day one electronic reading devices should have had such sealing...so where are the sealed devices I can run under the faucet like I can my dslr bodies in order to wash them off, of can drop on the beach or dusty trail/campground w/o worry of dirt/dust/grime working it's way into the device to kill it...I routinely rinse my Pentax K20D and now K7 after trips in the field and these are far more delicate and complex devices than an ereader. It just is a glaring omission to me and long overdue...

09-06-2009, 12:26 PM	#6
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	The ebook market doesn't seem like its big enough yet that it would support a niche product like that. Another option as far as cases would also be http://www.aquapac.net/ukstore/water...es-2252-0.html Last edited by Crowl; 09-06-2009 at 12:53 PM.

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09-05-2009, 02:47 AM	#2
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I doubt they ever will be, no more than a laptop or an iPod will be weather sealed

09-05-2009, 04:34 AM	#3
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	Um, you do know there are quite a few suppliers of waterproof/rugged laptops, right Ervserver? Sure, a lot of them are geared up to provide the military, but some also do the civilian market. Terralogic and so on.

09-05-2009, 01:05 PM	#4
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Panasonic also makes a line of ruggedized computer products, by the way. I don't think you will see truly weatherized ebook readers, though. It's much more likely that you will see some type of weatherized multifunction device with the ability to read an ebook. As long as a reader can survive a day on the beach, I expect the demand for a weather-sealed reader will be too low to make it economically viable.

09-05-2009, 02:28 PM	#5
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	It already exists - it's called a Kindle or Sony in a DryPak bag. :-)

09-06-2009, 02:40 PM	#9
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	I'd agree, they're low power devices so heat is very unlikely to be an issue for a weather-sealed cover.

09-06-2009, 03:37 PM	#10
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	wow...I guess the first time someone kills their reading device by spilling water/coffee/soda/dropping it in the toilet (d'oh!! ) whatever and kills it your tune will likely change...and for those who feel the readers are "such low cost devices it would be too costly" to add seals have no idea about how cheap sealing is and what device can be had which are FAR MORE powerful and complex than a reader device. A fully sealed point & shoot camera can be had for under $300 and that is for a camera pressure sealed to 5-feet, not just water/environmentally sealed bodies...for example: http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...3&q=optio+ws80 Face it the reason there are no sealed readers is so you do ruin them...

09-06-2009, 03:38 PM	#11
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Ziploc bag works well enough for my reader, and it seems to match the quality of the device pretty well.

09-06-2009, 05:14 PM	#15
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	Okay, good luck with your campaign for water-resistant reading devices. More power to you. Let us know how that works out.