Have e-Readers been superseded by Tablets and Phones

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I read looked at the picture pixel by pixel and finally saw what you meant

I didn't see it either, at first (a clear case of the brain filling in what it expects to see, not what really is there). But suddenly it clicked and I went what?!.

Other versions of the same cover are OK, so I have no idea how that came about.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by Luffy

Has anyone been bitten by DRM? Under exactly what circumstances does the DRM manifest itself?

I first noticed (and was annoyed by) DRM when, soon after receiving my first NOOK, I loaded all my ebooks into calibre, futzed with their metadata, and then learned Calibre can catalog but can open neither DRM'd NOOK books nor DRM'd NOOK Study content.

More of a PITA are CourseSmart's DRM policies:

1. One may read only one instance of a CourseSmart book at a time, whether online or offline. [This precludes one from reviewing, comparing, or contrasting material that appears on multiple pages, such as a chart/table/diagram/process/note/citation that's printed on one page and discussed on another.]
2. Content that's been checked out (i.e., downloaded to a device to be read offline) must be first be checked in - from the device it's checked out on - before it can be checked out on another device. [It's beyond me why checking out content on a second device doesn't automatically check it in on the first. At best, requiring two separate steps is inefficient, not to mention it imposes a burden to remember which device one last read the book on. At worst, if one's first device is not present or has a dead battery (common reasons for switching devices), then one faces a frustrating, time-sucking stumbling block, requiring one to either wait until the first device is present or powered up in order to proceed, or obtain assistance from Customer Support (which sometimes requires waiting in queue).]

[shevirsy]

Just the other day I was at the eye doctor. In the waiting room there were the regular magazines about cars and surgicaly enhanced stars. But also a few pages about eye health and about medicine. Browsing through it I came to one that was telling about the problems generated by the blue light at the end of the visible spectrum, close to the ultraviolets. Over time these frequencies give permanent blurry spots, in a way you get dead pixels. That light comes from the old CRTs, but also from LED lights, so much used today. Doc is not one of those snake oil sellers that would give you the magic spray to block the cell phone radiation or any of the hopeopathic junk.

In short, I hope the eInk is here to stay. Or I'm back to paper. There is still a long list of issues that electronic devices can't have and paper has.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by Froide

I first noticed (and was annoyed by) DRM when, soon after receiving my first NOOK, I loaded all my ebooks into calibre, futzed with their metadata, and then learned Calibre can catalog but can open neither DRM'd NOOK books nor DRM'd NOOK Study content.

More of a PITA are CourseSmart's DRM policies:

1. One may read only one instance of a CourseSmart book at a time, whether online or offline. [This precludes one from reviewing, comparing, or contrasting material that appears on multiple pages, such as a chart/table/diagram/process/note/citation that's printed on one page and discussed on another.]
2. Content that's been checked out (i.e., downloaded to a device to be read offline) must be first be checked in - from the device it's checked out on - before it can be checked out on another device. [It's beyond me why checking out content on a second device doesn't automatically check it in on the first. At best, requiring two separate steps is inefficient, not to mention it imposes a burden to remember which device one last read the book on. At worst, if one's first device is not present or has a dead battery (common reasons for switching devices), then one faces a frustrating, time-sucking stumbling block, requiring one to either wait until the first device is present or powered up in order to proceed, or obtain assistance from Customer Support (which sometimes requires waiting in queue).]

Thanks for the reply, Froide. I think that as long as you can read the book once without hindrance, then it's still an acceptable situation. People who don't know about DRM removal aren't being denied reading. So it's kind of okay.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by shevirsy

Just the other day I was at the eye doctor. In the waiting room there were the regular magazines about cars and surgicaly enhanced stars. But also a few pages about eye health and about medicine. Browsing through it I came to one that was telling about the problems generated by the blue light at the end of the visible spectrum, close to the ultraviolets. Over time these frequencies give permanent blurry spots, in a way you get dead pixels. That light comes from the old CRTs, but also from LED lights, so much used today. Doc is not one of those snake oil sellers that would give you the magic spray to block the cell phone radiation or any of the hopeopathic junk.

In short, I hope the eInk is here to stay. Or I'm back to paper. There is still a long list of issues that electronic devices can't have and paper has.

Yay for Eink!

[covingtoncat73]

Yeah. I love my Kindle Paperwhite. I do find it a somewhat more book-like experience than reading on my phone or Tablet and that is a good thing.

I am amazed at all the people who don't mind the might lesser batter life of a phone. That has me running for the eReader as much as anything. I can only read on my phone for an hour, maybe two before the battery dies. I don't want my choice of reading spot to be dictated by the need for a plug-in and I'd rather save the phone's battery life for checking my email, finding directions to someplace, texting, or phone calls.

Also, what kind of phones are you reading on? I have a Galaxy S3. That is a pretty big phone. Even so, the screen of the Kindle PW or that of the Kobo WiFi that I gave to a friend are much better sized and proportioned for reading, before we even get into the eInk v. LCD thing, the greater distractions on phones and tablets, etc.

A nice, big LCD tablet with color is still better for graphic novels/comic books and I have a 10'' Acer and use it for those but a little eInk reader is the best device for reading a novel.

[paindaisy]

Like others, I can't imagine reading a book on a phone. My kindle fire works great and I don't see that changing any time soon.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by paindaisy

Like others, I can't imagine reading a book on a phone. My kindle fire works great and I don't see that changing any time soon.

The Kindle Fire is a tablet though. The difference between a small tablet and a huge phone (phablet thingys) is almost non-existant. Maybe your phone is too small for you to read.

[Catlady]

I wouldn't want to use my phone (4.3-inch screen) as my primary e-reader, but it's certainly acceptable in a pinch.

[theinfamousj]

I read on my phone. In a pinch, but it is better than nothing.

[cfrizz]

I read on my 5.5 inch Note 2 every single day commuting to and from work and during lunch. I will start out with a full charge and be down to 80% by the time I get home.

I have it in airplane mode 99% of the time. I tell my friends & family to either call my home phone, my work phone or send me an email.

I only have wifi on my phone, I don't need a data plan, and I'm not interested in trying to see websites on that tiny screen, that is what pc's are for. But the screen size is just fine for reading books. I simply adjust the text to the size that is comfortable to me and read away. Anyone who reads on a 5 inch Sony e-ink can read just as well on this.

Only my family and close friends have my cell number and even they know not to call me on it. I have this phone for MY convenience not anyone else and I mainly use it for reading during my commute.

It fits very easily into all of my pockets even with it being in a case. I am very happy with my phone.

[shevirsy]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

I am amazed at all the people who don't mind the might lesser batter life of a phone.

Actually, from the devices I have used over the years, the phones are way better than readers when it comes to battery. As cfrizz points out, one might use the Airplane mode to turn off all wireless devices. My problem is how can anyone use anything smaller than a 6 inch screen?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by shevirsy

Actually, from the devices I have used over the years, the phones are way better than readers when it comes to battery.

Certainly not my experience. I charge my reader perhaps once a month. I charge my phone every day.

My problem is how can anyone use anything smaller than a 6 inch screen?

Kiddies with young eyes. 30 years ago I could happily read book on my HP iPaq Pocket PC with its 3.5" screen (or whatever it was). These days I need larger screens.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Certainly not my experience. I charge my reader perhaps once a month. I charge my phone every day.

This kind of statement is what confuses me. People act like it is a crime to have to charge a device used for reading every day. I just don't get it.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

This kind of statement is what confuses me. People act like it is a crime to have to charge a device used for reading every day. I just don't get it.

I didn't say that it was a problem having to charge my phone every day; I simply stated that my readers had a longer battery life.