Have e-Readers been superseded by Tablets and Phones

[shalym]

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.

For me, the problem is, when do you charge it? I read every night in bed, and fall asleep reading, so I can't charge it then. Right now my phone charges while I'm sleeping. If it was doubling as my reader, that wouldn't work.

Shari

[sakura-panda]

Originally Posted by shalym

For me, the problem is, when do you charge it? I read every night in bed, and fall asleep reading, so I can't charge it then. Right now my phone charges while I'm sleeping. If it was doubling as my reader, that wouldn't work.

Shari

My charger is right next to my bed -- I have a power strip plugged into the wall behind my bed and the power strip itself sits on my nightstand. I charge all of my readers, tablets, and phones there. (Not all at the same time. )

The cables are long enough that I can plug in a device and still use it while I'm in bed. I don't normally do that (because I don't read in bed much) but I could if I needed to! (I'd rather fall asleep listening to a rerun on TV. )

[DiapDealer]

My charger is wireless. I lay my tablet down on the pad on my nightstand when I'm done reading for the night and it does its thing. I can't fall asleep reading. That's how stuff gets broken/books get mauled.

[arturg]

As I just got Nooks with glowlight for my kids, I will take their Cybook Opuses to a safe place and use them when there won't be any e-ink readers available in the market

[shalym]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

My charger is wireless. I lay my tablet down on the pad on my nightstand when I'm done reading for the night and it does its thing. I can't fall asleep reading. That's how stuff gets broken/books get mauled.

I've been falling asleep with a book for over 40 years, and I've never had one get damaged--neither paper nor ebook. I used to go through flashlights and batteries at an alarming rate, but now with the lit readers I don't have that expense any more.

Shari

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by shalym

I've been falling asleep with a book for over 40 years, and I've never had one get damaged--neither paper nor ebook.

Lucky you.
I often wake up with the covers turned end for end and upside down. I'm lucky I'M still in my bed come morning, let alone anything that had the misfortune of being in it when I fall asleep. Shattered remotes, creased book-covers, screaming cat ... I learned my lesson years ago. When the lids start drooping; time for stuff I hold dear to be placed out of harms way.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by shalym

For me, the problem is, when do you charge it? I read every night in bed, and fall asleep reading, so I can't charge it then. Right now my phone charges while I'm sleeping. If it was doubling as my reader, that wouldn't work. Shari

I charge right after I walk in my door at night, I pull it out of my pocket and plug it in, in the kitchen before I do anything else. Then in the morning I put it right back in my pocket.

And if I forget to charge it at home I have a charger at work to plug it into.

I only read it on the road, if I were going to read in bed I would use my Nexus.

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Lucky you.
I often wake up with the covers turned end for end and upside down. I'm lucky I'M still in my bed come morning, let alone anything that had the misfortune of being in it when I fall asleep. Shattered remotes, creased book-covers, screaming cat ... I learned my lesson years ago. When the lids start drooping; time for stuff I hold dear to be placed out of harms way.

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Lucky you.
I often wake up with the covers turned end for end and upside down. I'm lucky I'M still in my bed come morning, let alone anything that had the misfortune of being in it when I fall asleep. Shattered remotes, creased book-covers, screaming cat ... I learned my lesson years ago. When the lids start drooping; time for stuff I hold dear to be placed out of harms way.

Ha! Me too, Diap! I once woke up with all covers, pillows, and sheets off the bed, including the fitted sheet. Also, my head was at the foot of the bed and my feet were at the head of the bed. Poor Cinder-kitty usually starts the night in bed with me then moves after I go to sleep.

[DiapDealer]

Hee hee. Glad I'm not the only one.
Funny thing is ... even with all that flippin' and floppin' and thrashin' ... I still wake up rested and refreshed (and reaching for the nightstand to get some quality a.m. reading in)!

[darryl]

The big thing for me is e-ink. My eyesight is not getting better with age, and has never been particularly wonderful in any event. At times I read for long periods. The e-ink is much easier on my eyes. Also, the effectiveness of e-ink in all light conditions is a big advantage. When the frontlit Paperwhite came out I thought how as a child I would have loved it, reading under the blanket with no need for a torch! Having said that, I have no problems with reading on my phone or tablet for shorter periods.

I think, for many people, a tablet is probably a good choice. Many would probably be quite happy just using their phones. But I think there are those who prefer a dedicated device for various reasons, and that will likely continue until the display technology on tablets and other devices becomes as easy on the eyes and as versatile in different light conditions as e-ink. This may well not be that far off.

Another interesting thing is size. Most people prefer a larger tablet but are quite happy with an ereader closer to the size of a paperback book. Perhaps this is just a legacy which will disappear quickly?

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by darryl

Another interesting thing is size. Most people prefer a larger tablet but are quite happy with an ereader closer to the size of a paperback book. Perhaps this is just a legacy which will disappear quickly?

I certainly hope not. My Kindle Fire HDX is a 7-inch tablet that weighs 10.7 oz. and honestly it is just too heavy for me to hold for the long periods of reading that I am prone to engaging in. And it is weirdly angular along the edges... which is a design choice that makes reading somewhat difficult for me.

One of the reasons I still prefer a dedicated reading device is that they can be made as thin and as light as humanly possible. My hands are not very good, so this is still a big deal for me. Combine that lightness with a screen that works well in most lighting situations and doesn't blast light into my eyes (astigmatism, I have) and I remain hopeful concerning at least the niche future of e-readers.

Honestly... if e-ink screens went away I would be forced to go back 100 years and revert to icky paper books because tablets just aren't good enough for reading the way that I like to do.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by Anthem

I certainly hope not. My Kindle Fire HDX is a 7-inch tablet that weighs 10.7 oz. and honestly it is just too heavy for me to hold for the long periods of reading that I am prone to engaging in. And it is weirdly angular along the edges... which is a design choice that makes reading somewhat difficult for me.

One of the reasons I still prefer a dedicated reading device is that they can be made as thin and as light as humanly possible. My hands are not very good, so this is still a big deal for me. Combine that lightness with a screen that works well in most lighting situations and doesn't blast light into my eyes (astigmatism, I have) and I remain hopeful concerning at least the niche future of e-readers.

Honestly... if e-ink screens went away I would be forced to go back 100 years and revert to icky paper books because tablets just aren't good enough for reading the way that I like to do.

Well said. I totally agree with you. But I do worry about what happens with a generation that grows up with their IPads and Galaxy Tabs and who may never have read a paperback novel. Will they to want to use a smaller, lighter device and an e-ink screen. I have some hope that at least some of them will. Time will tell.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by shalym

For me, the problem is, when do you charge it? I read every night in bed, and fall asleep reading, so I can't charge it then. Right now my phone charges while I'm sleeping. If it was doubling as my reader, that wouldn't work.

Shari

Do what I do. I have a USB extension cord so I can charge my phone if I plan on using it while in bed. Most nights I read in bed using my eInk Reader and not my phone.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by Anthem

I certainly hope not. My Kindle Fire HDX is a 7-inch tablet that weighs 10.7 oz. and honestly it is just too heavy for me to hold for the long periods of reading that I am prone to engaging in. And it is weirdly angular along the edges... which is a design choice that makes reading somewhat difficult for me.

One of the reasons I still prefer a dedicated reading device is that they can be made as thin and as light as humanly possible. My hands are not very good, so this is still a big deal for me. Combine that lightness with a screen that works well in most lighting situations and doesn't blast light into my eyes (astigmatism, I have) and I remain hopeful concerning at least the niche future of e-readers.

Honestly... if e-ink screens went away I would be forced to go back 100 years and revert to icky paper books because tablets just aren't good enough for reading the way that I like to do.

I hope Eink never does go away, because the alternatives aren't as good.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I hope Eink never does go away, because the alternatives aren't as good.

Sure they are - they just aren't commercially available yet. I'm sure you recall that Amazon bought Liquavista: the "electrowetting" technology they're developing is very promising, and promises good low-power daylight-readable colour displays.