Is the ereader dead?

[crich70]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

ANY devices that can display ebooks is an ereader! The Ereader definition immediately expanded once apps were designed to go on tablets, phones and pc's.

The condescension developed because a good chunk of the e-ink readers immediately started condescendingly proclaiming the superiority of e-ink readers, when others started letting it be known that they were reading on tablets and phones.

They refuse to consider that other ways of reading ebooks are valid, which is just wrong.

The same way that romance readers love being able to read on an e-ink, tablet or phone because we no longer have to worry about someone condescendingly judging us for what we choose to read, we shouldn't be judged for what device we choose to read on.

Not all devices are equal in ability to see what you are trying to read though. I know my cell phone and my Netbook both have LCD screens and turn dark in direct sunlight. An e-ink screen doesn't do that though. Plus the e-ink reader is built just for that purpose i.e. to read things on. People sometimes complain that they can't read pdf files on one, but pdf files were never meant to be a format for reading books. They were developed to email documents from point a to point b either within a company building or internationally within a company. The modern equivalent of the pneumatic tube in effect. Tablets, cell phones, etc. do a number of different jobs. Reading is just one small facet of what they are designed for.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by crich70

Not all devices are equal in ability to see what you are trying to read though. I know my cell phone and my Netbook both have LCD screens and turn dark in direct sunlight. An e-ink screen doesn't do that though. Plus the e-ink reader is built just for that purpose i.e. to read things on. People sometimes complain that they can't read pdf files on one, but pdf files were never meant to be a format for reading books. They were developed to email documents from point a to point b either within a company building or internationally within a company. The modern equivalent of the pneumatic tube in effect. Tablets, cell phones, etc. do a number of different jobs. Reading is just one small facet of what they are designed for.

If you don't read outside (I don't I prefer to focus on where I'm going) then the fact that a phone or tablet is harder (but not impossible) to read on isn't a problem.

Just because my phone is capable of doing more than one thing doesn't mean I have to utilize all those other features all the time. My phone is in airplane mode 99% of the time, because that is how I want it, my phone is for my use, not so other people can call or text me with nonsense all day long.

I don't need an e-ink reader to be able fully focus on my book, I'm not that easily distracted, nor am I the least bit interested in what's happening on FB so my phone makes a terrific ereader, that I happen to utilize as a phone on rare occasion.

Read on whatever you want and enjoy, and leave the rest of us to do the same even if it's on a different device than an e-ink machine.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Again, look at the title of the thread. The original article writer was condescending to those who prefer eInk eReaders and made bogus claims insinuating that eInk eReaders were something from the past and not a vital part of modern eBook reading. I would expect those of you who like to read on tablets would have reacted similarly to an article titled "Are Tablets for eReading Dead?" Of course both titles would be nothing but clickbait.

In fairness, there are plenty of "Are tablets dead?" or "Is the iPad dead?" articles despite Apple selling around 40 millions iPads a year. No idea how many Kindle Fires Amazon sells. Apart from Samsung and Apple, the only high end tablets you see nowadays are Windows 10 2-in-1s.

The thing is reading is a niche and so too, are e-ink readers. How many have watched Game of Thrones versus those who read A Song of Ice and Fire? Ditto for Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. Still a pretty large niche in any case.

Honestly, I'm actually more suprised that Amazon sold 20+ million e-ink readers in 2011 than I am by their current sales numbers. I expect there were a lot of non-readers who bought Kindles because price dropped to $80 and they were thinking they'll start reading more but after initial novelty had passed, the readers were just languishing inside drawers.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

In fairness, there are plenty of "Are tablets dead?" or "Is the iPad dead?" articles despite Apple selling around 40 millions iPads a year. No idea how many Kindle Fires Amazon sells. Apart from Samsung and Apple, the only high end tablets you see nowadays are Windows 10 2-in-1s.

That's true, but not directly applied to reading and not quoted here in these forums. I think I read Amazon supposedly outsold Samsung on tablets last year. I don't know for sure, though. Unless I can think of something to do with my Fire, I'll probably give it away (like I did my original 6" one) or sell it. But I do know that a LOT of people use tablets quite a bit. I think sales drops have more to do with a "mature" product line, no longer any reason to update every year.

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

The thing is reading is a niche and so too, are e-ink readers. How many have watched Game of Thrones versus those who read A Song of Ice and Fire? Ditto for Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. Still a pretty large niche in any case.

I'm the wrong one to ask on Game of Thrones or Harry Potter. I haven't read or watched either. I've never hear of A Song of Ice and Fire. But I have read Lord of the Rings three or four times and have watched it about 1½ times. Not that I didn't like the movie (though it wasn't the book), it's just that ... I've seen it.

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Honestly, I'm actually more suprised that Amazon sold 20+ million e-ink readers in 2011 than I am by their current sales numbers. I expect there were a lot of non-readers who bought Kindles because price dropped to $80 and they were thinking they'll start reading more but after initial novelty had passed, the readers were just languishing inside drawers.

I think it's that and the fact that a lot of readers who were enthralled with eReaders (like I was) bought them for friends or family, who then tried them once or twice, had zero interest in them and then put them in a drawer – until five years later (or so) when they donated to Goodwill (where I bought them all). Nearly every eReader I've bought used looks to have hardly been used, right from my first Kindle 4 (bought at a pawn shop).

[crich70]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

If you don't read outside (I don't I prefer to focus on where I'm going) then the fact that a phone or tablet is harder (but not impossible) to read on isn't a problem.

Just because my phone is capable of doing more than one thing doesn't mean I have to utilize all those other features all the time. My phone is in airplane mode 99% of the time, because that is how I want it, my phone is for my use, not so other people can call or text me with nonsense all day long.

I don't need an e-ink reader to be able fully focus on my book, I'm not that easily distracted, nor am I the least bit interested in what's happening on FB so my phone makes a terrific ereader, that I happen to utilize as a phone on rare occasion.

Read on whatever you want and enjoy, and leave the rest of us to do the same even if it's on a different device than an e-ink machine.

There is no need to go on the offensive. I merely meant that there are a few advantages to a dedicated ereader. Granted not everyone wants to sit outside to read but when it's warm it is sometimes nice to be able to do so and it is hard to read on at least some LCD screens in sunlight. I have no axe to grind with someone reading on their phone, though I would think that the battery may deplete quicker that way too. My pastor and his wife do both. He reads on his phone using a kindle app and she reads on a Kindle ereader.

[DiapDealer]

In my world, outdoors is for working, walking, sporting, gardening or playing. Reading happens at home: in the armchair, in bed, or on the porch-swing (enclosed porch).

[rcentros]

Double post, sorry.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

In my world, outdoors is for working, walking, sporting, gardening or playing. Reading happens at home: in the armchair, in bed, or on the porch-swing (enclosed porch).

If I lived somewhere other than Texas I would like to read outside on the porch. But here there seems to be two degrees, boiling or freezing. I do read in the car sometimes, though, when I'm waiting somewhere.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by rcentros

If I lived somewhere other than Texas I would like to read outside on the porch. But here there seems to be two degrees, boiling or freezing. I do read in the car sometimes, though, when I'm waiting somewhere.

It's not that much different for me in Ohio. But there's a few weeks in spring and fall where the porch is lovely.

I never get much of a chance to read away from home (unless I'm away overnight or something--which is rare). I need large blocks of time to properly engage with the material. 10, 15, or 20 minutes here and there just doesn't seem to work for me.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Please put the knife down and follow my comments in context (you know, like a real reader):

No bladed edges here. Apparently and lamentably, you've read into my response to your "real readers" comments rancor where there is none. Additionally, my reply actually does follow your comments in context.

I concur with multiple others' responses to your comments in this thread, so rather than piling on, I'll merely add the following observation to the conversation: the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project has quantitatively classified readers of different types, e.g., in "The rise of e-reading" (April 4, 2012) and in "Reading Habits in Different Communities" (December 20, 2012). Whether one takes issue with Pews' study or not, using terms like theirs, rather than "real reader", to describe various types of readers is more reliable and valid (to use statistical terms), and is more objective (i.e., avoids even the appearance of being judgmental), and it puts discussants "on the same page", so to speak.

[montalex]

Here's a good dedicated ereader story: On vacation in the Dominican Republic, I arise early and go down to the beach for a barefoot run and swim (yes, I swim barefoot, too!) I take along a towel, an orange, and my Kindle Keyboard. I'm not too worried about leaving my ereader on the beach because I have a half-dozen of them, one back in my room. I wouldn't do this with a tablet or a cell phone. Finishing my swim, peeling my orange, I turn on free global 3G and get my NYTimes delivered in a minute. I sit back on a crappy beach chair and read the newspaper in the early-morning sun (sunglasses required). Later, after lunch, I'll switch to "Wolf Hall"....

[DiapDealer]

The sun again? Who knew bookworms were such sun-worshippers? I prefer reading-under-the-covers-with-a-flashlight-til-all-hours-of-the-night reading-related stories/memories myself.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

In my world, outdoors is for working, walking, sporting, gardening or playing. Reading happens at home: in the armchair, in bed, or on the porch-swing (enclosed porch).

Reading, for me, is anywhere I have at least a couple of minutes free. I would read while walking if I could do it without killing myself.
Apache

[Alohamora]

Originally Posted by Apache

Reading, for me, is anywhere I have at least a couple of minutes free. I would read while walking if I could do it without killing myself.
Apache

Try an audiobook while walking?

I used to do that a lot, I really should start walking more again.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The sun again? Who knew bookworms were such sun-worshippers? I prefer reading-under-the-covers-with-a-flashlight-til-all-hours-of-the-night reading-related stories/memories myself.

Lol, I was much the same.