I think Dvorak has it right about e-books

[HansTWN]

I think, since so many people think that downloading and copying of digital products should be unrestricted, that may well be what the future will hold for us. Every publisher will give out his e-books for free and we will see an ad on every second page. What a brave new world!

[Ervserver]

The future speaks

[Jellby]

There have been illustrated books for ages, yet not every book is illustrated, not all illustrated books are good, and not everyone wants illustrated books. I don't see why it should be different with other media.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

I think, since so many people think that downloading and copying of digital products should be unrestricted, that may well be what the future will hold for us. Every publisher will give out his e-books for free and we will see an ad on every second page. What a brave new world!

Now we know why ms, asus and others have been designing readers with 2 screens, its not to recreate a book its so you can have adverts up all the time.

[colinsky]

Surprised to see negative reactions here -- I have to speak in favor of the original sentiment. Let me give an example using a (disappointing) experience I had with an audiobook.


TA while ago I borrowed an following audiobook from an online library, Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera. This book involves chapters which talk through various operas, pointing out specific aspects of the composition or performance along the way.

While the text matched that of the book exactly, I was actually surprised to hear (or, in fact, to NOT hear) samples of the features described inserted at the appropriate place. This would have been the obvious enhancement in converting the book to an audio release, and certainly more closely resemble music discussions that we have come to expect in other media, such as on the radio.

Yes, I realize that it would have taken some (or much) effort to obtain appropriate rights to use the music, and piece together out the appropriate sections. But somehow the entire experience came across as feeling rather lazy and unfulfilling.

There certainly IS great potential to convert books and target experience to various forms of delivery that add to the value or enjoyment of the experience. It simply takes some thought, and the right degree of creativity.


I

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by colinsky

Surprised to see negative reactions here -- I have to speak in favor of the original sentiment. Let me give an example using a (disappointing) experience I had with an audiobook.


TA while ago I borrowed an following audiobook from an online library, Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera. This book involves chapters which talk through various operas, pointing out specific aspects of the composition or performance along the way.

While the text matched that of the book exactly, I was actually surprised to hear (or, in fact, to NOT hear) samples of the features described inserted at the appropriate place. This would have been the obvious enhancement in converting the book to an audio release, and certainly more closely resemble music discussions that we have come to expect in other media, such as on the radio.

Yes, I realize that it would have taken some (or much) effort to obtain appropriate rights to use the music, and piece together out the appropriate sections. But somehow the entire experience came across as feeling rather lazy and unfulfilling.

There certainly IS great potential to convert books and target experience to various forms of delivery that add to the value or enjoyment of the experience. It simply takes some thought, and the right degree of creativity.


I

I agree, that book would have been greatly enhanced by the music.

Most of us who dislike audio-visual intrusions intensely don't mind appropriate use of multi-media in nonfiction. It's great for giving examples and can work really well.

Fiction is another story, especially science fiction and fantasy, where as several of us have said, the human imagination far outstrips any special effects.

[JeremyZ]

Some of it, I agree with, others parts, not so much. I'd like a working Table of Contents in every book, as well as an index, where applicable. I'd also like the formatting to be done, for it to be proofread, and for the original illustrations to be displayed as intended by the author. That's all that's needed in future eBook readers. Anything more, and it is just being watered down.

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

Anything more, and it is just being watered down.

None of you people are against this idea have yet explained why you think this capability would be on all the time with no option to turn it off.

People seem to think something would be forced down their throat. You people sound like the mini-disc people did when the iPod started heating up.

[xchaotic]

I agree with what most people are saying here - the experience on a new device should be tailored, like MacLauhan was famously misquoted "The Medium is the Message", so it's not enough to put some talking heads from radio on a TV show to make it a good show - you need more visuals than this. Likewise an experience of reading on an ereader should be more than reading a paper book.

[bbusybookworm]

While as a gadget geek I'm interested in seeing, and possible buying a gadget like the rumoured apple Tablet, what I find interesting is the idea in the Tech press that as long as its not colour, multimedia, etc its not a good product.

When I see People on the news, or tech pundits lament the lack or Multimeda or colour, it does seem that tey are missing the point a bit, as that the device is ment for reading. Its only then I realise that part of the reason for that is most of them, it appears don't read BOOKS ay more. Or if they do, its more likely to be in the form of audiobooks, etc .

When we look at it from that point of view, its a stark reminder that regular book readers like all of us here are a Minority, as most people only read couple of books a year. while they may do a lot of reading, its likely to be in the form of web content, magazines, documents, etc which I agree current gen devices don't handle well.

So from a mainstream point of view, where people don't read that many books, a dedicated eBook reader may not make as much sense as a multimedia multi use device. A device which can handle stuff that most people usually read all day, like web stuff, documents, Magzines probably need colour and additional functionality, as that content does not look as good in B&W.

On the other hand current eInk readers are ideal if all you want to do is read books on them. The ability to go through days of reading on a single charge, and the lack of eyestrain coupled with portability means that vorocious reader can have an entire library available when ever they want to read.

I personally have 2 multimedia devices (iPhone & N800) and a single dedicated reader (Pocket Pro) at present, and while I can and do read eBooks on the multimedia devices, I usually prefer the dedicated device as not only is it easier to read, but I don't have to worry about draining my battery or being distracted by something else when I'm using them.

I just hope that in pursuit of the mainstream market, companies don't forget about the minority of readers like us who usually purchase the most amount of books.

[JeremyZ]

Great post bbb.

I think the Kindle is making readers out of a lot of people who weren't readers before.

I hadn't read fiction in years prior to buying my K2. (as you hinted at, I read non-fiction a lot at work and in my free time web surfing)

I find I'm doing a lot less surfing and a lot more reading now that I've got an eBook reader.

On the other hand, I think you're giving a lot of the public too much credit. I have a neighbor who is a typical American, and outside of work, he doesn't read AT ALL. He just watches TV for everything. It is kind of scary.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

Great post bbb.

On the other hand, I think you're giving a lot of the public too much credit. I have a neighbor who is a typical American, and outside of work, he doesn't read AT ALL. He just watches TV for everything. It is kind of scary.

Well, while many people may not read generally, they may do for specific purposes such as non fiction books like self help, management, How to, etc which all add into the final figure from which we get the average.

So a person who may not be reading as a rule may be at times be referring (reading) a reference book which coaunts as their annual book

I'll agree with you that dedicated readers have increased my reading. I used to read a lot of books, but a few yeas ago, work and school got so much that I was reading very few new books. Getting the Sony and the others later meant that I had a lot of novels available anytime which resulted in me reading and buying a lot more books (helped by the fact that I could actually buy good english language books in places where the selection is limited)

[wodin]

I think it should be call the eHarryPotter format, complete with moving photographs and screamers embedded!

To quote Harry Potter

Originally Posted by Harry Potter

I LOVE Magic!