new device concept.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by DreamReclaimer

I'm with you. Less IS more. I don't need wireless, I don't need online access to ANYTHING. To me that's a path for Bad Things to come in, and that's what my PC is for. No need for sound, I want an ebook reader, I HAVE an mp3 player.

I need a good screen, adjustable font size, large memory capacity so that I can switch to whatever my taste may be for that very minute, a good USB connection to that I can access the rest of my library on my PC.

Scott

I'd personally prefer a nice all in one tablet once screen technology and battery life improve.

I love my kindle, but (other than a few times I fly a year) it doesn't leave the night stand as I only do leisure reading for a bit before sleeping a few nights a week.

I spend a lot more time on net surfing, tv/movie/sports watching, video games, music etc.

So I'd get a lot more use out of a multi-function tablet than a simple reader, being that I'm not an avid reader. I just got a Kindle as it's more convenient than buying books I'll read once, or hassling with the library. And I do like to always be reading something at night. I just read casually and get through 1 or 2 books a month.

Another benefit in this kind of tablet is I'd want something with an A4 or so screen and stylus support, then I could use it for reading and marking up stuff for my academic work where I still use paper books and printouts of PDFs etc. currently.


But I do think that dedicated readers should stay around. Many are just avid readers and don't need all these added functions. And I like the small size for reading in bed, so even I would likely keep a small Kindle around in the future after buying some future tablet device.

[sassanik]

I am sure that eventually they will come out with some wonderful universal device that does mp3's, books, movie's etc and has a decent battery life.

That being said currently I want my ebook reader to be an ebook reader, I agree that you don't need all the fancy stuff. Something simple easy to use, and in theory not be too expensive. The technology is there, it just seems that companies keep on wanting to add in more bells and whistles. The bells and whistles are really nice, but in reality how many do you actually use?

Sure my Cool-er has a built in mp3 player, but do I use it? Nope I have a mp3 player or my computer for that. I don't need to be able to browse the web while I read a book.

I think in the end it will be the super simple device that will be the one that makes it into the school system. Something that hooks up with USB and only reads books. This would be useful in a educational setting where you don't really want the kids to be able to surf the web on their reader.

Its like that super expensive laptop that can play awesome games, dvd's, make movies and mp3's, surf the web and do 50 other things, but in reality 90% of the users just surf the web and use the word processor.

Amy

[askyn]

I love the 1150 and your ideas.

For me, keep the basic hardware the same ( form factor, buttons, lcd ( with light ), shape and size.

Add in the wifi support ( the fact you dont need a cable would be very nice, and you then wouldnt need to worry if the cable were lost ).

but also add in the updated USB cable connection, but ONLY if it will act as a normal USB drive! ( ie - plug it in and the pc recoginizes it as a new hardrive and you can just drag and drop files too and from)

Your battery idea is nice, but make it a replaceable rechargeable battery instead of rechargeable AAs. That way you can just recharge it the same way you do now ( ie just plug it in and not worry about removing batteries etc ). Also maybe have the USB cable function as a pass thru for chargeing, instead of a seperate wall charger.

Software wise, I like the idea of cover art showing on the book selection screen. Lots of people are more visual when looking for things. Also, enable FOLDERS. that way you can organize things the way you want. ( and / or enable keywords for each book ? ie author / type (horror scifi fantasy etc ) and sort by those? )

Dont need a mp3 player, they have smaller better dedicated ones specifically for that. Granted might be nice but not a deal breaker.

Color would be nice yep, think that would be a nice addition. At a minium double the resolution.

The idea of having it be used for a photo display would be nice also. you could have it cycle thru your book covers, or thru a folder set up for pictures, or as you say a card that has pictures on it.

Id be very interested in something like this as I enjoy the "heft" and feel of the 1150, but do feel it needs some updating.

[Terisa de morgan]

There's something I would like in the software for this device: it's very, very nice to have a lot of metadata in the books for nothing! (as far as I know). I would like to have a nice software to manage my library: show me genre, series, # series, allow me to order and group by metadata, something like that. I miss much more this management than all those fancy HW features.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

There's something I would like in the software for this device: it's very, very nice to have a lot of metadata in the books for nothing! (as far as I know). I would like to have a nice software to manage my library: show me genre, series, # series, allow me to order and group by metadata, something like that. I miss much more this management than all those fancy HW features.

You do know the current unit will sort by Genre I presume. I would think that all the current features would be there by default. One feature I have always wanted it to be able to read the book description right on the device without having to open it. It is also in the metadata.

Dale

[askyn]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

You do know the current unit will sort by Genre I presume. I would think that all the current features would be there by default. One feature I have always wanted it to be able to read the book description right on the device without having to open it. It is also in the metadata.

Dale

That would be nice, know how if you "click" the circle by the book title now it brings up the dialog to delete / read etc?

Just have that window pop up display the description / back page text.

[Lago]

Originally Posted by askyn

That would be nice, know how if you "click" the circle by the book title now it brings up the dialog to delete / read etc?

Just have that window pop up display the description / back page text.

WOW,, it looks like there may be some interest in this after all. this is EXACTLY the input im looking for.

it would be nice to be able to view metadata, (again as a user selectable option) in the book menu.

[Lago]

Originally Posted by askyn

I love the 1150 and your ideas.

For me, keep the basic hardware the same ( form factor, buttons, lcd ( with light ), shape and size.

Add in the wifi support ( the fact you dont need a cable would be very nice, and you then wouldnt need to worry if the cable were lost ).

but also add in the updated USB cable connection, but ONLY if it will act as a normal USB drive! ( ie - plug it in and the pc recoginizes it as a new hardrive and you can just drag and drop files too and from)

i was thinking of making the wifi support via an optional dongle which would work through a standard USB port. the same port used to link with a PC. or maybe one of two. (one external, one behind a panel)

Your battery idea is nice, but make it a replaceable rechargeable battery instead of rechargeable AAs. That way you can just recharge it the same way you do now ( ie just plug it in and not worry about removing batteries etc ). Also maybe have the USB cable function as a pass thru for chargeing, instead of a seperate wall charger.

why not have it take rechargeable AA's and still charge internally? the idea is to make replacement, when it should become needful, an easy, user serviceable thing, while maintaining afford-ability. also, i think the USB would be over-taxed by charging standard batteries, and you'd NEED access to a PC thats on to charge then.

Software wise, I like the idea of cover art showing on the book selection screen. Lots of people are more visual when looking for things. Also, enable FOLDERS. that way you can organize things the way you want. ( and / or enable keywords for each book ? ie author / type (horror scifi fantasy etc ) and sort by those? )

multiple bookshelves (IE folders), new books would goto a <default> shelf, and you can drag/drop it at leisure onto other tabs/shelves/folders.

Dont need a mp3 player, they have smaller better dedicated ones specifically for that. Granted might be nice but not a deal breaker.

Color would be nice yep, think that would be a nice addition. At a minium double the resolution.

The idea of having it be used for a photo display would be nice also. you could have it cycle thru your book covers, or thru a folder set up for pictures, or as you say a card that has pictures on it.

or even two card slots?!?!

Id be very interested in something like this as I enjoy the "heft" and feel of the 1150, but do feel it needs some updating.

thats the idea..

[Lago]

bump? still looking for ideas, and interest..

[surrealmind]

I do like a lot of these KISS ideas. Hardware wise, a different storage medium I think would be the biggest help, and then a little higher resolution would be nice, especially for the stylus--I take quite a few notes, so a touchscreen that rendered strokes very precisely would be a boon.

Otherwise, I think it'd be a great upgrade to have two more "soft" buttons on the top of the page next to the markups button that is already there. I'd like to see the eraser split to the middle button, and the search/dictionary function split out to the far right button; the remaining two markup functions would remain in their current spot, but the button would now be a toggle switch instead of a dropdown menu. That is, tap the markups button, and the function would just flip instantly between pen and highlighter. Sounds like overkill perhaps, but these small UI changes would save a few mental cycles and would be a smaller reading interruption since the user would only have to click these buttons once for a new function without having to think about clicking the markups button, filtering through the options on a drop down list, and then clicking on the desired option before finally marking up the text. The nice thing about these changes is that they would only require a little software tweaking, I would think.

Oh, and as far as file management, it would be awesome to have an automatic synchronization system back to the computer, such that a computer-based IMP-viewer could display all your notes and jump to them instantly like the eBookwise does. This would be huge for those of us who have to write papers on the material we're reading. It'd also be nice for someone who just wants to re-write his notes in fuller form on a word processor later so as to better remember a text. I know you can kind of extract notes now--I've not tried it yet as I haven't received my smartmedia cards in the mail yet--but it sounds like a bit of a process.

[Bleumoon_Selene]

I think it's a wonderful idea. As far as customization goes, I'd like the be able to change the look of the device itself.

Perhaps with change able hard plastic, as most mobile phones come with. That would be lovely.

I hope to see your plans become reality one day soon! In the meantime I'll save up for it!

[Katti's Cat]

I don't know the reader itself so can't really comment - but sticking to the KISS principle on the hardware appeals to me.

On the software side - I agree with most suggestions. I l\would like to see a software that allows me to sort. And maybe even is smart enough to
a) mark a book as read (maybe even with date stamp) and
b) goes back to the cover after finishing it.

I don't necessarily need colour. I would look more for a reader that is affordable than one that is jam packed full with functions I wouldn't use if I look for a reading device only.

Oh, and maybe the ability to be charged via a portable solar charger would be great - sometimes the computer and / or powerpoint are just a tad too far away. (Not sure if you can charge any of the existing reader devices via solar charger yet - so sorry if I missed it)

[Lago]

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

I don't know the reader itself so can't really comment - but sticking to the KISS principle on the hardware appeals to me.

On the software side - I agree with most suggestions. I l\would like to see a software that allows me to sort. And maybe even is smart enough to
a) mark a book as read (maybe even with date stamp) and
b) goes back to the cover after finishing it.

good idea, shouldnt be too hard to do either.

I don't necessarily need colour. I would look more for a reader that is affordable than one that is jam packed full with functions I wouldn't use if I look for a reading device only.

exactly what im trying to do.

Oh, and maybe the ability to be charged via a portable solar charger would be great - sometimes the computer and / or powerpoint are just a tad too far away. (Not sure if you can charge any of the existing reader devices via solar charger yet - so sorry if I missed it)

i see no reason that ANY ebook cant be charged with a solar panel. you just need one thats rated for the voltage, and amperage needed. and the correct end connector.

[Lago]

Originally Posted by Bleumoon_Selene

I think it's a wonderful idea. As far as customization goes, I'd like the be able to change the look of the device itself.

Perhaps with change able hard plastic, as most mobile phones come with. That would be lovely.

I hope to see your plans become reality one day soon! In the meantime I'll save up for it!

well. thats a nice idea, but i cant see it working out too well. at least not affordably. and thank you for your support. this is a new and exciting adventure for me. heres hoping it works out.

that said, i don't see why it couldn't be offered in various and unique colors/patterns. not sure if it would add to the cost though, and cost is priority #1.

[Lago]

Originally Posted by surrealmind

I do like a lot of these KISS ideas. Hardware wise, a different storage medium I think would be the biggest help, and then a little higher resolution would be nice, especially for the stylus--I take quite a few notes, so a touchscreen that rendered strokes very precisely would be a boon.

sadly, a touch screen THAT precice doesnt exist, or if it does, its way too expensive. toud see that first at the supermarket for digital signitures. and frankly, my ebook renders lines and signitures better than those..

Otherwise, I think it'd be a great upgrade to have two more "soft" buttons on the top of the page next to the markups button that is already there. I'd like to see the eraser split to the middle button, and the search/dictionary function split out to the far right button; the remaining two markup functions would remain in their current spot, but the button would now be a toggle switch instead of a dropdown menu. That is, tap the markups button, and the function would just flip instantly between pen and highlighter. Sounds like overkill perhaps, but these small UI changes would save a few mental cycles and would be a smaller reading interruption since the user would only have to click these buttons once for a new function without having to think about clicking the markups button, filtering through the options on a drop down list, and then clicking on the desired option before finally marking up the text. The nice thing about these changes is that they would only require a little software tweaking, I would think.

im considering placing all the soft buttons along the top margin, and probably making 6-7 of them. this should free up more book space too.

Oh, and as far as file management, it would be awesome to have an automatic synchronization system back to the computer, such that a computer-based IMP-viewer could display all your notes and jump to them instantly like the eBookwise does. This would be huge for those of us who have to write papers on the material we're reading. It'd also be nice for someone who just wants to re-write his notes in fuller form on a word processor later so as to better remember a text. I know you can kind of extract notes now--I've not tried it yet as I haven't received my smartmedia cards in the mail yet--but it sounds like a bit of a process.

DEFINITELY on the todo list.