How much is a touchscreen worth?

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

While I won't buy one that is NOT a touchscreen (plus buttons), after using the IR-based system on my PRS-650. Worth at least $50 to me, in the current pricing scheme. I think we'll see E-ink reader prices race below $100 in another year or two as color tablets grab more market share.

I believe that we'll see monochrome eInk readers disappear as color tablets grab more marketshare. That's the nature of consumer devices.

We're already seeing non-touchscreen readers down at "clearance" prices over the last 2 weeks. (The $250 Literati going for $70, the $179 Aluratek Libre Pro now $99) By the end of Feb 2011, I suspect that non-touchscreen readers will be hard to find in stores.

I want a light, no frills, well-built, responsive, inexpensive ereader. A uni-tasker that does that one thing extremely well... Unfortunately, I'm in the very small minority. The only consumer segment where uni-taskers appear to thrive is in the kitchen.

[gmw]

I think it depends on what you use the device for. I bought my ereader to read novels. I never expected to do much annotation etc, I just wanted a reader that wouldn't get in the way of reading. To that end I was much more attracted to the simple and uncluttered interface of the Sony PRS-650 and believe I would have found a built-in keyboard quite distracting and the extra unnecessary size annoying. Most of my choice was based on other factors (not wanting wireless, not wanting to be tied to Amazon, wanting epub support, liking the sturdy build of the Sony, etc), the touch screen was barely a consideration ... but do I think the touch-screen feature allows the device to be as visually and physically simple as possible and makes the Sony very good as an ebook reader. I have grown to like double-tapping on a word to see in the dictionary, but don't rely on it enough to want to pay specifically for that feature.

I recognised I was paying a premium for the Sony hardware but didn't think about it being related to the touch-screen - I believed the premium was there because I was not going to be tied to a particular book-store. So it was not touch, per se, for which I was paying a premium - but obviously touch has had an impact on making the device more attractive to me.

[GreenMonkey]

I've been using a Nook color and my e-ink Nook for the last couple of weeks.

I'm not answering on an LCD reader - because simply I prefer an e-ink device for reading. But fingerprints drive me crazy on LCDs.

On e-ink, I don't think my Nook really gets fingerprints, per se, at least, they're not visible. I'd love a Sony 650 or the like, but they're not worth the price premium to me.

I'd probably disable page turning via touch though - I found myself accidentally turning pages on my NC when putting it down, or when the kids distract me, or whatever. Can you do that? I like the buttons much better.

But the touch would be nice for selecting books, navigating menus, etc on an e-ink device.

[clanelliott]

I have only had my ebook for 2 days, but i like the idea of black on white and no finger prints on my screen please.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

I've been using a Nook color and my e-ink Nook for the last couple of weeks.

I'm not answering on an LCD reader - because simply I prefer an e-ink device for reading. But fingerprints drive me crazy on LCDs.

On e-ink, I don't think my Nook really gets fingerprints, per se, at least, they're not visible. I'd love a Sony 650 or the like, but they're not worth the price premium to me.

I'd probably disable page turning via touch though - I found myself accidentally turning pages on my NC when putting it down, or when the kids distract me, or whatever. Can you do that? I like the buttons much better.

But the touch would be nice for selecting books, navigating menus, etc on an e-ink device.

I never use the touchscreen to go to a next page (or I should say: almost never). I prefer buttons for that.

And about fingerprints, I prefer using a stylus to touch my screens. Not that you see fingerprints (because you really have to look closely to see them!), but because I have a better control using a pointy stylus, instead of these wide fingertips...

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

... I'd love a Sony 650 ...
I'd probably disable page turning via touch though ... Can you do that? ...

Its touch-screen can't be disabled, but it has buttons for page turning, so either can be used.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I never use the touchscreen to go to a next page (or I should say: almost never). I prefer buttons for that.

And about fingerprints, I prefer using a stylus to touch my screens. Not that you see fingerprints (because you really have to look closely to see them!), but because I have a better control using a pointy stylus, instead of these wide fingertips...

I need the stylus for dictionary lookups and footnotes; for page turns, I usually swipe the screen, but not always, especially if I'm skimming through a section, where it's easier to keep on clickin' than make swiping motions. I use my finger for almost all menu options.

[starrlamia]

i love my 650 touch screen, but i do use dictionary and note taking a lot. If I just wanted a reader for reading novels or non-school related things I could see how a touch screen would be unneccessary.
As for the OP question, it would really depend on the device and the features, but i would probably do an extra 50 or so.

[Jack Tingle]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I read a lot of non-fiction ... how do folks without touchscreens do footnotes? I use that feature a lot more than the occasional dictionary lookup.

Generally with the D-pad. Non-touchscreen devices usually have some kind of pointing device that jumps from hyperlink-to-hyperlink. Various devices differ.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by italianReader

You should consider also the Wacom touchscreen. No fingerprints. And no glare.

You can have the same thing with the IR touchscreen used by Sony if all you use is the stylus. So really, these days there is no advantage to a Wacom under the eink screen. The IR gives you the option of q stylus or your finger. So you get to choose how you want to touch the screen.

[italianReader]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can have the same thing with the IR touchscreen used by Sony if all you use is the stylus. So really, these days there is no advantage to a Wacom under the eink screen. The IR gives you the option of q stylus or your finger. So you get to choose how you want to touch the screen.

Do the sony 350, 650 and 950 have this kind of touchscreen? Is it totally without (added) glare?

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by italianReader

Do the sony 350, 650 and 950 have this kind of touchscreen? Is it totally without (added) glare?

Yes, the Sony n50s use a touch-screen based on IR technolgy.
The screen is E Ink Vizplex Pearl.
It is not backlit; it relies on ambient lighting.
There is no glare, because the screen surface is not glossy.
The only time you would see any glare, is if you held the reader at a weird angle not used for reading.
Fingerprints are not seen, because the surface is not glossy.
The only time you would see any fingerprints, is if you held the reader at a weird angle not used for reading.
I use a PRS-650 and mostly use my finger for page turning and navigation, but a stylus is provided.
I am extremely happy with my Sony.
I particularly like being able to double-tap on a word, to look it up in the dictionary.
I find the menu system to be perfectly intuitive.
The Sony seems well-built and feel like it will last a long time.
I find the battery life of weeks between charges very convenient.
I have the Sony case with light, which I find very practical.
The light has a switch that enables you to switch between two levels of intensity.
When toggling the switch no longer changes intensity, it's time to replace the single AAA battery.

[SaraD]

I am also in the "I always thought touchscreen was silly/useless/just adds cost until I encountered the Sony" camp. When I first tried a store model of the 600 I was sold on the concept, but really didn't like the fuzzy screen so I waited yet another year hoping for something better. I nearly bought the Pocketbook 302 and really like the big page turn buttons on the sides of the device, but it was more $ than I was willing to spend. After reading a Terry Pratchett Discworld book with the tiny footnote links that I could only tap easily with the stylus I would never purchase a non-touchscreen reader. Much of my page turning for now is with the buttons. Or I use a knuckle instead of a fingertip to use the touchcreen to swipe a page turn whch oddly works better for me.

How much extra would I pay for it? I am not sure. Part of the reason I finally did buy a 650 was that it had the touchscreen without the wifi or 3G connectivity and the beautiful Pearl e-ink screen. And it is independent of any bookstore like Amazon or B&N. That combination made me willing to pay the extra over the much less expensive units.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by SaraD

And it is independent of any bookstore like Amazon or B&N. That combination made me willing to pay the extra over the much less expensive units.

Isn't there a sony bookstore?

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Isn't there a sony bookstore?

Yes, there is, but you can buy with it, you don't have to.

One hour or so ago I bought Lolita by Nabokov there. $8 instead of $ 13 at Amazon. So you pay more for the device but less for the books.