MSNBC Hates the Nook ... and ebook readers in general

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by Alisa

Actually, I'm an avid reader and I would prefer a tablet to a reader if it could go a whole day on a charge, come in at about a pound, and not be a hand-held furnace. That and the screen would, of course, have to be as easy on the eyes as e-ink and daylight readable.

This.

I loved reading on a PDA; I stopped because I got tired of the batteries dying mid-book. E-ink is nice, but I can't say I'd particularly miss it; I avoid laptop-ish devices because of size & battery life, not screen problems.

I'd much prefer to read on something that lets me take notes (and not just annotations--I'd feel really weird marking up my ebooks with "Fanfic idea: Daryl & Zeb planning prison escape. Get Morse code font.") Wouldn't mind having an address book & schedule, too. And a couple of games for in between books would also be nice.

I don't need those, but I'd certainly use them if they were available with the long battery life in a hand-held device.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by clarknova

Really? I mean, REALLY? "Advanced" and "dynamic reading" indeed.

I can't believe I wasted a CYOA joke on "skimming."

Anyway, of eInk's many shortcomings, I remain unconvinced that the slow refresh rate applies for reading (if you happen to have a very (very!) loose definition of reading, please substitute in "perusing") books.

If you don't actually read books but instead skim, browse, or reference passages in them, then yeah, perhaps eInk isn't for you.

It's not a simple matter of replacement. Linear reading is done along with nonlinear reading.

E-ink is suitable for slow, linear consumption. That's about it. Thankfully, the hardware bottleneck on the part of e-ink will be remedied within the next year or three, and the primary problems will then shift to interfacing and software/hardware design (if the latter aren't figured out by then).

[kjk]

Originally Posted by clarknova

If you don't actually read books but instead skim, browse, or reference passages in them, then yeah, perhaps eInk isn't for you.

But I do actually read books, and I speed read, and find the Sony's page refresh very distracting to how I read.

[dsvick]

I agree with everyone that says it is a personal choice so we should all just agree to disagree.

For me I can see a tablet replacing a reader, for it to have right form factor for me to be comfortable reading from it, it will then have the completely wrong form factor for me to enjoy, or find useful for, doing anything but the most casual of web surfing, emailing, or other computer type activities.

I dont need three devices (reader, cell phone, and laptop) that can all do the same things with different displays. With that being said though I'm sure there are a great many people out that feel the opposite.

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

... the reading in the tub bit is relaxing.

I can't just cant imagine sitting in the tub and feeling relaxed about holding my several hundred dollar, *electric*, reading device over a tub full of water

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by dsvick

I can't just cant imagine sitting in the tub and feeling relaxed about holding my several hundred dollar, *electric*, reading device over a tub full of water

just bathe in anhydrous dihydrogen monoxide and you will be golden...or at least clean and relaxed...and oh yeah, stick the reader in a ziploc or Aquapak, trust me the odds of getting hit by a bus tomorrow are greater than killing your reader, assuming one can make the connection here.

BTW, the reason so may love their tubs is they are relaxing. I miss owning a nice big claw foot tub. I have been know for hour long baths...just keep adding hot water and it's great.

[markbot]

I'd like to see this MSNBC reviewer try to read a 1000+ page book on the iPhone.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by markbot

I'd like to see this MSNBC reviewer try to read a 1000+ page book on the iPhone.

I've read many full length books on my iPhone-I quite enjoy it.

[Singapura]

I'm reading about 3 books per week on my iPhone without any issues. My problem was always that I couldn't bring enough books with me when I was travelling. I just read too fast. I would have finished a book before the plane arrived and for the rest of the trip this would be dead weight in my luggage. My iPhone allows me to bring as many books as I want and reading with Stanza is a pleasure. I haven't tried an eInk screen yet but will certainly try it as soon as I can get my hands on one.

[Kat89447]

It's amazing to me that people just can't wrap their head around the fact that people would buy anything that is not just a single intent device or that its for reading. People want a device that does it all. If you read alot then you prefer the eink display, but the fact that it is no different to need an extra light source just like an actual book seems to really bug some people. I use to work in an eye doctors office and it is amazing how many people had to get glasses because of the back light issue of being on computers and cell phones, eye fatigue is a huge issue. The same people that think nothing of spending $300 on a game system or the newest laptop or phone, just can't imagine spending that on something to read on. Considering the biggest group of these people that seem to snivel about it are also people that rely on readers and are writers of one thing or another just blows my mind. Wonder how many of these same people will be pushing the greatness of ereaders in a couple of years and have these articles come back to bite them.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by Kat89447

It's amazing to me that people just can't wrap their head around the fact that people would buy anything that is not just a single intent device or that its for reading. People want a device that does it all. If you read alot then you prefer the eink display, but the fact that it is no different to need an extra light source just like an actual book seems to really bug some people. I use to work in an eye doctors office and it is amazing how many people had to get glasses because of the back light issue of being on computers and cell phones, eye fatigue is a huge issue. The same people that think nothing of spending $300 on a game system or the newest laptop or phone, just can't imagine spending that on something to read on. Considering the biggest group of these people that seem to snivel about it are also people that rely on readers and are writers of one thing or another just blows my mind. Wonder how many of these same people will be pushing the greatness of ereaders in a couple of years and have these articles come back to bite them.

I read a lot and I don't prefer e-ink. I like reflective surfaces in general on account of battery life and daylight readability (I don't really care to read in the dark), but if I have an LCD and an e-ink device in front of me and both are on and ready to go and I needn't worry about batteries, I'll go with the LCD as long as the backlight plays well with the ambient light.