Publishers need to push ebook reader adoption

[Sagacity]

Originally Posted by Alisa

...Remember when those Mp3 were just for us geek early-adopters? Now who doesn't have one? I bet you within a week of me buying an e-ink reader, we'll have two.

Right!
And maybe I don't need a reader anymore....

The Mp3 has become an integrated part of most mobile phones (or PDA's), as well as the Video: iPhones show us the way.

And www.polymervision.com is going to blow 9" big screen 'roll-ups' into mobile phones january 2008.

This I must have!

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by nekokami

I think when US$300 will get you a multifunction tablet with a reflective bistable screen at about the size of the iLiad, that does what the iLiad does, but in color at video refresh rates (and with a better file manager/browser), they'll fly off the shelves. People will use them for ebook reading, and for tons of other things as well. That will probably be when the ebook market goes mainstream.

Agreed: Such a device could likely replace the computer for a lot of people, storing their information, giving them internet access, and being highly portable. Making it easy to "clip and save" online material will, I think, be one of the "killer apps" that will make them fly.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by Sagacity

And www.polymervision.com is going to blow 9" big screen 'roll-ups' into mobile phones january 2008.

This is me, not holding my breath.

I don't think they're anywhere near close to getting a 9 incher working yet -- they still don't have the 5 inch one all that deployed.

[Goshzilla]

As far as basic scientific and mathematic textbooks go, we need bigger screens, at least A4 sized(some science publications might want the screens wider than 8 inches) and in greyscale not monochromatic. For things like chemstry, physics, any of the analytical sciences color is desirable, it makes graph readings easier when line plots are seperated by color without having to remove two or more sets of data out of context.

Also the formats are a problem too. If this is going to be a textbook replacement, I'd like for these ebook readers to be able to read LaTeX DVI and PostScript files without any file conversions. There have been several courses I have taken over the years when teachers gave out lecture notes written in PS files, it would be nice if they were readable on a portable reader without any scaling done.
us
Price, the price of the reader needs to drop to something that resembles a textbook price(none of the readers except the out of production eBookwise 1150 match it). Possibly have an offer deal at university bookstores. Like purchase an ebook reader and get 50% off the first digital textbook offered through the camp bookstore.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sagacity

MaggieScratch Wrote:

--- I agree that the reader can be more expensive *if* the books are affordably priced.* ---

I'll have to agree with this. I bought my Sony Reader to read ebooks. I know there are a lot of free good ebooks available. but one thing I do expect is to be able to purchase an ebook and pay less then I would for the same dead tree book. If the books are as expensive as the dead tree book then you will find a lot of people not wanting to spend the money on a reader and just keep on purchasing the the dead tree editions.

I mean: Who's is buying a mobile phone just to make phonecalls?

I am and so is my wife. So are my parents. And So are her parents.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by nekokami

I must be one of the only people in the developed world who doesn't use SMS....

I think SMS should go away forever. Can't stand it. Won't use it.

[JSWolf]

The people I see an ebook reader being great for are the ones I see on the public transport sitting or standing holding these great big heavy hardback books and reading them. I bet they'd love how much easier it would be to read that same book on a Sony PRS-505 then to have to lug around that monster of a book and then have to hold it while reading. It's just easier to hold the reader and read without getting some sort of strain from the hardback. If Sony got the word out to these people, they might find more sales.

[astra]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've sent about three SMS messages in my entire life, Neko . Most teenagers in this country seem to send dozens a day, because they're much cheaper than phone calls.

Aaah. Zero over here

I prefer emails.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by Goshzilla

Also the formats are a problem too. If this is going to be a textbook replacement, I'd like for these ebook readers to be able to read LaTeX DVI and PostScript files without any file conversions. There have been several courses I have taken over the years when teachers gave out lecture notes written in PS files, it would be nice if they were readable on a portable reader without any scaling done.

Really? Your instructors give out raw PS files? I haven't seen those in years. Everyone I know converts them to PDF to save space. I strongly agree with you on the .dvi file, though.

[jasonkchapman]

Originally Posted by nekokami

I must be one of the only people in the developed world who doesn't use SMS....

No, you're not. I've got SMS blocked on my account. I couldn't send or receive one if I had to.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by jasonkchapman

No, you're not. I've got SMS blocked on my account. I couldn't send or receive one if I had to.

You guys sound like a lot of the technophobes who shun e-books! Lots of people SMS constantly, but it's not like it's a requirement. SMS can still be useful for quick messages when phone conversations are either impractical or wasteful. I use SMS, but no more than 5 messages a month max, when it's useful to me... and that's it.

E-book users (and print book detractors) can take the same cue: You don't have to shut out a technology completely, just be judicious in its use.

[HarryT]

I'm not against it Steve, just don't have a use for it personally. I'm sure that if I had a family (I'm single) I'd use it a lot more to keep in touch.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

The impression I get is that most SMS'ing goes on not between family members, but with friends. So being single is no excuse!

Seriously, if you don't need it, you don't. I'm not jumping on anybody's case over not using SMS... just cautioning against attacking it, just because so many people seem to abuse it (like the family in the recent commercials from one provider, don't ask me which). It's just a tool. Like the cellphone camera on my Razr that I never use.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

You guys sound like a lot of the technophobes who shun e-books! Lots of people SMS constantly, but it's not like it's a requirement. SMS can still be useful for quick messages when phone conversations are either impractical or wasteful. I use SMS, but no more than 5 messages a month max, when it's useful to me... and that's it.

E-book users (and print book detractors) can take the same cue: You don't have to shut out a technology completely, just be judicious in its use.

I'm not getting the SMS hate, either. I only use it a few times a month myself but it's very handy. When everyone is out and meeting up it's way easier to text someone an address than call them and have them write it down. When I'm going to the store and my husband has a list of things he wants, I'd rather have him text it to me. It's just so much more efficient. I know people get annoyed at texting slang and seeing kids hunched over their little phone screens thumbing furiously all the time. Personally I'd rather see that than have to actually listen to their conversations.

[jasonkchapman]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Seriously, if you don't need it, you don't. I'm not jumping on anybody's case over not using SMS... just cautioning against attacking it, just because so many people seem to abuse it (like the family in the recent commercials from one provider, don't ask me which). It's just a tool. Like the cellphone camera on my Razr that I never use.

I hope I didn't sound like I was attacking it. I simply have no use for it. If I need to tell someone something, it's either worth the effort of a phone call or it's not. When I set up my account (ages ago) and was told that I had to pay for any messages I received, whether I wanted it or not, I simply said "No, thank you." I've never had enough interest in it to make it worth unblocking it.