How much is a touchscreen worth?

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Because you could say the same thing about any of the major bookstores but you specifically chose to highlight Amazon. They all use DRM. We know they all use DRM and why they use DRM. So why pin it on Amazon? Should they risk their sale of ebooks by saying that they won't sell books with DRM when no one else is doing the same thing?

It is easy enough to say "all of the ebook stores" instead of "companies like Amazon". Heck "all of the ebook stores" even takes fewer letters, easier to type, and doesn't call out one of the book stores when they are all responsible.

Not all e-book stores sell books with DRM. Some e-book stores only sell DRM-free e-books. For example BeWrite Books.

[ProfCrash]

OK all the major ebook stores. (wink)

Sorry, I am a bit hyper sensitive to some of these things. It seems to me that Amazon is usually the target even when the same practices are used by the vast majority of their competitors.

I would firmly support all of the book stores selling books without DRM. It would make life easier on folks and I don't think that DRM does what it is suppose to do, protect an authors work.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I don't think that DRM does what it is suppose to do, protect an authors work.

I don't think it is supposed to protect the authors work.

When I buy a book, I am free to lend it to everyone I know and even sell it after a while and the new owner can do likewise.

DRM restricts the book to the use of one person only.

If it were to protect the authors work, they'd sell each ebook with a water mark. This way one were able to lend it out, but if it were spread around in hundreds of copies one were liable.

It is just a trick to sell more. Nothing else.

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

OK all the major ebook stores. (wink)

Sorry, I am a bit hyper sensitive to some of these things. It seems to me that Amazon is usually the target even when the same practices are used by the vast majority of their competitors.

I would firmly support all of the book stores selling books without DRM. It would make life easier on folks and I don't think that DRM does what it is suppose to do, protect an authors work.

No problem, I understand. Thanks for being gracious enough to apologise!

Just as the Kindle has become synonymous with e-book reader, so Amazon has become synonymous with e-book seller.

I don't know whether anyone has yet compiled a credible list all the e-book stores that sell e-books with DRM, plus all the ones that sell e-books without DRM, worldwide - not just North America. Wikipedia?

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

I don't think it is supposed to protect the authors work.

When I buy a book, I am free to lend it to everyone I know and even sell it after a while and the new owner can do likewise.

DRM restricts the book to the use of one person only.

If it were to protect the authors work, they'd sell each ebook with a water mark. This way one were able to lend it out, but if it were spread around in hundreds of copies one were liable.

It is just a trick to sell more. Nothing else.

DRM does not restrict the book to one person or even one reader. I share an account with my Mom, she can read any book I have on my Kindle at the same time I am reading said book. Most of the books on my Kindle can be read by up to 6 people at the same time if they share my account.

BN and Amazon allow lending now, yes it is limited and a bit silly, but there is another person who can read a book that I have on my Kindle.

It really doesn't matter what the Publishers think that DRM is accomplishing because it is easy enough to remove the DRM and do what you want with the book.

And I'll stop going off topic...

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

DRM does not restrict the book to one person or even one reader. I share an account with my Mom, she can read any book I have on my Kindle at the same time I am reading said book. Most of the books on my Kindle can be read by up to 6 people at the same time if they share my account.

BN and Amazon allow lending now, yes it is limited and a bit silly, but there is another person who can read a book that I have on my Kindle.

It really doesn't matter what the Publishers think that DRM is accomplishing because it is easy enough to remove the DRM and do what you want with the book.

And I'll stop going off topic...

Hm, but you have to share passwords for ADE or you have to have the same device, meaning to be both customers at the same shop.

That is not lending out in my book. That is being allowed to show you mine to the members of my club. For example I am not able/allowed to lend you my book which I bought for my Sony for you to read on your kindle. But if it were a paperbook it wouldn't matter if you are an Amazon customer and I bought it at Borders or somewhere.

No, there is a big difference and I do not want to talk about how to circumvent it.

[SaraD]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Isn't there a sony bookstore?

Yes, there is a Sony bookstore, but there is no direct link set up the way that B&N and Amazon do with their readers. Of course the lack of wifi or 3G would make that rather difficult to do. The wifi hardware adds little weight, but the 3G hardware adds a noticeable amount.

The first thing I do with a new computer is reformat it to be rid of all the sampler stuff that is preloaded. I don't like the preloaded apps that my Droid came with that cannot be deleted unless I root the phone. Since that is a riskier prospect than reformatting a computer I don't do it. I see bookstore sponsored e-book readers much the same as my Droid and prefer not go that way.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Hm, but you have to share passwords for ADE or you have to have the same device, meaning to be both customers at the same shop.

That is not lending out in my book. That is being allowed to show you mine to the members of my club. For example I am not able/allowed to lend you my book which I bought for my Sony for you to read on your kindle. But if it were a paperbook it wouldn't matter if you are an Amazon customer and I bought it at Borders or somewhere.

No, there is a big difference and I do not want to talk about how to circumvent it.

Kindle users don't use ADE. Once you are on an account you have complete access to the accounts archive and simply download the book. If I want to lend a book to a friend I can add them to my Kindle account, put the book or books they want on their Kindle, and deregister them from my account. They can read the book at their leisure. When they are done with the book, they delete it and it is gone from their Kindle.

Obviously sharing across devices is possible although potentially illegal. That is why my family is a Kindle family. It is easy for us to share books with each other, the same way we would with a paper book.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Kindle users don't use ADE.

I know.

If you want to do the share thing with ADE you have to use the same passwords and that is a bit hefty.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Please show me where I said that you have to buy at Amazon!

Okay. Here's how the conversation went. SaraD wrote, in reference to her Sony:

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.

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Isn't there a sony bookstore?

Originally Posted by Poppaea

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

The clear meaning of this conversation is that using Sony's bookstore is something that you *can* do, while using Amazon or B&N's bookstore is something that you *have to* do. Using "but" distinguishes Sony's bookstore from Amazon's or B&N's, as does using italics to emphasize that the Sony store is optional. ["Can" and "have" were italicized in the original; it doesn't show up in the quoted text.]

If all you wanted to say was that the Sony store was optional like B&N's or Amazon's, why emphasize that the Sony store is different or suggest that the use of some other store is mandatory.

Please refrain to read what you like to read, but read what is written.
In case you still have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Please write what you mean.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

The clear meaning of this conversation is that using Sony's bookstore is something that you *can* do, while using Amazon or B&N's bookstore is something that you *have to* do. Using "but" distinguishes Sony's bookstore from Amazon's or B&N's, as does using italics to emphasize that the Sony store is optional. ["Can" and "have" were italicized in the original; it doesn't show up in the quoted text.]

If all you wanted to say was that the Sony store was optional like B&N's or Amazon's, why emphasize that the Sony store is different or suggest that the use of some other store is mandatory.



Please write what you mean.

I wrote what I meant. You can buy there but you don't have to. And I did not distinguish something or say anything against Amazon. SaraD paid more for her device to be able to buy whereever she wants to and I just made clear, yes there is a Sonystore and even though it is called Sony you don't have to buy there. On the contrary. Here in Germany it does not work unless you work around it. The Sony Library Reader gives you hints to four of the biggest E-Bookstores around here.

So it is the but that bothers you and makes you read into my post things I haven't said? Ok. I got news for you: English is my second language and over here in Germany one does not interpret things into a sentence, you sees what somebody says and if one is not sure, one asks!


I wrote what I meant. You can buy there but you don't have to. And I did not distinguish something or say anything against Amazon.

I do not know if it is due to English being my second language or what happened to my words in your brain, all I said is that there is a SonyStore and one likes to one can buy there or elsewhere.

What I really do not get is one thing: If Amazon is really such a great store why is it that everyone thinks one is bashing it when one makes just a remark about another store???? It is very obviously to be a sore spot, isn't it???

[Marcy]

The past couple of days I've had experiences that really made my touchscreen worth it. Worth anything.

1. I like to read while eating. Often messy food. I now keep a bamboo skewer in my PRS-650 case that I use to turn the pages when eating things like pizza. This way I don't have to get my reader or my stylus dirty/greasy, but can still turn the pages. Without the touchscreen I'd either have to skip the reading or get grease all over the page turn buttons.

2. It comes in very handy during a manicure. I always read during manicures, but hate the parts where I can't turn the pages because my fingers are wet with acetone or nail polish. Today I realized I can prop the reader on the table and lean down and turn the pages by swiping with my nose! I probably looked totally silly, but I didn't care! I doubt I could have pushed a page turn button the same way...

-Marcy

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by Marcy

... Today I realized I can prop the reader on the table and lean down and turn the pages by swiping with my nose! ...

There's an option in this poll https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=117246 that's almost fits!

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Marcy

The past couple of days I've had experiences that really made my touchscreen worth it. Worth anything.

1. I like to read while eating. Often messy food. I now keep a bamboo skewer in my PRS-650 case that I use to turn the pages when eating things like pizza. This way I don't have to get my reader or my stylus dirty/greasy, but can still turn the pages. Without the touchscreen I'd either have to skip the reading or get grease all over the page turn buttons.

2. It comes in very handy during a manicure. I always read during manicures, but hate the parts where I can't turn the pages because my fingers are wet with acetone or nail polish. Today I realized I can prop the reader on the table and lean down and turn the pages by swiping with my nose! I probably looked totally silly, but I didn't care! I doubt I could have pushed a page turn button the same way...

-Marcy

LOL

I use a napkin which does a fine job of keeping the page turn buttons clean. I understand what you are saying and I am glad that your system works for you.

I would love to have a picture of what other people in the salon thought as you turned pages with your nose. (grins)

[anabolina]

I was on the fence about touch-screen vs key navigation and went with the Sony 350 to a good extent because of the touchscreen. My cell phones and mp3 players have been touchscreen for the past 3-4 years and I wasn't sure I could get used to navigating primarily with buttons, lol. Still I tried to use the buttons, but they were a bit stiff so I've been using the screen and haven't had any problems. I'm not sure how much more it would be worth, but it can make the difference between buying one device and another.