How much is a touchscreen worth?

italianReader · 12-25-2010, 05:34 PM

In other words...how much would you pay to add a touchscreen to your e-reader or how much discount do you think it's reasonable between a touchscreen model and a non-touchscreen one?

Just to give the question a little bit more context:

I'm going to buy a pocketboock 90x and I'm trying to evaluate if I should go with the 902 model (no touchscreen, no 3G) or the 903 (touchscreen, 3G).
I know I will never use the 3G, and so I'm trying to evaluate what can be a "right" price for the touchscreen feature. In this particular case the price difference is 70€ (329€ vs 399€).
Personally I'm wavering between the 2 models but I think I will buy the 902.

tao · 12-25-2010, 05:41 PM

I use both Sony PRS-505 and Kindle 3G Wi-Fi. In my opinion, touch screen is not necessary at all for eBook readers.

I suppose you need the touch screen for note-taking. For me, a pencil and a pad of paper answered pretty well in that regard. Other than that, no need for touch screen at all.

Touch screen is for iPads, but, an iPad is not an eBook reader, isn't it?

kindlekitten · 12-25-2010, 05:43 PM

-0-. in fact I would run screaming from any touch screen ereading device

Penforhire · 12-25-2010, 05:49 PM

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.

italianReader · 12-25-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tao

I use both Sony PRS-505 and Kindle 3G Wi-Fi. In my opinion, touch screen is not necessary at all for eBook readers.

I suppose you need the touch screen for note-taking. For me, a pencil and a pad of paper answered pretty well in that regard. Other than that, no need for touch screen at all.

Touch screen is for iPads, but, an iPad is not an eBook reader, isn't it?

To be honest I find it pretty useful also with the dictionary and few other things. On the other side I have to admit that I have never had an e-reader without touchscreen so i can't make a real comparison.

Sydney's Mom · 12-25-2010, 07:01 PM

I would subtract $100 for a touchscreen. I can't stand the fingerprints! I have a 13 year-old whose fingers are never clean - can you imagine fingerprints made while eating Cheetos?

tech_au · 12-25-2010, 07:16 PM

I was firmly in the "why do I want to buy a reader with a stupid touchscreen I don't need" camp until I bought the Sony 650 and now I regard it as a useful feature for certain functionality such as dictionary lookup of words you don't understand whilst reading and selecting options from the menus. Its a little unnecessary for turning pages though.

NNolan · 12-25-2010, 07:36 PM

I won't buy another reader without a touchscreen; I like the implementation of touch on the Alex and the new Sonys that much. I've given up using my Kindle in favor of the K4* apps on my iThings because the touchscreens are more comfortable for me to use.

As far as how much extra I'm willing to spend to get a touchscreen...if Amazon made a touchscreen WiFi Kindle I'd be willing to pay another $50 to $100 over the button version.

DarkRoast · 12-25-2010, 08:14 PM

Love the Sony 650 touch screen. It was one of the things I preferred about it over the Kindle. I think it makes it a much more interactive, tactile and personal experience.

JSWolf · 12-25-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I would subtract $100 for a touchscreen. I can't stand the fingerprints! I have a 13 year-old whose fingers are never clean - can you imagine fingerprints made while eating Cheetos?

Actually, you don't get much in the way of noticeable fingerprints on the 650. Take your current K3 and touch the screen. Swipe on the screen. Tap the screen. You will see you don't really see the fingerprints.

JSWolf · 12-25-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech_au

I was firmly in the "why do I want to buy a reader with a stupid touchscreen I don't need" camp until I bought the Sony 650 and now I regard it as a useful feature for certain functionality such as dictionary lookup of words you don't understand whilst reading and selecting options from the menus. Its a little unnecessary for turning pages though.

Just wait. When the non-touch screen readers have worn out buttons, the touch screens will still work.

dengar · 12-25-2010, 10:00 PM

I dont touch the pages on my paper books when I read. Why would I want to touch the screen on my e-reader?

Marcy · 12-25-2010, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dengar

I dont touch the pages on my paper books when I read. Why would I want to touch the screen on my e-reader?

Really? Do the pages turn themselves when the time is right? Is it some sort of psychic command? I'd like a pbook like that.

-Marcy

tech_au · 12-26-2010, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

Really? Do the pages turn themselves when the time is right? Is it some sort of psychic command? I'd like a pbook like that.

-Marcy

Now that most readers are getting a wireless connection it won't be too long before you'll be able to do a Vulcan mind-meld and command the pages to turn

italianReader · 12-26-2010, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I would subtract $100 for a touchscreen. I can't stand the fingerprints! I have a 13 year-old whose fingers are never clean - can you imagine fingerprints made while eating Cheetos?

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

12-25-2010, 05:34 PM	#1
italianReader Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 340 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: onyx boox 60	How much is a touchscreen worth? In other words...how much would you pay to add a touchscreen to your e-reader or how much discount do you think it's reasonable between a touchscreen model and a non-touchscreen one? Just to give the question a little bit more context: I'm going to buy a pocketboock 90x and I'm trying to evaluate if I should go with the 902 model (no touchscreen, no 3G) or the 903 (touchscreen, 3G). I know I will never use the 3G, and so I'm trying to evaluate what can be a "right" price for the touchscreen feature. In this particular case the price difference is 70€ (329€ vs 399€). Personally I'm wavering between the 2 models but I think I will buy the 902. Last edited by poohbear_nc; 12-26-2010 at 07:31 PM. Reason: fixed typo

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12-25-2010, 05:41 PM	#2
tao Book Lover Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New York City Device: Sony PRS-505; Kindle 3	I use both Sony PRS-505 and Kindle 3G Wi-Fi. In my opinion, touch screen is not necessary at all for eBook readers. I suppose you need the touch screen for note-taking. For me, a pencil and a pad of paper answered pretty well in that regard. Other than that, no need for touch screen at all. Touch screen is for iPads, but, an iPad is not an eBook reader, isn't it?

12-25-2010, 05:43 PM	#3
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	-0-. in fact I would run screaming from any touch screen ereading device

12-25-2010, 05:49 PM	#4
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	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.

12-25-2010, 07:01 PM	#6
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,895 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I would subtract $100 for a touchscreen. I can't stand the fingerprints! I have a 13 year-old whose fingers are never clean - can you imagine fingerprints made while eating Cheetos?

12-25-2010, 07:16 PM	#7
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 516 Karma: 4056 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650	I was firmly in the "why do I want to buy a reader with a stupid touchscreen I don't need" camp until I bought the Sony 650 and now I regard it as a useful feature for certain functionality such as dictionary lookup of words you don't understand whilst reading and selecting options from the menus. Its a little unnecessary for turning pages though.

12-25-2010, 07:36 PM	#8
NNolan Compulsive Gadget Geek Posts: 395 Karma: 4219324 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Almost Canada Device: One of each, and two in some cases	I won't buy another reader without a touchscreen; I like the implementation of touch on the Alex and the new Sonys that much. I've given up using my Kindle in favor of the K4* apps on my iThings because the touchscreens are more comfortable for me to use. As far as how much extra I'm willing to spend to get a touchscreen...if Amazon made a touchscreen WiFi Kindle I'd be willing to pay another $50 to $100 over the button version.

12-25-2010, 08:14 PM	#9
DarkRoast Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 55272 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Australia Device: Sony Reader 650	Love the Sony 650 touch screen. It was one of the things I preferred about it over the Kindle. I think it makes it a much more interactive, tactile and personal experience.

12-25-2010, 10:00 PM	#12
dengar Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 2810 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: PW2, K3, Ipad 4, Kindle Fire	I dont touch the pages on my paper books when I read. Why would I want to touch the screen on my e-reader?

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