"Real" ereaders V Multi-function tablets

TGS · 01-07-2013, 03:06 AM

I've always been a bit uncomfortable at advertising that relies on telling the viewer how rubbish the competition is...and makes stuff up to prove its point.

Lynx-lynx · 01-07-2013, 03:25 AM

It's very clever - but unfortunately it was posted onto the Forum not too long ago.

It makes an excellent point though.

Fluribus · 01-07-2013, 04:36 AM

If anything, that ad underplays the situation. I was attacked by a large and angry tiger when I tried to read on a tablet. Never again!

fjtorres · 01-07-2013, 07:32 AM

The issue isn't the tablet competition or distractions, it is that the software on their device is just plain B-A-D.
But when you can't say something good about your product, you have to say bad things about the competition. It worked just fine for Apple.

Ripplinger · 01-07-2013, 07:35 AM

It works in politics, why wouldn't you expect other areas of advertising to use the same tactic? And yes, I thought it was pretty funny too and got the point across very well.

fjtorres · 01-07-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

It works in politics, why wouldn't you expect other areas of advertising to use the same tactic?

Oh, it works.
But it's depressing to even think why it works.
Especially on a monday morning in early january...

Isn't there a video of politicians drowning in concrete somewhere?

JD Gumby · 01-07-2013, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The issue isn't the tablet competition or distractions, it is that the software on their device is just plain B-A-D.
But when you can't say something good about your product, you have to say bad things about the competition. It worked just fine for Apple.

*shrug* It's just a more humorous (hmm, wonder why that's not "humourous" in Canadian/Brit spelling?) variation on the old Kindle commercials. Big whoop.

Sregener · 01-07-2013, 03:22 PM

Having experienced almost every one of those "problems" with my tablet (the sole exception being that I've never been attacked by a cat while reading), I'd say it makes a good point about how eInk is a different/better technology when what you want/need to do is just read.

JSWolf · 01-07-2013, 03:52 PM

I think some of you are missing the point of the video. Part of the point of the video is that when you have a multifunction device like a tablet, you can get distracted from reading. But when you have a Reader, what you mainly do is read.

CommonReader · 01-07-2013, 04:20 PM

Strangely enough for me it usually isn't the device that's distracting. It's rather some woman in the next seat yakking into her phone about her relationship issues, some guy yelling into his phone that he wants to have his meeting rescheduled, the train driver announcing that we are going to be late because there's a slower train in front of us etc. etc. For that reason it is occasionally fine if you have a reader that can drown out these distractions with music and I am glad that my PRS-650 still has that function. Though, if the distraction happens to be the shapely legs of the girl in the seat across the aisle that's not helping either.
Anyway, a tablet does have advantages for reading newspapers or books with many (colour) graphics, e.g. guide books.

QuantumIguana · 01-07-2013, 04:54 PM

The tablet doesn't force you to play Angry Birds. I suppose if you're really addicted and can't help yourself, a dedicated e-reader might make sense. I have a dedicated e-reader, but not because I think a tablet would force me to play games.

BWinmill · 01-07-2013, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

The tablet doesn't force you to play Angry Birds. I suppose if you're really addicted and can't help yourself, a dedicated e-reader might make sense. I have a dedicated e-reader, but not because I think a tablet would force me to play games.

Notifications would be a bigger distraction since they can pop up while reading, breaking the reader's concentration and perhaps enticing them to do something else. Angry Birds can be left in the background, or even not installed. Notifications can be disabled, but that usually requires more technical knowledge on the user's part (sad but true).

JD Gumby · 01-07-2013, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sregener

Having experienced almost every one of those "problems" with my tablet (the sole exception being that I've never been attacked by a cat while reading)

Ah, you are obviously not a cat slave. Lucky bastard. :P (excuse me, the Master wants its din-din...

)

Daniel Jones · 01-08-2013, 01:47 AM

Hey TGS
If you are advertising for US and other big smartphone markets try to target audience that uses tablets and smartphones instead of eReaders devices. People here in US prefer to have tabs more instead of specific eBook reading devices.

cromag · 01-08-2013, 10:36 AM

Ummm ... I'm in the US, and I much prefer reading on my ereader to my tablet.

01-07-2013, 03:06 AM	#1
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	"Real" ereaders V Multi-function tablets I've always been a bit uncomfortable at advertising that relies on telling the viewer how rubbish the competition is...and makes stuff up to prove its point. Last edited by TGS; 01-07-2013 at 03:11 AM.

01-07-2013, 07:35 AM	#5
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	It works in politics, why wouldn't you expect other areas of advertising to use the same tactic? And yes, I thought it was pretty funny too and got the point across very well. Last edited by Ripplinger; 01-07-2013 at 07:38 AM.

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01-07-2013, 03:25 AM	#2
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,113 Karma: 92523791 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	It's very clever - but unfortunately it was posted onto the Forum not too long ago. It makes an excellent point though.

01-07-2013, 04:36 AM	#3
Fluribus Guru Posts: 891 Karma: 8893661 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	If anything, that ad underplays the situation. I was attacked by a large and angry tiger when I tried to read on a tablet. Never again!

01-07-2013, 07:32 AM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	The issue isn't the tablet competition or distractions, it is that the software on their device is just plain B-A-D. But when you can't say something good about your product, you have to say bad things about the competition. It worked just fine for Apple.

01-07-2013, 03:22 PM	#8
Sregener Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 1664052 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 4NT	Having experienced almost every one of those "problems" with my tablet (the sole exception being that I've never been attacked by a cat while reading), I'd say it makes a good point about how eInk is a different/better technology when what you want/need to do is just read.

01-07-2013, 03:52 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,820 Karma: 143095220 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I think some of you are missing the point of the video. Part of the point of the video is that when you have a multifunction device like a tablet, you can get distracted from reading. But when you have a Reader, what you mainly do is read.

01-07-2013, 04:20 PM	#10
CommonReader Fanatic Posts: 528 Karma: 2530000 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-T3, PRS-650, Vaio Tap 11, iPad Mini	Strangely enough for me it usually isn't the device that's distracting. It's rather some woman in the next seat yakking into her phone about her relationship issues, some guy yelling into his phone that he wants to have his meeting rescheduled, the train driver announcing that we are going to be late because there's a slower train in front of us etc. etc. For that reason it is occasionally fine if you have a reader that can drown out these distractions with music and I am glad that my PRS-650 still has that function. Though, if the distraction happens to be the shapely legs of the girl in the seat across the aisle that's not helping either. Anyway, a tablet does have advantages for reading newspapers or books with many (colour) graphics, e.g. guide books.

01-07-2013, 04:54 PM	#11
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	The tablet doesn't force you to play Angry Birds. I suppose if you're really addicted and can't help yourself, a dedicated e-reader might make sense. I have a dedicated e-reader, but not because I think a tablet would force me to play games.

01-08-2013, 01:47 AM	#14
Daniel Jones Nameless Being	Hey TGS If you are advertising for US and other big smartphone markets try to target audience that uses tablets and smartphones instead of eReaders devices. People here in US prefer to have tabs more instead of specific eBook reading devices.

01-08-2013, 10:36 AM	#15
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 25,942 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Ummm ... I'm in the US, and I much prefer reading on my ereader to my tablet.

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