Design an ideal book reader?

[folecr]

Is it appropriate to design an "ideal" book reader on these forums? Every reader I've seen today sucks (imho.)

I'd like to just list out every reasonable feature that I would like... combine it with other features that others would like and then have something like a list that hopefully Amazon, Apple, Sony, Acer or whoever could just take and make into a device. With some reasonable price ceiling.

Something like :

- $900 price point
- 300 dpi display
- 4 shades of gray
- 9" diagonal screen, 17:22 aspect ratio
- continuous display of text or *no-flicker* turning of pages
- micro-SD card supporting SDHC
- Wi-fi
- html support + basic web browser
- PDF display
- plain text display
- JPEG display
- PNG display
- Only basic buttons (ie no hardware keyboard)
- Bluetooth support for optional external wireless keyboard
- 10 hour battery life

I know... I know ... it seems ridiculous but I'd like to see what comes of it. Iff such a thread is appropriate.

[desertgrandma]

Remember that the "perfect" reader is relative.

Mine is perfect for me. I can read books on it, change the meta data, download books from Amazon off it, (if I choose to do so) and did I mention I can read books on it?

Its small enough to carry in a smallish purse, and large enough to read easily.

$900 price point? Who is this targeted for?

[desertgrandma]

folecr, Wecome to MobileRead!

Enjoy the ride.

[pilotbob]

I really think OLPC 2 is shooting for this but at a much lower price point... they were saying $100... but if they come in at $400 it would be awesome.

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

we spend a lot of time fantasizing er, designing our ideal device around here, so feel free. although, given your price point, i can tell already that your ideal device is not my ideal device. but design away ! go crazy.

[stoogeswoman]

How about $100 instead of $900? ;-)

I am very happy with my new ebookwise 1150. The only thing I would change on it are: 1) more books available to buy for it and 2) make the "page forward" button the bottom one instead of the top.

Other than that, no quibbles - it does exactly what I bought it to do: stores and lets me read books! :-)

[folecr]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

$900 price point? Who is this targeted for?

Me

Every thing I've read about the current generation of ebook readers seems to indicate that device manufacturers are reulctant to create a bigger-screened, more open reader because it will not bring them profits...

Since my ideal reader is going to let me save space in my cramped apartment and let me take all my books with me ... I for one am willing to pay this price for it.

[stoogeswoman]

How about $100 instead of $900?

I am very happy with my new ebookwise 1150 just as it is!

The only things I would change about it are: 1) more books available to buy for it and 2) make the "page forward" button the bottom one instead of the top.

Other than that, no quibbles - it does exactly what I bought it to do: stores and lets me read books!

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by folecr

Me

Every thing I've read about the current generation of ebook readers seems to indicate that device manufacturers are reulctant to create a bigger-screened, more open reader because it will not bring them profits...

Since my ideal reader is going to let me save space in my cramped apartment and let me take all my books with me ... I for one am willing to pay this price for it.

Seriously? Like laptops and computers, I think your dreams could be realized for far less money.......e-book readers are making huge strides quickly.

[folecr]

OK ... this may be somewhat dumb but I put in a poll with some basic options...

One of the things I want to see is what such a device would actually cost .. as opposed to a fantasy device that provides the world but costs $100...

OR worse yet is tied to one company's content.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by stoogeswoman

I am very happy with my new ebookwise 1150. The only thing I would change on it are: 1) more books available to buy for it and 2) make the "page forward" button the bottom one instead of the top.

you can modify that in the preferences.

Originally Posted by folecr

OK ... this may be somewhat dumb but I put in a poll with some basic options...

One of the things I want to see is what such a device would actually cost .. as opposed to a fantasy device that provides the world but costs $100...

OR worse yet is tied to one company's content.

i don't know how much it would cost but 900$ seems really high. i would not pay that much, mainly because i couldn't afford it. also, i voted for 5.5" screen because i don't want anything too big, however i think the current screens are actually 6" and that seems like a decent size. i don't know how much of a difference 0.5" would make.

[stoogeswoman]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

you can modify that in the preferences.

OMG, just figured it out - thank you!!

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by folecr

- 10 hour battery life

The majority of current e-ink ebook readers measure battery life in days and weeks. Why the big step backwards?

[folecr]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

The majority of current e-ink ebook readers measure battery life in days and weeks. Why the big step backwards?

yikes! I intended 10 days.

[folecr]

I mean ... subjectively I know what I want from a reader.

- I want it to be instant on
- I want the content to look exactly like paper
- I want to be able to flick through pages without getting a headache
- I want full text to be searchable
and
- I want it to hold my entire library : high res photos (encyclopaedia, photography books, reference books, comics,) plain text content (short stories and novels) and periodicals (hence the wireless.) BUT I'm willing to compromise on full-color (hence the 4-grayscale)

- I DON'T want annoying buttons on the device
- I DON'T want the flicker from e-paper
- I DON'T want to recharge every day. Every week should be fine.

Now, this really sounds like a fantasy.

I guess my original intent was to see how much of this can be satisfied in a real-world device.