Is the ereader dead?

[issybird]

For me, the issue is that an ereader makes a lousy audiobook player. Ereaders are too large and fragile to be used in most situations when I want to listen to an audiobook, i.e., when I'm on the move. I also suspect the controls aren't nearly so good and then there's the memory issue. So that being the case, to the extent that a native player on an ereader would add to the cost or bulk, I don't want one.

[GlenBarrington]

I wouldn't use an audio book feature on my eReader, but I don't mind if it is there for two reasons.

1. Maybe I'd like it if I had it, and who knows the future.
2. Other consumers might find it useful. I just don't want to pay anything extra for it.

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by WillAdams

I'd pay good money right now for an e-ink e-reader which had audiobook integration and would allow me to read a book when waiting somewhere, and would read the book to me when driving (say patched in through an aux cable).

Search ebay for a Kindle keyboard. It had an audio out, did tts and would play back mp3 files. So that's not really "audiobook integration" but it's not bad.

Otherwise the Oasis 2 will do Audible but then you need a bluetooth adapter and it's more expensive to begin with.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by kcladyz

Maybe a dumb question but is there a way to attach a speaker to the Oasis so can listen out loud? like a mini speaker that gets plugged into the power outlet

The original Oasis did work with a usb audio dongle that you could plug earphones or speaker into, like the PW3 or Voyage for the VoiceView Screen reader. But with subsequent updates that enabled Bluetooth and Audible, I don’t know if that still works.

[SleepyBob]

Originally Posted by Richwood

I cannot totally agree. Easy to buy or download ebooks in Kindle compatible formats from other vendors and either crossload them from your computer to the Kindle reader or use it's email address to send them to it via email. I have used both techniques to obtain books formy Kindles. I believe ebook sellers like Dreamspinner can be given the email address of a Kindle device and email all books purchased through them direct to your Kindle.

If you want to buy a niche ebook, yes. If you want to buy a mass market book, no.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by SleepyBob

If you want to buy a niche ebook, yes. If you want to buy a mass market book, no.

Nah...as long as you're friends with Alf, it's easy.

Shari

[SleepyBob]

Originally Posted by shalym

Nah...as long as you're friends with Alf, it's easy.

Shari

Umm, no. Richwood said "Easy to buy or download ebooks in Kindle compatible formats from other vendors". (emphasis added)

Whether you know Alf or not is irrelevant to that claim. Alf just makes dealing with the many cases where this isn't true a bit more tolerable.

[Alohamora]

Originally Posted by latepaul

Search ebay for a Kindle keyboard. It had an audio out, did tts and would play back mp3 files. So that's not really "audiobook integration" but it's not bad.

I wouldn't suggest the Kindle Keyboard for audio today. The audio functions are primative compared to what a Fire tablet can do. TTS on even the cheapest Fire is pretty good, far better than the old KK. If you don't need TTS, any old smart phone does Audible, Overdrive and music better than the KK.

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by Alohamora

I wouldn't suggest the Kindle Keyboard for audio today. The audio functions are primative compared to what a Fire tablet can do. TTS on even the cheapest Fire is pretty good, far better than the old KK. If you don't need TTS, any old smart phone does Audible, Overdrive and music better than the KK.

I'd agree except the person I was responding to specifically wanted an eink device.

[DarkScribe]

Originally Posted by Flaneurette

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/is-the-...view-5158.html

Not a chance in hell. Some people will always prefer a dedicated ePaper eReader in preference to a screen device. I have iPhones, iPads etc., but still prefer an eReader for in depth reading. Particularly those that have a low Blue Light night reading mode.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Most business owners would be dancing in the streets if they had a product that was owned by 19% or the public and 27% of affluent individuals. It's true that a considerably larger number of people own cell phones, but that's pretty much irrelevant. It doesn't really matter that fewer people want a dedicated e-reader, what matters is whether or not the share of the market that wants a dedicated e-reader is large enough to merit producing them. Only about 4% of cars in the US are manual transmissions, but that's still a large enough market to be worth targeting.

E-readers do have advantages. Battery life is a huge one. With a tablet, I need to plug it in each day. An e-reader, I can go for days. I prefer reading from e-ink than from an LCD tablet. (I'm still using a Kindle Keyboard) I'll read on my phone only if I have neither an e-reader or a tablet. Of course, not everyone shares my preferences, and that's fine. But there's enough of the market that does so that e-readers are probably going to stick around for a while. If they were really dying, I would think Amazon would stop producing new models.

This makes sense to me. As long as there are enough people buying eink readers, it doesn't matter if a larger number of people are doing their reading on phones or tablets.

P.S. After reading Quantumiguana's post the other day, I dreamed I had to get a new car and the only kind I could get had an automatic transmission. I was glad to wake up and realize it was only a dream and I still had my manual transmission car!

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

This makes sense to me. As long as there are enough people buying eink readers, it doesn't matter if a larger number of people are doing their reading on phones or tablets.

Personally, I find the 19% figure for e-reader ownership too high. Heck, I have doubts readership (of books not required for work) is that high. Mind, I've always found reading to be pretty niche - everyone seems to be watching TV. As said though, as long as e-ink buyers within that reader niche is large enough, they're worth producing.

Also, it's not just the e-readers themselves to consider, there's also the book purchases. I expect people who buy dedicated e-readers are also the ones buying lots of ebooks. I doubt folks who only read 1-2 books a year would find a dedicated device worth the cost. Yes, there are DeDRM tools and format shifting via Calibre but it seems more likely to me that most users would just stick to the built-in store on their reader.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by issybird

For me, the issue is that an ereader makes a lousy audiobook player. Ereaders are too large and fragile to be used in most situations when I want to listen to an audiobook, i.e., when I'm on the move. I also suspect the controls aren't nearly so good and then there's the memory issue. So that being the case, to the extent that a native player on an ereader would add to the cost or bulk, I don't want one.

One shouldn't confuse listeners to readers. Two totally different activities. My mother used to read to me but that was 74 years ago.

"Ten years ago, the Kindle was essentially the only game in town for e-books. But now, it's just as easy to read on your computer, your tablet, your phone — or even all three, thanks to cross-compatible apps."

Really? Try reading with your computer, tablet, or phone on the beach in brght sunlight or sitting in the sun in your garden. When in an emergency I'm forced to read on my phone I remember the cutesy tiny books that used to be sold as a novelty.

I enjoy reading books by new authors who can't attract the attention of a traditional publisher, yet. I like reading books by authors from other countries and other cultures who haven't been able to attract the attention of a publisher or agent in the U.S.

We need to get rid of the laws designed to benefit publishers and agents and harm readers and authors.

Reading is dying because readers are dying and not being replaced.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I wouldn't use an audio book feature on my eReader, but I don't mind if it is there for two reasons.

1. Maybe I'd like it if I had it, and who knows the future.
2. Other consumers might find it useful. I just don't want to pay anything extra for it.

It's on my phone. And, when I drive to the coast in January, I can listen if I want, and when I return from the coast in February I can listen if I want. So far, I haven't wanted to but I could.

[Alohamora]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Really? Try reading with your computer, tablet, or phone on the beach in brght sunlight or sitting in the sun in your garden. When in an emergency I'm forced to read on my phone ....

I had to chuckle a bit at that. Only on Mobileread would everyone understand how not having a preferred reading device available would qualify as an emergency.