Survey of current and upcoming 2008 e-ink devices

Bob Russell · 08-17-2008, 10:01 AM

Are all the details about the various e-ink devices overwhelming? Do you just want a simple comparison? If so, jump right over to read The late 2008 E Ink Readers at Dear Author.

Jane provides a very nice summary of devices based on her chance to look at the devices at the recent RWA (Romance Writers of America) conference.

Quote:

When I was at RWA, I had the opportunity to see the Kindle and the new Sony Reader with booklight and the Asus EEE PC. These are all viable ebook readers that you can purchase today, along with my personal favorite, the iTouch/iPhone...

HarryT · 08-17-2008, 10:12 AM

A nicely-written article, albeit with some erroneous information - the Astak bookreaders will, initially at least, be released running Linux, not Windows CE as the article states. It would perhaps be as well to point out also that the Kindle is only available in the US!

Huyggy · 08-17-2008, 10:27 AM

Except the upgrade (better interface for the amazon kindle : not very exciting),
I find the constructors of ebooks won't offer us lots of new technologies before some time: 2008 won't be the year that we've expected

(maybe it is because there's only one constructor of eink screen, so not enough competition...)

Everybody seems to wait for Apple ? They are very new on this market, and I doubt that they bring us some new technology before a long time (don't want to be polemic but they always focused more on the user-friendly interface and publicity than real new technological progress

)

Enola · 08-17-2008, 12:01 PM

Be very VERY interested to see what the latter part of this year brings for ebook devices. Unless the new Kindle is something unutterably awesome, I'll probably stick with the Sony. I have impulse problems when it comes to buying books, and I KNOW I'd get my credit card in serious trouble if I had the Kindle and could buy books on the fly. I have no willpower

The Astak looks interesting, though. Limited on formats right now but perhaps that will change... The touchscreen aspect has me going "WANT" even though I know its not a necessary feature - its just so darn cool.

Now I have to buy one of those new Sony covers with the booklight... the author mentioned it so many times by the end of the article I couldn't imagine going another day without it. This after I vowed not to buy another bookcover (see above about impulse buying).

Nate the great · 08-17-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A nicely-written article, albeit with some erroneous information - the Astak bookreaders will, initially at least, be released running Linux, not Windows CE as the article states. It would perhaps be as well to point out also that the Kindle is only available in the US!

The Wifi and touchscreen options are only on the Netronix WinCE models, not Linux.

Tom90deg · 08-17-2008, 02:23 PM

*Warning, Rant Incoming!*

Why why WHY do people think that anything ANYONE does, Apple can do better, for no other reason than "It's Apple." I'm sorry, but something like the iPhone is not a good e-reader. Short term, quick reads, maybe. But to sit down with a book? No. For a number of reasons, both the Kindle and Sony beat the iPhone for reading, but the main reason is that's ALL they do. They are designed from the ground up to do NOTHING but read books. So they do it very very well.
*Rant over!*

HEhe, sorry, but it really upsets me when I hear people say, "Oh, the iPhone is just as good, if not better than any e-reader on the market." The iPhone can read books, but that's not it's major function. It'd the difference between a scalpel and a Swiss Army Knife. Sure, both can cut, but one is designed for a specific purpose, and while the Swiss Army one may work in a pinch, a Scalpel is best for the job. Anywho, Flame away!

canicula · 08-17-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom90deg

Anywho, Flame away!

No need. I find I'm using my iPhone for short periods of reading when it's all I have with me at a particular time. However for serious reading the Sony (or a real paper book in some instances) is a better choice. Now if we had an iPod touch with a bigger screen...

Ian

hidari · 08-17-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom90deg

*Warning, Rant Incoming!*

Why why WHY do people think that anything ANYONE does, Apple can do better, for no other reason than "It's Apple." I'm sorry, but something like the iPhone is not a good e-reader. Short term, quick reads, maybe. But to sit down with a book? No. For a number of reasons, both the Kindle and Sony beat the iPhone for reading, but the main reason is that's ALL they do. They are designed from the ground up to do NOTHING but read books. So they do it very very well.
*Rant over!*

HEhe, sorry, but it really upsets me when I hear people say, "Oh, the iPhone is just as good, if not better than any e-reader on the market." The iPhone can read books, but that's not it's major function. It'd the difference between a scalpel and a Swiss Army Knife. Sure, both can cut, but one is designed for a specific purpose, and while the Swiss Army one may work in a pinch, a Scalpel is best for the job. Anywho, Flame away!

Have to agree on the Apple Rant. In the Kingdom of the blind.......
Apple does have good products...Yes most of their NEW products.....ie. iphone and ipod....offered nothing new technology wise...however they did offer good marketing and "coolness to the product".

I do hope they join the e-ink market. It would be good for ebook devices and reading....That said... All the ebook readers on the market now are decent but have their flaws...at least they are on the market...

hidari

ps. How well did that Apple/motorola phone sell?????

grimo1re · 08-18-2008, 04:42 AM

Not to mention, Jobs doesn't believe in the ebook market. The dolt.

dadioflex · 08-18-2008, 06:05 AM

Edit.

grimo1re · 08-18-2008, 06:17 AM

Uh, what's SOP?

stustaff · 08-18-2008, 06:51 AM

Standard Operating Procedure

Tom90deg · 08-18-2008, 07:00 AM

Hehee, true

It's a bad idea untill I say it's a good idea. Then it's the coolest thing ever.

I'm not a huge fan of Apple, does it show?

pilotbob · 08-18-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom90deg

Hehee, true

It's a bad idea untill I say it's a good idea. Then it's the coolest thing ever.

I'm not a huge fan of Apple, does it show?

Why did you post a blank message? I can't seem to read it on my iMac.

BOb

zelda_pinwheel · 08-18-2008, 02:19 PM

wow, fan of apple to the point of creating a psychological block of all criticism !!! that's pretty extreme.

08-17-2008, 02:23 PM	#6
Tom90deg Member Posts: 24 Karma: 62 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle	Warning, Rant Incoming! Why why WHY do people think that anything ANYONE does, Apple can do better, for no other reason than "It's Apple." I'm sorry, but something like the iPhone is not a good e-reader. Short term, quick reads, maybe. But to sit down with a book? No. For a number of reasons, both the Kindle and Sony beat the iPhone for reading, but the main reason is that's ALL they do. They are designed from the ground up to do NOTHING but read books. So they do it very very well. Rant over! HEhe, sorry, but it really upsets me when I hear people say, "Oh, the iPhone is just as good, if not better than any e-reader on the market." The iPhone can read books, but that's not it's major function. It'd the difference between a scalpel and a Swiss Army Knife. Sure, both can cut, but one is designed for a specific purpose, and while the Swiss Army one may work in a pinch, a Scalpel is best for the job. Anywho, Flame away! Last edited by Tom90deg; 08-17-2008 at 02:27 PM.

08-18-2008, 06:05 AM	#10
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	Edit. Last edited by dadioflex; 12-16-2010 at 05:30 AM.

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08-17-2008, 10:12 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	A nicely-written article, albeit with some erroneous information - the Astak bookreaders will, initially at least, be released running Linux, not Windows CE as the article states. It would perhaps be as well to point out also that the Kindle is only available in the US!

08-17-2008, 10:27 AM	#3
Huyggy Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 87860 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Strasbourg France Device: Onyx Max 3 & Onyx Lumi 2	Except the upgrade (better interface for the amazon kindle : not very exciting), I find the constructors of ebooks won't offer us lots of new technologies before some time: 2008 won't be the year that we've expected (maybe it is because there's only one constructor of eink screen, so not enough competition...) Everybody seems to wait for Apple ? They are very new on this market, and I doubt that they bring us some new technology before a long time (don't want to be polemic but they always focused more on the user-friendly interface and publicity than real new technological progress )

08-17-2008, 12:01 PM	#4
Enola Member Posts: 22 Karma: 78 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Device: PRS-650	Be very VERY interested to see what the latter part of this year brings for ebook devices. Unless the new Kindle is something unutterably awesome, I'll probably stick with the Sony. I have impulse problems when it comes to buying books, and I KNOW I'd get my credit card in serious trouble if I had the Kindle and could buy books on the fly. I have no willpower The Astak looks interesting, though. Limited on formats right now but perhaps that will change... The touchscreen aspect has me going "WANT" even though I know its not a necessary feature - its just so darn cool. Now I have to buy one of those new Sony covers with the booklight... the author mentioned it so many times by the end of the article I couldn't imagine going another day without it. This after I vowed not to buy another bookcover (see above about impulse buying).

08-18-2008, 04:42 AM	#9
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Not to mention, Jobs doesn't believe in the ebook market. The dolt.

08-18-2008, 06:17 AM	#11
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Uh, what's SOP?

08-18-2008, 06:51 AM	#12
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Standard Operating Procedure

08-18-2008, 07:00 AM	#13
Tom90deg Member Posts: 24 Karma: 62 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle	Hehee, true It's a bad idea untill I say it's a good idea. Then it's the coolest thing ever. I'm not a huge fan of Apple, does it show?

08-18-2008, 02:19 PM	#15
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	wow, fan of apple to the point of creating a psychological block of all criticism !!! that's pretty extreme.

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