The tablet readers: Hell bent on ruining reading for next generation
I have been on the e-reader bandwagon. I own a Sony Pocket Edition and have even given one away here on my site. I believe that e-readers are the future. Yes I love my paper books. The smell, the look of them on my shelf. For books I am in love with I buy physical hardback copies. For all the other books, the ones I like or dislike. They are not taking up residence or space in my home. I am in the process of going through my shelves and those not so loved volumes will be out the door. Why? I don’t have unlimited space. However on my computer and reader and with a some USB hard drive I do have unlimited space. My shelves have the unique opportunity to only have those beloved volumes showcased. When people see my shelves they will have an immediate understanding of what I love. I will have more room and less clutter.
I am a firm believer that e-readers can enhance the reading experience for the tech aged kids. Teens and generations of readers to come will always be looking for that next great device. The device itself will encourage reading. You can take my Sony anywhere. It weighs nothing. I carry it in my little Guess bag wherever I go. I have over 200 books to choose from when I am sitting at the doctors office or waiting in line at the DMV. It weighs less than carrying a paperback and takes up less space. The battery runs for two weeks so my whole vacation is covered.
However the one thing it lacks compared to the new tablet readers is a back light. You cannot read seriously on a back light. Ask your eye doctor. Reading on a back light can cause a giant plethora of problems. Migraines to nausea. So why are companies like Google and Apple providing devices that are going to make people dislike reading on a device and possibly keep them from looking into the better devices that do not have a back light? Your guess is as good as mine.
And don’t forget Google books, the Google Reader and Google Voice (soon to feature desktop VoIP, thanks to the recent purchase of Skype-rival Gizmo). Add in the fact that Google is committed to an open platform for which anyone can develop software (unlike Apple’s closed ecosystem), and you have a tablet that could be the perfect opposite of Apple’s.
Apple hopes to tap into the growing digital media market currently dominated by Amazon. Make no mistake about it though; the iPad is very much a full-feature digital media device.
Amazon’s Kindle is an extremely popular e-reader. But, for the moment, it’s dedicated solely to reading electronic books. Apple’s iPad can do much more. With Apple’s iBookstore, iPad will be an e-reader ready to rival Kindle. But Amazon has a Kindle app already available in the App Store, making it possible for you to buy books from its store and read them on the iPad.
Another digital device iPad is sure to lock horns with in the virtual media market is Dell’s Mini 5 prototype, a digital media tablet much like iPad. Set to debut sometime in 2011, the Mini 5 is smaller in size; analysts believe the feature-rich device will run some version of Google’s Android operating system. As it stands, many feel that the e-book segment is on the verge of exploding. Newspapers have been cutting staff to save costs and focusing more on online content. The e-reader could end up saving the newspaper industry. That, like iPad’s success, will only be known over time.
Read more at How Stuff Works.com
Both of those things sound awesome right? Sure but again the back light. People who read more than an hour a day will not want to use these devices long term, but will they turn to a traditional e-reader or did we lose a whole lot of readers in general.
If you want a pad and reader I have a really good suggestion:
The Entourage eDGe is the best of both worlds. A netbook on one side, a reader with no back light on the other. Open to all formats of e-books and you can even upload your DRM free copies on here. Cheaper or the same price as other netbook and tablet readers. Learn more about the eDGe and what books are available from their store.
So please think before you go all fanboi/girl on one of these uber cool brand reading devices. Do some research and get the most bang for your buck.
By: Robbie
OK, the edge looks AWESOME, definitely going to consider that as a future purchase.
My Sony Touch Reader has a touchscreen with significant glare, which sucks, and I imagine that iPad-like devices also will have glare. I also have a built-in “frontlight” which, unfortunately, fails miserably in every sense.
Great post, and thanks for educating stupid people.
By: Pam
Robbie: I didn’t buy the Touch edition because it was more expensive and I wanted to see what is coming in the next couple of years. What I like about my Sony is it is an open device. They get the ‘cloud’ and ‘open source’.
Thanks for sharing about the Touch edition glare. That isn’t a great feature for sure. I didn’t want the Touch because I am forever dropping/touching the wrong thing :D
By: Chris@bookarama
When I mentioned the iPad as a reader to my husband, he said, “Yeah but it’s backlit.” That did it for me. Even though I love my iTouch I can’t do much more reading than checking mail on it. Gives me headaches.
By: Sarah (My World of Books)
I just got a Kindle and I love it. I don’t have a problem with it not having some type of light. I read with a small lamp for paperbacks and I can just do the same with my Kindle.
I am really disliking the agency model, the top 5 publishing houses, and Apple. Some upcoming releases I am looking forward to are still not available on Amazon and other sites I could get ebooks for my Kindle.
I know the ipad is just not going to do it for me with the backlight and the weight. Great post!
By: Pam
I wouldn’t touch a Kindle if they gave me one for free. The DRM issues and having to pay to put your own stuff on it? Crazy.
By: Catherine
I love physical books. That will never change. I love the feel and the smell and the way they look on shelves.
But one day I’ll want an ereader of some kind – for travel, for reading my MSs on, for reading web-only stuff and all those books that are now out of copyright. I spend enough time at my computer that I wouldn’t want a backlight thing. That is one reason why I don’t read ebooks now (if I can help it) – reading is when I get *away* from the computer screen.
The eDGe looks awesome though. :D
By: Pam
I have to admit I love gadgets. Gadgets of any form. However I like them to do the crap they are supposed to do right. Reading on a back light just sucks.
By: Savvyverseandwit
Thanks for the information. I haven’t jumped on any ereader bandwagon as of yet, but I like the idea of the ipad as a multifunctioning device. I wish it had an option to turn off the back light…that would be idea.
I’m going to check out this Entourage eDGe!
By: Gina
I definitely agree with the love of books…the actual book. I recently received an eReader (pink pocket edition from Sony and MOM…THANKS MOM) and although I carry it everyone…it is a back-up for what I am reading in a hardbound or pb version at the time. It’s not that I don’t enjoy reading them on there, I just love the feel of the book. The weight of it in your hands and the ease of reading without eye damage (tho the electronic paper used by Sony doesn’t really cause too many problems). In the end, I still love my books….but a few eBooks will sneak their way in for the “maybe” titles or refresh on a classic. Thanks for sharing!
By: Debbie's World of Books
My coworkers and I were just talking about this. I love my Kindle and can’t imagine trying to read a book on the ipad. My manager actually decided to buy the Kindle instead of the ipad for a trip she’s taking to Korea and Japan.
The best part of ereaders is we are trying to sell our home right now which meant most of my paper books got packed up. Thank goodness I have probably about 30 ebooks on my Kindle just waiting to be read.