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March 05, 2008
Dedicated Hardware Considered Unlikely
Posted by Peter Harbeson at 02:34 PM |
Categories: General
I probably qualify as a more-than-occasional reader, but any gadget costing US$400 is competing with things like S60s, complete (low end) computers, which do more, and even game consoles. For the time being, I think "ebook reader" means "software running on a device you already own."
It's interesting to think about the possibilities around a piece of hardware dedicated to reading ebooks, and fun to play with design possibilities. When it comes right down to it, though, like most people I don't have one. I don't even have any plans to get one unless the price comes down drastically; I like reading ebooks, but I already have a mobile phone (okay, I have about six) and a laptop, and those work fine. Not perfectly, perhaps, but good enough for me. Author Cory Doctorow addresses this in his Locus Magazine essay:
No one's making dedicated e-book readers in such quantity that the price drops to the cost of a paperback — the cost at which the average occasional reader may be tempted to take a flutter on one.
I probably qualify as a more-than-occasional reader, but any gadget costing US$400 is competing with things like S60s, complete (low end) computers, which do more, and even game consoles. For the time being, I think "ebook reader" means "software running on a device you already own."
Comments
I think the biggest drawback to eBooks right now is that they're an island. You either buy the physical, or you buy the ebook, or you shell out 2x for the same book.
Some smart company one day (such as Amazon) should setup a system whereby when I order the book online, I'm immediately given a code to download an ebook version, so I can get the instant gratification and can begin reading my book.
Even if the ebook then expired when my physical book was confirmed delivered, or whatever.
Also, pricing is a joke. I recently bought a book on Amazon for $10 shipped for the hardcover. The same book on ebooks.com was $24.95 in ebook format! There's no way!
Posted by: Ricky Cadden