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Paper!

(Oh yah, first, losers!)]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 10:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
Maybe it's just me.]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
I agree with the original post; ebooks have not and will not develop a following. Not only are they harder on the eyes, there are a host of other tactile experiences and form factors present in books that are not in ebook devices. ]]>Jul 5th 2008 11:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 11:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
It has nothing to do with reading ebooks on an LCD screen like a LCD computer monitor. ]]>Jul 5th 2008 11:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
I can see e-readers working for periodicals. The nature in which periodicals are used (briefly), and their transient nature (both in content and possession) lend themselves to the e-reader form. But then again, for that particular application, how would it be better than an Iphone or other UMPC/UMID?

In the end, these are simply solutions without a problem. They may maintain a niche following, but they'll never gain popular adoption]]>Jul 5th 2008 11:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 12:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
I KNOW WHAT AN E-INK DISPLAY LOOKS LIKE. I AM REFERRING TO READING AN EBOOK ON A LCD DISPLAY (PHONE, LAPTOP, iPOD [AS THE AUTHOR TALKED ABOUT])

LEARN TO READ! DAMN!]]>Jul 6th 2008 1:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
eBooks ... definitions of unknown words with the click of a button, Tagging/sending interesting bits of text, your entire library searchable ... it just makes sense. ]]>Jul 6th 2008 7:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
don't believe me, as 'blind as a bat' stephen king.]]>Jul 6th 2008 3:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
Regarding the lambasting the article writer gave, I would probably attribute that to the excessive price on the Iliad. Why spend that much on an eReader when you can buy a more capable laptop for the same or less. Once eReaders drop to the $100 or less point, they'll be as quickly adopted as any other technology that has proven it's usefulness. Oh yeah, publishers will also need to understand they won't be able to continue to sell books for hard-back prices either, otherwise they'll be pirated before they make the shelf.]]>Jul 6th 2008 3:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/]]>Jul 6th 2008 7:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
I was given a punk-ass Franklin ebook reader my mother bought in bargain bin for $20 while visiting the states. It sucked - BUT - after harvesting Project Gutenberg, and the odd other place, I realized just how convenient it was.

I'm not ready to pay $300+ for a book reader yet, though. I have however, fallen in love with the cheap Ebookwise (dot com) device, formerly sold by RCA.

The Ebookwise is $150 with memory enough (65mb Smarmedia card, to show you how technology age) for 100+ books. It has an adjustable backlight (from perfect for zero lights to use-it-as-an-emergency flashlight brightness) and is readable in all light. Sure, I have to angle it in the bright sun, but it's never bothered me. The rechargeable batteries last between 15+ hours and take less than an hour to recharge to 80% of that or so. The $20 software they sell to convert from other formats (html, doc, rtf, txt, rb, etc) is great. I have to fiddle now and then - but as there is software to convert from every other format out there to something this will handle, I don't worry about it. You also, if memory serves, can just upload a book to their site and have it converted for you, though I've never bothered, so this may have changed.

Do I still read paper books? Yes.

Why? I can't find them in a convertable form for this, or they are visual heavy.

99% of my paperbacks, though, are read on here. And I tell you, being able to take this around with me, always having a book handy, is a godsend for someone who goes through a pocket book every couple days. Airplane trips and camping - it is awesome.

And for those paranoid about reading on a screen - with the adjustable contrast, there is not an issue of it being hard on the eyes. It's NOT like reading a PDA screen or something.

I'd not spend $300 on an ebook reader yet either. Especially without a backlight. I did spend $120 (Sale) on the ebookwise twice (I dropped it in the tub once..grr....and had to replace the first after 3 years with it). It still works, though, the battery just won't hold a charge, so I have to use it plugged in. It'll find a home in my future classroom, though, filled with classics and kids books though.

My only complaint - being LCD tech, the contrast changes in the heat of direct sun, so you may have to pump up the contrast on the screen to compensate. Easy, but does shorten battery life slightly.

So for those, "I'd never give up a book" folks, suck it up and try some of the alternatives. The SCREEN is not an issue for eye comfort - though, I agree, the price is.

Think of it this way for you avid readers:

1) Will you read at least 20 of the books on Project Gutenburg (free)? Well, since they'd cost you $7.50 each (or so), bingo, you win.

2) Do you read a lot on the go - as in carrying a backup pocket book is a pain in the ass - bingo you win. I love being able to switch between books on the fly.

3) Do you use usenet. Undernet specifically. You win! But I won't say more.


I'm still not happy with the pricing of ebooks, in general. Old books are often very well priced - just a few dollars. BUT...best sellers, and newish books are often priced the same as the paper-version (soft or hard cover), which is obscene. But hey, I don't let that bother me.

So you naysayers who've never even tried a REAL ebookreader, stop bitching, and go talk about something you have experience with. Personally, I recommend not switching from a record player to CD/anything newer. You'll keep the strength of having something not portable, and that has that old-fashioned sound.
]]>Jul 6th 2008 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 7th 2008 7:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
Just because the early eBook devices are kludges that make us wince inwardly at (though some of us can deal with the problem and love it despite its major flaws) does not mean that someday we will not have a paradigm shift in design that makes it an awesomely 'in' thing.

There are many possibilities. One might be something very sleek and wafer thin that has an additional text->speech system good enough to fool you into thinking it's some famous character reading the book to you. Something with tactile response or even optional accelerometer use to allow you to flip page(s) with a simple tilt of the device.

For me, while I love paper books, I look forward to the day when a device exists that is good enough for me to not have to carry them all around with me. (Speaking as someone who just biked into work with 10lbs of books in his backpack.) That day has not arrived. But it doesn't mean that it won't.]]>Jul 7th 2008 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 10:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 10:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 11:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
Yes, and my mp3 player looks terrible inserted into the old CD rack.]]>Jul 6th 2008 12:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
We'll wake up in the morning with the Wall Street Journal ready to go.

]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
WE ARE NEVER GETTING RID OF PRINT MEDIA.

And for good reason. I know (most) everyone will be able to relate to this. Remember when your computer died on you when you had just finished or made a dent into that paper? Did you not wish you had written it down first? Technology is awesome. Print is practical thus eternal.]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 11:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
Wait 'till I use them as toilet paper!]]>Jul 6th 2008 12:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
WE ARE NEVER GETTING RID OF PRINT MEDIA."

@derX: Bob Smith said nothing about eliminating printed media, but intended to bring across the point that when said media is simultaneously available digitally many subscribers would be very interested. Better than schlepping a cumbersome newspaper or a stack of magazines onto a crowded bus on the way to work in the morning.]]>Jul 6th 2008 1:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
I'm pretty sure the "or whatever" part includes and print media not mentioned. It's pretty clear he has written that nothing else "will need to be printed"]]>Jul 6th 2008 3:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
But just because one could eliminate printed media at some stage doesn't meant that there won't be a demand for hard copies, and as such printing shall continue. I love the smell of a fresh 'Der Spiegel' or 'Stern' (there must be something that Axel Springer mixes into the ink, I dunno?!?).]]>Jul 6th 2008 6:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 7:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
I never post. I'm reminded why.

I'll restate my point. The e-ink devices will take off when I can have color pictures rather than just black printed text.

The average person may only read 7 books a year, but there is way more color printed media that is consumed by the populace. The connected web as consumed color media has grown faster than anything in prior history.

What is needed is an easy way to download one's desired content - web pages, news"papers", "magazines", comic "books", whatever, and display it in a simple light form factor that is easy on the eyes - e-ink, and voila!

There will be no NEED for printed media. It will exist until I can page through my e-ink half-newspaper-page sized display as easily while in coach.

My points were of timing and inevitability.

Read my mind!

]]>Jul 6th 2008 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/ It is terrible for PDF's of magazines or textbooks as it is just too small to read and has no color.
For complete acceptance, we will need two readers, one a little larger for plain text books. Another at the size of a sheet of paper and in color for magazines and textbooks.
As for the price of books, there are converters out there that changes e-book formats and there will soon be ways to crack the DRM. That will make them easily swapped and available. Libraries will be able to download them to your reader for free.
It is INEVITABLE that, like music now, like TV is going, books will eventually move to completely digital. A library full of books on a hard drive. Think of it.
PS Don't take the 7 books a year too seriously. over half of people NEver read a book per year. The rest make up for it big time!]]>Jul 6th 2008 6:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Also you can have ALL your books (thousands of them) in ONE 9oz device. Save some trees too (not that many people care anyway). Not to mention SPACE savings - somehow you have to have place to put all those paper books. Backing up your entire collection of favorite books is much easier too.
Bottomline ... it is similar to what digital photography did to old prints. Yes, we DO prints. But we have much more photos in digital format - easier to store, share, backup, etc. Same with books. Downside - no smell of freshly published story :)
I'm big fan of eBooks. I use old RCA REB 1100 which has backlit. Best $80 I EVER spent. Once you get used to eBooks you never go back. Well ... may be you buy colorful books for small children but thats about it.]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 10:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 7:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/PRS-505 for $280 or so. Staring at eInk screen is not any worse then
staring at paper book. eInk uses reflective light, it is not like you
are looking at LCD monitor.
Also you can have ALL your books (thousands of them) in ONE 9oz
device. Save some trees too (not that many people care anyway). Not
to mention SPACE savings - somehow you have to have place to put all
those paper books. Backing up your entire collection of favorite
books is much easier too.
Bottomline ... it is similar to what digital photography did to old
prints. Yes, we DO prints. But we have much more photos in digital
format - easier to store, share, backup, etc. Same with books.
Downside - no smell of freshly published story :)
I'm big fan of eBooks. I use old RCA REB 1100 which has backlit. Best
$80 I EVER spent. Once you get used to eBooks you never go back. Well
... may be you buy colorful books for small children but thats about
it.]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 12:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 10:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Poo-poo ebooks all you want, I'll never stop using them, I routinely carry over 2000 books with me everywhere I go.]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/but thing is why the f*cuking ebook are same $$$$ as the paper one.
this is the sucks part.

and still it's too big]]>Jul 5th 2008 10:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Just because it is distributed digitally does not make a book suddenly cheaper to produce.]]>Jul 6th 2008 4:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
Since it's still a new market for e-books, and nobody is yet sure how this will shake out, the book retailers don't want to go the way of the record shops.

The profit margins for e-books are actually quite handsome for the publishers.]]>Jul 6th 2008 9:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
The prevalence of the eBook needs to start in the education sector. Textbooks are many times the size, weight, and cost of an ordinary book. Add to the fact that a student has several at a time and you've got the perfect sector for the eBook: carry multiple large items with you in one small lightweight unit.

Unfortunately, for it to become prominent, if one was going to spend several hundred on a reader, they would want the costs associated with the books to be significantly lower. Publishers could cut the material costs out of the price, but would probably have to add in some costs for digital distribution and the inevitable piracy. Furthermore, it would require them to undergo an infrastructure change from mass producing print media to some sort of mass production of digital hard copy (if that is such a thing?)

But, since eBooks aren't popular, most publishers don't provide them for textbooks, so they won't become popular. Isn't it amazing how chicken/egg always shows up in unpopular technologies?]]>Jul 5th 2008 11:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Ebook readers are way more convenient, and thus you pay for them. And actually, the books are cheaper (usually somewhere around 30 to 50%, I find). Not to mention that you can get a lot of books free. No, it's not going to make up for the price of the reader, but again, you pay what you get for.

I don't think textbooks would actually be that great on the current gen of e-readers... the small format and the fact that you can't flip through pages super fast could become a problem, I imagine.
But, I use this thing to read novels, so that really doesn't affect me. Novels are really the thing that these readers are best for.]]>Jul 5th 2008 11:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 11:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 5th 2008 11:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
As long as they buy into the current text-book system as it is, you're fucked.]]>Jul 6th 2008 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/
According to my Amazon account, last year I purchased 14 books total for the year (including text books) and probably only read half. Since purchasing a Kindle in March, I've ordered 21 books for it and read all but one of them (it's in progress now). For me, the Kindle has made reading pleasurable again by removing the hassles associated with carrying around a 200+ page hardcover book. And I doubt I need to bring up the impact of instant gratification with purchases.]]>Jul 5th 2008 11:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/author-nick-hornby-not-feeling-the-fever-pitch-over-e-books/Jul 6th 2008 8:37AM