The Chicken, the Egg, and the Killer App

[Jason Dunn]

http://12.108.175.91/ebookweb/discuss/msgReader$1102<br /><br />The classic tale of woe from an emerging market: how do you kick-start it? This article talks about eBooks and the devices they are being "served" on. I'm a little surprised that the people in this article preferred a single function device like the REB to a multi-function device like the iPAQ. I couldn't imagine having a dedicated eBook reader just sitting there for one thing, unless the cost was very low and I could have several of them lying around the house in different rooms. What about you? Here's a quote from the article:<br /><br />"...The iPaq fared better. Its versatility assuages the concern that money is going into a "gadget" that children will laugh at next year. Unfortunately it has the same display problems, and its small - reading on it feels like you're staring a box of raisins. PDA's are important to eBook industry - millions use them as a convenient eReading tool and millions more are exposed to the benefits of eReading. But they are a "bridge", not a destination. Many that use them for reading do so not because it's their first choice, but because demand for eReading is real, and there are few alternatives." Source: <a href="http://cebooks.blogspot.com">Jerry Justianto</a>

[JohnnyFlash]

What about you?


www.fictionwise.com -> my shelf. I use iPaq for reading and after using Palm for ebook reading I find iPAQ much better!

Lookup feature is so cool!!!

[Paragon]

The number one use for my HP565 by far is reading ebooks. No question in my mind, why bother with a single use device when you can have a pocket pc that does it better plus a lot more. I say better since most dedicated ebook readers are for a single format, were as ppc's can have several ebook readers installed. Mine ain't no bridge I'm sticking with it. I have read over forty books on it. I for one enjoy the format.

Dave

[Jeff Kirvin]

The dedicated reader people need to get over themselves. I'm getting really sick of hearing about how much a disadvantage it is to read on a PDA screen. Sure, it's smaller than a paperback page, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's worse. The smaller amount of text visible at one time actually helps me focus on what I'm reading, rather than my eyes "bouncing" all over the two page spread.

But the more telling observation is this. When paperbacks were first introduced, they were panned by the then reading public as inferior to hardcovers. Why would anyone bother with cheap glue bindings, flimsy paper covers, and yes, smaller pages sizes when they could read a high-quality hard bound edition?

[Kilmerr]

The PDA screen-size, for the vast majority of the population, is still too small for extended reading. But $500 to $1,200 for dedicated readers (Myfriendly) that are simple and feature-limited is crazy. And even the cheap ones like Franklin eBookman are still somewhat total jokes. The answer to it all? The Tablet PC, full multifunctional PC and just the right size per screen reading at where people are comfortable for extended reading, plus in ClearType, per Windows XP Tablet Ver. Due in September, but sure is hard waiting... :)

[dazz]

I think this article is a joke. This is obviously someone that does not use a PocketPC for daily use and does not travel. A dedicated e-book reader if fine if home but if you are on the go this does not work.

I do a TON of reading on my PocketPC and think it's great. I did have to get used to the screen size compared with a book page but this is not a practicle problem, but a comfort level with what we are used to (books). There are only a few people that can read a paragraph at a glance. For these extreme speed readers the size of the sceen migth be a problem. I personally read fairly quickly and don't have any problems.

Kilmerr, I wish I had your money!!! I like the idea of the TabletPC but it will still be very expensive and not as portable

*deposit 2 cents here*

Dazz

[lar3ry]

I think that eBooks is a VERY important application for PDAs like the iPAQ. It's almost the same size as a paperback, and is convenient to take with you. It's programmable, so you have a choice of ebook formats (.LIT, Palm doc, PDF, etc.). One could wish for better battery life, but there are solutions for that as well.

I habitually mark up my own stories into .LIT and proof-read them during lunch breaks or when I have some free time, using the annotation devices to highlight awkward prose styles, bad spelling/grammar, etc. It's an editor's and writer's dream come true.

Once the issue of DRM (my favorite oxymoron) is settled, maybe we can get some good texts and useful readers.

[miterb]

I am reading e-books fully 70% of the time I am on my Casio. I am an inveterate reader in bed and the smaller the book, the easier it is to hold up. My wife calls my E-125 my $600 nightlight.
:D

[Jason Dunn]

The answer to it all? The Tablet PC, full multifunctional PC and just the right size per screen reading at where people are comfortable for extended reading, plus in ClearType, per Windows XP Tablet Ver. Due in September, but sure is hard waiting... :)


Unless it weighs 0.5 pounds, costs under $500, and lasts for 10+ hours on a battery charge - which we know it won't - I don't see this making a splash as an eBook reader...

[scottmag]

I'm a little surprised that the people in this article preferred a single function device like the REB to a multi-function device like the iPAQ.


Two observations:

1). It does not surprise me that many people would express a preference for a single-function device in this case. More people own and use calculators than PocketPCs or any other PDA. The average consumer does not want the added complexity that come with the added features and capability. Of course that same typical consumer is unlikely to want any electronic device to replace good old paper, but their initial opinion will be preference for the more simple, dedicated device. Once there is a user base of any size for reading ebooks there is little doubt that the more open architecture of a multifunction device like a PocketPC will emerge as clearly superior. (And probably a lot cheaper.)

2.) Jeff Kirvin has discussed this at length over at www.writingonyourpalm.net and points out that the iPaq is not as good a choice for etext reading because the pixel orientation defeats ClearType. I only bring this up because I was at CompUSA today checking out the $299 Audiovox Maestro. I compared an HP and an iPaq that were next to each other and there is a distinct difference when running MS Reader.

Scott

[yvilla]

And even the cheap ones like Franklin eBookman are still somewhat total jokes.


Of course the PocketPC is great for reading! But Kilmer's post reminds me that I'll forever be grateful to the Franklin ebookman--if only because it led me to my beloved Casio E-125. Indeed, I didn't even know PocketPCs existed until soon after I bought the ebookman early last year, and I only learned about them as a consequence of beginning my quest on the web for ebook content. As you all may imagine, I very quickly became disenchanted with the ebookman, got my E-125 to replace it, and have never looked back.

I also agree with miterb that my Casio's small size and weight makes it absolutely perfect for reading in bed! :D

[Paragon]

Slightly off topic, but did you know that some people use Pocket PC's to read their wedding vows :D

Dave

P.S. Oh sure as soon as I post this I go to the home page and there is the picture. I'm only about 2 beats behind. :roll:

Dave

[Jason Dunn]

Slightly off topic, but did you know that some people use Pocket PC's to read their wedding vows


Really? :lol:

[Paragon]

Jason

Slightly belated but, congratulations!

Dave

[mgd]

I do about 90% of my reading on my iPaq, and that's only because the other 10% isn't available in ebook formats. Reference material are especially well suited to the ebook format.

The print size that most Americans are used to are not universal. Most of my friends here in Spain scratch their heads when they see how small the print is in a typical American-English novel or magazine. Some have caused me severe eyestrain and headaches after a couple of hours. A major advantage of the ebook readers--dedicated or not--is the abitliy to increase and decrease the font size. Thanks to my iPaq and Reader I can now read in bed without my glasses. I wonder how many more seriously vison-impaired people are now able to read books they couldn't read before thanks to this feature.

The only thing I don't like about ebooks is not being able to share a book I've enjoyed with a friend. And, ebooks are still too expensive considering the imposed limitations and ease of distribution.

I, personally, wouldn't purchase a dedicated reader but I would love to get my hands on a TabletPC.

[Kilmerr]

Unless it weighs 0.5 pounds, costs under $500, and lasts for 10+ hours on a battery charge - which we know it won't - I don't see this making a splash as an eBook reader...

Not just as a strict eBook reader itself no. I agree there. But for an extra $500, grabbing something that doubles as a full PC, a "big PDA" and a pen-computing Ink-tablet with a side order of eBook Reader'isms, then yes. The 'multifunctional' concept is the draw. Tablet PC is a big "Pocket PC" with XP and more...I don't see any other devices filling the 'eBook Reader' void in the market tho. And Tablet PC is not going to be a just another WebPad Internet-Appliance or eBook-Reader obsolescence-serious graveyard machine, not with Compaq and others super gung-ho... :)

[dazz]

I don't see any other devices filling the 'eBook Reader' void in the market tho. And Tablet PC is not going to be a graveyard machine, not with Compaq and others gung-ho...

That's the kind of statement we saw for the HPC format. MS has more-or-less abandoned it even thought there were manufacturers like IBM, NEC, Compaq, HP, Sharp, etc. There might be a couple manufacturers still building these but they are certainly not a success and may abandoned altogether.

Remember the Clio HPC? This was basically a TabletPC that ran on Windows CE. Very nice unit but suffered because of it's heavy price.

With units like this being so expensive they will not become mainstream. You will see companies by them for particular needs (not for all mobile pros) and fairly affluent people that can afford the toys.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a lightweight, all-in-one like the TabletPC but the price would have to be within reason (ie not $2000+) and it would have to be able to take the bumps that most hard drives cannot (Flash memory is almost impervious to bumps).

Dazz

[Kilmerr]

Well...I think a lot of factors that haven't worked before....high prices per technology components and the lack of a full OS, have limited things, but now I really think things are finally starting to jell.

Cheaper memory, higher capacity storage, greater battery life, low-power CPUs, display tech like Cleartype and digital ink, cheaper display screens and eventually a full wireless network infrastructure, all these things have somewhat converged, making possible now what was not possible before. Hence many companies in the past (like IBM and Sony) priced themselves out of a market that they ironically ignored in all but vertical markets anyways.

Tablet PC will be a mainstream machine, hence laptop or lower priced...anything above a $2,000 level will be a hard take. But pricing is up to the OEMs who might pad with extra features per the market.

Several false starts and a long history of dead-ends since the DynaBook, but everything has fallen into place for the Tablet PC, imho... :)

Christopher Coulter
www.tabletpctalk.com

[RickP in AZ]

For some reason the PPC crowd sees the TabletPC as a threat when it is obviously targeted at the laptop market. Give me a PPC in my pocket 24/7, a TabletPC (w/ DVD) while traveling, and a decent mid-range desktop at home. All connected via WiFi and I'd be set.

Back to the ebook topic, PDAs are the optimal device for ebooks. Dedicated readers are hardware looking for a market. I work at a major office products store and in 10 months I have had one (1) person even ask questions about the dusty Rocket Reader we have sitting on the shelf. Compare that to the tons of people who ask and buy Palms, and the frequent inquiries about PPC (Sorry sir/madam, we don't sell any PPCs like this silver iPAQ I just showed you, but if you go to our competition down the street... BTW Tell them I sent you, maybe I'll get a discount on purchases...)

I do about... 97% of my reading in ebook format (LIT and PalmDOC.) In fact I haven't read any of the paperbacks I picked up at the used bookstore on my last trip. And that trip was back in September.

RickP in AZ