Comments on: Reading devices http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/ ... the online home of a librarian in Perth, Western Australia Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:20:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: genevieve http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38531 genevieve Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:05:41 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38531 When you think about it - we read books from the time we are very small and become inured to turning pages, navigating easily. (And how on earth we're going to replicate that for children without paper, i don't know.) And now we're supposed to do without that, and to spend all our time with screens. I'm not surprised by reluctance to do that, even though I've always been a sook about carrying lots of books around. When you think about it – we read books from the time we are very small and become inured to turning pages, navigating easily. (And how on earth we’re going to replicate that for children without paper, i don’t know.)
And now we’re supposed to do without that, and to spend all our time with screens. I’m not surprised by reluctance to do that, even though I’ve always been a sook about carrying lots of books around.

]]> By: techxplorer http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38297 techxplorer Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:52:55 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38297 I've started exploring ebooks on my Android powered phone and so far my reaction has been a little lacking in enthusiasm. This isn't because of the content, far from it <a href="http://craphound.com/makers/download/" rel="nofollow">Makers by Cory Doctorow</a> is engaging, it's more the format. I miss the paper feel of a book, not to mention a book is easier to read simply because it is larger and the contrast is better. Plus I still have a romantic notion about paper books, they just "feel" better. @Penny, when considering if ebooks are better for textbooks don't forget the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/ebusiness/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220300915" rel="nofollow">trouble Amazon found itself in</a> when it deleted copies of the book 1984. Especially the copy a teen was using for study. Do you really want all your notes to be at risk from deletion? ebooks may be nice, and I'm still deciding, but i think in the end their going to be for niche uses until they come with the security and lack of DRM that the paper version do. I’ve started exploring ebooks on my Android powered phone and so far my reaction has been a little lacking in enthusiasm. This isn’t because of the content, far from it Makers by Cory Doctorow is engaging, it’s more the format. I miss the paper feel of a book, not to mention a book is easier to read simply because it is larger and the contrast is better.

Plus I still have a romantic notion about paper books, they just “feel” better.

@Penny, when considering if ebooks are better for textbooks don’t forget the trouble Amazon found itself in when it deleted copies of the book 1984. Especially the copy a teen was using for study. Do you really want all your notes to be at risk from deletion?

ebooks may be nice, and I’m still deciding, but i think in the end their going to be for niche uses until they come with the security and lack of DRM that the paper version do.

]]> By: Penny http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38294 Penny Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:52:16 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38294 I'm wondering if ebook reading is better when it's a textbook as opposed to a "pleasure" book? I really need to look into this stuff more. Perhaps like the song in My Fair Lady you will "grow accustomed to your ebook reader"... ;) I’m wondering if ebook reading is better when it’s a textbook as opposed to a “pleasure” book? I really need to look into this stuff more.

Perhaps like the song in My Fair Lady you will “grow accustomed to your ebook reader”… ;)

]]> By: CW http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38291 CW Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:13:39 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38291 Yes, but I dunno if the device, whoever makes it, will be enough for me, if it doesn't make the process of reading books in electronic format enjoyable... (Maybe this means I need to test drive an ebook reader and really use it to see if my perception improves? Hah!) Yes, but I dunno if the device, whoever makes it, will be enough for me, if it doesn’t make the process of reading books in electronic format enjoyable…

(Maybe this means I need to test drive an ebook reader and really use it to see if my perception improves? Hah!)

]]> By: Michael http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38290 Michael Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:08:49 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2009/11/18/reading-devices/#comment-38290 I remember back in around 2000 I was looking for a portable music device so I didnt have to lug all my CDs to work and back. At the time there were the Creative devices (hell expensive and very limited storage) and Sony devices (DRM encumbered and proprietary format). Companies were trying for 5-6 years to break into the electronic music device market. They saw what was coming but they just couldn't make it appealing enough. It took Apple to come along and totally change the landscape. It may be Apple or someone else (ASUS?) but sometime in the next few years someone will come out with a device that meets what people *actually want* and then the world of information will pivot around the device. I remember back in around 2000 I was looking for a portable music device so I didnt have to lug all my CDs to work and back. At the time there were the Creative devices (hell expensive and very limited storage) and Sony devices (DRM encumbered and proprietary format).

Companies were trying for 5-6 years to break into the electronic music device market. They saw what was coming but they just couldn’t make it appealing enough. It took Apple to come along and totally change the landscape.

It may be Apple or someone else (ASUS?) but sometime in the next few years someone will come out with a device that meets what people *actually want* and then the world of information will pivot around the device.

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