Comments on: Can eReaders replace books?

By: Bink

Bink — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:44:27 +0000

It’s slowly happening for me already. I have replaced newspaper reading with reading news online… and instead of carrying a printed Bible I now rely on the one on my phone. As soon as some of the developing technologies reach maturity like foldable screens and batteries with days-long life, I could see the next generation that is raised on digital stuff, using some sort of e-reader as their default reading method rather than books. I bet the current kids raised on checking news feeds every morning will rarely buy newspapers when they are older.

By: biff

biff — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:58:22 +0000

It could happen. Print news is dying fast. Blogs are a way of getting printed ideas across while bypassing normal distribution concerns.

The problem is that screens and user interfaces are much worse. That said, for reference its reached a point where I’d rather try and subscribe to multiple books rather than purchase them.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:37:47 +0000

I doubt that ebooks will ever replace regular books. Humans have been using paper for thousands of years. The need for it is branded into our soul. They used to talk about a paperless office when computers came into businesses but the use of paper sky rocketed.

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:23:29 +0000

I have tried reading an ebook of 300 pages on my desktop PC and I have to tell you it is hard work. Months into it and I am half way through. I would prefer to read in bed or on the couch and the desktop is not the right platform. I have to sit at my desk and read if I want to get though the book.

There are lots of good free ebooks out there on websites like “Project Gutenberg” plus many free ebooks that people have written and privately posted. The problem is the lack of a good reader. It has to be inexpensive and robust. The Kindle is a perfect example of how not to design an ebook reader – very expensive and very fragile and actively not backed by the manufacturer whenever something goes wrong with it. When you can buy a netbook computer for less money you know they have it priced all wrong!

There are ebook reader applications, like Stanza, that enable you to read ebooks on your iPhone & iPod Touch, but I really don’t think that is going to catch on as these devices have screens that are just too small to be useful in this application.

I believe that there is a good case for an ebook reader, at least as a supplement to paper books for now, but the hardware is going to have to be a lot more robust and much cheaper before it gains any serious acceptance.

By: Mesanna

Mesanna — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:39:07 +0000

This is interesting. I’ve wondered myself if I would buy an eReader. I have to say that, at this moment in time, I would not. The electronic readers are waay too expensive right now, though I dare say the price will come down if they take off. That may be a while yet though. The Kindle, for example, isn’t even available in UK as yet.

I read *a lot* and I get loads of books from the library. I have this vision where, in the future, perhaps you will browse your library’s web site and download a book from there straight onto your book reader, and maybe it expires automatically in 30 days. This saves you a trip to the actual library and you never need to worry about a book being unavailable. Does this seem outlandish? I don’t think books are going away anytime soon though. I imagine eReader sales will take a slow, gradual increase.

One point you made, which I agree 100% with, is that eReaders are completely unsuitable for reading in the bath – a favourite pastime of mine :)

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:25:48 +0000

I think that in a real way, if you’re reading articles on the web using your netbook, you’re already there.

But I, too, don’t plan on giving up on reading “vintage book technologies”… :^)

By: themcp

themcp — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:21:43 +0000

i think there is use case for a no-DRM and untethered electronic book reader. but i don’t see it ever replacing books in the same way the mp3 is replacing the cd.

i can see myself keeping digital copies of unweildy reference books, or for taking several books on a long trip. i’d also like to see a future in which ebooks are distributed along with the physical item as an extra.

but i can’t see myself replacing my physical library unless somebody invents devices with unlimited power sources and that don’t ever break.