Electronic book reader vs. hard copy book

[CrispyQ]

Sony reader targets book lovers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4586800.stm

snip...

Sony is trying to do for e-books what Apple has done for downloadable digital music.

It has launched a handheld device designed for electronic books- dubbed the Sony Reader - at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

It has a screen made from electronic paper that makes text look almost as sharp as it is on a printed page.

Sony hopes the gadget will tempt more people to download and read books in digital, rather than paper, format.

===

Some other stats:

The unit is approx 6.8" x 4.8" x 1/2"
It weighs in at approx 1/2 pound
The battery life is approx 7,500 pages before recharging is needed
Format include: BBeB/PDF/JPEG/MP3
Cost in US: $300-400
Expected to go on sale in US sometime this spring

The article doesn't mention how much storage space there is. I assume you could store several books on it.

===

So, the question is, given price is not an issue, would you read books with this unit?

[William769]

1. Thats my vote.

"Yes! I'd love to have multiple books available in one small package & save trees too!"

[HereSince1628]

2. If they can come up with the smell of mildew on leather bindings

I'd consider it.

Does it let you annotate the text by underlining/highlighting, writing in the margins? Text, especially text of intellectual value, should be in an interactive medium.

[Richard D]

3. It'll hold . . .

. . . up to 80 full length books, with memory sticks available to add hundreds more.

It's, very unfortunately, not interactive.

It also can play mp3's.

[Jim__]

4. I think I'd have a hard time switching to an electronic media for my

reading.

At work, most of our tech manuals are available electronically. I print a lot of it out becuase I find it easier to work with.

I do see the value of electronic media in preserving natural resources; and, if an argument can be made tha the net savings to natural resources is significant; I'd be willing to make the effort. Sometimes, when we know the full story, there is no significant net savings from these technologies - I just don't know the facts here.

I often wonder if new technologies will eventually make reading an obsolete skill. In the future, people may have an overwhelming preference for stories told through a form of video rather than through writing.

[YankeyMCC]

5. I'd welcome having something..

of course screen size and quality of the font, lighting etc (readability) would have to be really good of course (I once downloaded a book to my Palm and didn't like reading that much text on that style of a screen).

But I'd likely only use it for business and perhaps for travel.

I'll be one of those crotchety "old-timers" stubbornly holding on to an anarchism for my leisure reading. :)

I just love sitting in a comfortable chair with the feel of a book, stiff covers, rough or smooth pages, the smell of the paper, the weight of it all enhancing the experience or at least giving me pleasant sensory input that my mind associates with a pleasant moment and the interesting characters and ideas in the words I'm reading.

I'm sure people who grow up with "ebooks" (or "ibooks" maybe :) ) will just move to a different set of associated sensory associations but it's too late for me I think. :)

[CrispyQ]

7. I'm a crotchety 'old-timer' too.

I can see using it for a quick sci-fi read -- something that I won't read again or mark up. But some books you just want a real book!

I wonder if they include a dictionary too. I always have one by my side while reading, so to make this really effective, I'd want an electronic dictionary too.

[OrwellwasRight]

6. Turning pages is superior to scrolling.

You can compare several parts of the book at once by actually looking at them. You can refer back to what you read previously without losing your place. You can drop a book and not have it malfunction. You can touch and smell the pages. You can read when the power is out. If it gets stolen it won't cost you hundreds of dollars to replace. You can loan it/give it to a friend when you are done.

[CrispyQ]

9. All excellent reasons

why electronic reading will not replace hardcopy for me!

[CornField]

8. It really depends on its ease on the eyes

I've downloaded books onto my Palm for when I'm stuck in traffic or sitting in a waiting room. It serves the purpose by keeping me entertained, but it will never replace a book. I guess I'm just one of those folks who has no intention of cuddling up by the fireplace with a nice monitor.

[CrispyQ]

11. lol

"I guess I'm just one of those folks who has no intention of cuddling up by the fireplace with a nice monitor."


:rofl:

[Matilda]

10. I'm a Luddite when it comes to books.

I like the look of them, the feel of them, and the smell of them (especially old books).

Plus, reading a screen is hard on the eyes and the neck - I can't imagine how anyone can read
a book that way.