The Day Microsoft Killed the eBook Reader

[brad jones]

I've looked at getting an eBook reader for quite a while now. My wife was going to buy me a Sony eReader for Father's Day when they were super discounted at Borders; however, they were sold out all around town due to the low price. If you go to a store that has ebook readers, it is hard to resist picking them up and poking on one. Some of the off brands are not the coolest devices, but the Sony and Kindle eBooks work as small, lightweight devices to read books.

But I contend that today's eBooks are a fad.

If you think about it for about one second, it should be obvious as to why they are a fad. In today's world of Internet Connectivity, why would you want a device that costs several hundred dollars that does only one thing. For the same price you can by a netbook that not only let's you read books, but also surf the Web as well as run your own programs. What is to prevent an eBook reader from surfing the Web? Why can't it work as a touch screen browser? Why can't it have color? Why can't it store my documents or also do the things a PDA does such as keep my calendar and show me my emails? I believe eBooks will do all of this. When netbooks take on the ebook format-- thus being more of a micro-tablet, then today's simplistic ebook readers will fade away like an oversized CRT monitor.

The technology today doesn't seem to be fitting netbook/tablet functionality into the eBook format, but it is getting closer. Of course the rumors of the Applet tablet have been circulating for months.



Another device that has the potential to send current eBooks to the history book can be seen on Gizmodo. This is the Microsoft Courier device that is in the late prototype stage. The device is more of a book format and really takes the features of PDA, eBooks, and tablets and combines them into one. Take a look at the following video and see if you don't agree that today's eBooks just don't cut it anymore!



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[Shaggy Hiker]

I've thought e-book readers were bizarre from the start. I can read the books on a PDA if I really want to. The format isn't the best, but it is possible. For what purpose would I want the other gadget? Just to have it, I suppose.

[Davadvice]

or people could just go out and buy a book (Wacky Ehh), i have never taken to reading PDF's very well. not that i'm a great book reader i can count how many i have completed on both hands. just prefer the paper!!

[techgnome]

here's why I want an eReader and not a netbook ... I already have a computer, I don't want another. I don't want to have to worry about connectivity. eReaders are lightweight, do one thing, and do it reasonably well. I can load up a few dozen books and take them on vacation with me. also, I would think there might be issues trying to use a netbook while on an airplane.

-tg

[Shaggy Hiker]

or people could just go out and buy a book (Wacky Ehh), i have never taken to reading PDF's very well.

I wasn't going to play the curmudgeon and mention that, but I totally agree with you. I CAN read e-books on a PDA, but I never DID read any that way. On the other hand, I have hundreds of books on a dozen different bookshelves, and have given away at least as many as I have. My preference is well documented.

[brad jones]

On the other hand, I have hundreds of books on a dozen different bookshelves

But what if all of those hundreds of books could be held in one hand and carried around with you.... I'd love to have all my book shelf space back.