Comments on: In Defense of Single Purpose Devices http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/ Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:57:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pol http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170604 Pol Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:35:30 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170604 I have been an avid single-purpose e-reader fan for ages, even owned the original RB1100 and loved it - quite literally - to death. I now read on my PDA, but with my iPhone find the PDA items redundant. I now want to have "just" an ereader (ideally with a backlight or built-in LED for low-level light reading). Can't find one anywhere. Maybe we should just design one? Great blog. I have been an avid single-purpose e-reader fan for ages, even owned the original RB1100 and loved it – quite literally – to death.

I now read on my PDA, but with my iPhone find the PDA items redundant. I now want to have “just” an ereader (ideally with a backlight or built-in LED for low-level light reading). Can’t find one anywhere.

Maybe we should just design one? Great blog.

]]> By: Gale Calelly http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170600 Gale Calelly Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:52:29 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170600 I have read a lot all my life, have an extensive paperbook and hardback library, and have a fairly new Kindle and an array of e-books for Kindle. I love using the Kindle. One disadvantage: I have lessened my book purchase costs by reselling and through book swap clubs. Can't do that with Kindle books! I have read a lot all my life, have an extensive paperbook and hardback library, and have a fairly new Kindle and an array of e-books for Kindle.
I love using the Kindle. One disadvantage: I have lessened my book purchase costs by reselling and through book swap clubs. Can’t do that with Kindle books!

]]> By: karen wester newton http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170510 karen wester newton Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:42:40 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170510 I like to consider the case of the dedicated GPS device. I have GPS on my phone. I don't drive in other cities or distant states very often, so it's really all I need. My dad, on the other hand, travels a lot, and loves his Garmin. It's a lot more sophisticated than the app on my phone; it gives him details like elevation and can be expanded with foreign country maps. It also works anywhere in the world. My phone doesn't. Two sets of needs, two solutions. I think eReaders will be the same way. I like to consider the case of the dedicated GPS device. I have GPS on my phone. I don’t drive in other cities or distant states very often, so it’s really all I need. My dad, on the other hand, travels a lot, and loves his Garmin. It’s a lot more sophisticated than the app on my phone; it gives him details like elevation and can be expanded with foreign country maps. It also works anywhere in the world. My phone doesn’t. Two sets of needs, two solutions. I think eReaders will be the same way.

]]> By: Gareth Cuddy http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170489 Gareth Cuddy Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:56:46 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170489 This is one of the debates I have been wrestling with for a while. I have a 505, an i-phone and my precious laptop and I read on all 3. Iphone for when I'm stuck in line or a traffic jam, 505 for sheer enjoyment, curled up at home and the laptop for the more technical/non-fiction boooks which require a little more concentration and the correct layout.(this is as much a format issue as a device one.) I would agree that some people will continue to buy single purpose devices. These will belong to the more serious readers and there will be a certain amount of prestige attached to them, like there is now for the early adopters. You will find that the vast majority of eBooks will continue to be read on multi-purpose devices, both for convenience and cost-effectiveness. This is one of the debates I have been wrestling with for a while. I have a 505, an i-phone and my precious laptop and I read on all 3. Iphone for when I’m stuck in line or a traffic jam, 505 for sheer enjoyment, curled up at home and the laptop for the more technical/non-fiction boooks which require a little more concentration and the correct layout.(this is as much a format issue as a device one.)
I would agree that some people will continue to buy single purpose devices. These will belong to the more serious readers and there will be a certain amount of prestige attached to them, like there is now for the early adopters.
You will find that the vast majority of eBooks will continue to be read on multi-purpose devices, both for convenience and cost-effectiveness.

]]> By: Stan Scott http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170483 Stan Scott Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:41:52 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170483 I learned today that Google is planning to enter the ebook market, with 500,000 titles to start. These ebook files will NOT be DRM protected, and will run on almost anything: desktop, laptop, phone. In the writer's words: "Does Google’s entry into the electronic books market make you think twice about picking up an eReader like the Kindle or Sony Reader? Or are the gains in reduced eye strain, battery life and portability enough to make you interested in a specialized device?" http://mashable.com/2009/10/15/google-book-store/ I learned today that Google is planning to enter the ebook market, with 500,000 titles to start. These ebook files will NOT be DRM protected, and will run on almost anything: desktop, laptop, phone.

In the writer’s words: “Does Google’s entry into the electronic books market make you think twice about picking up an eReader like the Kindle or Sony Reader? Or are the gains in reduced eye strain, battery life and portability enough to make you interested in a specialized device?” http://mashable.com/2009/10/15/google-book-store/

]]> By: Brian O'Leary http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170477 Brian O'Leary Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:46:50 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170477 I (re-)read recently that the Latin roots of "decide" translate as "to murder alternatives". We are sometimes so driven to predict the future (to decide who wins) that we drive out niche and nuance. I think Kassia's right, that single-purpose devices have a role to play in the future. It will depend on the user's interests and commitment to reader. Not every kitchen has a convection oven, but certain cooking enthusiasts swear by them. And I'm not going to make toast using the top of the stove or the microwave. To borrow a phrase, when it comes to what will survice, follow the reader. I (re-)read recently that the Latin roots of “decide” translate as “to murder alternatives”. We are sometimes so driven to predict the future (to decide who wins) that we drive out niche and nuance.

I think Kassia’s right, that single-purpose devices have a role to play in the future. It will depend on the user’s interests and commitment to reader. Not every kitchen has a convection oven, but certain cooking enthusiasts swear by them. And I’m not going to make toast using the top of the stove or the microwave. To borrow a phrase, when it comes to what will survice, follow the reader.

]]> By: Theresa M. Moore http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170473 Theresa M. Moore Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:36:47 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170473 The only reason I started publishing to Kindle in the first place was to widen the marketplace for my books. I also have published in a variety of formats to other ereader devices, but I have yet to realize any notable success from doing so. In the end, the competition between ebooksellers is just as fierce as with the print books, and until there is a greater desire to buy ereaders among serious readers, that will dampen any author's ability to "keep up" with the Jones's. The only reason I started publishing to Kindle in the first place was to widen the marketplace for my books. I also have published in a variety of formats to other ereader devices, but I have yet to realize any notable success from doing so. In the end, the competition between ebooksellers is just as fierce as with the print books, and until there is a greater desire to buy ereaders among serious readers, that will dampen any author’s ability to “keep up” with the Jones’s.

]]> By: Paula Krapf http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170472 Paula Krapf Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:14:14 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170472 You've captured how I feel about my Kindle. I have a BlackBerry and love it, but I love that my Kindle is for focusing on books (and some newspapers and magazines). And I appreciate the ability to adjust font sizes; I know I'm near-sighted but the fonts and font sizes in some print books make them practically unreadable. My Kindle has also paid for itself many times over and it even resolved an unexpected problem: when clients' books were shipped to me, sometimes the books disappeared en route. Now I can simply send the PDF to Kindle and I'm set. You’ve captured how I feel about my Kindle. I have a BlackBerry and love it, but I love that my Kindle is for focusing on books (and some newspapers and magazines).

And I appreciate the ability to adjust font sizes; I know I’m near-sighted but the fonts and font sizes in some print books make them practically unreadable.

My Kindle has also paid for itself many times over and it even resolved an unexpected problem: when clients’ books were shipped to me, sometimes the books disappeared en route. Now I can simply send the PDF to Kindle and I’m set.

]]> By: Emily W. http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170471 Emily W. Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:33:24 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170471 I just think it turns into a lot of stuff to carry around - say business blackberry + private phone + ereader etc. I would love a multipurpose device that's also a really good reader, and has advantages that only work in reader mode like turning off the backlight and connectivity and saving enough on power consumption to use the gadget for 10-12 hours (where o where is my PixelQi netbook?). I just think it turns into a lot of stuff to carry around – say business blackberry + private phone + ereader etc. I would love a multipurpose device that’s also a really good reader, and has advantages that only work in reader mode like turning off the backlight and connectivity and saving enough on power consumption to use the gadget for 10-12 hours (where o where is my PixelQi netbook?).

]]> By: Colleen Lindsay http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/comment-page-1/#comment-170470 Colleen Lindsay Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:55:43 +0000 http://booksquare.com/in-defense-of-single-purpose-use-devices/#comment-170470 I like single purpose devices for the battery life alone. Reading on my old Palm PDA (which I loved!) meant charging every single day. Reading on my Sony Reader means charging maybe every two weeks? If that. I like single purpose devices for the battery life alone. Reading on my old Palm PDA (which I loved!) meant charging every single day. Reading on my Sony Reader means charging maybe every two weeks? If that.

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