Comment The upside of e-books (Score 1) 206
I think that JK may have underestimated many of the upsides of even linear e-texts.
E-books have numerous advantages over dead-tree paper books (p-books). I guess that I should limit that to PDA based e-books. I agree that reading a book looking at a PC is hardly what I'd call a good way to get into a book. However the PDA has changed all of that. I've had a PalmPilot long before anyone was making a big noise about e-books. I have it with me all the time both as a PIM, but also as a repository of ideas that pop into my head. I will always have something like that with me - as far as I can see. Now that I can add to that utility with e-books, my dependence has gone up further. If you have not tried it, it is truly better than p-books. Primarily, it is a nicer way to read - I can change the font, it has a built in backlight, I can add bookmarks and notes, and I can read it one handed (stop grinning - I have infants and holding book open is a real pain). If you are infirmed, it is much easier to spend all day on your back reading a book on a palm than a p-book. I can always have several e-books with me and the pilot is smaller and lighter than any p-book.
I must say that I could never see the standalone e-books (such as rocket... Spending even 200 dollars for something to read books on seems silly - it must take a long time to amortize that over p-books. Add to that, they tried to make it look so much like a book that it took away the advantages that a smaller format (read Palm series) brings to the equation.
One reader commented as to why they might not like a PDA based e-book - battery life. This is another area where the Palm shines. Two AAA batteries last on the order of 2 months. You can leave the thing at your bedside for weeks without worrying about the batteries running down overnight - like with most CE devices.
There are good sources (peanutpress.com) of easily downloadable new e-books - no fuss, no muss - that have very good readers.
The downsides are being able to lend out a book (ignoring the cracking issue) and having something to display proudly on your bookshelf.
Reading e-books on PDA's is a reality, and is quite pleasant. This includes plain old linear stories - which have been with us since the dawn of language, and will be with us 'till the dusk of language :-)
E-books have numerous advantages over dead-tree paper books (p-books). I guess that I should limit that to PDA based e-books. I agree that reading a book looking at a PC is hardly what I'd call a good way to get into a book. However the PDA has changed all of that. I've had a PalmPilot long before anyone was making a big noise about e-books. I have it with me all the time both as a PIM, but also as a repository of ideas that pop into my head. I will always have something like that with me - as far as I can see. Now that I can add to that utility with e-books, my dependence has gone up further. If you have not tried it, it is truly better than p-books. Primarily, it is a nicer way to read - I can change the font, it has a built in backlight, I can add bookmarks and notes, and I can read it one handed (stop grinning - I have infants and holding book open is a real pain). If you are infirmed, it is much easier to spend all day on your back reading a book on a palm than a p-book. I can always have several e-books with me and the pilot is smaller and lighter than any p-book.
I must say that I could never see the standalone e-books (such as rocket... Spending even 200 dollars for something to read books on seems silly - it must take a long time to amortize that over p-books. Add to that, they tried to make it look so much like a book that it took away the advantages that a smaller format (read Palm series) brings to the equation.
One reader commented as to why they might not like a PDA based e-book - battery life. This is another area where the Palm shines. Two AAA batteries last on the order of 2 months. You can leave the thing at your bedside for weeks without worrying about the batteries running down overnight - like with most CE devices.
There are good sources (peanutpress.com) of easily downloadable new e-books - no fuss, no muss - that have very good readers.
The downsides are being able to lend out a book (ignoring the cracking issue) and having something to display proudly on your bookshelf.
Reading e-books on PDA's is a reality, and is quite pleasant. This includes plain old linear stories - which have been with us since the dawn of language, and will be with us 'till the dusk of language
