Comments on: eReaders http://angryrobotbooks.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/ereaders/ “Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.” - T. Pratchett Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:32:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Matt Keefe http://angryrobotbooks.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/ereaders/#comment-65 Matt Keefe Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:19:26 +0000 http://angryrobotbooks.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-65 An iBrary, you might say... An iBrary, you might say…

]]> By: George Stirling http://angryrobotbooks.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/ereaders/#comment-64 George Stirling Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:11:57 +0000 http://angryrobotbooks.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-64 The iRex iLiad does allow you to mark up files. I'm half-tempted to get one for editing purposes, but the sheer outlay is putting me off. As for dimensions: the greater book-reading public need coaxing into the 'e-book revolution', and giving them something with familiar dimensions is part of that. Also, anything that's designed to be displayed as a full page (illustrations, cleverly typeset material, etc.) will work better when displayed as intended. Give it another five years, and e-readers may get there. I suspect we need a reduction in cost, full-colour, decent refresh rates, the ability to annotate, a user-friendly interface and format freedom before then. Oh, and let's not forget that the majority of readers don't read many books. There's no sense in buying a dedicated e-reader if you only read five books a year. The iRex iLiad does allow you to mark up files. I’m half-tempted to get one for editing purposes, but the sheer outlay is putting me off.

As for dimensions: the greater book-reading public need coaxing into the ‘e-book revolution’, and giving them something with familiar dimensions is part of that. Also, anything that’s designed to be displayed as a full page (illustrations, cleverly typeset material, etc.) will work better when displayed as intended.

Give it another five years, and e-readers may get there. I suspect we need a reduction in cost, full-colour, decent refresh rates, the ability to annotate, a user-friendly interface and format freedom before then.

Oh, and let’s not forget that the majority of readers don’t read many books. There’s no sense in buying a dedicated e-reader if you only read five books a year.

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