Kindle
I’ve placed an order for an e-book reader: the first-generation Amazon Kindle. I’ve been interested in a good e-book reader for about 8 years, but what I previously thought was going to be the best, the Everybook, failed to bloom. It was many times as expensive and heavy, and used LCD screens.
I sat down some years ago and put together a checklist of what I wanted in an e-book reader. They were:
- Lightweight
- Electronic paper
- Long battery live
- Expandable storage
- Ability to be annotated
- Multiple format support
- Price under $500
- Fold-open design to see two facing pages
- Viewable area at least as large as a paperback
- Hackable!
Only the first seven are guaranteed. This is only a one-page reader, however, rather than a two-page reader. The viewing area is only 6 inches diagonally. And I’m not sure whether it’s going to be hackable, but I’ll try my best. But Amazon added a whole bunch of extra functionality: MP3 player, free wireless access to buy books or download content while seeing Amazon reviews, free browsing of Wikipedia, an email address for the device. I think this all adds up to “good enough for now”.
Notice how everything is converging? My ideal reader today would support full-motion video, color, advanced music playlist management, email, telephony, touch-sensitivity; it would be a replacement for a separate book reader, phone, mp3 player, PDA, calculator, and laptop.
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November 25th, 2007 at 15h15
So your ideal reader of today is a laptop?
Sorry to let the snark out.
=)
November 25th, 2007 at 17h17
Time for Hunting of the Snark:
More like a double tablet PC, with the two joined along the long side, at a tenth of the weight, with non-reflective screens, and no overheating.