E-readers could play second-fiddle to tablets

This kindof makes me a little sad. I hate reading books etc on tablet - my eyes tend to take strain after some time. So I still prefer the e-ink display of the Kindle...

But either way, if they can adapt the e-ink displays for other uses, then good for them. I thought that would be the idea of any tech business in the modern world - its adapt or die. Can't be relying on single focus streams these days...
 
I have both a tablet (iPad) and a Kindle 3G.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both:

Kindle:

For: Lighter and easier to hold. Easier on the eyes, especially for a marathon reading session. You can place your hand on the button and instinctively flip a page as opposed to moving your hand and turning the page on the iPad (iPad is closer to a book experience).

Against: Can't read in a dark room, so if its lights out then you can't read in bed.

iPad:

For: Backlit display, can read in a dark room.

Against: Heavy ... and feels heavier after a while. I must say I haven't been able to read for a long time on an iPad, and the eye strain is a small factor, but mostly that it has so many other things that you can do with it (I'm easily distracted).

I purchased the Kindle mostly for the kids, because I can leave it with them in their room and know they can do nothing else but read. If the iPad is in the room, then sure enough little reading will get done. I find the same seems to apply to me! :)
 
I really like the idea that you can read e-ink display in bright daylight. This is not possible with LCD displays of tablets.

If they can make high-contrast high-resolution colour e-ink displays, it would be great for reading, especially e-Magazines.

The other problem to overcome is with e-ink displays that you need to erase the whole display before a refresh.
For this reason it is not possible to display video content on e-ink displays (at present).
 
E-readers must be treated as appliances as they have a single task and are very good ay it. Now with front lighting, they have overcome their biggest challenge.
I don't believe they will disapear all together.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
E-readers must be treated as appliances as they have a single task and are very good ay it. Now with front lighting, they have overcome their biggest challenge.
I don't believe they will disapear all together.
Click to expand...

Just like dedicated MP3 players. I totally agree. Not everyone can read on an lcd display.
 
JayN said:
There are advantages and disadvantages of both:
Click to expand...

Amazon has an excellent cover with built-in light for the Kindle. I had one before I got rid of my Kindle (now read on the iPad), but my husband still uses his. My husband has kept his Kindle as he associates it with reading, while his iPad is for work and Internet.

I use my iPad exclusively - I read magazines and books on it, sometimes for 5-6 hours at a time (with a 5 minute break every hour or so), and haven't noticed any strain on my eyes. I do most of my reading in the lounge, on the sofa, with my iPad resting on the arm of the sofa - I have a 360 cover so easily switch between portrait and landscape - so also not bothered by the difference in weight between the two devices.
 
Reading on a tablet for extended periods is god awful. E-ink has a future, it will either be just in a lesser quantity in e-readers and will move into watches and other appliances or it will innovate and find a way to display colour, in which case it could be massive in e-readers for magazine and newspaper editions as well as advertising and many other applications.
 
bokka1 said:
I am in the market for an e-reader and see that Pick 'n Pay are selling the Kobo for R995.00. http://www.picknpay.co.za/picknpay/content/en/kobo-touch

This type of article is a bit worrying though.

How good is a normal tablet for reading?

(I want it specifically as a reading device)
Click to expand...
The usefulness of a tablet as a reading device is directly linked to the quality of the screen. So you might get one of those cheapo MSI Windpads or something thinking you can use it and find out it's impossible to read on. On iPad2 I got by just fine but the low resolution was difficult over the long term. On the Nexus7 I actually really enjoyed it. On the iPad3 it's just an absolute pleasure. If the brightness bothers you, you just turn it down to your comfort levels.
 
chris_meier said:
Amazon has an excellent cover with built-in light for the Kindle.
Click to expand...
No need for those anymore
KC-slate-01-lg._V389678398_.jpg
 
What you need is a tablet which has an e-ink screen layer. Anything short of this and it's better to have them seperated IMO.
 
I have an iPad and got a Kindle Touch a few weeks ago as a gift. It's a really nice device for reading. I also have a few games on it which I managed to buy off the international store before they shut me out (Scrabble, Blackjack, Solitaire, Checkers, Chess). It's great value. iPad is way too distracting for reading and it's too big and gets heavy and uncomfortable to hold after some time.

Edit: I also bought an LED clip on light for night reading and the weight it adds is not even noticeable to me.
 
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I don't really understand why people harp on about the refresh speed. It is more than fast enough for a book. It's not like you sit there waiting for the page to turn.

Big drawbacks for tablets are their price, weight and atrocious battery life. They also lack simplicity for people who simply want to read text-based books.

I'm not surprised that e-reader sales are tapering off in mature markets. Part of what drove sales was new people buying and current owners upgrading to get improvements. I'd be surprised if most people who want one in those countries don't already have one and the latest models are not necessarily a compelling upgrade. But there are vast numbers of people elsewhere who are not anywhere near that point. Maybe by the time they're switching over to ebooks tablets will also cost $90 and have comparable or better text quality along with similar battery life, but by then e-readers might also be even cheaper. I'd guess their demise is quite a way off yet.

JayN said:
For: Backlit display, can read in a dark room.
Click to expand...
If you can use that then a small light on an e-reader will be fine too
 
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