infmom.net
>> But so far I can't see any particular advantage to buying an expensive, single-purpose e-book reader. What do you all think? <<
I have to agree there. I see no particular virtue [for the consumer] to a multiplicity of single-purpose devices when a general purpose one [with suitable apps, as needed] can fulfill the several roles.
Best regards, 4merCL
Doug YriartLinux Rocks!
>> One argument I've seen in favor of e-book readers is that the screen is much larger. But then, the price tag is too. :) <<
The screen in much larger than what?
In the realm of general purpose devices, mentioning laptops first since we are in the Laptop Forum, there are some up to 17 inch (diagonal) or more. Is the Kindle larger than that?
Moving on to general purpose desktop computers, one can readily find flat-screen monitors certainly larger than the Kindle, and indeed, capable of displaying two pages side by side [just like a "real" book].
Price tag? If one already has the GP device, possibly wants to upgrade to a large screen monitor, I've seen some at a $159 price point. I've no idea what the single purpose Kindle is priced at.
You are missing the point. A laptop does not fit into a purse or pocket; an e-book reader does. Your desktop isn't portable. You aren't going to take it on vacation loaded with a dozen books.
An e-book has a larger screen than a PDA. I haven't used one, but it's supposed to allow a more book-like experience than a PDA.
I can see good reasons for having one, in particular the ability to store MANY books in a device the size of one book. As I look around our small house, I see bookshelves lining every wall and every nook and cranny. I'd love to get some of those books into a small device, and if we move to a senior community (as we'd like to), we'd have even less space for books.
The price of the Kindle and other e-book readers is too high right now, but it will probably become more reasonable in the next couple of years.--Judy M.
Marte Msg #2 >> But so far I can't see any particular advantage to buying an expensive, single-purpose e-book reader. What do you all think? <<
Judy M >> You are missing the point. A laptop does not fit into a purse or pocket; an e-book reader does. Your desktop isn't portable. <<
Judy -- If Marte, who initiated this thread, did not cite "purse or pocketability", I hardly think that I am missing the point. Indeed, the two factors that she did cite were "expensive" and "single-purpose," and to those, I have responded.
Now, if you wish to introduce a new point, in terms of device dimensions and portability, by all means do so. While doing so, you might cite for the information of forum members the actual overall and screen dimensions and price range of your favorite e-book reader. I will confess to having neither owned nor seen an actual e-book reader, whether Kindle or another brand.
Well, excuuuuuse me.
If "the point" of Marte's Msg. #2 was the totally unstated physical dimensions of the device and (by my count this would be a second point) the totally unstated display screen technology .....
Well, pardon me for responding to the explicitly stated point that she made:
You know, it's kinda like baseball, the batter swings at the pitch that comes, not some other one that the pitcher might have been thinking about before he released the ball, and certainly not the one that might be proposed by a sidelines spectator after the fact.
BTW, my 10 inch (diagonal) netbook is only slightly larger (in footprint), and is thinner, than a print edition of an Arthur Hailey novel on my bookshelf. There is an 8.5 inch version of this netbook, but I don't happen to know how much reduction in overall footprint it would represent.
The topic of the poll is "Do you have an e-book reader?" An e-book is a specific device about the size of a paperback book that can contain hundreds of books in its internal storage. The poll does not ask about any sort of electronic device on which it's possible to read, but on a specific device.
So you do indeed miss the point. If you want to know specific dimensions, google is your friend. Otherwise trust us when we say an e-book reader is about the size of a paperback book.--Judy M.
Hello --
If Marte can make a reference to her PDA, and D.F. respond, not to the poll question at Msg. #1, but to Marte's Msg. #2 and introduce his Android phone, both without being chided as "clueless" because their posts went beyond the original title question asked at Msg. #1....
Then I fail to see why my Msg responding the Marte's specific question asked at Msg #2, in the specfiic context of "expensive" and "single purpose" marks me as "not getting the point," as though there were only one.
ADDENDUM: Now, is everybody ready to get back to the general topic of readers, their pros and cons, and alternatives to them.....and off of pointing fingers at other forum participants and labeling them "clueless" or other words to that effect?
