Another NYT column

[Ann in Arlington]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/technology/personaltech/10TAB.html

This one seems pretty fair. . . .didn't notice any obvious falsehoods or exaggerations. . . .though not very deep. . .

[MicroBeta]

I read that yesterday.  I was a pretty good story.

It was also realistic in acknowledging that dedicated readers will be around for a long time to come. 

I’ve seen the iPad and I can’t imagine reading a book while out on my deck in the backyard.  It faces south and even under the awning that glossy screen will be very hard to deal with.  My 48 year old eyes are having a hard enough time without having to deal with the glare. 

I use an iPhone and I’m not sure I would want all that on my reader.  Heck with AT&T’s new data pricing structure it could pretty expensive to use it for much more than reading and non-web connected apps.

I’ve read on many electronic devices and so far, e-ink has been the best on my eyes for long term reading, and with the big screen on my DX I’m all set.  Plus my wife likes not having books laying all over the house any more.  Although I did just buy a hard cover that’s not available as an ebook, so she is complaining when I leave that on kitchen table or on the floor next to my chair. 

Mike

[StarGazer]

That Alex looks pretty nice and incorporates the best of both worlds but at a $400 price tag it's not an option for me. The way I look at it is my moto droid smartphone does all that and is always in my pocket. But the one thing it does not do well is reading which is why all I need is a dedicated reader. Anything else like going on the web, checking email, the phone takes care of very well. So for me the Alex is not worth it. The Kindle still remains the top choice for me. I'm holding out probably 1 more month to see if anything Kindle related is announced like a new model or price cut on the existing Kindle. Then I will bite as the 30 day return policy will pretty much carry me through August which all these rumors are pointing.

[PhillipA82]

Good read...

[fancynancy]

Thanks for posting this.  I had no idea that Barnes & Noble has a lot more e-books than Amazon!  The free books don't interest me so much, but even without them, sounds like B&N has about 1M e-books to Amazons 540,000.  Am I understanding that correctly?

For me, as long as there's no back-lit screen, the best device is the one with the easiest access to the most mainstream books. 

[Ann in Arlington]

That Alex looks pretty nice and incorporates the best of both worlds but at a $400 price tag it's not an option for me. The way I look at it is my moto droid smartphone does all that and is always in my pocket. But the one thing it does not do well is reading which is why all I need is a dedicated reader. Anything else like going on the web, checking email, the phone takes care of very well. So for me the Alex is not worth it. The Kindle still remains the top choice for me. I'm holding out probably 1 more month to see if anything Kindle related is announced like a new model or price cut on the existing Kindle. Then I will bite as the 30 day return policy will pretty much carry me through August which all these rumors are pointing.

I had the same thoughts. . .especially since I just got a DROID.    I noted, though, that, according to the article, you can't get apps from the Droid Marketplace. . . .or maybe that there isn't a dedicated link to it. . . but in my experience (yes, very limited, I've only had the thing 3 days) you have to get all apps from the device. . . .To me, that limits the usefullness of the android based browser screen on the Alex.  And, of course, it's only WiFi, not 3G. . .though WiFi is getting more and more prevalent in populated areas. . . . .

(Amazon has said there's a Droid app coming for Kindle. . . there's a thread in "Not Quite Kindle" called "Just Got a Motorola Droid" that has a link to where you can sign up to be notified when it's available.)

[lonestar]

fancynancy- The article does say that doesn't it?   Hmmm!

I consider myself still a new Kindle owner (January 2010) and am still loving it.  Part of that goes to the fact that I have been an Amazon customer for many years.  I know it and find shopping there so easy.

I do think that one day I will buy an IPad or something like it so that I can keep from carrying my laptop when I'm on the go.  It won't be for reading as much as for computing- writing, research, email, etc.

Sounds like Barnes and Noble is speeding right along.

[Ann in Arlington]

FancyNancy, B&N count all the google books that are, in fact, available via the interface on the nook. 

Amazon has 607,440 books, as of this typing plus access to books from a number of other sites.  There's a good comparison of who has what in this blog:

http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/stables-of-contents/

(You can subscribe to this blog on your Kindle, by the way. . . 99¢ a month)

[lonestar]

Thank you Ann in Arlington.  Good information.

[fancynancy]

FancyNancy, B&N count all the google books that are, in fact, available via the interface on the nook. 

Amazon has 607,440 books, as of this typing plus access to books from a number of other sites.  There's a good comparison of who has what in this blog:

http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/stables-of-contents/

(You can subscribe to this blog on your Kindle, by the way. . . 99¢ a month)

Excellent blog, Ann!  Thanks for sharing.  I think I'll subscribe. 

[Ann in Arlington]

I quite like it. . . .the only thing he does that I think is unnecessary is that he won't post the names or links to books that have text to speech disabled.  I personally don't care, but he's taken a stand and he's not obnoxious about it; it's just how he feels.  In everything he writes he's always courteous, fair, and well researched. . . . .

Another good one is "A Kindle World" whose author is actually a member here. . . . also always reasoned and clear. . .also available by subscription. . . . .

[BTackitt]

/Nod I totally Agree, the ONLY thing I miss from not going to "the other boards" is Bufo's insightful help. That posting is PERFECT. I am printing out a few copies now, and will carry them with my Kindle when I am out in public. Someone asks me why my Kindle, I will hand them that to read.

[Guido Henkel]

The NYT article, of course ,conveniently forgot to mention that the limited battery life makes the iPad virtually unusable as a serious eBook reader, not to mention that the backlit LCD display is not exactly making reading more pleasant either despite it's many colors.