Paper Books or eBooks?

Bob Russell · 05-01-2005, 11:25 PM

It's the battle of the decade from my standpoint. I don't think there will be a single winner, at least for a very long time because both sides have some valid points and there is a place for each.

Check out a renewal of the discussion in the Palm Addicts forum.

rlauzon · 05-02-2005, 06:16 AM

The only reason that eBooks have taken off so far is that we are already carrying around devices that can read them and it's very convienent to have something to read while we are unexpectedly standing in a long line at the store.

For eBooks to replace paper books they will have to come up with a technology that has an extremely long battery life and is very durable (i.e. water proof, shock proof). The technology simply isn't there yet. eInk looks to be the best technology so far, but it's not ready for prime time yet.

Today, the best thing is the "print on demand kiosk" that I've seen prototypes of. Bookstores simply become showrooms and will generate a book on demand. This should significantly lower the cost of paper books and increase the selection that bookstores carry.

Alexander Turcic · 05-02-2005, 06:46 AM

I don't think e-books will or should ever substitute paper books; instead they supplement the latter by offering certain advantages such as high portability and easier access.

When I was still at college I loved to hang out in the library stocks and sometimes skim through hundreds of paper books. Now, even if these books had been offered as e-books back then, I don't think it would have had been the same rewarding experience. For instance, very often, when I checked out one book, I noticed another book that was just sitting next to it, and I discovered it later to be an even better resource than the one I was originally looking for. How would that be possible with e-books, where physical dimensions are not existant? Sure, someone like Google could come up with a nice search algorithm and present "related" books, but that you can do already today for paper books with a good library computer system. My point is that sometimes you have to see and almost feel a book to appreciate its usefulness.

rlauzon · 05-02-2005, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander

For instance, very often, when I checked out one book, I noticed another book that was just sitting next to it, and I discovered it later to be an even better resource than the one I was originally looking for. How would that be possible with e-books, where physical dimensions are not existant?

You know, I never really thought about that. Now that I think about it, many's the time I've gone to the bookstore to get BookX and ended up buying BookY (and sometimes BookZ, BookA and BookB

).

But that's the problem with online bookstores in general - not just eBooks. You can't really browse the selection. They are really good at letting you find the book you want if you know the title, but it's pretty hard to go to Amazon.com and find the book you want if you only have a vague idea of what you want. That's why I still go to physical bookstores once in a while.

hacker · 05-03-2005, 10:02 AM

What we really need is the ebook equivalent of Delicious Library for browsing...

Brad · 05-08-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hacker

What we really need is the ebook equivalent of Delicious Library for browsing...

Hacker I think you are right on that. Such a thing would be very useful for ebooks.

Quote:

For instance, very often, when I checked out one book, I noticed another book that was just sitting next to it,...

About the only thing that comes close to this online is the "People who bought title X also liked title Y..." sort of thing that Amazon and, to a lesser extent, Fictionwise does. It is not the same but it helps.

Techick · 05-10-2005, 10:18 AM

For the water and shock proof issues, I use an Otterbox for those times and it works great, did a lot of reading at the pool last year

For finding new authors, I simply browse through the categories that I like, check out the new releases and the best seller sections also to get an idea as to who's good and who's not. Plus most of the online dealers have where you can rate the ebook, that helps, and if the author has more then 2 books then they are usually decent. Oh and the price of the book "you get what you pay for" for the most part

Plus you can always start a thread here to find recommendations

Alexander Turcic · 05-10-2005, 11:24 AM

Hah! Reading e-books at the pool. Haven't thought about that before. It may come handy this summer, so thank you for the tip, Technick! Is that the Otterbox you were talking about?

Techick · 05-10-2005, 12:35 PM

Acutally I have this one right now, http://www.otterbox.com/product.cfm?product=103&code=NA.

You can't KILL that box so if it gets ruffed up at the beach, my Clie is fine!

Plus it seems to hold the temp better so my Clie doesnt' get roasted

Alexander Turcic · 05-10-2005, 12:51 PM

Wow... already the name sounds intriguing. Armor 3600

I see how it is better than the product I was looking at. You can actually USE your PDA while you are in the water. Not bad at all. But $100 USD is quite a lot of money... question: does the screen go foggy in heat?

cbarnett · 05-10-2005, 10:24 PM

What a product! Not a bad idea for the beach or pool (or anywhere else that might environmentally damage your pda). The cost is pretty high, but it looks _very_ robust, and remember what you're protecting, and how much it cost as well.

Craig.

Techick · 05-11-2005, 08:45 AM

The screen doesn't really get foggie, though sometimes int he tub it does, but that's a HOT tub!

Also, I think they are the ones that suggested it, but you save those little silicon thingies from new shoes and med's and stuff and put those in there to keep the moisure down

There used to be a $50 model which was nice also, I had that one before. I only got this one through luck and then passed on my previous model to someone else. But the main advantage for me with this one, is being able to listen to my MP3's or audio ebooks while using the case to protect the Clie.

I agree with the cost thing, it's a lot but if you are going to use it, and it can go with different models as you change and upgrade, then it's like an insurance investment to me. I'll always have a PDA/Smartphone, so I invested about 2 yrs ago and still think it was a great idea!

Bob Russell · 05-15-2005, 11:19 AM

Another idea from xred123 in the Palm Addicts forums

Quote:

...I have no problem putting my Palm in a ziplock bag and reading in the tub. I would be very afraid to read a real book in the tub, one wrong splash or turn a page with a wet hand and the whole book could be ruined.

Sort of like "case freeware!"

Techick · 05-17-2005, 05:56 PM

yeah the only problems are the humidity and the lack of protection agianst any shocks to the PDA

But I know people who carry a ziploc around in their backpacks in case of a sudden rainstorm

doctorow · 05-18-2005, 04:15 AM

You guys read about that Aussie kid who got seriously injured after his mom had thrown his iPod in a washing machine? OK, not the same story but I would still be curious if there was any danger in using an electrical device under my shower

05-01-2005, 11:25 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Paper Books or eBooks? It's the battle of the decade from my standpoint. I don't think there will be a single winner, at least for a very long time because both sides have some valid points and there is a place for each. Check out a renewal of the discussion in the Palm Addicts forum.

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05-02-2005, 06:16 AM	#2
rlauzon Wizard Posts: 1,018 Karma: 67827 Join Date: Jan 2005 Device: PocketBook Era	The only reason that eBooks have taken off so far is that we are already carrying around devices that can read them and it's very convienent to have something to read while we are unexpectedly standing in a long line at the store. For eBooks to replace paper books they will have to come up with a technology that has an extremely long battery life and is very durable (i.e. water proof, shock proof). The technology simply isn't there yet. eInk looks to be the best technology so far, but it's not ready for prime time yet. Today, the best thing is the "print on demand kiosk" that I've seen prototypes of. Bookstores simply become showrooms and will generate a book on demand. This should significantly lower the cost of paper books and increase the selection that bookstores carry.

05-02-2005, 06:46 AM	#3
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I don't think e-books will or should ever substitute paper books; instead they supplement the latter by offering certain advantages such as high portability and easier access. When I was still at college I loved to hang out in the library stocks and sometimes skim through hundreds of paper books. Now, even if these books had been offered as e-books back then, I don't think it would have had been the same rewarding experience. For instance, very often, when I checked out one book, I noticed another book that was just sitting next to it, and I discovered it later to be an even better resource than the one I was originally looking for. How would that be possible with e-books, where physical dimensions are not existant? Sure, someone like Google could come up with a nice search algorithm and present "related" books, but that you can do already today for paper books with a good library computer system. My point is that sometimes you have to see and almost feel a book to appreciate its usefulness.

05-03-2005, 10:02 AM	#5
hacker Technology Mercenary Posts: 617 Karma: 2561 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East Lyme, CT Device: Direct Neural Implant	What we really need is the ebook equivalent of Delicious Library for browsing...

05-10-2005, 10:18 AM	#7
Techick insane for MORE TOYS! Posts: 34 Karma: 13 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Device: NX80 and Treo 650	For the water and shock proof issues, I use an Otterbox for those times and it works great, did a lot of reading at the pool last year For finding new authors, I simply browse through the categories that I like, check out the new releases and the best seller sections also to get an idea as to who's good and who's not. Plus most of the online dealers have where you can rate the ebook, that helps, and if the author has more then 2 books then they are usually decent. Oh and the price of the book "you get what you pay for" for the most part Plus you can always start a thread here to find recommendations

05-10-2005, 11:24 AM	#8
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Hah! Reading e-books at the pool. Haven't thought about that before. It may come handy this summer, so thank you for the tip, Technick! Is that the Otterbox you were talking about?

05-10-2005, 12:35 PM	#9
Techick insane for MORE TOYS! Posts: 34 Karma: 13 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Device: NX80 and Treo 650	Acutally I have this one right now, http://www.otterbox.com/product.cfm?product=103&code=NA. You can't KILL that box so if it gets ruffed up at the beach, my Clie is fine! Plus it seems to hold the temp better so my Clie doesnt' get roasted

05-10-2005, 12:51 PM	#10
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Wow... already the name sounds intriguing. Armor 3600 I see how it is better than the product I was looking at. You can actually USE your PDA while you are in the water. Not bad at all. But $100 USD is quite a lot of money... question: does the screen go foggy in heat?

05-10-2005, 10:24 PM	#11
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	What a product! Not a bad idea for the beach or pool (or anywhere else that might environmentally damage your pda). The cost is pretty high, but it looks _very_ robust, and remember what you're protecting, and how much it cost as well. Craig.

05-11-2005, 08:45 AM	#12
Techick insane for MORE TOYS! Posts: 34 Karma: 13 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Device: NX80 and Treo 650	The screen doesn't really get foggie, though sometimes int he tub it does, but that's a HOT tub! Also, I think they are the ones that suggested it, but you save those little silicon thingies from new shoes and med's and stuff and put those in there to keep the moisure down There used to be a $50 model which was nice also, I had that one before. I only got this one through luck and then passed on my previous model to someone else. But the main advantage for me with this one, is being able to listen to my MP3's or audio ebooks while using the case to protect the Clie. I agree with the cost thing, it's a lot but if you are going to use it, and it can go with different models as you change and upgrade, then it's like an insurance investment to me. I'll always have a PDA/Smartphone, so I invested about 2 yrs ago and still think it was a great idea!

05-17-2005, 05:56 PM	#14
Techick insane for MORE TOYS! Posts: 34 Karma: 13 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Device: NX80 and Treo 650	yeah the only problems are the humidity and the lack of protection agianst any shocks to the PDA But I know people who carry a ziploc around in their backpacks in case of a sudden rainstorm

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05-18-2005, 04:15 AM	#15
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	You guys read about that Aussie kid who got seriously injured after his mom had thrown his iPod in a washing machine? OK, not the same story but I would still be curious if there was any danger in using an electrical device under my shower