Multifunctional ebook readers revisited
In an earlier post I wrote (Should ebook readers be multifunctional?), I argued that for the most part, when I sit down to read, I want to read with few distractions. I don’t a bulk of my reading on my Sony Pocket Edition Reader and have found myself doing less reading on my iPhone. Call me a purist, but sometimes I just want to read.
Publishing guru Joe Wikert, in his own blog post How the Kindle prevents eContent from evolving says that devices like the Kindle are hurting digital content by limiting themselves to just reading:
The problem with these devices is that they encourage quick print-to-e content conversion and nothing more. In fact, they even discourage some of the simplest ways of enhancing print-to-e conversions.
He goes on to say:
The irony is that although the Kindle was the first to include wireless functionality, that feature is really only good for one thing: buying content from Amazon. Every other time I’ve used the “experimental” browser I’ve been disappointed. That’s because, at its heart, the Kindle is a reader and it doesn’t encourage any other use.
On one hand, I understand where Joe is coming from. Enhancing literature with links to more information can really illuminate a text in ways that has never been possible before. And that’s great! But Joe takes it a step further:
Are you really thrilled with the content that’s available on today’s dedicated e-readers? I’m not. And it’s not just color and video that I crave. I want to see a major leap forward, like when entertainment went from radio to TV, for example.
Color I can understand, especially for reading comic books. But video? The whole purpose for me to sit down with a book is to get away from television, the internet, YouTube and so forth. The last thing I want embedded in my eReader is video. Too much of a distraction for my tastes.
Like I said in my earlier posts, multifunctional devices are great, but not for everyone. Yes, I love my iPhone and read plenty of digital content on it. For my serious reading though, I turn to my no-frills Sony Pocket Edition.
Related posts
- Should ebook readers be multifunctional?
- Some coffee shops ban computers (including e-readers)
- Sony releases new ebook software, compatible with Mac, leaves out PRS-500 support
- Hatchette takes stand on text-to-speech functionality of ebook readers…kind of
- Read an Ebook Week now in progress…what are you reading?
Read More: Reading, Technology, The Interwebs, eBooks
