Comments on: Why eBook readers need a few more years yet

By: BoSacks

BoSacks — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:16:18 +0000

I have to disagree. I have not used the BeBook but I have reviewed for publication the Kindle and the Sony eReader. The page turning is a figment of your imagination. If you clocked it the e-paper page turning takes the same amount of time as analog page turning.

I would suggest that you are just more comfortable as yet with the dead tree version of page changing. This will get better and faster as time goes on.

There are better technologies on the horizon. The nest epaper technology will be LCD. And yesterday Liquidvista announced a joint effort of themselves and Plastic Logic to manufacture the 3rd generation of new e-paper technology called electro-wetting. This will be full color and flexible epaper. We are right around the corner to a glorious reading experience. You can’t have the light without the dark and you can’t get to fabulous e-readers without the current less-than-perfect devices.

By: urbansync

urbansync — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:57:38 +0000

Or just use an ipod touch/iphone – Stanza is hands-down the best e-book reader I’ve found (and I’ve tried most of them professionally and personally). And no, you *won’t need* to squint to read text on the super-detailed, font-sizeable screen. And yes, you *can* read long novels without getting ‘tired’. And yes, you can read in bed with the lights out. Page transitions are instant with the tap of your thumb. It is well worth a try.

By: Ian P. Christian

Ian P. Christian — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:57:22 +0000

I’ve owned a bebook for a couple of months. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a slow reader, or more patient, but I don’t get so bothered by the page turn lag. It remembers your last page if you exit/re-enter a book – so you don’t need to scan though pages at a time. It is a real problem when you’re reading books the require you to flick backwards and forwards, there’s bookmarking support, but that only helps a little.

The fact is though, that there is no better screen technology for reading from at the moment that’s commercially available. So sure, eInk takes a little while to reload, but.. it’s the best there is. For those not wanting to wait at least a year for something better to come along… I defiantly advise the BeBook.

I have a video on my blog showing how long it takes to change pages, which might help some of you decide: http://pookey.co.uk/blog/archives/61-BeBook-review.html

By: David Wright

David Wright — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:05:46 +0000

It depends what sort of book you are reading. Most novels, biographies, technical manuals etc. would not benefit from colour, it would actually distract from the experience…

Anyway, let me know how it copes with the reader spending an hour in a steaming hot bath. If it doesn’t suffer any side effects, I might be interested…