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What Will It Take For eBook Adoption?

Posted by michael on from the chicken-and-egg-problem dept.

zmcnulty writes "Gizmodo has a new weekly feature that appears to be off to a great start: their first 'Feature Creep' writeup (by Sanford May) is an excellent overview of some of the obstacles standing in the way of adoption of eBooks, and more importantly, a handheld device that supports them. We've probably all heard of the Sony Librie's lukewarm reception, but if you're not familiar with the somewhat stunted eBook market, this is an excellent essay to get you on your way."

5 of 511 comments (clear)

  1. Easy by jACL · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just some tweaks to the interface. Every 500 wor words should be displayed on an individual sheet of e-paper (double-sided) with the PGDN and PGUP functions controlled by turning the page. Oh, and it should also be portable, and rely on solar energy for illumination.

    --
    "It remains to be seen if the human brain is powerful enough to solve the problems it has created." Dr. Richard Wallace
  2. a readcast flag by musikit · · Score: 1, Funny

    easy as soon as the publisher of the book can only authorize 1 person to view the book and only on 1 device then e-books will take off.

    think broadcast flag for reading.

  3. Re:Reading too much on the screen by Short+Circuit · · Score: 3, Funny

    E-books fail for me because I would rather read somewhere else than infront of my computer screen.

    So what are you doing on Slashdot?

    --
    tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
  4. Re:It will happen eventually by blackest_k · · Score: 2, Funny
    Perhaps part of it is that I find it far easier to flip back in a book to a passage that I want to reread. I also like having a small pile of books on my bed from which I can grab when I go to bed.
    "Like most men that have been single for a while I have turned half my bed in to a desk." -Harry Hill
    --
    Blarney Quality Restaurant, Plants
  5. Why is this tech any different? by 1024x768 · · Score: 2, Funny

    We are /. We know that for a tech to achieve mass commercial success you need one thing: pornography. Why is this tech any different?

    One area of ebook/epub that is doing OK is "Erotic Romantic Fiction" among women. (Think romance novels with lots of sex.) http://loose-id.com/ http://ellorascave.com/