I downloaded this book from Apple because it sounded interesting and it was free. It is not the sort of book I would pay money to read. The description made it clear that this was a book with something to sell.
Bit literacy is the product and Hurst's company will gladly sell it to your company for a hefty fee. I don't begrudge Hurst for this or think any less of him, but I don't ever feel like paying for a marketing tool.
It turns out that the book has some good stuff in it. It also doesn't shy away from offering up details on using the system. So, if you are buried under bits(e-mail, photos, power points, etc) it may be worth paying a few
bucks.
The key to the whole system is rooted in standard productivity lore. Let the unimportant stuff vanish so you can focus on getting things done. Don't keep ten pictures of the same thing; only keep the best one. Don't save every scrap of e-mail because it buries the stuff you need to save.
Hurst is a proponent of inbox zero. You should empty your inbox at least once a day. E-mails are either junk to be discarded, to do items that need to be tracked, or information to b stored in an appropriate place. The inbox is not a place to keep to do items or information.
One other discussion I found interesting was the discussion of file formats for textual data. Hurst comes right out and says that Word, and its ilk, are never the proper choice for sharing text. He prefers plain text unless you require formatting. If formatting is required he prefers PDF.
Bit Literacy has some interesting ideas for writers as well. Hurst has a whole section on how to write in a bit literate manner. Basically it is all about front loading the point and brevity. Write in a way that respects that the reader is busy. This is not about pleasure it is about efficiency.
Hurst's book has some worthwhile points. There is something in there for anyone who uses a computer.
Showing posts with label e-book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label e-book. Show all posts
Dec 15, 2011
Apr 4, 2011
Naked Heat
I make no secret of my love for Castle. The mystery's are not puzzling and the plot is predictable, but the writing is fun and the the interplay between Castle and Beckett is sweet.
One of the other fun things about the show is that ABC actually has books written by Rick Castle that match the books he writes on the show. The second one, Naked Heat, came out late last year and I put a hold on it at the library almost immediately. My turn to read it just came round.
Like the show, the book is not going to win any awards or be mistaken for high culture. It is a quick read with a few laughs. It also sticks to the form of a modern police procedural novel.
The thing I like most about the novels is that they make me appreciate the TV show more. The dialog in the novels is snappy, but it doesn't have the same buddy quality that the actors bring to it. The characters in the book are flat compared to their TV counterparts despite the fact that the novel gives us glimpses of their interior thoughts. The action in the book lacks the funny tension of the TV show.
The cast is what makes Castle magic.
One of the other fun things about the show is that ABC actually has books written by Rick Castle that match the books he writes on the show. The second one, Naked Heat, came out late last year and I put a hold on it at the library almost immediately. My turn to read it just came round.
Like the show, the book is not going to win any awards or be mistaken for high culture. It is a quick read with a few laughs. It also sticks to the form of a modern police procedural novel.
The thing I like most about the novels is that they make me appreciate the TV show more. The dialog in the novels is snappy, but it doesn't have the same buddy quality that the actors bring to it. The characters in the book are flat compared to their TV counterparts despite the fact that the novel gives us glimpses of their interior thoughts. The action in the book lacks the funny tension of the TV show.
The cast is what makes Castle magic.
Mar 5, 2011
Overdrive for iOS
Overdrive finally came out with a solution for getting library books onto iOS devices. It took them long enough, but apparently not long enough.
At first the app was iPhone only (crazy for an e-book app) and it took a month for them to update it to a universal app. I didn't even bother with it until it was universal. The iPhone screen is great, but it is not my first choice for leisurely reading.
On the iPad it is a passable experience. The text is clear, pages turn using the standard tap on the side motion, and the interface is nice and sparse. Along the bottom you can see how far you are into the current chapter, but this display auto-hides and I found it tricky to bring back up consistently. There along the top there are buttons for getting to the TOC, adjusting text size, adjusting brightness, bookmarking, and getting to the main menu.
I found the text layout flat, but that could have been the e-book. I also found the lack of a dictionary troubling. I guess I've become spoiled by being able to look up words without leaving the book.
Getting books into the app is where it really falls down. To check books out of the library, you must leave the app and go to the library's web site. The app sort of helps you locate the right library, but the mechanics of it are poor. Basically you need to scroll through long lists. The Boston Public Library's site was OK on the iPad, but not great. Searching was terrible.
All in all the app is OK. It is not the one of the more polished e-book apps out there, but it will get library books onto your iPad.
At first the app was iPhone only (crazy for an e-book app) and it took a month for them to update it to a universal app. I didn't even bother with it until it was universal. The iPhone screen is great, but it is not my first choice for leisurely reading.
On the iPad it is a passable experience. The text is clear, pages turn using the standard tap on the side motion, and the interface is nice and sparse. Along the bottom you can see how far you are into the current chapter, but this display auto-hides and I found it tricky to bring back up consistently. There along the top there are buttons for getting to the TOC, adjusting text size, adjusting brightness, bookmarking, and getting to the main menu.
I found the text layout flat, but that could have been the e-book. I also found the lack of a dictionary troubling. I guess I've become spoiled by being able to look up words without leaving the book.
Getting books into the app is where it really falls down. To check books out of the library, you must leave the app and go to the library's web site. The app sort of helps you locate the right library, but the mechanics of it are poor. Basically you need to scroll through long lists. The Boston Public Library's site was OK on the iPad, but not great. Searching was terrible.
All in all the app is OK. It is not the one of the more polished e-book apps out there, but it will get library books onto your iPad.
Jun 6, 2010
iBooks
I've now read a book using iBooks on my iPad.
Overall, it was a positive experience. The text is crisp and I didn't find the backlit screen fatiguing. I liked that I could dim the backlighting when I was reading in bed or adjust the text size. The animations are fun. The landscape mode that splits into to pages is also neat.
I've read a number of reviews that find the lengths iBooks take to look a book distracting at best. I disagree. The two page look of the landscape view is not perfect, but I find it more natural than the wide page display of other e-readers. The neat page flip animation is slick and sort of refreshing. The biggest complaint I've read is that the number of pages in the margin does not change as you get further into the book. While I think that would be a neat trick, I don't find it bothersome. In fact, I like having that margin there. It makes it harder to accidentally change the page.
The controls for reading are also well done. It is easy to move through a book by swiping or touching the margins. The pop-over for the dictionary is excellent. I also like the fact that the controls are on the top of the page. It seems more natural than having them on the bottom of the page.
iBooks is not perfect by a long stretch. I'd like a way to annotate books. I'd like to be able to use library books. I'd like a white text on balk background theme.
Perhaps the most annoying thing I found was that the brightness setting isn't sticky. When you switch out of iBooks, or the iPad goes to sleep, the interface automatically switches back to full brightness. When reading in bed, this can be particularly bad. At full brightness, the screen is blinding.
Now that Stanza is available on the iPad, I have to see how iBooks stands up to my favorite e-reader on the iPhone. I don't think Stanza will do well. iBooks doesn't offer more in terms of functionality, but it does look more polished. I'll report back after a more extensive test drive.
Overall, it was a positive experience. The text is crisp and I didn't find the backlit screen fatiguing. I liked that I could dim the backlighting when I was reading in bed or adjust the text size. The animations are fun. The landscape mode that splits into to pages is also neat.
I've read a number of reviews that find the lengths iBooks take to look a book distracting at best. I disagree. The two page look of the landscape view is not perfect, but I find it more natural than the wide page display of other e-readers. The neat page flip animation is slick and sort of refreshing. The biggest complaint I've read is that the number of pages in the margin does not change as you get further into the book. While I think that would be a neat trick, I don't find it bothersome. In fact, I like having that margin there. It makes it harder to accidentally change the page.
The controls for reading are also well done. It is easy to move through a book by swiping or touching the margins. The pop-over for the dictionary is excellent. I also like the fact that the controls are on the top of the page. It seems more natural than having them on the bottom of the page.
iBooks is not perfect by a long stretch. I'd like a way to annotate books. I'd like to be able to use library books. I'd like a white text on balk background theme.
Perhaps the most annoying thing I found was that the brightness setting isn't sticky. When you switch out of iBooks, or the iPad goes to sleep, the interface automatically switches back to full brightness. When reading in bed, this can be particularly bad. At full brightness, the screen is blinding.
Now that Stanza is available on the iPad, I have to see how iBooks stands up to my favorite e-reader on the iPhone. I don't think Stanza will do well. iBooks doesn't offer more in terms of functionality, but it does look more polished. I'll report back after a more extensive test drive.
May 10, 2010
eReader vs. iPad
I've had the opportunity to do some reading on the iPad. It is a nice experience. The text is clear and the images are vivid. It is more visually appealing than the eReader. eInk cannot hold a candle to an LED. I don't find the brighter display tiring to read over long periods of time.
The iPad does not beat the eReader on all counts. The eReader is lighter to hold. The eReader's battery life crushes the iPad's.
The biggest disparity between the iPad and the eReader is in file compatibility. The iPad cannot use books checked out of the library because they use an incompatible DRM scheme. Since I'm cheap and like getting books for free, library compatibility is a must have feature.
Until the iPad can use library books, the eReader will remain my go to reading device.
The iPad does not beat the eReader on all counts. The eReader is lighter to hold. The eReader's battery life crushes the iPad's.
The biggest disparity between the iPad and the eReader is in file compatibility. The iPad cannot use books checked out of the library because they use an incompatible DRM scheme. Since I'm cheap and like getting books for free, library compatibility is a must have feature.
Until the iPad can use library books, the eReader will remain my go to reading device.
Is the iPad all that?
The short answer is yes. It is the next generation of mobile computing.
Even before I got the iPad, my iPhone started eclipsing my MacBook Pro as the goto computer e-mail, Facebook, Web surfing, checking news, etc. H and I frequently joked that my MacBook Pro was an obscenely large phone charger.
The iPad has accelerated that process. Its larger screen makes Web surfing and e-mailing much better. Web pages are readable and typing e-mails a breeze. Facebook is even better since it is possible to use the Web interface. (The iPhone app makes Facebook usable on the small screen, but it cannot match the full Web interface.)
I have used my iPhone for blogging, but it was not something I'd choose to do. On the iPad blogging is a joy. The bigger keyboard makes typing easy. I also like the spell checking. The iPad not only points out spelling mistakes, it offers suggestions to correct the mistake. I use BlogPress which is a universal app.
Along the same lines, I've also used pages to write fairly lengthy documents. Again, I found the key board easy to use. It is best using in it landscape mode is much better than portrait, but that is a problem for Pages. In landscape mode all of Pages controls are hidden. This means that you have to flip back and forth to do any formatted text. Pages also falls down when it comes to transferring documents between the iPad and a computer. The process is convoluted and lossy.
For pure fun, the iPad rocks. The ABC app is magical. The shows are clear, smooth, and portable. There are commercials, but they are not as egregious as watching on cable. The games I've played are also kicking. My two favorites are Harbor Master HD and Parcel Panic. The graphics are amazing and the speedy processor handles the action without a hitch.
Running iPhone games on the iPad is a mixed bag. They looked lost on the screen when played at regular size. When played at 2x they are pixelated. For some games, the pixelation is not too big a deal. For others, it is a deal breaker. One advantage is that all the games play much smoother than they do on my vintage iPhone.
The iPad also shines as an e-book reader. iBooks does a decent job displaying crisp text. It also does an excellent job displaying images. The built-in dictionary is a nice touch, as is the ability to look up words in Wikipedia. The bookstore software makes getting books easy. The UI eye candy is a nice touch even if it is useless.
Is the iPad perfect? Can it replace my laptop? No. It cannot do any photo editing. I haven't found a decent money management app. The storage capacity is tiny. There is no way to print from it. I cannot find replacements for some of the applications I use for work that will run on it. (Although there are a number of apps that will allow me to connect to my work computer to use them.)
Of course most of the problems can be solved by software. Eventually a developer will create apps that fill in the gaps.
When that happens, my MacBook Pro will truly be just a very large phone charger.
Even before I got the iPad, my iPhone started eclipsing my MacBook Pro as the goto computer e-mail, Facebook, Web surfing, checking news, etc. H and I frequently joked that my MacBook Pro was an obscenely large phone charger.
The iPad has accelerated that process. Its larger screen makes Web surfing and e-mailing much better. Web pages are readable and typing e-mails a breeze. Facebook is even better since it is possible to use the Web interface. (The iPhone app makes Facebook usable on the small screen, but it cannot match the full Web interface.)
I have used my iPhone for blogging, but it was not something I'd choose to do. On the iPad blogging is a joy. The bigger keyboard makes typing easy. I also like the spell checking. The iPad not only points out spelling mistakes, it offers suggestions to correct the mistake. I use BlogPress which is a universal app.
Along the same lines, I've also used pages to write fairly lengthy documents. Again, I found the key board easy to use. It is best using in it landscape mode is much better than portrait, but that is a problem for Pages. In landscape mode all of Pages controls are hidden. This means that you have to flip back and forth to do any formatted text. Pages also falls down when it comes to transferring documents between the iPad and a computer. The process is convoluted and lossy.
For pure fun, the iPad rocks. The ABC app is magical. The shows are clear, smooth, and portable. There are commercials, but they are not as egregious as watching on cable. The games I've played are also kicking. My two favorites are Harbor Master HD and Parcel Panic. The graphics are amazing and the speedy processor handles the action without a hitch.
Running iPhone games on the iPad is a mixed bag. They looked lost on the screen when played at regular size. When played at 2x they are pixelated. For some games, the pixelation is not too big a deal. For others, it is a deal breaker. One advantage is that all the games play much smoother than they do on my vintage iPhone.
The iPad also shines as an e-book reader. iBooks does a decent job displaying crisp text. It also does an excellent job displaying images. The built-in dictionary is a nice touch, as is the ability to look up words in Wikipedia. The bookstore software makes getting books easy. The UI eye candy is a nice touch even if it is useless.
Is the iPad perfect? Can it replace my laptop? No. It cannot do any photo editing. I haven't found a decent money management app. The storage capacity is tiny. There is no way to print from it. I cannot find replacements for some of the applications I use for work that will run on it. (Although there are a number of apps that will allow me to connect to my work computer to use them.)
Of course most of the problems can be solved by software. Eventually a developer will create apps that fill in the gaps.
When that happens, my MacBook Pro will truly be just a very large phone charger.
Apr 4, 2010
PDF E-Books and my Sony Pocket Reader
I've now read a few PDF e-books on my Pocket Reader. They do not work as well as e-pub books. The PDF doesn't reflow as well when you change the font sizes. The font does get bigger, but a page is still a page. What happens is that often a page according to the reader is only the bottom line of a page in the PDF. It is slightly annoying.
All that aside, the PDFs are readable.
All that aside, the PDFs are readable.
Mar 3, 2010
Too Many Books?
One of my favorite features of the Boston Public Library's e-book system is that you can add yourself to the waiting list for a book. When your turn in the list comes up, the system sends you an e-mail and gives you five days to check out the book. I've used it more than a few times since the books I gravitate to are either popular or in short supply.
All was well until this week. I was on the waiting list for two books and they both became available with in days of each other. Why was this a problem? It's not like one can ever have too much to read....
Well, it happens that I've been very busy as of late and my time for reading is tight. On top of this, the lending period for an e-book is 14 days with no obvious renewal option other than checking the book out again. So, I have two books I want to read that I can borrow, but if I cannot get through one of them I'll have to add myself to the bottom of the list and wait to finish it.
An abundance of riches is a lovely problem to have:)
I still think the waiting list feature is great. I think from now on I'll only put myself on one waiting list at a time.
All was well until this week. I was on the waiting list for two books and they both became available with in days of each other. Why was this a problem? It's not like one can ever have too much to read....
Well, it happens that I've been very busy as of late and my time for reading is tight. On top of this, the lending period for an e-book is 14 days with no obvious renewal option other than checking the book out again. So, I have two books I want to read that I can borrow, but if I cannot get through one of them I'll have to add myself to the bottom of the list and wait to finish it.
An abundance of riches is a lovely problem to have:)
I still think the waiting list feature is great. I think from now on I'll only put myself on one waiting list at a time.
Dec 31, 2009
Electronic Library Books
One of the big draws for purchasing the Sony eReader was it's ability to work with e-books from the library. I love the idea of the library, but I'm terrible at returning things in any semblance of on time. Borrowing a book that automatically expires is a huge boon.
The two questions I had were: what was the selection like? how hard was the process?
I use the Boston Public Library and the answers are positive.
The selection is decent. It is heavily weighted towards romance novels, but the full gamut of genres are represented. Even current best sellers are availible.
Searching the catalog is easy. Using the advanced search feature makes it simple to find books that can be checked out immediately. You can also search for books using all of the normal criteria. If a book is in the catalog but not available for check out, the library tells you how many people are on the waiting list. Adding yourself to the waiting list is a simple click. When your turn for the book comes up, the library e-mails you.
The actual check out process is simple. You add the books to your cart and then click check out. Links to each of the books download to your computer. When you open the links the books download striaght into the Sony software. The book has a annotation that tells you the number of days before the book expires.
Getting the books onto the reader is as simple as drag and drop. On the reader, library books are denoted by a clock symbol.
After the two week lending period is over, the book will no longer open. You can then delete it. If the book is an ePub format book you an also return the book early.
The two questions I had were: what was the selection like? how hard was the process?
I use the Boston Public Library and the answers are positive.
The selection is decent. It is heavily weighted towards romance novels, but the full gamut of genres are represented. Even current best sellers are availible.
Searching the catalog is easy. Using the advanced search feature makes it simple to find books that can be checked out immediately. You can also search for books using all of the normal criteria. If a book is in the catalog but not available for check out, the library tells you how many people are on the waiting list. Adding yourself to the waiting list is a simple click. When your turn for the book comes up, the library e-mails you.
The actual check out process is simple. You add the books to your cart and then click check out. Links to each of the books download to your computer. When you open the links the books download striaght into the Sony software. The book has a annotation that tells you the number of days before the book expires.
Getting the books onto the reader is as simple as drag and drop. On the reader, library books are denoted by a clock symbol.
After the two week lending period is over, the book will no longer open. You can then delete it. If the book is an ePub format book you an also return the book early.
Dec 4, 2009
Sony Pocket Edition
After weeks of researching (H calls it obsessing) e-book readers I purchased a dedicated e-book reader: a Sony Pocket Edition.
The Pocket Edition is not the most feature rich e-book reader on the market, but it offered the best match of price and features for my needs.
Since I plan on using the device exclusively for pleasure reading and I'm not a big margin writer, the ability to mark up books is frivolous.
My iPhone is a constant companion, so a music player, a picture viewer, or a Web browser are worse than useless.
I don't mind having to hook the device up to the computer to get content since I can use the computer as a charger. Besides the danger of impulse buying is lessened by the lack of immediate access ro book stores. The mobile iTunes store has resulted in a number of impulse purchases I wouldn't have made if I had to wait.
The 5" screen is a little smaller than ideal, but it is big enough. The smaller screen also makes the device easy to stuff in a pocket.
The device has comparity limited memory and no expansion ports, but I cannot imagine a situation where I will need to carry more than 100 books. If the device was a music/picture player as well, I'd be more concerned about the memory.
The device only supports three font sizes, but to date I don't feel the need for more. Needing to transition between six or more settings might even get annoying.
The real selling point for the Sony over the Kindle or the Nook is the ability to take books out of the library. Part of the reason for buying the e-book reader, other than my desire for a new gadget, was to save money on books. I typically buy at least one trade paperback a month. At an average price of $15 a pop that is a pricy habit. When you add in the fancy coffee drink that usually accompanies book shopping my book habit runs close to $300 a year. It also consumes a large amount of space in the house. E-books are typically cheaper than print books and e-books from the library are free! The Sony makes the process of checking out the books painless. They upload from the computer easily, they keep you informed of when they expire, and stop working without any fanfare.
I've read three books on my device and have enjoyed it immensly. It fits nicely in my hands. The screen is crisp and easy to read. There is a little glare but not enough to cause problems. The page turns are not too slow-no longer than it would take to flip the page of a book.
The user interface is easy to navigate. The menus are clear and work well with the buttons along the side. Jumping to any page is simple. Chaning font size is a single button push. Bookmarks are also a single button away. Switching to landscape is also a single button push.
Since the Pocket Edition was only $200, I didn't mind splurging for a case. I got the one with built in book light. It was a little pricy, but it has proven to be worth it. The light is a perfect match for the reader's screen. I can read in bed without keeping the bedside light on (which H appreciates) or constantly fiddling with the book light.
For the recreational reader interested in an e-book reader, I think the Sony Pocket Edition is just about perfect.
The Pocket Edition is not the most feature rich e-book reader on the market, but it offered the best match of price and features for my needs.
Since I plan on using the device exclusively for pleasure reading and I'm not a big margin writer, the ability to mark up books is frivolous.
My iPhone is a constant companion, so a music player, a picture viewer, or a Web browser are worse than useless.
I don't mind having to hook the device up to the computer to get content since I can use the computer as a charger. Besides the danger of impulse buying is lessened by the lack of immediate access ro book stores. The mobile iTunes store has resulted in a number of impulse purchases I wouldn't have made if I had to wait.
The 5" screen is a little smaller than ideal, but it is big enough. The smaller screen also makes the device easy to stuff in a pocket.
The device has comparity limited memory and no expansion ports, but I cannot imagine a situation where I will need to carry more than 100 books. If the device was a music/picture player as well, I'd be more concerned about the memory.
The device only supports three font sizes, but to date I don't feel the need for more. Needing to transition between six or more settings might even get annoying.
The real selling point for the Sony over the Kindle or the Nook is the ability to take books out of the library. Part of the reason for buying the e-book reader, other than my desire for a new gadget, was to save money on books. I typically buy at least one trade paperback a month. At an average price of $15 a pop that is a pricy habit. When you add in the fancy coffee drink that usually accompanies book shopping my book habit runs close to $300 a year. It also consumes a large amount of space in the house. E-books are typically cheaper than print books and e-books from the library are free! The Sony makes the process of checking out the books painless. They upload from the computer easily, they keep you informed of when they expire, and stop working without any fanfare.
I've read three books on my device and have enjoyed it immensly. It fits nicely in my hands. The screen is crisp and easy to read. There is a little glare but not enough to cause problems. The page turns are not too slow-no longer than it would take to flip the page of a book.
The user interface is easy to navigate. The menus are clear and work well with the buttons along the side. Jumping to any page is simple. Chaning font size is a single button push. Bookmarks are also a single button away. Switching to landscape is also a single button push.
Since the Pocket Edition was only $200, I didn't mind splurging for a case. I got the one with built in book light. It was a little pricy, but it has proven to be worth it. The light is a perfect match for the reader's screen. I can read in bed without keeping the bedside light on (which H appreciates) or constantly fiddling with the book light.
For the recreational reader interested in an e-book reader, I think the Sony Pocket Edition is just about perfect.
Nov 8, 2009
E-Book Reading
I've been reading e-books since I got my first Palm IIIx. The small screen was less than ideal. I never used the Palm as a primary reading platform, but it was a convenient secondary reading platform. I could read when waiting in the doctors office or during those surreptitious free moments.
Since I was unwilling to pay for books to read on the tiny screen, I was limited to what I could find for free. To my pleasant surprise there were a ton of classic books available from a multitude of sources.
I used the Palm, and then a Clie, for several years. Once the Clie finally died I moved to a Pocket PC for a year, but that never worked an e-book platform. (In fact it was so clunky it didn't really work for much of anything.) Then I went for a while with out any pocket computing device and no e-book reading.
I was intrigued by the Sony eReaders. The big problem was the price.... I couldn't justify spending the money, when I would still need to pay full price for books. I also couldn't see the eReader replacing my love of actual books.
When I got my iPhone, I started getting interested in e-books again. There were several e-book readers available for the phone and I tried a number of them. The screen, while small, was pretty good for reading. The apps all handled the basics, but I finally settled on Stanza. It had the most sensible set of features and an integrated means of downloading books. It offers access to many free books as well as some pay libraries.
I was still unwilling to pay for books to read on the tiny screen. The iPhone screen creates a much better reading experience than the Palm or the Clie did. It is still too small to work as a primary reading platform, but it is exceptional for those quick stolen moments when I can read a little.
When the Kindle burst onto the scene, I was marginally intrigued. The big screen was the real draw. I thought the wireless book purchasing idea was interesting. However, it was too expensive and the price of the books was too high. I also didn't like that fact that I could not touch the device before purchasing.
This summer Sony revamped its eReader line. The one that caught my eye the most was the Pocket Edition. The $200 price was right and the smaller size made it very portable. The other thing that made the Sony line interesting was their move to using ePub and their ability to use books from public libraries.
I spent some time at the Sony store playing with the Sony readers. The Touch Edition's screen was not as crisp as the Pocket Edition. The Touch Edition's touch was not so responsive. I could, however, see either being a great primary reading platform. The ability to get books from multiple sources, including the public library, makes them the most open of the top readers. One other nice thing about the Sony eReaders is the availability of covers that include built in night lights that actually light the screen.
Since I was unwilling to pay for books to read on the tiny screen, I was limited to what I could find for free. To my pleasant surprise there were a ton of classic books available from a multitude of sources.
I used the Palm, and then a Clie, for several years. Once the Clie finally died I moved to a Pocket PC for a year, but that never worked an e-book platform. (In fact it was so clunky it didn't really work for much of anything.) Then I went for a while with out any pocket computing device and no e-book reading.
I was intrigued by the Sony eReaders. The big problem was the price.... I couldn't justify spending the money, when I would still need to pay full price for books. I also couldn't see the eReader replacing my love of actual books.
When I got my iPhone, I started getting interested in e-books again. There were several e-book readers available for the phone and I tried a number of them. The screen, while small, was pretty good for reading. The apps all handled the basics, but I finally settled on Stanza. It had the most sensible set of features and an integrated means of downloading books. It offers access to many free books as well as some pay libraries.
I was still unwilling to pay for books to read on the tiny screen. The iPhone screen creates a much better reading experience than the Palm or the Clie did. It is still too small to work as a primary reading platform, but it is exceptional for those quick stolen moments when I can read a little.
When the Kindle burst onto the scene, I was marginally intrigued. The big screen was the real draw. I thought the wireless book purchasing idea was interesting. However, it was too expensive and the price of the books was too high. I also didn't like that fact that I could not touch the device before purchasing.
This summer Sony revamped its eReader line. The one that caught my eye the most was the Pocket Edition. The $200 price was right and the smaller size made it very portable. The other thing that made the Sony line interesting was their move to using ePub and their ability to use books from public libraries.
I spent some time at the Sony store playing with the Sony readers. The Touch Edition's screen was not as crisp as the Pocket Edition. The Touch Edition's touch was not so responsive. I could, however, see either being a great primary reading platform. The ability to get books from multiple sources, including the public library, makes them the most open of the top readers. One other nice thing about the Sony eReaders is the availability of covers that include built in night lights that actually light the screen.
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