> -----Original Message----- > From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf > Of Xiaofan Chen > Sent: 19 January 2010 02:25 > To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. > Subject: Re: [EE] eReader options - really PDF capable? > > On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 6:40 AM, Ariel Rocholl wrote: > > 2010 seems to be the year of eReaders being widespread and prices going > > lower. > > > > Most of them seems to be targetting novels and non-technical book > reading, > > but I think a 8" or larger screen could be good for datasheet and > technical > > book reading, assuming anyone tryed that on a device which works really > well > > with PDFs. > > I just keep wondering why eBook readers are any better than the PDAs and > Smartphones (for small screen) or MID/Smartbook/Netbooks (for bigger > screend) > in terms of reading eBooks. Screen quality; the electronic paper display is far more like real paper than an LCD. You can read them for extended periods without the eyestrain that LCD displays tend to give Power consumption; Netbooks/laptops and PDAs typicaly don't have great battery life. Since the displays on ebook readers consume zero power when the display is static and they have no backlight the battery life is amazing. My wife charged hers on Christmas day and has used it everyday for a couple of hour since on the same charge (with wireless disabled). It apparently will last 7 days with wireless enabled. Weight and size; Netbooks and laptops are simply the wrong shape to be able to hold like a book and far too heavy. PDAs are just too small. One thing that irks me with the Kindle at least is that most ebooks are barely any cheaper than real ones. Modern books will be in an electronic format prior to printing anyway, so at most it would need to be converted to the appropriate ebook format and made available on the server used for distribution. No paper, printing, transport or waste (i.e. unsold books) costs which should (IMO) give a sizeable cost saving. Mike ======================================================================= This e-mail is intended for the person it is addressed to only. The information contained in it may be confidential and/or protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you must not make any use of this information, or copy or show it to any person. Please contact us immediately to tell us that you have received this e-mail, and return the original to us. Any use, forwarding, printing or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. No part of this message can be considered a request for goods or services. ======================================================================= -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist