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What is keeping you from reading e-books? What would get you to give e-books a try?
I write for an e-book blog, http://www.teleread.org/blog . I'm looking for grist for a blog article.
If you aren't reading e-books right now, why aren't you? Obviously, not being able to afford an e-book device is one answer, though I've found I can enjoy reading novels right off my computer screen if I have to.
But if you have a device that COULD read e-books, such as an iPhone or iPod Touch, or some other PDA or smartphone, why aren't you reading e-books? Fear of eyestrain, lack of titles you want to read, etc.?
Have you tried them? Would you try them (Sam I am)?
If you haven't tried them yet, what would get you to try e-books?
I will probably quote from any good answers I receive in my blog post. Tip is largely for the purpose of getting this question to show up in the top section, but it will go to the best and fullest answer, and I will also give small tips to any other answers that I think are particularly good or insightful.
If you aren't reading e-books right now, why aren't you? Obviously, not being able to afford an e-book device is one answer, though I've found I can enjoy reading novels right off my computer screen if I have to.
But if you have a device that COULD read e-books, such as an iPhone or iPod Touch, or some other PDA or smartphone, why aren't you reading e-books? Fear of eyestrain, lack of titles you want to read, etc.?
Have you tried them? Would you try them (Sam I am)?
If you haven't tried them yet, what would get you to try e-books?
I will probably quote from any good answers I receive in my blog post. Tip is largely for the purpose of getting this question to show up in the top section, but it will go to the best and fullest answer, and I will also give small tips to any other answers that I think are particularly good or insightful.
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Multiple facets to why I do not do this yet. First my background with the issue: I am an extremely avid reader (2 to 3 novels completed a week typically), a writer, and a technology advocate in schools. Not only do I keep abreast of ebook readers and technologies for my own use, but because we would dearly love to move to electronic texts for the schools/students. So, the reasons why not (yet):
1. Visual comfort. I used a Kindle for several days, it was great. Almost as good as an poor to average printed pulp novel (which for technology seeking to emulate paper was actually quite impressive). I deal with printing, typography and output of graphics and text for publications, I'm very sensitive to quality. No other device I've used is even close for long-term readability. There's nothing wrong with laptop screens or PDAs/Smartphones for brief reads, but hours of unbroken reading are noticably unpleasant on the eyes.
2. User interface. The Kindle is good, but the "refresh" ruined it (see 3) in terms of UI. Other device's automatic scrolling isn't comfortable, because a reader's attention wanders and they subconsciously reread passages, meaning total reading speed is not consistent even within pages or paragraphs. It makes you feel like you are either waiting for or racing with the text. The best option, like the Kindle or a read keyboard, is honestly the page down/up button, but unless these are set well apart, they take you out of focus to hit occasionally. The subconscious page flick of a book (and in fact perhaps even the visceral feel of the page as a tangible component of "next") is still a better UI, simpler and cleaner.
3. Suspension of disbelief. Any candy on the device, Kindle included, visually distracts from the reading experience. The human visual system seeks out shapes, contrast, movement, color variation, etc. The reason books are so successful in holding attention is in part because they severely limit the visual system's inputs, creating more emphasis and attention to the text. If you have a full screen device with no front buttons, logos or LEDs, with a matte white finish and the reading program was full screen (no home/dock/quick icons, just the text), you might call this a wash with a book's simplicity. Anything more brings us out of attention to the text, which is what we care about.
4. Availability of content. Not everything is available as an e-book. This is a chicken/egg quandry, but I'm not going to fork out for a Kindle (or whatever the next device will be) when I can't read every text I'm interested in on it whenever I want. Its not that the content offerings aren't good, aren't current or impressive in breadth, but they pale to the collection of books in my local library, so I don't want to spend money on a device with incomplete offerings.
5. Speed of access. I don't have to boot up a book. That terrible habit of dogeared paperback in the back pocket is immensely rewarding while waiting in line places. Kindle in back pocket = spare parts also.
6. Device/content related issues. Having to pre-load content for use, synchronize it perhaps. Formatting issues for non-native documents (even just a conversion step). Software respect, unsupported file types, DRM issues, etc. Paper & ink is paper & ink, and my bookshelf has never locked me out from a book I own, nor has any format been incompatible with my eyes (assuming I didn't accidentally grab from the foreign language section). Practicaly speaking I've never even had to worry about acid free or not.
7. Social perception. Kindle might be a little different in this way, assuming the people looking know what it is, but staring at my iPod/PDA/phone for half an hour makes me look like one of "those people" who can't disconnect and has a gadget fetish. In point of fact I am one of those people, but admitting you have a problem is the first step. I'd like to choose when and how I'm stigmatized though, and pulling out a copy of Faulkner or Pynchon was a much better stigma to work under in college than just being a geek. I know this isn't technical, but I also believe it is a factor for people concerned with their social perception, which is a lot of people. Not saying it is right or good, just that it exists.
8. Habit/comfort factor. This is that "warm" feeling a Kindle/iPod Touch doesn't supply the way slightly rough paper with a dusty smell does. It's the one-handed upside down till you have a headache then flip over and lay the book on the floor hanging over the bed sort of physical manipulation where you know all the properties and limits of a physical book, but you don't read in bed with your Kindle for fear of falling asleep and waking up with bits of screen embedded in your kidneys. If a Kindle or similar was as light and rugged as a book, and maybe had a slightly more welcoming feel (personally, I could see the tacky/high friction old IBM ThinkPad coating as acceptable for instance), then we'd address this.
9. Compelling superiority. Everything I've listed has been about making ebook readers AS GOOD AS traditional paper. Why should I shell out hundreds for something as good, but not better? I know there are whiz bang features, but I'm talking about experience with reading, if I want searchable text I'm not reading for pleasure, but work, and then any device is okay if forced on me. Give me something that meets all of these items above, is less expensive than current readers, AND gives me some really compelling new stuff (off the top of my head, ad-hoc wifi discovery of people reading the same or related books in my vicinity, and a social-networking or just IM channel to them, bring back the book club via Facebook if you will), and then I'll seriously consider it.
1. Visual comfort. I used a Kindle for several days, it was great. Almost as good as an poor to average printed pulp novel (which for technology seeking to emulate paper was actually quite impressive). I deal with printing, typography and output of graphics and text for publications, I'm very sensitive to quality. No other device I've used is even close for long-term readability. There's nothing wrong with laptop screens or PDAs/Smartphones for brief reads, but hours of unbroken reading are noticably unpleasant on the eyes.
2. User interface. The Kindle is good, but the "refresh" ruined it (see 3) in terms of UI. Other device's automatic scrolling isn't comfortable, because a reader's attention wanders and they subconsciously reread passages, meaning total reading speed is not consistent even within pages or paragraphs. It makes you feel like you are either waiting for or racing with the text. The best option, like the Kindle or a read keyboard, is honestly the page down/up button, but unless these are set well apart, they take you out of focus to hit occasionally. The subconscious page flick of a book (and in fact perhaps even the visceral feel of the page as a tangible component of "next") is still a better UI, simpler and cleaner.
3. Suspension of disbelief. Any candy on the device, Kindle included, visually distracts from the reading experience. The human visual system seeks out shapes, contrast, movement, color variation, etc. The reason books are so successful in holding attention is in part because they severely limit the visual system's inputs, creating more emphasis and attention to the text. If you have a full screen device with no front buttons, logos or LEDs, with a matte white finish and the reading program was full screen (no home/dock/quick icons, just the text), you might call this a wash with a book's simplicity. Anything more brings us out of attention to the text, which is what we care about.
4. Availability of content. Not everything is available as an e-book. This is a chicken/egg quandry, but I'm not going to fork out for a Kindle (or whatever the next device will be) when I can't read every text I'm interested in on it whenever I want. Its not that the content offerings aren't good, aren't current or impressive in breadth, but they pale to the collection of books in my local library, so I don't want to spend money on a device with incomplete offerings.
5. Speed of access. I don't have to boot up a book. That terrible habit of dogeared paperback in the back pocket is immensely rewarding while waiting in line places. Kindle in back pocket = spare parts also.
6. Device/content related issues. Having to pre-load content for use, synchronize it perhaps. Formatting issues for non-native documents (even just a conversion step). Software respect, unsupported file types, DRM issues, etc. Paper & ink is paper & ink, and my bookshelf has never locked me out from a book I own, nor has any format been incompatible with my eyes (assuming I didn't accidentally grab from the foreign language section). Practicaly speaking I've never even had to worry about acid free or not.
7. Social perception. Kindle might be a little different in this way, assuming the people looking know what it is, but staring at my iPod/PDA/phone for half an hour makes me look like one of "those people" who can't disconnect and has a gadget fetish. In point of fact I am one of those people, but admitting you have a problem is the first step. I'd like to choose when and how I'm stigmatized though, and pulling out a copy of Faulkner or Pynchon was a much better stigma to work under in college than just being a geek. I know this isn't technical, but I also believe it is a factor for people concerned with their social perception, which is a lot of people. Not saying it is right or good, just that it exists.
8. Habit/comfort factor. This is that "warm" feeling a Kindle/iPod Touch doesn't supply the way slightly rough paper with a dusty smell does. It's the one-handed upside down till you have a headache then flip over and lay the book on the floor hanging over the bed sort of physical manipulation where you know all the properties and limits of a physical book, but you don't read in bed with your Kindle for fear of falling asleep and waking up with bits of screen embedded in your kidneys. If a Kindle or similar was as light and rugged as a book, and maybe had a slightly more welcoming feel (personally, I could see the tacky/high friction old IBM ThinkPad coating as acceptable for instance), then we'd address this.
9. Compelling superiority. Everything I've listed has been about making ebook readers AS GOOD AS traditional paper. Why should I shell out hundreds for something as good, but not better? I know there are whiz bang features, but I'm talking about experience with reading, if I want searchable text I'm not reading for pleasure, but work, and then any device is okay if forced on me. Give me something that meets all of these items above, is less expensive than current readers, AND gives me some really compelling new stuff (off the top of my head, ad-hoc wifi discovery of people reading the same or related books in my vicinity, and a social-networking or just IM channel to them, bring back the book club via Facebook if you will), and then I'll seriously consider it.
source(s):
Personal experience, continual research and analysis of the field for my job, love of reading.
Personal experience, continual research and analysis of the field for my job, love of reading.
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Very thorough and well-written. Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for (though all the other answers are great too).
I'm a book lover, but I can't seem to get into ebooks because they don't have the same "feeling" as print books do for me. I love the smell of books, the way the paper feels, the sound they make when they're opened for the first time, and looking through them on the bookshelf. I love how my book collection looks on my shelves and I know that same feeling won't be derived from seeing an ebook reader on my nightstand . . . or see ebook files on my computer.
However, when it comes to short business ebooks that are the length of a long newsletter or short magazine, I'll make an exception. This material typically isn't collected by me, but it is referenced quite often while I'm working or researching a topic. In this instance, I could see myself reading ebooks.
However, when it comes to short business ebooks that are the length of a long newsletter or short magazine, I'll make an exception. This material typically isn't collected by me, but it is referenced quite often while I'm working or researching a topic. In this instance, I could see myself reading ebooks.
The largest reason I don't use e-books more often is the slow speed at which you can "leaf through" the book.
With a real book, I can use my thumb to rapidly find information that I'm looking for. With an e-book, it often takes 1/2 a second to change pages.
Want to remember what color that character's dress was, but you can't remember what page that information is on? You leaf backwards, rapidly scanning for words you know are near that location, but that doesn't work so well on a computer.
If you could change pages in 1/60th of a second, and have the pages change with the scrollbar actively, it would dramatically improve the experience. Then it would start to feel like a real book.
e-ink books are even worse with their long update rates.
Also, the size of the reader screen needs to be similar to the size of a real book while still being lightweight and of reasonable size overall.
It'd also be nice if the reader had a more ergonomic feel than that of a plastic cutting board. Books either bend to conform to your hand or at least have an adjustable spine angle.
With a real book, I can use my thumb to rapidly find information that I'm looking for. With an e-book, it often takes 1/2 a second to change pages.
Want to remember what color that character's dress was, but you can't remember what page that information is on? You leaf backwards, rapidly scanning for words you know are near that location, but that doesn't work so well on a computer.
If you could change pages in 1/60th of a second, and have the pages change with the scrollbar actively, it would dramatically improve the experience. Then it would start to feel like a real book.
e-ink books are even worse with their long update rates.
Also, the size of the reader screen needs to be similar to the size of a real book while still being lightweight and of reasonable size overall.
It'd also be nice if the reader had a more ergonomic feel than that of a plastic cutting board. Books either bend to conform to your hand or at least have an adjustable spine angle.
I don't like sitting in front of my computer screen to read them, and I don't have an easily-usable device. I mostly read in bed, or while waiting for my kids at their activities. I could take a laptop and read, but it's just such a hassle when you're kid-wrangling. And while I could use my PDA, it's really too small to read easily. Oh, and it tends to refresh much slower than my reading speed on friends' devices I've seen.
What I'd like is something just a tad larger than the current devices. Some kind of larger smartphone would be great. As a mom, though, since I'm required to be the packhorse for the family, I need something with everything built in, from phone/camera etc. to an e-book reader--just a bit larger than what's currently out there. Of course, then my whole life would be in that one device so I'd have to surgically attach it to myself somehow.
What I'd like is something just a tad larger than the current devices. Some kind of larger smartphone would be great. As a mom, though, since I'm required to be the packhorse for the family, I need something with everything built in, from phone/camera etc. to an e-book reader--just a bit larger than what's currently out there. Of course, then my whole life would be in that one device so I'd have to surgically attach it to myself somehow.
I spend most of my time researching on the Internet. I believe e-books are great, and have read PDF e-books, yet have not yet purchased a Kindle or a Plastic Logic.
Three reasons for me.
1. They cost too much. They are just bits. There is no reason for them to cost the same or nearly the same as a printed version which has material and distribution costs. Actually more if you consider the bookstores get them wholesale and make a profit. Reduce the costs of Ebooks so that I can purchase the ebook much cheaper than the bookstore version then it has value.
2. I like the feel of a book. I like the fact that my money actually purchases an object which I then own. Which could be mitigated if #1 where addressed.
3. I hate DRM. I tried ebooks because of the convience factor but then i realized most of them were protected by a drm.
1. They cost too much. They are just bits. There is no reason for them to cost the same or nearly the same as a printed version which has material and distribution costs. Actually more if you consider the bookstores get them wholesale and make a profit. Reduce the costs of Ebooks so that I can purchase the ebook much cheaper than the bookstore version then it has value.
2. I like the feel of a book. I like the fact that my money actually purchases an object which I then own. Which could be mitigated if #1 where addressed.
3. I hate DRM. I tried ebooks because of the convience factor but then i realized most of them were protected by a drm.
My main reason is price point.
In my job, I use a tablet PC to read my hypnosis scripts and have always wanted to use an e-reader instead. If I had an e-reader, then I could also read my books and get rid of all the bookcases and paper books I have. THAT would be nice...
Until the price comes down to $100-$150, I'm not interested...
Oh... and the Kindle's form factor is horrible. Let Apple design it next time.
In my job, I use a tablet PC to read my hypnosis scripts and have always wanted to use an e-reader instead. If I had an e-reader, then I could also read my books and get rid of all the bookcases and paper books I have. THAT would be nice...
Until the price comes down to $100-$150, I'm not interested...
Oh... and the Kindle's form factor is horrible. Let Apple design it next time.
I've never tried an ebook and don't really have any interest in picking up an ebook reader. I love real books. There's nothing like going to Barnes & Noble to pick up the latest novel from your favorite author and holding that book in your hand. I also love seeing all of my books on a shelf. However, I would give it a try if I was able to borrow an ebook reader from someone - I just don't want to spend the hundreds of dollars it costs to get one just to find out I don't like it. Also, there are some useful features with ebooks that would come in handy, like being able to search for something in the book.
Anyway, I found this on a web site and it pretty much sums it up for me:
Top Ten Reasons Real Books are Better Than eBooks:
10. No need to wait until the pilot gives you permission to use personal electronic devices.
9. It’s OK if you forget to charge your real book.
8. Unwrapping a download is so anti-climactic.
7. Speaking of which, it’s hard to wrap a download.
6. Eye strain caused by too-small font is way better than eye strain caused by too-few pixels.
5. You’d look silly burying your head in your iPhone.
4. Real books give you tactile pleasure; e-Books give you carpel tunnel.
3. You can’t judge an e-Book by its cover (because it doesn’t have one)
2. A real book will dry out and still be functional if you accidentally drop it in the toilet.
1. Curling up with a cup of tea and your e-Book reader is completely uninviting.
Anyway, I found this on a web site and it pretty much sums it up for me:
Top Ten Reasons Real Books are Better Than eBooks:
10. No need to wait until the pilot gives you permission to use personal electronic devices.
9. It’s OK if you forget to charge your real book.
8. Unwrapping a download is so anti-climactic.
7. Speaking of which, it’s hard to wrap a download.
6. Eye strain caused by too-small font is way better than eye strain caused by too-few pixels.
5. You’d look silly burying your head in your iPhone.
4. Real books give you tactile pleasure; e-Books give you carpel tunnel.
3. You can’t judge an e-Book by its cover (because it doesn’t have one)
2. A real book will dry out and still be functional if you accidentally drop it in the toilet.
1. Curling up with a cup of tea and your e-Book reader is completely uninviting.
I already listen to audio books using my iPod, but when I read, I still prefer actual books. I have reasons, but couldn't guarantee that if a particular one is satisfied, I'd switch. I may be just hanging on to the nostalgic sense of reality that a book has. In fact, I enjoy buying a book and having it around, long before I get to reading it. This feel isn't duplicated by downloading a book and "owning" it somewhere on my hard-drive.
Other reasons, the Kindle is still too expensive for what it is, and I don't get the sense that it has the same comfort of a book. Too rigid or something.
That said, I resisted cell-phones, smart-phones, iPods, etc., and when I did convert, I went all-in with no reservations. So that's possible once the right combination of presentation and price is reached.
Other reasons, the Kindle is still too expensive for what it is, and I don't get the sense that it has the same comfort of a book. Too rigid or something.
That said, I resisted cell-phones, smart-phones, iPods, etc., and when I did convert, I went all-in with no reservations. So that's possible once the right combination of presentation and price is reached.
I want a portable tablet-PC like reader which is full color, fast, and non-proprietary so that I can read any format I throw at it (Word docs, PDFs, rips of websites in HTML, images, CHM, etc).
Though tablet PCs do come close, they're still kinda bulky and too big. I don't really care about being able to page through books "old school", buttons or similar controls to page back and forth, zoom, etc., would be more than adequate. The PADDs in Star Trek I think are a good example of what I'd want, it's even pocket sized.
I'm hoping soon to see something with a nice solid-state drive, solar cells and maybe kinetic (motion-activated) charging for supplemental power, full-color LCD type screen.
Though tablet PCs do come close, they're still kinda bulky and too big. I don't really care about being able to page through books "old school", buttons or similar controls to page back and forth, zoom, etc., would be more than adequate. The PADDs in Star Trek I think are a good example of what I'd want, it's even pocket sized.
I'm hoping soon to see something with a nice solid-state drive, solar cells and maybe kinetic (motion-activated) charging for supplemental power, full-color LCD type screen.
I don't own a reader, so would have to read them on my computer--and I don't find the "experience the same. Its tough to "curl up with a laptop", the way I do with a book...and I like the sensation of turning actual pages.
So, I guess its "habit"
So, I guess its "habit"
My problem is that the free e-books aren't very good quality, and the paid ones are too expensive. I'm not really willing to pay that much money for a e-book because I know I'll read it once and be done with it forever.
I do, at times. I had a very early device called a Rocket eBook years ago, before Gemstar bought and ruined them, and was a happy subscriber to Fictionwise.com.
A good PDF book that runs short, like less than 50 pages, I'll honestly just print out. I feel it's portable enough. Bigger than that and maybe I'll try to keep it on my device (an iTouch), but it's very hard to read them on the small screen. I never read a full length PDF at the desk, or even on a laptop. If I need a machine with that sort of capability I'll surely have something better to do with my time.
If it is a plain text format I'm much more likely to carry it around and read it on a small device, because the formatting is more forgiving. With a PDF you have to take the fonts, columns, etc that you're given. With text it's more of a stream that'll break where you need it. Except for files that were auto converted to text that end up with crazy line breaks and special characters all over the place, I hate those.
A good PDF book that runs short, like less than 50 pages, I'll honestly just print out. I feel it's portable enough. Bigger than that and maybe I'll try to keep it on my device (an iTouch), but it's very hard to read them on the small screen. I never read a full length PDF at the desk, or even on a laptop. If I need a machine with that sort of capability I'll surely have something better to do with my time.
If it is a plain text format I'm much more likely to carry it around and read it on a small device, because the formatting is more forgiving. With a PDF you have to take the fonts, columns, etc that you're given. With text it's more of a stream that'll break where you need it. Except for files that were auto converted to text that end up with crazy line breaks and special characters all over the place, I hate those.
I think this is quite simple. I love my iPhone as my one device to rule them all. I don't also want to carry around an ebook reader. So if the iPhone has an e-ink, ebook reading mode, that would do the trick for me. Stanza on the iPhone is neat, but still not pleasant to read for too long.
But to be fair, I'm not reading paper books either.
But to be fair, I'm not reading paper books either.
I do read e-books, but I understand why many do not. I own a Kindle, and while I do enjoy it, the price of the e-books for it (at least those I am interested in reading) are a little outrageous. I think $10 or more for an electronic, protected version is ridiculous. I've tried reading on my iPhone, but it wasn't a very enjoyable experience. It is just too small for me, although I did enjoy being able to navigate the book through touch. I really wish my Kindle had that feature. While I love the feel of a book in my hands, I love the convenience of e-books even more. However, if the industry wants to get more people on the bandwagon, they need to reduce prices on books and devices. It's a much greener option, and I wish more people were on board.
I like reading paper books a lot better. So, there are two specific things that could induce me to read ebooks: price and availability (of the book). For me to read an e-book when a paper book was available, the e-book would have to be much cheaper. Free, actually, unless I was having lean times. That is not generally the case now. If the paper book is not available (out of print), then I'll read an e-book. Even then it seems that I read part of the way through but never finish, so if at all possible paper is better.
I am a novelist. Both of my books (Max Quick 1: The Pocket and the Pendant and Max Quick 2: The Two Travelers) have been published in paper format as well as Kindle, .pdf download, and as apps in the iPhone AppStore.
More info on the books (with links to all formats) here: http://maxquickseries.com
On the iPhone, I offer the first six chapters of Book One for free. I currently get around 1,200 downloads of this a week. The full version of Book One and Book Two each sell for $5.99. Sales in October were around 500 books combined -- it's since fallen fairly sharply in November and December (seemed to coincide with the market crash). But January is already off to a much better start.
In this article ..
http://futureperfectpublishing.com/2008/08/20/four-quadrant-zooming-an-interview-with-max-quick-series-author-mark-jeffrey/
... I state that I think the iPhone trumps the Kindle as the ebook platform of choice.
"I am personally not a big fan of the Kindle or the other e-readers out there. Probably because I already have in my iPhone a multi-purpose device, and the Kindle is a one-trick pony. It seems ridiculous that I should have to purchase a bit of standalone hardware like that. My iPhone is already my email client, iPod, web browser, ebook reader, GPS device, camera, etc. It’s already in my pocket. You get the point. And I’ve sold way more iPhone copies of my books in the first two weeks than I’ve sold on the Kindle in the last year. So, I think the iPhone — or other multipurpose mobile device — crushes the Kindle. You heard it here first! You can’t be a one-trick pony hardware device anymore."
I wrote that back in August. In November, Wired ran an article agreeing entitled, "E-Books Have a Future in iTunes"
http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/11/e-books-have-a.html
The article also heralded the arrival of major books like 'The Golden Compass' and 'Twilight' being for sale in the App Store very soon also (although prices for these books range from $12 - $26 -- very overpriced, IMHO)
The only thing wrong with the iPhone is the size of the screen. If there were a tablet-type version of an iTouch, and better organization of books in iTunes, I believe it would game over for the Kindle. Interestingly, Mike Arrington recently reported that by the end of 2009, this would indeed be the case.
More info on the books (with links to all formats) here: http://maxquickseries.com
On the iPhone, I offer the first six chapters of Book One for free. I currently get around 1,200 downloads of this a week. The full version of Book One and Book Two each sell for $5.99. Sales in October were around 500 books combined -- it's since fallen fairly sharply in November and December (seemed to coincide with the market crash). But January is already off to a much better start.
In this article ..
http://futureperfectpublishing.com/2008/08/20/four-quadrant-zooming-an-interview-with-max-quick-series-author-mark-jeffrey/
... I state that I think the iPhone trumps the Kindle as the ebook platform of choice.
"I am personally not a big fan of the Kindle or the other e-readers out there. Probably because I already have in my iPhone a multi-purpose device, and the Kindle is a one-trick pony. It seems ridiculous that I should have to purchase a bit of standalone hardware like that. My iPhone is already my email client, iPod, web browser, ebook reader, GPS device, camera, etc. It’s already in my pocket. You get the point. And I’ve sold way more iPhone copies of my books in the first two weeks than I’ve sold on the Kindle in the last year. So, I think the iPhone — or other multipurpose mobile device — crushes the Kindle. You heard it here first! You can’t be a one-trick pony hardware device anymore."
I wrote that back in August. In November, Wired ran an article agreeing entitled, "E-Books Have a Future in iTunes"
http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/11/e-books-have-a.html
The article also heralded the arrival of major books like 'The Golden Compass' and 'Twilight' being for sale in the App Store very soon also (although prices for these books range from $12 - $26 -- very overpriced, IMHO)
The only thing wrong with the iPhone is the size of the screen. If there were a tablet-type version of an iTouch, and better organization of books in iTunes, I believe it would game over for the Kindle. Interestingly, Mike Arrington recently reported that by the end of 2009, this would indeed be the case.
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