Comments on: Can Google make e-books work? http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:09:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Monika http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/comment-page-1/#comment-211267 Monika Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:00:06 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/#comment-211267 Although I'm a geek at heart I fail to see the point of e-books beyond a niche market. Eye strain issues aside, reading books on a screen cuts out the tactile pleasures of books--the feel of paper in your fingers, the satisfaction of turnin a page, that awesome smell of new books. A big loss IMO especially when the benefits of e-books are...what exactly? I can't imagine reading War and Peace on your Blackberry would be that much fun. I know some of us get anxiety attacks whenever we have to step away from a screen, but really, it's okay to unplug sometimes. Although I’m a geek at heart I fail to see the point of e-books beyond a niche market. Eye strain issues aside, reading books on a screen cuts out the tactile pleasures of books–the feel of paper in your fingers, the satisfaction of turnin a page, that awesome smell of new books. A big loss IMO especially when the benefits of e-books are…what exactly? I can’t imagine reading War and Peace on your Blackberry would be that much fun.
I know some of us get anxiety attacks whenever we have to step away from a screen, but really, it’s okay to unplug sometimes.

]]> By: Webomatica http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/comment-page-1/#comment-211074 Webomatica Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:53:06 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/#comment-211074 One probable feature in an Apple iPod (with added eBook functionaility) would be text to speech. Apple already sells audio books for the iPod. That might save tired eyes for a while. One probable feature in an Apple iPod (with added eBook functionaility) would be text to speech. Apple already sells audio books for the iPod. That might save tired eyes for a while.

]]> By: AL http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/comment-page-1/#comment-211043 AL Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:17:21 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/#comment-211043 Leigh, your point is valid. But if you we can make the text on those devices big enough our eyes won't have much trouble on the long run, provided of course those devices don't expose bad radiation like those old CRTs. We should start with our online reading anyway. Whenever you're trying to read something, make the text as big as your eyes would like it to be. This works for me and I use Firefox for that. Leigh, your point is valid. But if you we can make the text on those devices big enough our eyes won’t have much trouble on the long run, provided of course those devices don’t expose bad radiation like those old CRTs.

We should start with our online reading anyway. Whenever you’re trying to read something, make the text as big as your eyes would like it to be. This works for me and I use Firefox for that.

]]> By: Leigh http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/comment-page-1/#comment-210715 Leigh Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:57:51 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/#comment-210715 I wonder what the actual physical affects of this are going to be. Someone was recently telling me that the statistics for various forms of blindness are dramatically on the rise. While we all sit on our computers all day long with a glowing screen reflecting back at us, and with devices going smaller and smaller - it's seems that at some point our eyes might start to revolt. I wonder what the actual physical affects of this are going to be. Someone was recently telling me that the statistics for various forms of blindness are dramatically on the rise. While we all sit on our computers all day long with a glowing screen reflecting back at us, and with devices going smaller and smaller – it’s seems that at some point our eyes might start to revolt.

]]> By: Google eBook Thoughts » Webomatica http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/comment-page-1/#comment-210095 Google eBook Thoughts » Webomatica Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:40:44 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/01/22/can-google-make-e-books-work/#comment-210095 [...] Additional reading: Mathew Ingram, Mark Evans [...] [...] Additional reading: Mathew Ingram, Mark Evans [...]

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