Proposal: Electronic Book Reader
Here’s an idea I came up with a few weeks ago. I didn’t write “eBook” because it looks silly and has somewhat negative connotations. This is an Electronic Book Reader, and yes, it needs a catchier name. Here’s an overview of a few of the things I’ve thought about. A company really needs to make an effective eBook reader and get publishers signed on. Google could definitely do it. Or an electronics manufacturing company (Nintendo?) could partner with Google and do it.
The technology for the gadget is ready:
- 2 screens, like the Nintendo DS (and DS lite)
- Rechargeable batteries that last a long, long time (new iPod nano goes for 24 hours)
- Backlighting (an advantage over even traditional books)
The market is ready:
- Everyone carries around an iPod and a cell phone. Optionally carrying an electronic book reader is no harder than taking along a DS lite or a small spiral notebook.
- College students carry paper books everywhere.
- Paper books can be replaced with e-books.
- Buy books online through Google Book Search, or like songs on iTunes
The need is here:
- College students change books often and read lots of books
- Books are often updated
- People read many books for pleasure
The content is here:
- Easy-to-download, many formats, all open
- People can use them like lyrics on iPods
Are eBook readers available yet? Are they cheap (the same price as a DS lite would be fine) and fast? Do they work with Google Book Search?
It’s kind of scary how…I had the same exact idea…almost to the dot. There is a market for this, if executed correctly.
So you carry one EBR instead of 5 books in your backpack. And the EBR will fit in my purse or pocket. And people can’t be nosy to see what I am reading. Actually I don’t mind people seeing what I read because it can be a good conversation starter. So maybe this isn’t a plus for me. But I have seen people cover their books so others don’t see them reading a trashy romance with the half naked male model on the front cover.
How about EBOOR? EBORE? Never mind.
I don’t like the prospect of staring at a small backlit LCD screen for hours in the library. I like my books on paper. There are books that you can download to your computer and read at the monitor, of course. That’s been around for a long time, as you probably already know. But how popular has that been? Or is it because of subpar marketing and development? Will making a standalone, portable electronic book reader induce more people to want it?
I am considering buying an electronic book reader, I just saw some good titles for this thing called the “Kindle Reader” HERE
– Just wondering if most or all of kindles publishings are available on this reader?!?