English-language books are hard to come by in Brazil, and when you find them, they’re often overpriced. That’s why I asked my girlfriend’s friend to bring me a Kindle from his trip to the U.S. about a month ago. I can definitely say that , except for my laptop, which is absolutely necessary for work, the Kindle has been the most useful piece of technology I’ve picked up in many years.
The two main things that make it so great are the price (of both the e-reader itself and the books) and the e-ink. The device itself is not very expensive, and it could even get cheaper considering that Amazon gets money from the purchase of books in addition to sales of its reader. The books themselves are , on average, slightly cheaper than the print versions, which is nice. You can always sample books and I do that frequently to get a taste of a few before purchasing. Although for most people the selection may seem slightly limited, for me it’s a godsend to have a huge selection of books when I previously had to search through a shelf or two of classics and random books in a bookstore here in Rio (hmmm, more Dickens, a book on losing weight…). Equally attractive, though, is the e-ink. When I first got it, I was really struck by how the ink seems to jump out at you. The text is clear and crisp, and I can even read PDFs that I find online with ease. Most importantly, I can read for a really long time without tiring my eyes.
And that is what makes Barnes & Noble’s recent move so disappointing. B&N has decided to go with a color, e-inkless ‘e-reader’ instead of trying to compete with the next generation of e-ink-based e-readers. Admittedly, it’s probably not a terrible business move. Amazon played its cards right, and with its latest Kindle, it’s dropped the price and improved the technology (better contrast, faster page turns, more space, etc.). Instead of competing with the Kindle, B&N has decided to create an inexpensive tablet. And priced at about half the price of the cheapest iPad, it just may be somewhat successful at competing with the iPad because there must be many people sitting around who want the iPad but, for now, can’t justify splurging on what is a large, albeit very beautiful, toy. The new Nook uses Android, so we’re basically seeing the battle currently being fought among smartphone providers developing in the tablet market.
The problem is, B&N still calls its Nook an e-reader. I think any device that skips over a technology that is essential to reading books comfortably should be called something else. In my book, the new Nook is a books-focused tablet (or, in other terms, a relatively weak tablet). Just check out the features. Although the list clearly focuses on reading, there is a web browser that will allow you to visit ‘your favorite websites.’ It will integrate Android apps. So, apps, a backlit color screen and a fully functional (I assume) web broswer? Sounds like a tablet to me.
Sadly, I have read online that some people think the e-reader category itself is pointless. For many of these people, e-ink really doesn’t matter, and a device is only as good as its UI, the number of applications it integrates into its package and the power it gives you (processing power, battery life, etc.). Integration isn’t bad, although I think we could all use some straightforward devices to keep ourselves focused these days, especially considering the fact that we spend, on average, a few minutes on each Internet page. But attention issues aside, I can admit that the ability to listen to mp3s on my Kindle is quite nice, and the Kindle has a web browser, although I don’t use it. There is something to be said, however, for the clear difference between e-ink and a backlit screen. Instead of tossing e-ink aside, I think we should let the integration happen in different realms (mobile devices, tablet computers, e-readers, etc.).
Honestly, how many books have you read on a computer screen? Is it because of the mobility it lacks, the strain on your eyes, or something else? Do we think there is a difference between reading a few pages on a topic and reading a book? If so, can we agree that e-ink technology has a place in our future?
I certainly hope so, because as long as there’s a place for e-ink, there will be competition that will push it to new places. Otherwise, in a few years I may be stuck with a lot of backlit screens or a bunch of expensive, random books. I think in this case the sleeker, more colorful devices just don’t do the trick. They’re flashy and they’re fun, but functionally, they don’t cut it.
On a sidenote, I’m also disappointed in the direction B&N is going because it recently came out with an application focused on students. As any student will tell you, it’s terrible to have to lug around a ton of books, but for now, the selection and ability to take notes on an e-ink e-reader is just not there.
Kyle Rolnick fell in love with traveling at a young age while touring the U.S. crammed into an old minivan with his large family. That love has taken him all over the world, including a year-long stay in India.
After graduating from college, he worked at a law firm in San Francisco and then moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he arrived speaking not a word of Portuguese, ready to tackle yet another new city.
He still resides there, teaching English to a variety of students, including those preparing to enter the Instituto Rio Branco, Brazil’s only school of diplomacy. In his free time, Kyle likes to read and make music. You can find his work at www.myspace.com/kylerolnick.
Kyle is a native of Madison, Wisconsin and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
