The various eReaders that are available have long been the subject of many posts here on the SBB, and for equally as long I've intended to assess their respective merits. But now that I've got an iPad, I can honestly say that I have no intention of shopping for a Kindle, Nook, or Android tablet. The only way one of those devices will come into my possession is if I win one in a raffle, and past indications of my luck suggest that's a long shot.So what I'm proposing is this: an eReader roundtable. We get one iPad owner (me), one Kindle owner (Marcus Corder), one Nook owner, and an Android tablet owner. We sit down at a local coffee shop (Chairs, perhaps?), pass the devices around, talk about what makes them great as eReaders and where they fall short, and then convey that conversation to the Web in some fashion. Maybe as a Harper's-style verbatim transcription. Maybe as audio or video. Maybe as a brief summary — our impressions and arguments pre- and post-roundtable — penned by each of the participants.
That seems to me a fairer, more comprehensive, and less expensive way to review these devices.
Anyone game?
I'm up for it. Though I haven't been using my kindle a lot of late, I do read it at least once a week.
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you plan to account for the app-izing of ereader platforms? I have kindle applications on my ipod and both computers that allow me to keep up on progress no matter where I am. I feel this needs to be taken into account somehow.
@Marcus: So glad you're taking part. I'll put you down as the Kindle rep and cross my fingers that we get Nook and Android sign-ons. If things get desperate, maybe I'll hit up the local B&N and see if they'll send someone (a non-shill, preferably) over.
ReplyDeleteI'll send you an e-mail via GDP.
And, yes, I definitely do plan to account for the "app-izing." That means Amazon's forthcoming app-enabled Kindle will be a bit late to the party, but we ought to be able to talk about it in terms of the iPad, Android, and newer Nook devices.