Ray Hendon

Ultraportables, which include the newest incarnation of thin and light laptops, the Ultrabook, are thought by some to be a threat to tablet computers.  The instant-on capability of Ultrabooks are believed to be especially attractive to those who have been buying tablets because of this feature. 

It appears likely to me that Ultrabooks and other thin and light laptops will do well in the market place, especially when their prices fall a few hundred dollars.  But whether they will dampen any of the enthusiasm for tablets is another matter.  Personally I think both form factors satisfy separate needs for different users.

One feature of the new Ultrabooks that will help resolve the question is whether they will serve their owners as competent eReaders.  Surely there are some prospective buyers who would prefer to own only one device rather than two—but only if the one could do the work of two.  Can an Ultrabook do both heavy duty computing and convenient eReading?  Can one design satisfy both these needs?

Certainly a dedicated eReader or a tablet have some advantages over a laptop, even a thin and light one.  Reading electronic books, for example is probably done best by a device that closely emulates the look and feel of a book.  The popularity of the Kindle and Nook are thought to owe much of their success to their similarity to printed books.

How essential is the look and feel,  though, to those who read a lot.   This article takes a look at the possibility of using these new, thin and light computers as an eReader.

To put this question to a practical test, I loaded the top three eReading applications to an 11.6” screen Asus UX21 to see how they worked.  The applications chosen to test are:

Amazon’s Kindle App for PCs, Macs, iPad, iPhone and Android devices

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• Barnes and Noble’s Nook Application for PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone  and Android devices
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• Sony’s Reader Application for PC, Mac and Android devices

  

To give you a taste of the difference, I have taken screen shots of random pages from eBooks on the three applications I mentioned.

Beginning with Amazon, a screen shot of George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda, is displayed in the two column format for laptop viewing. The screen shot is taken of the Kindle application for PCs.

Screen of Kindle Reader in Two Column Format

The Kindle app is widely praised for its versatility of layout options, underlining, comments, bookmarks and especially its syncing abilities.  This app also has go-to options that ease navigation, and dictionary lookup for a highlighted word.  All these features work on Ultrabooks. 

Amazon also has a user friendly policy of allowing you to direct any book in your library to be sent to any device on your registered list of devices. Amazon is indifferent as to which device or how many you use for any their electronic titles.  It treats them all the same and syncs them in an effortless way. The moment I registered my latest laptop, the Asus ZenBook UX21, all books in my library were immediately available for reading.

The strongest features of Amazon is, in my view, the ease of use of its website.  It is easy to find books, send them to the device of your choice, and generally navigate their vast site.

Equally strong is the selection of books, magazines and newspapers. They claim over a million titles, but that includes some categories such as “Singles” that represent a new class of literature that is generally shorter than a book but longer than an article. 

The worst feature of Amazon is that they insist on using a proprietary format for their eBook files.  It has an AZW extension and works only on Kindle software or hardware.  Although all the free sites I use give the option of downloading their books in the AZW format, in practice it is not terribly inconvenient.  Amazon also can read PDF files, and they will convert your Word for Windows documents to a format that allows you to put them in you Kindle library.

The other downside to Amazon is that they use DRM (digital rights management) on everything, so there is no cutting or pasting using anything in the AZW format. 

The Nook eReader software also provides a good reader experience. The screen shot below is from one of their pre-DRM works. Don’t be fooled by the small typeface. My screen capture utility shrunk it because the Nook takes up more of the horizontal space of the computer screen than the Kindle reader, so it has to cut the size down to fit within the pasted space. In practice, the Nook screen is as readable as any other.

Screen shot from the Nook Reader using the dual pane format

All the formatting and user options are available for the Nook reader–font size, margins, highlighting, lookup, go-to. And the B&N syncing feature is excellent between devices, and they offer their reader software app for a wide range of devices.

As far as eReading goes, it is hard to find much to prefer of B&N over Amazon or vice versa.  Both are excellent and have almost identical features.

The same is true for selection of books. B&N’s inventory is huge, and they have a good selection of free public domain books—as good as or better than Amazon’s.

Nook uses the ePub format, as does Sony, although both will read many other formats as well.  They do not read Amazon’s proprietary AZW file format, however.

Something of an oddity: The Nook reader treats all ePub software as DRM protected, so they do not allow cutting or pasting of non-DRM books.  Even on the iPad, whose own iReader app allows cutting and pasting of non-DRM protected material the  Nook does not.

Sony’s reader app provides a good reading experience. The screen shot below is from an ePub file of a non-DRM version of Sherlock Holmes.

Screen of Sony Reader’s Dual Column Layout

As with the Nook, the Sony Reader software uses more of the landscape screen to display its materiel than the Kindle app, so my clipping software has to reduce it to fit the pasting space. But Sony gives one plenty of formatting options and page control.

Sony lags both Amazon and B&N with book selection and syncing ability.  Their books are generally priced high; they have few free books, and their selection doesn’t match its two larger competitors.

Sony makes its reader software available to fewer devices—no iPad, no iPhone, no BlackBerry, for example.  They have syncing available to the three types of devices they support, but I have not tried it personally.

I like the Sony reader app for its ability to read almost any kind of document regardless of format, except, of course, Kindle documents. I will always have their app installed on my computers in case a particular book is not available in the Kindle format.  And they allow cut and paste options for non-protected books.

I find all three of the reader software about equally enjoyable to use. The differences in layout and options are not terribly important. I find I use the Kindle app more than the others because I find more books on their site I like, and I like to sync the books among all my devices. Still, I maintain active use of the Nook and the Sony Readers.

Summary:

First, the reality of the size and convenience of specialized eReaders and tablets makes it clear that they have the advantage. It is not possible for an ultrabook, weighing in at 2.9 pounds, to be as convenient to use as a 7-inch tablet or even the pound and a half iPad.

However, it is also inconvenient to carry two devices if one will do. So, there will be occasions when a thin and light laptop could be a suitable substitute for a dedicated eReader or tablet. 

At bottom, all of these tested apps work well on an Ultrabook. And they would work just as well with the software from other vendors such as Kobo or Blio. If your eReading preferences include comic books, magazines or children’s books, then you might like a specialty reader designed for the formats unique to these publications.

While all the eReading apps work well on an Ultrabook, it still may not be your preferred way of reading electronic texts.  But they are completely usable as a primary or secondary eReader. The choice of one over another is more dependent on which site you prefer to use because of its particular strengths than to the characteristics of their eReades.

From my experience, I have given away my Kindle reader. I simply do not want to carry another device with me in my travels. Now that I have a 7-inch tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, I use it as my eReader of choice because of its lightness and ease of holding in one hand. I use the iPad for e-reading infrequently, but there are occasions when it comes in handy. Its weight, though, makes it a second choice, especially for long reading times. 

I rarely use a PC or my ultraportable for reading, but if I do it will be on the ultraportable.  Its lightness and instant-on feature does make it a better choice than the older, heavier laptops, but it is not as convenient to carry as a tablet.

An ultraportable may not be your favorite way of reading electronic texts, but it serves as a completely satisfying vehicle for reading if you want to carry only one device with you or if an occasion arises when it is all you have to use.

Tablets, from the iPad at the high end to the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet at the low , have dominated the press coverage and public attention this year.  Now with both new low-end devices in the public’s hands, and hands-on reviews coming in hourly, much of the mystery about them has vanished.  The excitement, it appears, has faded with the exposure.  These new devices will eventually dominate electronic reading, but many readers still prefer the old-fashion e-Ink displays, so they will probably be around for some time to come.

The new crop of e-Ink readers from the three major suppliers:  Amazon, Nook and Sony, all have great displays, faster page turns, touch interfaces (with the exception of the low-end Kindle) and are light to hold.   It is the best of times if you want to experience the joys of having a thousand-book library in your back pocket, ready in an instant, that can be held and read for hours at a time without eye strain.  And as the product has improved, prices have fallen from $400 when they first appears to as low as $80 now.

To whom do you turn for your e-Ink reader?  Sony, Kindle, Nook?  These are the best of the best, and given that the best in quality and support also have such low prices, it leaves, in my opinion, no room for lower quality products.

Before beginning my reviews and comparisons, let me get my prejudices out of the way.  I have owned a Kindle 2, which I recently gave away, and I owned a Nook for a few weeks.  I liked both products, and each has good reason to support it as the one to own.  With the Sony product, it also looks good, but I have had only a brief exposure to it.   I gave away my Kindle not because it is not a great eReader.  I found myself using it less and less and using the 7-inch tablet from Samsung as my primary eReader. 

From the outset, I don’t think it makes much difference which brand you choose.  All of them will give you a good user experience, and you will probably find yourself reading more than you ever had before.  All are high quality products in both design and build-quality. 

Kindles

Kindle now has three models with variations of each.  The low-end is anchored by the Kindle at $79.  It has no touch and no keyboard, but it does have WiFi so you can download books directly from Amazon’s vast library.  The screen is about the same as the other models, but to turn a page you must use a five-way button at the bottom of the device.

It weighs less than 6 ounces, is easy to hold and the screen looks great. Reviews of the Kindle are uniformly good.

"

The new Kindle is the best e-reader $100 (or less!) can buy." - Engadget

… if what you want is pure e-reading pleasure for the lowest price around, this is a big, definite winner." – GigaOm

At $79 the user must endure ads displayed when the reader is not in use.  This can be avoided for an extra $30.  It, and all other Kindle models allow you to borrow books from your local library if your library offers the service.  If your local one does not, find one on line in another location and open an account with them.

Next up the line is the Kindle touch.

The Kindle came late to the touch party, but their implementation of this technology is first rate.  Multi-touch control is enabled, so the old form of scrolling through titles is gone.  At $99 with ad support and $139 without, it is, in my view, the sweet spot unless you want 3G ability in addition to WiFi.

This model also has a “read to me” feature that may be handy for those who like it.  It can also read audio books.

The same model with 3G is for sale at $149 with ad support or $189 without.  this feature will allow you to download books without being tethered to WiFi.  The 3G connection is free—no other reader has this feature.

The last model offered is the Kindle Keyboard.  It does not have a touch screen but includes the older design physical keyboard.  This is handy for tasks that require alpha-numeric input.  Personally, I would prefer the touch screen, but that is a personal preference.  Notice

the toggle switch at the bottom left of the picture.  That is how you turn pages.

With ad support this old model it is priced at $139 and $189 without.  The same pricing is available for their 3G version that has 3G and WiFi. 

The Kindle line is by far the most extensive in the industry.  Both Barnes and Noble and Sony now sell only one model of e-Ink screen readers.  But Amazon sees something in the market that allows it to expand its offers to such a wide array of choices.

The reviews of all these models have been uniformly good.  The screens are readable, employing the new Pearl technology and an infrared touch scheme that doesn’t dull the screen like the older versions of touch-control did.

Amazon has nothing on Sony or Nook on this issue, however.  Both its competitors employ the same set of technologies.

The last word I will leave to David Pogue, technology editor of the New York Times.  He concludes his review of the Kindle line: “Is your primary interest in an e-book reader, well, reading? Then Amazon’s refined, dirt-cheap Kindle and Kindle Touch are no-brainers.”

But read the reviews on the Nook and Sony devices, too.  You may find something there that is appealing.

Nook

The Nook Simple Touch is now priced at $99 without a power adapter. Add another $10 to get a functional price. 

The Nook has always had a good looking design.  The screen is great for an e-Ink display.  The page turns are fast, font selection is good.  There is nothing not to like about their eReader.

Barnes and Noble also have a wide selection of books to choose from, including many that are free.  I have had a B&N account for several years, and I find their selection to be excellent.  They have some free books that Amazon doesn’t have, which is a plus.  And their sync option between different reading devices is quite good.  It operates on a different principle than Amazon’s Whispersync, but it works well.

B&N has also done a fine job of making their eReading software available on a wide range of devices.  I use the Nook reader on my iPhone, iPad, PC and laptops.  They also have a BlackBerry version.

Connection with the Nook is through WiFi or side-loading from your computer. No 3G option is available. Barnes and Noble also tout that you can get in-store support from their huge chain of book stores.

You can also borrow books from your local library on the Nook. All in all, it is a fine machine that few would have complaints of, and the price is competitive.

the Nook uses the ePub  as their default format, but it will also read PDF and some other formats.  It can handle Digital Right Management or not, so it is quite  flexible. 

Reviews on the Nook are uniformly good. It is a high quality machine with a good backup in terms of support.

Sony Reader WiFi

Sony has trimmed their line of eReaders down to one. The Reader WiFi features an excellent touch screen with infrared technology and the Pearl e-Ink display.  As usual the build-quality is good and their range of file formats supported is extensive.

The Reader WiFi is priced, not surprisingly, at about $50 higher than Amazon’s or Barnes and Noble’s comparable models.  At $149.99 it has specs similar to Amazon’s and Barnes and Noble’s $99 machines.

They have an offer to give $50 off on a trade-in for any other eReader, so that would bring their price in line, however.

Nevertheless, Sony has not kept us with its competitors in terms of wider support.  Their book store is anemic when compared with the others, but their wide range of format acceptance leaves the owner with many options for third-party books.  They have their reader software on PCs and Macs, but not much else.  And they do not offer any kind of syncing of reading bookmarks between devices.

Sonk kept their older designs longer than any of their competitors, and did not offer WiFi until recently.  While their build-quality can be counted on, one does not have the wide range of support for other products and amenities that its two competitors offer.

For a thorough review from Engadget, Click Here.  The reviewer concludes his statement:

“There’s a lot to like about this new guy. The WiFi Reader has a lot of compelling functionality, including dual-touch pinch to zoom, handwritten note taking, audio playback and built-in access to public library and Google Books content. At $149.99, it’s also quite reasonably priced for a Sony reader, down $30 from the Sony Reader Pocket Edition (which, it’s worth noting, failed to include WiFi). That number still marks a premium over the $79 starting price for the new ad-supported Kindle and the $99 ad-supported Touch, and with that in mind, don’t expect Sony to overtake Amazon on these shores any time soon.

10/21/2011:  Amazon to Allow Trade-ins of Old Kindles

Amazon has announced they will accept old Kindle reader models as trade-ins on purchases of new equipment.

The old equipment will be taken in exchange for a gift certificate valued from the information shown above. 

10/15/2011:  Motorola To Sell New “Family” Version of Xoom for $379 This Weekend

Motorola is trying something new tomorrow.  At Best Buy stores, and only at Best Buy, Moto has reduced the internal memory of its Xoom to 16BG, added a bundle of kid-friendly software and renamed the product as the Family Edition of the Xoom.  They have also chopped $120 from the price, and now, starting tomorrow, will be sold for $370.

No one knows if this will be permanent or temporary, and whether the old Xoom will long continue not selling at its $499 price.  It may be a trial balloon to see how sensitive the tablet market is to a price cut.

No Android tablets are selling well at $499.  The iPad2 dominates this market at that price, and none of the competitors are offering a compelling reason to pay the same amount for what is a lesser product.  Adding some bells and whistles is not, so far, enticing many to buy their “almost” iPads.

All the producers are looking for ways to keep prices as high as possible but low enough to attract buyers.

10/14/2011:  Kindle Fire May Ship 5 Million Units by End of Year

An analyst for Rodmart and Renshaw, Mr. Ashok Kumar, now predicts that Amazon will ship as many as 5 millions Kindle Fire 7-inch tablets by the end of the year. This is an increase of about one million over previous estimates.  When asked why he was upping the forecast, he said. “They [Amazon] have received record orders.”

A potential fly in this ointment of optimism is the ability of Amazon to get delivery on enough of the 7-inch display screens.  This form factor has put a huge burden on existing manufacturers, and the total supply is highly constrained by existing production capacity.

By comparison, Apple is shipping about 12 million iPad2s each quarter.  Given that the Kindle Fire doesn’t begin delivering until November 15th, it puts the Kindle Fire in the top rank of iPad competitors.  The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 shipped only about 2 millions units its first year.

10/11/2011:  Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus at $399 and $499

I was clearly wrong when I said earlier that Samsung got it about the proper pricing policy on 7-inch tablets.  I said that when they reduced the price of their Tab 7, the original 7-inch Android tablet, to $200 with a data plan.

As you can see from the ads above, the replacement of the original isn’t priced to sell.  It isn’t known yet whether the new Tab + will be able to take a SIM card for GSM cell phone capabilities, but if it is, then that would make these prices a little less onerous.  But if not, the prices they are starting with will leave this 7-incher sitting on dealer shelves.

10/10/2011:Acer Announces an Ultra-thin Laptop, The Aspire S3-951

Acer is first to market with a low-priced Apple MacBook Air competitor.  Acer is offering its second generation Core CPU (i5 Dual Core), a 13.3-inch HD screen, both a SSD and HDD, and a 0.51-inch thick aluminum and magnesium chassis that weighs just 2.98 pounds.

At a suggested retail price of $899 one can buy a configuration similar to the 13.3-inch ultra-thin MacBook Air, which retails at $1299.  The 13.3-inch 16:9 Acer screen features a 1366 x 768 resolution as opposed to the 13.3-inch MacBook Air’s 1440 by 900 (native) resolution.

The Aspire S3-951 comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, and the MacBook Air runs Apple’s iOS Lion.

Besides the price, another interesting feature of the Acer is its combination SSD and spinning hard drive.  The 20GB SSD handles the system files for quick boot times but a 320GB HDD gives the owner plenty of storage room.

The S3-951 will be in stores later this week, and an i7 model with greater SSD and HD storage capacity.  No hands-on reviews promised soon with are available as yet.

10/5/2011: Kindle Fire Orders @ 250,000 in Five Days

Least we doubt the effectiveness of Amazon as a marketer of tablet computers, A leaked document to TechCrunch shows that about 50,000 orders a day are coming in.  In the tablet world no other vendor except Apple’s iPad has equaled this number.  It looks as if Amazon has a winner with their new tablet.

10/2/2011:  Amazon Buying WebOS and Palm?

According to the technology site Aventurebeat is reporting that Amazon is in serious negotiations with HP to buy the WebOS system. According to the report Amazon is negotiating for the entire Palm portfolio which includes the Palm smartphones, WebOS and many patents.

A case can be made for Amazon wanting WebOS. It is a capable OS that would distinguish Amazon’s Kindle line of tablets from all the Android system. It is harder to see that Amazon would want Palm itself, however. Them getting into the cell phone business as a producer seems farfetched, but it could happen. The Palm line of phones is so tainted with failure that it is difficult for me to see how Amazon could benefit from it.But, that is a call Mr. Bezos must make.

10/01/2011:  HTC Flyer Drops to $300 Today

One of the earliest pricing reaction in the 7-inch tablet world is HYC Flyer.  Yester it retailed for $500; today it sells for $299.

It is hard to make a case for a $300 price of the Flyer, although it is one of the best 7-incher devices on the market today.  Two cameras, high res screen, fast, dual-core processor, and pen input.  Will tablet buyers go for an extra hundred in order to get these things?  We will keep out eyes out for signs of another price cut before the selling

The ability of electronic devices to morph from one form to another is a source of confusion in the minds of consumers. For decades there were tablet computers, but there were no electronic readers. Then electronic readers were introduced, and within a few years browsing capabilities were added, more or less as an afterthought but not done well.  But, the distinction between these two categories was blurred just a little.

Then the tablet computer morphed from a very expensive pen-centric business device that was a sub-category of a laptop into a hand-held device that is now a category of its own. It wasn’t long before Amazon and the other eBook sellers developed reader applications that allowed these new tablets to read eBooks, too. When you put a Kindle reader on an iPad, the iPad becomes an eReader, even though it was an afterthought of the designers.

Now we have two categories of devices that have inched closer to each others’ afterthoughts. The old distinctions are gradually melding into a commonality that makes it hard to make meaningful distinctions between them.

This confusion is not only demonstrated by the buyers of these devices. It is also on display by the blogs and eMagazine sites that keep track on the industry. As an example, notice what the data below shows how differently the different blogs and eMagazines treat this distinction.

PC World: Single category: Tablets/E-Readers.

Engadget: Separate categories: (1) E-Readers, (2) Tablet PCs. The Nook Color, by the way, is reviewed under the E-Reader category, although it could just as well be classified as a tablet.

Computer World No classification of either device

ReadWriteWeb No classification of either device

ZDNet Three categories: (1) iPad, (2) Tablets, (3) E-Books and E-Readers

Crunch Gear No specific classifications. They use “Mobile” and “Gadgets.”

Laptop Magazine Separate categories for Tablets and eReaders

Cnet Separate categories for Tablets and E-Book readers as a sub-class of Tablets

Tabletreaderinfo Single category: Tablet/eBook Readers

Sometimes our classification system fails us. And recently the original eInk providers, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, have introduced what are in fact tablets, but were designed and promoted as eReaders as their primary function. They also include tight integration of the eBook seller’s sites and all the electronic media capabilities. Still, they are tablet computers underneath and eReaders by heritage.

I don’t have a solution for this failure to clarify. Although there are two clear divisions between these categories: eInk vs not eInk. But, this is not convenient terminology for anyone, although it does describe the difference fairly accurately. We will probably have to live with this confusion for a while until one or the other either disappears or does some more morphing closer to the other.

On my site I find that I spend more time lately reviewing the eReading capabilities of tablets than I do reviewing pure, eInk readers. The market is clearly moving away from eInk, although it could make a comeback. But, I can’t see how. It is a hassle to carry two devices with you when one is enough, and the way the technology stands today, the clear winner is the tablet with eReading software. I almost never use my old Kindle anymore. My 7-inch Galaxy Tab or iPad has taken over this function.

Nevertheless, there are many avid readers who prefer their old eInk devices, and they are the best way to read if you are out of doors. But I don’t see a bright future for this old technology. I am most curious as to how this plays out.  But confusion will reign for a while longer.

Amazon has caught up with the competition now with five different eInk models and, of course, the new color Kindle Fire tablet/eReader model.

This article will focus on the eInk models:

1. The Kindle Wi-Fi is the lightest and least expensive of Amazon’s readers.

The lightest Kindle at less than six ounces, it has built in WiFi and stores 1400 eBooks.it does not have touch control, so page turns are accomplished  .by the buttons at the bottom of the tablet.

For an additional $30 one can buy it without the intrusive ads.  I also has the same Pearl eInk screen as the more expensive models.  At the price, it is a good starting point if you are interested in the convenience of electronic reading.

2.  The Kindle Touch Wi-Fi

The Kindle Touch is Amazon’s least expensive reader with full touch control, at $99 for the ad-supported model and $139 without ads. WiFi is included but not 3G..  It holds  up to 3000 books.  It will not be available until November 21st.  Pre-orders are now being taken by Amazon at their website Click Here for Amazon  page.  The touch control on this and  all other touch models is accomplished by an advanced infrared sensor method, so there is no loss of contrast that bedeviled earlier touch screen eReaders.

Light at 7.5 ounces, it sports the same 6-inch screen as the other touch models. The device is 0.4 inches thick. No hands-on reviews are available yet.

3.  The Kindle Touch 3G will be available on November 21st for the ad-supported model, and $149 without ads

The 3G ability is contract and cost free.  Like earlier models of the Kindle, Amazon includes 3G ability through AT&T GSM service, so this service will be available wherever GSM signals are available (dominate in Europe and widely available elsewhere).  Amazon picks up the bill for the 3G services.  Wi-Fi is also available.

The 3G weighs7.8 ounces and otherwise has the same measurements as the WiFi model.

4. The Kindle Keyboard starts at $99 with ad support or $139 without ads.

Wi-Fi is built into the Keyboard model.

If one wants to convenience and weight of a mechanical keyboard (this model weighs 8.5 ounces), then no wait is necessary. The keyboard models are in  stock today.  It holds up to 3,500 eBooks.

It is also in stock for quick shipment.

5.  Keyboard is the 3G model at $139 with ad support

An up-grade from the lower priced or $189 without. This model also supports Wi-FI and picks up an additional 0.2 ounces to 8.7. The 3G looks exactly like the WiFi model shown above.

A video review of the Keyboard vs. to newer touch models is below.

A brief review of the Kindle Keyboard by CNet is found by clicking here. This review also has comparisons of the Keyboard with three of the Nook models.

With these new devices Amazon has planted its flag again as a challenge to its competitors for eInk devices.  With their long history of strong eBook sales and service, these new readers position Amazon once again as the one to bear.Certainly Barnes and Noble can match the freatures of the new Kindles, and they come close in matching the number of eBooks available.  B&N’s syncing mechanism is also quite good for reading across different platforms.

I will not review the older model, the DX.  I wonder how long it will be carried by Amazon in light of the new Kindle Fire.  As for the Fire, as soon as a competent hands-on review is published, it will be seen here.