One would think that with the emergence of electronic book readers (or eBook readers), paper books would fall out of consumer grace (saving the forests and helping students move around without a truck of paper books). As we’ve learned by now, that didn’t happen.
EBook readers are basically divided in two: the classical LCD/TFT backlit tablets and the Kindle. The LCD backlit tablets have the same issue that renders the computer screen mostly useless for reading: unreadable in natural light, while reflections and low refresh rates (usually 60Hz) are a strain to the eye. In fact, getting used to straining your eye to 60hz refresh rates only means your eye loses its ability to cope with natural light and faster motions, so that a variety of environments that imply fast movement can result in great headaches and nausea.
That leaves the Amazon Kindle as a viable reading tool. The e-Ink technology doesn’t limit the refresh rate, going up to 120Hz or more (usually, over 75Hz is acceptable to the eye, while at 100Hz the eye doesn’t perceive the refresh rate anymore). Since it’s grayscale with great contrast, reading is comfortable. Being all-electronic, the books don’t take up any space so technically you’ll always have your library with you.
So why don’t I have a Kindle?
Well, one would think that lacking a physical shell and all the costs related to printing, paper, transport, storage, customs, handling, etc would make an eBook cheaper than a paper book. In reality, Kindle eBooks are significantly more expensive than paper books. On Amazon, there are very few exceptions to this.
Therefore, not only do you pay well over 100 euros for a Kindle, but you will have to pay even more for the content. You make no economy to justify your purchase, instead your costs will exponentially increase.
In addition, having your library with you at all times is not so practical. Sure, you go on that long boring business trip, but will you read 100 books during that? Moreover, it limits sharing ability since if you have your Kindle, it means that your friend can’t touch any of your 100 books (being activated only for your kindle kindof limits the access). Amazon has recently announced a borrowing mechanism for Kindle, but there’s no actual deadline for that.
Pricing books is a strange thing. In Romania, for example, books are incredibly overpriced (both translations and original versions cost about 40% more than an online purchased similar version), while online shops selling books (Amazon, zavvi, alibris or bookdepository) practice fairly reasonable prices (although those offering free shipping result in greater total costs than paying shipping for the others).
