Suddenly, Earth-Friendly E-Readers Are Everywhere 8

by Terrence O'Brien — Sep 11th 2009 at 3:30PM

Eee-Reader

Asus, maker of the Eee PC, is prepping to enter the e-reader fray with its own super cheap model. The unofficially dubbed Eee-Reader is rumored to cost £100 ($163) and may include wireless (whether Wi-Fi or 3G hasn't been confirmed). But the most intriguing feature may be its dual screen design which will open like an actual book. The Eee-Reader should launch by year's end.

<< Back Start Over >>

from switched

Suddenly, Earth-Friendly E-Readers Are Everywhere
74 days ago
Gift Guide: Asus U6V-B1 Bamboo Laptop
375 days ago
ASUS Pre-Installs Computers With MaIicious Worm, Issues Recall
405 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

peregrine said 7:51AM on 9-13-2009

Obviously, this article is more advertising than hard news. But really, is it responsible to suggest we not buy paperbacks without also making note of the negative side of these e-readers?
1) They consume energy of some kind every time they are used, for as long as they exist.
2) As we saw recently with Kindle, purchased books can be "undelivered" to the buyer if the seller runs into copyright infringement challenges.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/18/amazon_removes_1984_from_kindle/
This places the burden for copyright infringement on the wrong party.
3) What do you suppose will be the cumulative effect, 30 or 40 years down the road, when a generation of human beings reads text on a screen? Vision deficits and eventual blindness, maybe? Our eyes are not designed to peer directly into a light source for sustained periods.
4) Relative to a traditional book, what is the expected life of an e-reader and what happens to its contents when it dies?
5) Are e-books designed to be easily recycled, so we can keep their electronic components out of landfills? At what cost?

So go ahead. Answer those questions and convince me!

fbrouss211 said 10:31PM on 9-15-2009

The paper industry is at the top of the list for America's poluting industries..plus billions of gallons of fuel is wasted hauling one of the heaviest products made..paper! And millions of square feet of warehousing is needed to store them; increasing the cost of in- process inventory costs as well as delivering the publications to the readers. Electronic, internet based press opens the door to thousands of creative writers around the world who can't afford the sky high cost of publishing books, selling and distributing paper books.
Timber prices will fall to very low levels, making furniture; housing and other products cheaper to customers.
Believe what you wish but technology will win again. Ignorance is bliss for a few and what you believe does not need to be based on facts.

beachtick13 said 9:21PM on 9-13-2009

I've had a Sony PRS-505 now for nearly 2 years. I find I read more, because of the slim shape-it fits in my purse and I always have it with me. It came with 100 free classic titles that I could choose from over a 1000 classic titles on their list. The ebooks are cheaper than at bookstores and I'm not cluttering up my bookshelves keeping books I want to read again at a later date. I even bought it a Dooney & Bourke alligator leather cover, so I have the great smell of leather while I'm reading.
My kids were amazed that I actually bought something "tech-y" and figured out how to work it without their help! I think its great now that public libraries now have the format (not in my county yet tho) so that you can use the Sony reader through the public library system. How amazing it will be when kids can go off to college with all their textbooks fitting onto that slim little ereader!! Get yourself one today!!

Sarah Emery said 10:05AM on 9-13-2009

These devices sound lovely, expensive and breakable. What happens when you read in bed and the e-book/kindle hits the floor? More jobs will be cut because of these and versions(later of a book) could be censored and one would never know it because one does not have hard copy. Books may cost trees, but not as much as some fancy, furniture and flooring. Batteries are still not carbon-footprintless and are costly. Not for me. Maybe good for schools if taxpayers are willing to pay for costs. Kids would not have as many backproblems from carrying so many books in backpacks. But the breakabilty and battery disposal and cost still are questionable.

ashlandltaylor said 10:33AM on 9-13-2009

I actually bought a Sony EBook about a year ago and I love it.
As far as batteries- at least with mine- is similar to that of my ipod, meaning it doesn't use disposable batteries. I simply plug it in to an outlet or USB connection to my computer and leave it there for a couple of hours. Yes, it's using energy, but the batteries aren't sitting in landfills.
As far as breakable, I bought mine a $10.00 case. I've dropped it out of my truck, a good 6 foot drop, and it lived to tell the tale. They are very durable, considering their size.
The only other thing you mentioned was the text book issue- Hi, Professor Ashland Taylor here. While its true you can but text books using Kindle and Sony Ebook Store, I hardly see that becoming the new wave of the future for schools to be using. On a different note- I use a textbook called Questions that Matter for my Philosophy: Ethics course. To by that from the publisher, in the hardback form its typically sold in, will cost my students $120.00 per book. To buy it from Sony is $37.00. As far as I know, only two of my current students have the a digital reader- but what a savings to them.
So- there is my argument to pursue such a device if one is so inclined!
All the best-

Susan said 11:20AM on 9-13-2009

Good points. I've been wanted a Kindle for months, but I'm afraid I'll miss the actual book in my hands. I do think these will be great for school kids and espcially for college students. College books are soooooooo expensive. Are they being used in colleges, does anybody know?

vjs02 said 10:05AM on 9-13-2009

When you can get used paperbacks for 50 cents (or less) which will fit a treadmill or stair stepper at the gym, why would I want to spend that much of my hard earned cash on something that will break if dropped or not fit the small space on most gym equipment???

Sounds like a great good for frequent fliers or rail passengers, but wouldn't airlines require them to be turned off during various times in the flight, if not completely during the flight (for those 'puddle jumpers')????

I tend to agree with Sarah.

Ellen Riley said 12:25AM on 9-15-2009

I love my Kindle 2 because I do not have to make the effort to search the used bookstore for older edition books and when traveling I do not have to give up clothing space to pack several books. The best part is that you can down load a book as long as you have cell phone service. The battery lasts a while if you remember to turn the wireless connection off after buying a book.

I hated the fact that I spent $350 for it just 3-4 weeks before Amazon brought out the DX model and reduced the cost of Kindle 2 to $299. I asked for a rebate of the $50 in book purchases but Amazon did not agree.

I think I am reading more books. The Kindle 2 reader allows you to have a free sample of books before you buy.

One drawback is that you cannot trade books with family and friends and therefore you have to pay for each book yourself.
.

My two daughters have Sony readers. One travels for her job and one is an at home mom, but both are avid readers and love their Sonys. You must have internet connection to download books to a Sony Reader.

llundberg60 said 11:13AM on 9-13-2009

How many books does a person read at a time? Has anyone tried these things out at the beach? Water and sand aren't exactly compatible with electronics.

Also... Has anyone thought about the life span of these devices? I have books that are over 20 years old which are still perfectly good to read... whereas I have been forced to replace electronic devices due to changing technology especially where related to the internet... so the initial investment isn't the end of it... especially when manufacturers develop these things to be obsolete within an unspecified period of time...

I'm still not convinced that it's the way to go... especially since the biggest user of trees isn't the print industry... it's furniture!!

Humming Bird said 12:17PM on 9-13-2009

Good points all. Besides I like to hold my books, turn the pages, and see them on the shelves of my bookcases.
I learned to read from paper books, so they are my preference. Too much technology sometimes...

CHROBO42 said 10:43AM on 9-13-2009

Why not just download book from Barnes and Noble to your laptop?

Noah said 10:45AM on 9-13-2009

What I'm most interested in is the Sony Daily Edition's ability to download from a library's digital selection. I often check out digital titles to my computer from my local library, but it's very inconvenient to have to sit in one place for the entire reading. Depending on the number of libraries it would allow you to download from, I might be willing to pay for something like that.

LNL said 11:25AM on 9-13-2009

How many books does a person read at a time? Has anyone tried these things out at the beach? Water and sand aren't exactly compatible with electronics.

Also... Has anyone thought about the life span of these devices? I have books that are over 20 years old which are still perfectly good to read... whereas I have been forced to replace electronic devices due to changing technology especially where related to the internet... so the initial investment isn't the end of it... especially when manufacturers develop these things to be obsolete within an unspecified period of time...

and what is the impact on the enviornment to dispose of old electronic devices?

I'm still not convinced that it's the way to go... especially since the biggest user of trees isn't the print industry... it's furniture!! Books are nice things to have... hold... read... and won't ever require updated technology in order to continue to use them... that's the best 'green' argument too keep them!

llundberg60 said 11:53AM on 9-13-2009

How many books does a person read at a time? Has anyone tried these things out at the beach? Water and sand aren't exactly compatible with electronics.

Also... Has anyone thought about the life span of these devices? I have books that are over 20 years old which are still perfectly good to read... whereas I have been forced to replace electronic devices due to changing technology especially where related to the internet... so the initial investment isn't the end of it... especially when manufacturers develop these things to be obsolete within an unspecified period of time...

and what is the impact on the enviornment to dispose of old electronic devices?

I'm still not convinced that it's the way to go... especially since the biggest user of trees isn't the print industry... it's furniture!! Books are nice things to have... hold... read... and won't ever require updated technology in order to continue to use them... that's the best 'green' argument too keep them!

velewis said 11:37AM on 9-13-2009

I have a kindle, and absolutely love it. I read in bed, and also at the pool. I haven't had a problem. It is easier to put in my purse and carry around with me, and easier to read since I can change the size of the font. I can preorder books and they are delivered when they come out, no problem. I love to read, and many times am reading more than one book at a time. the kindle allows me to carry all of them with me, and choose what I want to read when I want. It was great when I went on vacation. I only took the kindle, and not a bag of books. It did fine in the desert of Kuwait, too....

setec5354 said 12:25PM on 9-13-2009

No one wants to try something new till their favorite celebrity person tries it or advertises it or give it out free!!!
Watch what happens when oprah does it one of these days!!!!!!!!!!!!

cozymendoza said 12:35PM on 9-13-2009

I love the feel and smell of books, so I don't know if I want to trade that in for a high priced gadget. I do see the benefits, easily slipping more then one book in my purse or bag would be convenient. I would like one for textbooks. I wonder if they would be cheaper this way, because right now I pay an arm and a leg each semester.

marlyn said 2:35PM on 9-13-2009

Two things:

As a librarian, I love books. I have a personal library that overflows my two floor-to-ceiling 6 ft. wide bookcases. But I love having my Sony reader when I travel, so I don't have to carry multiple books. It also comes in pretty handy when I'm waiting in a doctor's office or in line just about anywhere.

Any ebooks that are in PDF-format can be transferred to a Sony e-reader. I have the PRS-505 (which I think is the original), and I can transfer free books from gutenberg.org, as well as e-library books from the LA Public Library.

JL1013 said 7:26AM on 9-14-2009

E-readers are easy enough at the beach, etc. Just throw them in a plastic baggie. Makes them easier to read than a paperback would be in a plastic bag at least.

As to your books, with the kindle you can download the book to up to 6 devices. If your kindle does wear out, you can download to a new one (or an iphone, or any other devices that start using the kindle format). Now, if you're doing it from a strictly ecological standpoint how about learning to recycle the batteries, etc. that make up electronic devices? It'd be a much better way to go since we're just going to have more and more electronics in the future.

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Switched Video

Most Emailed Stories

Editors' Picks

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=758444&pid=758443&uts=1256672453

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Getty Images

Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

Latest Reviews from CNET.com

CNET provides the latest tech news, unbiased reviews, videos, podcasts, software, and downloads, making tech products easy to find, understand and use.

Top Product Reviews

Home Audio Reviews
9.0 out of 10
Definitive Technology BPX
Works great with Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital. Full Review
9.0 out of 10
Denon AVR-4306 (black)
Incredibly well-featured 7.1-channel receiver; excellent sound quality; three HDMI inputs; converts analog video to HDMI output; upconverts analog video to 720p/1080i HD resolution; iPod and USB MP3 player connectivity; Internet radio and MP3/WMA streaming audio via built-in Ethernet port; XM Satellite Radio compatible; touch-screen remote; multizone, multisource operation; browser-based control via home network; accurate autocalibration routine. Full Review
8.8 out of 10
KEF KHT3005 (black)
The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review
Cell Phone Reviews

8.7 out of 10
SignalBoost Mobile Professional Amplifier Kit
The Mobile Professional Amplifier delivers a powerful signal boost to your cell phone. Also, it offers a compact design and easy setup. Full Review
8.6 out of 10
Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL cell phone signal extender
The Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL significantly boosts your cell phone reception and is easy to operate. Also, it uses a wireless connection to your phone. Full Review
8.6 out of 10
Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger
The Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger successfully delivers emergency power to your cell phone. It's easy to use and comes with a couple of surprising features. Full Review
Digital Camera Reviews

9.3 out of 10
Canon EOS 1D Mark III
Extremely fast, 10-megapixel continuous shooting; very low noise; highly customizable; well-designed body with weather sealing; 3-inch LCD; abundant optional accessories. Full Review
9.3 out of 10
Nikon D3 (body only)
Full-frame sensor; well designed, pro-level weather-sealed body; very low noise, even at extremely high ISOs; fast. Full Review
9.0 out of 10
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Very low noise, high quality images; 21.1 megapixels; live view shooting; pro-level build-quality and performance. Full Review
Desktop Reviews

8.5 out of 10
Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
A minor specification update results in some significant performance gains; graphics upgrade an option on this 24-inch model; sleek, polished design didn't receive an update, but we won't start clamoring for a new design until the current one is at least 12 months old. Full Review
8.4 out of 10
Apple iMac (27-inch, 3.06Hz Intel Core 2 Duo, ATI Radeon HD 4670, Fall 2009)
Largest display among all-in-ones; fast dual-core CPU makes up for lack of quad-core (mostly); finally has an SD card slot; wireless mouse and keyboard; Mini DisplayPort input ripe with possibility. Full Review