Well, you called it--this is pretty much FUD. Talk about straw dogs. What happens when your tablet dies? Plug it in. Restart. Tech support because your screen freezes? Escape, restart. Forced to attach to a computer? Says who? The cost of downloading a book? Worrying about buying a cooler tablet in 3-5 years? Seriously?
1)How do you define "die"? I didn't say the battery died...I said what if the tablet died...as if, like all machines, it just no longer works one day. The implications are huge: purchasing another tablet, getting all your e-books back (is there a fee?), possibly setting up new e-book accounts with retailers, etc. None of this has been talked about much yet obviously it's got the potential to be a multi-billion dollar/year industry...you think Amazon and other retailers are going to want to monopolize it? Your bet your butt they will want to.
2)Tech Support is a REAL topic. You're telling me that the consumer simply restarts it. Yeah. Right. That's because you know everything and are designing said tablet. Do you even have any idea of what it is like to design software, firmware, or hardware? Sheeeez. Maybe your answer will work 1% of the time, maybe 50%. But don't con me into believing it's as simple as a reboot (just like you believe all Windows and Mac reboots fix every single computer problem known to mankind).
3)Costs about downloading a book... as you quote me out of context...it's not necessarily the cost of the e-book, it's how long you own it (physically and virtually) and what happens if your tablet is smashed or stolen or dies (see point 1). What happens if you want to give your e-book to your brother? etc. It's all about ownership kiddo.
4)Attaching the tablet to a computer...yup. Since we don't have a real definition of a tablet yet (at least for e-book specialties), how is mom and dad gonna get their books on the tablet? Not everyone has wireless at home. So you're gonna likely have to physically hook up the tablet to a computer (and use the computer to download...ring any bells? iTunes anyone?) or connect to a router. Or...the tablet ships with a wireless card (again, if you have wireless at home) and/or a way to connect to the online store such as cell phone service. Lastly, I guess you could buy the e-book on a small chip at the store...I have a feeling that will never happen. Am I saying that 100% of all tablets will 100% need to connect to a computer to get content? No. But my money says there is a very good chance. And what's the problem with this?...it's a pain in the neck for someone who just wants to read a book.
No, the screen won't burn your eyes out. That IS FUD. Change the resolution, adjust the brightness and contrast, use whatever zoom is comfortable (try that with a book). And sitting at your desk staring at a monitor is not the same as holding a tablet in your hands like a magazine, or on the table at whatever angle.
Again, you seem to claim that said tablet is going to have all the display options that a computer system has (bit depth, contrast, resolution, fonts, etc). Get real. This tablet technology is supposed to be easy...real easy to use and enjoy. I dare you to sit at your desk for 2+ hours and read, non-stop, a book on the monitor/display of your choice (not a magazine with pretty pictures and advertisements)...a pure black text/white-ish background just like in a physical book (I'll even let you choose ANY color scheme you want)...and repeat this process every day until you are done reading 15 200+page books...pick any books you want.
You obviously have no clue about introducing a product (tablet) to the world such as a technology designed to replace physical books: current copyrights, current distribution/sales channels, ownership, and user adoption are gigantic topics/concerns for everyone.
My posts on this thread have mainly revolved around using a table for e-books...tablets can have other uses (yet I have not heard of much other than an e-book reader and a thingamajig for doctors to write up your chart at the hospital). Again, ingest all these points and you have the reason(s) why in very late 2009 the world has a .0000001% tablet adoption rate.
