The Sentient Search Engine

I don’t need an iPad.

What on earth would I do with one? I have a perfectly serviceable laptop. I’m using it right now. I’ve upgraded the RAM, it runs better than ever now with Windows 7 (I never realized how much Vista screwed up my PC until I installed Win 7). I’d be nice if it had a built-in webcam (not that the iPad has one), but I could get one which would work better than a built-in if I wasn’t so lazy.

I don’t need an iPad.

I can carry the internet in my pocket with my iPhone. The iPad is portable, but certainly not in the sense that the iPhone is. It is perfectly serviceable for all internet purposes, and excels at those purposes for which one is most likely to need mobile access to the internet, especially social networking.

I don’t need an iPad.

I have an iPhone and multiple iPods. My music needs are covered.

I don’t need an iPad.

I have a Sony PSP, a Nintendo DSi, and iPhone. My mobile gaming needs are set. I have a Playstation 3, a Wii, a Mid-Quality Gaming PC, and one of nearly every system of prior generations of gaming device (sorry Sega I never got it…). My non-mobile gaming needs are set.

I don’t need an iPad.

I have a Nook. I really like it. The touchscreen is a little flaky, but I like reading from it. I works very well in nearly all lighting conditions in which a person should be reading. I can use my library’s eBook collection on it. Which makes it even better.

I don’t need an iPad.

I have a really nice TV,  the aforementioned PS3, and a good deal on Cable. I don’t watch much TV or many movies away from home, except for the theater naturally.

I don’t need an iPad.

So I have one question:

WHY DO I STILL WANT ONE?!

It seems that Sony and library eBook provider Overdrive have come to an accord that will certainly benefit consumers. While users won’t be able to download and access a library’s eHoldings with the device, users will be directed to their libraries as a source of material AND the device is sure to play nice with Overdrive as well.

I have to admit that I despaired of ever seeing a big company acknowledge Libraries as a legitimate market. This deal benefits everyone. Sony gets good PR and librarian’s on their side (ironic given their past relations with the profession). Libraries get a viable means to participate in an eBook Reader market currently dominated by Amazon’s (locked down, Library unfriendly) Kindle. Overdrive gets the potential expansion of their user-base and likely an increase in title sales as libraries increase their purchases of Overdrive eBooks to meet increased demand for services.

Users will hopefully get more choice and therefore look to gain the most. Choice forces all participants in the market work harder to get consumer dollars. The best possible outcome for this deal will be for this sort of support for library customers to become standard. Ultimately, I’d love for library patrons to be able to access their library’s collections wirelessly with the 3G capabilities of some of these devices. Hopefully, if Sony sees benefit from this new deal, that will come in time.

A great article from the Chronicle of Higher Education popped up in Google Reader today (thanks LISNews). The Author read the same Dickens book 4 ways: paperback, audiobook, iPhone, and Kindle.

This article is delightfully written and thoughtful. What’s more, she agrees with me about Kindle (agreeing with me is always a direct path to my good opinion, I’m only human).

Read and Enjoy!

Prior posts might leave you with the impression that I’m a bit of a pessimist when it comes to ebooks and eBook Readers, especially Amazon’s Kindle. I’m still a pessimist about Kindle and dedicated readers, but I have to tell you I’m coming around on eBooks.

I never doubted that eBooks would “take over” someday, as there are too many plusses to the technology. What I really objected to was the speed with which everyone though it would happen. The Kindle app has changed my mind.

I’ve had it on my iPod Touch for several months now, but I didn’t have anything to read on it, or any desire to acquire anything. Recently I left work without a book I wanted to finish. I had a largely unscheduled evening ahead of me and nothing to read! Being the type of guy I am, I decided to turn a problem into an opportunity. I went on Amazon’s site and bought a Kindle copy and started reading.

Let me start with the purchasing process. Its too easy, and I’m only partially kidding. I found the book, and clicked “buy with one click” and it was mine. Wow! All I had to do then was fire up the Kindle App and synch it with my Kindle account! My book came to me over my wifi connection almost instantly, no pluging in required. Wow again.

The recent 1.1 upgrade to the Kindle App is extraordinary. It uses the motion sensing capabilities of the iPhone\iPod touch to allow a landscape presentation and lets you lock in in your prefered orientation. This is huge for those among the uninitiated, for it lets you keep the print big enough to read without having to have only 3 words per line. One can therefore actually follow the book you’re reading as you can string coherent thoughts together! You advance the pages with a tap on the right side of the screen, and flip back with a tap on the left. It seems Amazon learned a few tricks from LexCycle when they bought them.

This app is whats going to sell eBooks for Amazon long term, not their overpriced one trick pony. When I think of what will be possible when the rumored large-form iPod/iPhone/Apple Tablet comes out…

This does leave me with a rather galling question for librarians. Why don’t we have a method of distributing digital material that is this easy to use? My library offers a collection of Overdrive eBooks, eFlicks, eAudiobooks, etc. Why can’t overdrive create an app(s) for the numerous portable devices out there to seamlessly deliver our material to where people want it? There are no technological limitations to this. Apple wouldn’t be stupid enough to deny such an app admittance to the App Store (I don’t think).

This would certianly allieveate some of the clunkiness assoicated with using Overdrive materials on iPods. One could browse ones “checked out” items and start it up immediately! This might also help with compatibility issues, who really knows what’s possible until someone does it! I might actually use my library’s digital collection if it was as easy as my Amazon experience!

Here’s hoping someone gets it togather and gets this done!

PS. Owners of the iPod Touch and iPhone need not spend money to try out their Kindle Apps. Amazon has several (good) titles available for FREE. I’m enjoying Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson at the moment. Also available (and highly recommended) is His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik (Anne McCaffery meets Patrick O’Brien, what could be better?).