Comments on: Is the Electronic Book Approaching the Tipping Point? http://www.mikolas.net/blog/2008/06/02/is-the-electronic-book-approaching-the-tipping-point/ Technology, Science and Business United ::: A Blog by Mikko Hämäläinen Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:26:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Eero Korhonen http://www.mikolas.net/blog/2008/06/02/is-the-electronic-book-approaching-the-tipping-point/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Eero Korhonen Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:55:02 +0000 http://www.mikolas.net/blog/?p=18#comment-35 After trying my friend's iTouch, I believe Mikko's 5-10 year estimate. Usability and display quality has developed very fast past years. Not saying that ebook will beat book's usability in the final moment of consumption - reading at home couch. But the improvements to distribution and value chain in general will make a difference that may finally make ebook mainstream product. Just now, as sitting in lounge waiting for jumping in to full packed East European airliner I still have my printed Kari Enqvist book in my hand. But as Mikko is my tech role model, I start to be interested to give one of those devices chance to prove that they make my life easier. After trying my friend’s iTouch, I believe Mikko’s 5-10 year estimate. Usability and display quality has developed very fast past years. Not saying that ebook will beat book’s usability in the final moment of consumption – reading at home couch. But the improvements to distribution and value chain in general will make a difference that may finally make ebook mainstream product.

Just now, as sitting in lounge waiting for jumping in to full packed East European airliner I still have my printed Kari Enqvist book in my hand. But as Mikko is my tech role model, I start to be interested to give one of those devices chance to prove that they make my life easier.

]]> By: Mikko Hämäläinen http://www.mikolas.net/blog/2008/06/02/is-the-electronic-book-approaching-the-tipping-point/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Mikko Hämäläinen Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:41:54 +0000 http://www.mikolas.net/blog/?p=18#comment-33 Well, it took only 5 years for Apple to become the largest music retailer in the US of A, after opening iTunes Store. Once the distribution model and technology is in place, things tend to progress rapidly. My questimate is that electronic books will roll out to mainstream in 5-10 years timeframe, since the display tech is really OK already, but there are the distribution/format issues and UI issues to resolve. Until then, I can enjoy my early adopter gone-almost-fully-digital status :-) Well, it took only 5 years for Apple to become the largest music retailer in the US of A, after opening iTunes Store. Once the distribution model and technology is in place, things tend to progress rapidly. My questimate is that electronic books will roll out to mainstream in 5-10 years timeframe, since the display tech is really OK already, but there are the distribution/format issues and UI issues to resolve. Until then, I can enjoy my early adopter gone-almost-fully-digital status :-)

]]> By: Pekka P http://www.mikolas.net/blog/2008/06/02/is-the-electronic-book-approaching-the-tipping-point/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Pekka P Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:55:49 +0000 http://www.mikolas.net/blog/?p=18#comment-32 Electronic books have a long way to go. If I remember the first truly portable mp3-hd-player was Creative Nomad and it was huge, battery life was poor and the user interface so and so. Mankind needed Steve Jobs to change all that and mp3 went from geeks to masses. :D Saying that iPod replaced cd's is a major understatement. iPod created a whole new way to consume music. Somebody nees to re-invent books now that the devices are ready. Steve, we are ready :) Electronic books have a long way to go. If I remember the first truly portable mp3-hd-player was Creative Nomad and it was huge, battery life was poor and the user interface so and so. Mankind needed Steve Jobs to change all that and mp3 went from geeks to masses. :D Saying that iPod replaced cd’s is a major understatement. iPod created a whole new way to consume music.

Somebody nees to re-invent books now that the devices are ready. Steve, we are ready :)

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