Comments on: Where will you be when the robots arrive? http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:04:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Matthew Fabb http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6751 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 16:57:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6751 I think people are missing the fact that the Sony Reader is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-paper" rel="nofollow">e-paper</a> device, which means the resolution is so high that it's similar to reading newsprint. Which is why it's just in black &#38; white, as the technology isn't there yet to use colour. However, <a href="http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/rd/200509epaper.html" rel="nofollow">Fujitsu has a working colour prototype, that is bendable</a> that back in 2005 they said they hoped to release commercially in 2007. Meanwhile it is stupid for Sony to release their device as DRM only, when Philps is close to releasing their e-paper device the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILiad" rel="nofollow">iLiad</a>, which won't be tied down to any DRM. This is just the first generation of e-paper devices and with colour bendable versions just around the corner, it's certainly going to change the book and comic book industry. It's only a matter of time. I think people are missing the fact that the Sony Reader is an e-paper device, which means the resolution is so high that it’s similar to reading newsprint. Which is why it’s just in black & white, as the technology isn’t there yet to use colour. However, Fujitsu has a working colour prototype, that is bendable that back in 2005 they said they hoped to release commercially in 2007.

Meanwhile it is stupid for Sony to release their device as DRM only, when Philps is close to releasing their e-paper device the iLiad, which won’t be tied down to any DRM.

This is just the first generation of e-paper devices and with colour bendable versions just around the corner, it’s certainly going to change the book and comic book industry. It’s only a matter of time.

]]> by: Charles knight http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6700 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:04:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6700 Indeed, who's want that piece of junk. My e61 has a fine sized screen for panel content. hum... I wonder... Indeed, who’s want that piece of junk. My e61 has a fine sized screen for panel content. hum… I wonder…

]]> by: Thomas Gerhardt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6692 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:04:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6692 The Sony e-reader only proves again how far out of touch the Sony execs have become in the past decade or so. Let's think about this for a moment. It will cost you 350 US Dollars (so, probably 400 Euro, for everything is more costly in Euro-Land) to get a digital device that a) has a proprietory format (hey Sony, how did that one work out for you with the MP3 Players?) and is – from the specs I have seen – incapable of showing PDFs b) is only b/w c) doesn't have any function other than reading, unlike, let's say the cell phone/PDA hybrids or simple PDAs Oh yes, and the e-books you can get are not significantly cheaper than the printed versions, despite the fact that the cost of paper and printing is no longer there. Okay, can we all say D'oh together? It's no wonder that with that much stupidity and greed corporations are losing against pirated content. The only way an e-reader, ANY e-reader will penetrate the market is the way cell phones have. The reader itself will have to be heavily subsidized, with a distribution system in place that is NOT entirely depending on a PC-Internet link. In other words, if publishers weren't this stupid, they'd get newsstands to sign up for distributed downloads and allow people to get their books/comics/newspapers/magazines in e-format exactly at the same pitstops they have been buying their print product from. But that takes a bit more lateral thinking, I'd assume. The Sony e-reader only proves again how far out of touch the Sony execs have become in the past decade or so. Let’s think about this for a moment. It will cost you 350 US Dollars (so, probably 400 Euro, for everything is more costly in Euro-Land) to get a digital device that

a) has a proprietory format (hey Sony, how did that one work out for you with the MP3 Players?) and is – from the specs I have seen – incapable of showing PDFs

b) is only b/w

c) doesn’t have any function other than reading, unlike, let’s say the cell phone/PDA hybrids or simple PDAs

Oh yes, and the e-books you can get are not significantly cheaper than the printed versions, despite the fact that the cost of paper and printing is no longer there.

Okay, can we all say D’oh together?

It’s no wonder that with that much stupidity and greed corporations are losing against pirated content. The only way an e-reader, ANY e-reader will penetrate the market is the way cell phones have. The reader itself will have to be heavily subsidized, with a distribution system in place that is NOT entirely depending on a PC-Internet link. In other words, if publishers weren’t this stupid, they’d get newsstands to sign up for distributed downloads and allow people to get their books/comics/newspapers/magazines in e-format exactly at the same pitstops they have been buying their print product from.

But that takes a bit more lateral thinking, I’d assume.

]]> by: Woody E http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6625 Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:46:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6625 I like e-books -- but I think the phone-gadgets will trump any late-comer attempt. I'm also feeling good about the possibilities for QR code (see Kaywa) and Semacode for putting webcomics on ketai and sending them easily to others. This is free software now -- time to use a great industrial idea for art. I like e-books — but I think the phone-gadgets will trump any late-comer attempt. I’m also feeling good about the possibilities for QR code (see Kaywa) and Semacode for putting webcomics on ketai and sending them easily to others. This is free software now — time to use a great industrial idea for art.

]]> by: The Dane http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6614 Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:20:57 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6614 I think what spelt my downfall <i>was</i> my serious love for Halloween. I even painted my living room and kitchen with orange and black Halloween/tiger stripes a couple years back for a party as proof of my ardor. I LUV HALLOWEEN was macabre and funny, sure, but darnnitall I want more from my Halloween revelry. Macabre and funny might be okay for smaller holidays such as Easter or Arbor Day, but Halloween needs all that and more. Like maybe some romance. And pirates. I think what spelt my downfall was my serious love for Halloween. I even painted my living room and kitchen with orange and black Halloween/tiger stripes a couple years back for a party as proof of my ardor. I LUV HALLOWEEN was macabre and funny, sure, but darnnitall I want more from my Halloween revelry. Macabre and funny might be okay for smaller holidays such as Easter or Arbor Day, but Halloween needs all that and more.

Like maybe some romance. And pirates.

]]> by: Heidi M. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6595 Thu, 28 Sep 2006 17:31:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6595 We luv I LUV HALLOWEEN here at SBM! But then we luv everything to do with Halloween. We luv I LUV HALLOWEEN here at SBM! But then we luv everything to do with Halloween.

]]> by: The Dane http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6594 Thu, 28 Sep 2006 17:24:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/28/where-will-you-be-when-the-robots-arrive/#comment-6594 Unfortunately, I paid to read I LUV HALLOWEEN in print. That's a mistake I won't make twice. 'Cuz, well, I already... have it...? Shoot. Unfortunately, I paid to read I LUV HALLOWEEN in print. That’s a mistake I won’t make twice. ‘Cuz, well, I already… have it…? Shoot.

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