3 months (almost) paperless, using an eReader

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I think I’m a heavy reader, as a lot of people these days. The digital kind: not so many books, but a lot of “digital paper”. Contracts, specs, RFPs, proposals, audits, reports, minutes on one side and blogs, news sites, blogs, blogs again ;-), on the other side. As I move a lot, I was used to print a lot of paper to read them while on the road. Of course papers tend to stay around, even after having been read, especially in my bag… Plus I don’t really like to read on the screen for large chunk of text (> 6-8 pages), which makes me print even more. A solution was definitely needed as I wanted to 1/ light my laptop bag and 2/ save trees.

Since about 1-2 years, I was thinking of using some kind of “digital paper” but each time I was checking the market, the devices were not quite ready for my taste (too big, too expensive). While in the US this summer, I decided to give it a another try, vacations helping. I spent some time reviewing e-paper technologies and available devices to choose one to buy. The list quickly narrowed to 2 choices: Amazon Kindle or Sony eReader PRS-505. Kindle’s lack of wireless support in Europe and Sony’s design achieved the job: let’s go for a Sony eReader!

Hence I’m the happy owner of an eReader since October this year. After some hours to become used to the UI and the screen, the eReader disappears almost like paper does to let you read. I’m even not enjoying it as a gadget anymore: it has become “a daily tool”. Meaning it works really well! :-) I transfer the major part of papers I need to read and read them from it, mostly on the go. And I’ve put some books too.

I think it changes the way to consider reading: no need to choose what to put in the bag. No more “ooops” I forgot it at the printer (you can hear "ooops I forgot to sync, but it's often easier to fix). I throw everything I want to take some time to read into the reader. And the truth is: you can put a lot of text in a 2GB flash card! ;-)

I’ve also put some ebooks like Guy Kawasaki’s Reality Check or Seth Godin’s Tribes. Books I wouldn’t carry in printed form, hence probably never read.

Of course, the device is far from perfect. It’s still for “tech gadget” addicts. But it works and I would not imagine working without it, now I’m used to (not like 80% of gadgets I buy…).

So here is what I like the most:

1. A huge pile of paper for the weight of a 2GB memory card (and it could also be my entire library for the same weight!)

2. Very easy to use: nice UI, bookmarking, remember where I was when I stop reading for each document/ebook

3. Sync with my Google Reader and some of my favorite news sites (like The Economist) thanks to a really nice open source software: Calibre.

4. Easy to put papers on (just drop them and sync the folder with Calibre), but it might be easier (as in “print to eReader” or “email to the eReader”)

Here is my wish list for a near perfect eReader:

1. Annotation — let me annotate the text while reading and let me get the annotations back on my computer -> very useful when reviewing business docs.

2. Wireless — it would be so great if the device would be able to synchronize wirelessly with the computer or browse wikipedia directly. I know the Kindle does it, but it doesn’t work in Europe. :-)

3. More responsive: the screen’s refresh time is still slow -> it does not allow fast browsing, as with paper. The refresh time for the page is around 0.75s-1s right now. A refresh time around 0.25 would be perfect for me.

4. Reading light — e-paper’s great but it’s like paper: no light, no reading. An integrated reading light would be useful.

5. Better desktop software: “print to the eReader”, easily sync docs with the device, Mac support (I have to use Sony Store from Windows to be able to buy ebooks…)

6. Access Amazon’s library: let’s not repeat the iPod scenario and enable users to buy books from the library than want and read them on their device, whatever it is. Or give the device for free! :-)

7. Whiter screen for more contrast: the screen is already pretty good, but more contract is always better. And less reflection would be good too.

Overall I’m pretty satisfied by the device and really look forward new ones in this category. I think we’ll see a lot of improvements in the area and our children might not see books as we do (as in heavy to carry).

I’m reading that ebook are starting to take off. I’m convinced the technology is there for make it happens. Let’s bring the right business models now. And don’t forget it’s not music!

It done right, I think the e-paper will create new ways to enjoy reading and, more generally, to work with/around documents. 

I'd be pleased to know about your experiences in the area.

Happy reading,

EB.

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