Re: Why my wife doesn't want an eBook device: airlines

On Thu, 20 May 2010, Daniel P. B. Smith wrote:

> On a two-hour flight, you are under "portable electronic device" restrictions 
> for nearly a third of the flight.

> Big enough to be plainly visible from flight attendant distance, with an 
> industry-standard appearance and symbol. They could submit RF emissions test 
> results to the airlines, and get them approved for in-flight use.

Those device restrictions aren't about the emissions. Any device should be 
emission safe for the entire flight. It's more about safety, with people not 
having laptops out during take-offs and landings, and not having headphones in 
and unable to hear any emergency instructions.

I appreciate that a Kindle isn't anywhere near as big or heavy as a laptop, but 
the flight crew does not have the time to spend arguing with the passenger who 
thinks they should be able to use their laptop because someone else is using an 
ereader.

> (By the way: my highly scientific subway/commuter rail market research is up 
> to about a dozen Kindle sightings, two being the big ones. Kindles 12, 
> everything else 0. No Sonys, no Nooks. While obviously it's harder to tell, I 
> have yet to spot anyone reading a book on a laptop or cell phone. Big Kindles 
> on the subway is interesting, as I don't think I've ever seen anyone use a 
> laptop on the subway. I haven't seen any iPads in the wild, but I can't quite 
> imagine using one of them on a subway either. Yes, the Kindle users were all 
> seated).

I have yet to see a Kindle on the subway here, but since we've only been able 
to buy them for a few months, that shouldn't be surprising. Of course, with 
Amazon charging extra for wireless delivery, this might be a really slow 
migration. I've seen a few Sonys, but ereaders in general are rare. Subway use 
will always favour devices that can be one-handed -- during rush hour in 
Toronto, there is no guarantee of a seat. Some days, I don't even have the 
space to use my Palm handheld because of how close other people are.

I'll have to start keeping an eye out for the Kobo (launched recently here). 
And with competition from things like the Kobo, the Aluratek is getting a big 
push from major electronics retailers - the Pro version (rechargeable) is down 
to $139 this week. That's another one that might crop up.


: chris smith ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
: nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecunia possit - cicero :


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