More and more eBook readers are getting touchscreen capabilities on their screens. I for one would love to turn the pages with a flick of my finger instead of pressing a button. It’s not just cool, it’s a natural action for someone familiar with real books.
Sony, which has been behind Amazon since the dawn of the e-book reader wars, has introduced three touch-enabled models: the 5-inch PRS-350SC, or Pocket Edition, the 6-inch PRS-650BC, or Touch Edition. , and the 7-inch PRS-950SC or the Daily Edition.
All three are touted as having fast touch response times, better contrasts (by virtue of the new e-ink Pearl), and broad support for various e-book formats, plus the same benefits that come with e-ink displays: time of use, less susceptibility to glare and less stress on the eyes.
But how important is a touch screen interface? Well, one of the main advantages that I can easily point to is how easy it would be to select a word or highlight a group of text to, for example, look up its meaning or translate it. Even flipping a virtual page would be IMHO more ergonomically friendly compared to pressing buttons.
When Amazon dropped the price of the Kindle a few months ago, they were able to distance the Kindle from the iPad, further entrenching the popular ereader in its chosen niche. So for now, the Kindle is back in the position it’s always held: as the industry leader in eBook readers.
But the times are changing. While almost all eBook readers had a lot in common with the Kindle (Linux-based operating system, e-ink display, form factor, major features) in the past, those with touch screens now offer a better value proposition. value compared to it.
So unless Amazon equips the Kindle with touch technology, I’m afraid no amount of price reductions will save the product from its eventual downfall.