Having just bought an e-reader for personal use, I think they do have some potential in the workplace. Ask yourself why do we use all this sophisticated technology at our desk, but when we are called to a meeting, we suddenly step back a couple of hundred years and start shuffling papers around? Some people bring copies, some don't; Some organisers bring copies for all which results in duplication. An e-reader for all would bring us back to the 21st Century.
The downside is that you can only view one page at a time and moving between documents requires a few clicks. But then, as always, we adapt to use new technology if it brings real benefits, so meetings may proceed in a more ordered fashion to counteract those difficulties.
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Most of the respondents to this article failed to recognize one of the primary points you made, which is the reduced eye strain. That alone makes the e-reader option worth looking at(pun fully intended). Add to that the increased screen size vs. a PDA, and correct page orientation vs. a netbook/notebook, I think it's a win. My only negative comment is in regards to point 8. You said "purchase an e-book and make it available for all of your e-reader-ready employees." But you still have to purchase a separate copy for each e-reader, or some mechanism needs to be put in place to "check out" the book from your electronic library, and purchase enough copies to handle the number of simultaneous readers you expect to have. I don't believe those mechanisms are in place yet.
Another positive I can think of though, is easy deployment of a corporate book-of-the-month club. Many good companies have or at least should have a monthly recommended book, that helps the employees become more goal oriented and think about ways to enhance their own, and the company's performance. A company that does that would make up the price of the e-reader in a few months with the savings on the e-books.
That said, I think the iPhone wins for now, because it's easy to add an e-book reader app to it, and of course it functions as a phone, and you can deploy other corporate applications to it. It doesn't solve the eye strain problem, but it has too many other advantages.
What I would like to see is an e-book reader with full PDA capability. Other PDA apps would benefit from the increased screen size and reduced eye strain. However, I think e-ink technology isn't quite there yet. It seems the e-readers are stuck printing a full page at a time, and are still somewhat slow at that. They don't yet have the ability to update just a portion of the screen, which prevents them from being able to handle more general purpose applications.
Another positive I can think of though, is easy deployment of a corporate book-of-the-month club. Many good companies have or at least should have a monthly recommended book, that helps the employees become more goal oriented and think about ways to enhance their own, and the company's performance. A company that does that would make up the price of the e-reader in a few months with the savings on the e-books.
That said, I think the iPhone wins for now, because it's easy to add an e-book reader app to it, and of course it functions as a phone, and you can deploy other corporate applications to it. It doesn't solve the eye strain problem, but it has too many other advantages.
What I would like to see is an e-book reader with full PDA capability. Other PDA apps would benefit from the increased screen size and reduced eye strain. However, I think e-ink technology isn't quite there yet. It seems the e-readers are stuck printing a full page at a time, and are still somewhat slow at that. They don't yet have the ability to update just a portion of the screen, which prevents them from being able to handle more general purpose applications.
1) What format do e-readers accept? PDF?
2) How am I getting company content into the e-readers? USB stick? I'd hate to have to walk around loading all these readers. Do they have client software for 802.11 a/g/n wireless networks? VPN?
3) You mentioned books. Can I purchase one book and have it loaded it on multiple readers at the same time?
4) From point #6 - "...the e-reader is a single-minded device," Does anybody want a single purpose device these days? Aren't e-readers already moving beyond their original purpose and beginning to incorporate some features from media players and cell phones?
Some non-question comments, numbered after your points:
4) Desk space savings. I can save even more it I drop both printer and e-reader, and view reports on a LCD monitor. We banned desktop printers outside of HR years ago.
7) Morale boost. I wonder how many of these relatively expensive morale-boosters would go unused by those employees who don't have any use for electronic toys, or who get frustrated because they won't bother to read the instructions, or don't read recreationally or professionally in the first place. You can toss a whole lot of Friday pizza parties for $300 per reader.
8 / 10) The downside of moving your documentation to an e-reader format is you lock out those employees, customers, vendors, other stakeholders who don't have a reader. Now you have to maintain two sets of documentation, one in e-reader format, one in PDF for the rest of the world. (Assuming the e-reader format isn't PDF; see my first question.)
Where I work, those with laptops usually bring them to meetings. While there is the possibility of distraction, the ability to access our MRP system and the Internet outweigh the potential inattention issue. If people aren't going to pay attention, they find a distraction anyway. (I doodle.)
I can also see a couple of disadvantage. One is the inability to view multiple pages side by side to compare content. Also, the last time I checked, paper was larger than most e-reader screens.
My big question: for appx. the same price, why get an e-reader instead of a netbook? It seems to me most of the advantages you list would also apply to a netbook, with more capability for the money.
2) How am I getting company content into the e-readers? USB stick? I'd hate to have to walk around loading all these readers. Do they have client software for 802.11 a/g/n wireless networks? VPN?
3) You mentioned books. Can I purchase one book and have it loaded it on multiple readers at the same time?
4) From point #6 - "...the e-reader is a single-minded device," Does anybody want a single purpose device these days? Aren't e-readers already moving beyond their original purpose and beginning to incorporate some features from media players and cell phones?
Some non-question comments, numbered after your points:
4) Desk space savings. I can save even more it I drop both printer and e-reader, and view reports on a LCD monitor. We banned desktop printers outside of HR years ago.
7) Morale boost. I wonder how many of these relatively expensive morale-boosters would go unused by those employees who don't have any use for electronic toys, or who get frustrated because they won't bother to read the instructions, or don't read recreationally or professionally in the first place. You can toss a whole lot of Friday pizza parties for $300 per reader.
8 / 10) The downside of moving your documentation to an e-reader format is you lock out those employees, customers, vendors, other stakeholders who don't have a reader. Now you have to maintain two sets of documentation, one in e-reader format, one in PDF for the rest of the world. (Assuming the e-reader format isn't PDF; see my first question.)
Where I work, those with laptops usually bring them to meetings. While there is the possibility of distraction, the ability to access our MRP system and the Internet outweigh the potential inattention issue. If people aren't going to pay attention, they find a distraction anyway. (I doodle.)
I can also see a couple of disadvantage. One is the inability to view multiple pages side by side to compare content. Also, the last time I checked, paper was larger than most e-reader screens.
My big question: for appx. the same price, why get an e-reader instead of a netbook? It seems to me most of the advantages you list would also apply to a netbook, with more capability for the money.
When I was a support pearson, I used to download all my tech notes to my PALM device and use it as a reader. I do not understand why I need a "reader Device", when for a few bucks more I can get an I-Paq PDA.
Also, a lot of folks, even avid readers, hate reading from e-lectronic devices. I think you have a good idea that the hardware is not quite there for.
Also, a lot of folks, even avid readers, hate reading from e-lectronic devices. I think you have a good idea that the hardware is not quite there for.
You can do the same things with a flash drive which will usually work just as well on most computers you end up working on. I have a bundle of info, tips, specs, etc, on a flash drive - along with quite a few tools - that are often used on trouble or service calls.
If you're using your time on the bus with your PDA or E-reader to read company-related materials, then a) make sure corporate policy allows you to take the documents out of the office (electronic version or not) and b) make sure they're paying you for the time you're on the bus, since you're apparently "working".
But if you're just talking about reading a novel/personal magazine/local newspaper on it while riding the bus into work, that's not "job-related"...which is the point of the discussion (i.e. enterprise or "job-related" use of e-readers).
But if you're just talking about reading a novel/personal magazine/local newspaper on it while riding the bus into work, that's not "job-related"...which is the point of the discussion (i.e. enterprise or "job-related" use of e-readers).
The points are all valid but if folks already have a laptop, why can't they get their memos there, maybe via e-mail?
A Blackberry isn't very useful for typing large reports and you cannot do spreadsheets, but you can certainly read any memos and reports anyone wants to generate.
You can do the same with a laptop and also generate your own reports and memos and stuff.
Since an eReader doesn't replace a laptop for doing 'work,' then all it is is a reader and most workers do far more than read on the job.
You can make all the same cost savings right now without buying a new machine if your users have laptops.
A Blackberry isn't very useful for typing large reports and you cannot do spreadsheets, but you can certainly read any memos and reports anyone wants to generate.
You can do the same with a laptop and also generate your own reports and memos and stuff.
Since an eReader doesn't replace a laptop for doing 'work,' then all it is is a reader and most workers do far more than read on the job.
You can make all the same cost savings right now without buying a new machine if your users have laptops.
Great points and funny. This hits on the same goals that a good Enterprise Content Management solution does as well. Check out: http://blogs.zdnet.com/doc/?p=111
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Almsot every one of your points is vaild, except the fact you are putting E-readers Vs Paper. I can not see the utility in an enterprise on spending $300 per person for a tool that allows you to read, but not edit, mark up, or email documents, when netbooks are only $350?
If you do look at it hard and in this economy, E-reader vs laptop. Laptop wins by pinfall and submission.
I understand the usefullness of electronic books, and I support them but I cannot support a uni-takser like an E-reader. Especally since a laptop or Netbook could do the same thing and a hell of alot more. Look beyond the idea that they look like to cool P.A.D.D.s from Star Trek the E-reader does not look good to me.
I also do not think they will make it in the enterprise until they can do alot more then just read, or the price tag comes down below $100.
If you do look at it hard and in this economy, E-reader vs laptop. Laptop wins by pinfall and submission.
I understand the usefullness of electronic books, and I support them but I cannot support a uni-takser like an E-reader. Especally since a laptop or Netbook could do the same thing and a hell of alot more. Look beyond the idea that they look like to cool P.A.D.D.s from Star Trek the E-reader does not look good to me.
I also do not think they will make it in the enterprise until they can do alot more then just read, or the price tag comes down below $100.
In an enterprise, there certainly are more considerations than just eye-strain, saving paper, and desk clutter...
One of the main things that I've been tasked to look into is: does encryption exist for any of these e-readers? With today's increasing risk of breaches, NO ONE gets a mobile device in our enterprise without some version of encryption. If it can't handle encryption, we don't even consider it.
One of the main things that I've been tasked to look into is: does encryption exist for any of these e-readers? With today's increasing risk of breaches, NO ONE gets a mobile device in our enterprise without some version of encryption. If it can't handle encryption, we don't even consider it.
These e-readers are so portable, both in size and weight that they would be walking out the door with every visitor and employee. And the company's sensitive documents in them would cost your company its corporate life. I don't see the paperless office coming for the next 50 years. Corporations, big or small, have too much to lose to let their contracts and other correspondence walk out the door. Give me an encrypted device that bricks itself and explodes the memory when it is taken off the premises and maybe it will start to be okay. But I'm not holding my breath.
makes sense IF we ever get e-readers using files that are not locked down into being sub-quality documents through badly formatted files that make plain text a rtf look great. An e-reader that renders basic html perfectly will be perfect for what you mention here, sadly there are no e-readers that do that properly yet. But many of the new tablets do.
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