Sony touchscreen e-readers: Is this a must-have feature?
Sony has transitioned its entire line of e-readers to touchscreens. An article in today’s New York Times suggests that the touchscreen is the natural course for things, such as e-readers, to follow. However, I question the validity of this statement the article, “To Win Over Users, Gadgets Have to be Touchable”:
For readers used to turning paper pages, e-books invite touch perhaps more than anything else. Many a Kindle screen has been sullied by errant fingers before their frustrated owners realized that readers turn the pages of an e-book using buttons on the side of the device.
Really? “Many” Kindle “owners” have bought their Kindles online, only to discover that they are not touchscreens? This is a classic example of an author creating an unattributable scenario in order for a weak story to hold together.
While the article also states that Amazon is expected to release a touchscreen Kindle, Mr. Bezos has said that this would only happen–if at all–once the technology allows for glare-less touchscreens. Whether the Sony e-readers have accomplished this will have to be seen.
As for me, I really do not feel limited by my Kindle’s lack of a touchscreen. In fact, since I read my ultra-light Kindle with one hand, having a touchscreen, as opposed to buttons placed in-line with my holding position (which the Sony appears to lack), would be a negative.
Sony touchscreen e-reader
Kindlelove or: How I Learned to Stop Dawdling and Love the eReader 
I’ve never wanted a touchscreen e-reader… I’d hate to have fingerprints on the screen and with a touchscreen you *must* use two hands for the device. Have a physical keyboard is very helpful and allows very fast note taking. I’ve discovered the webkit browser with the Kindle 3 allows Facebook and Twitter comments to be quickly entered as well.
Touchscreen? Blech.
I should add, I am a heavy touchscreen user with other devices but touch “keyboards” really aren’t that convenient and definitely mar the screen. With an e-reader, I find myself very heavily focused on the screen – much more so than when using other touch devices – and fingerprints / smudges would be very apparent.