The only problem with using a pc is that I can't get comfortable in bed.

Sense makes it not...

Not considering the option of using a projector on your ceiling?

While I don't applaud Microsoft all that often, I do agree with Ballmer. I have a PC, and I don't mind reading on my 22" LCD Screen. I have an old Palm T|X that vastly more versatile than the Kindle or other e-Readers, and costs less. Most importantly, I can take data from my PC and load it onto my Palm for mobile reading. Granted it's not as big of a screen as the Kindle, but I don't have to worry about Amazon deleting my info

With netbooks I can't imagine Microsoft being to worried about the kindle. The kindle only has battery life and its readability in daylight over a netbook which are both hardware issues (ie not Microsoft immediate domain). Acer (i think) was making a duel LCD/e-paper laptop/netbook screen which if brought to market could vastly increase netbook battery life and daylight readability for the same or slightly higher price than a Kindle. It would also be a better productivity tool than the kindle since it can actually run programs.

In short term e-readers are going to win and MS is going to miss the profits. In long term Ballmer is correct. The PC (netbook, tablet) and e-reader will become one device. The biggest obstacle is stupid copyright laws. And paper books are going to stay with us for very long time. They don't require batteries and Amazon can't take it back once I have payed for it.

Same here.

Plus they dont fit in your carryon luggage, and are extreemly awkward to take on the train, or checkout from a library.

Does Ballmer ever say anything useful or is everything that comes out of his mouth some form of Windows marketing drivel?

Funny he should mention Barnes and Noble. I have a Gigabyte netbook/tablet PC that I use to download and read books from Barnes and Noble. I like their reader a bit better than the Mobipocket version. OK, their essentially the same under the hood, but B&N's has a battery monitor and you can access the touch screen interface in more ways.

Yea, I like those pretty blue screens that Windows throws at me once in a while...I just can't figure out if I am reading Moby Dick, or a bad interpretation of an Aleister Crowly dream.

Just when I thought Microsoft was getting their act together. New search engine coop agreement with Yahoo!, more online presence in general; then a remark like this. Ballmer sounds kind of like Nardelli from Chrysler about a year ago, both content with the products and position of the company today instead of thinking about tomorrow.

I dont want to disagree with mister Balmer, but i believe most of us would like to use cheap e-book reader that doesn't weight a "ton" and its batery last at least few days of usage so we can read it in bed or in park.
And that's not even include easier readable e-ink displays much more friendly to the eyes then standard PC displays.

tablet pc > kindle

And think of the advantages that brings to viewing your porn collection.

I'd like an eBook Read similar to the Kindle DX, but with the option to change the battery myself when it can no longer hold a charge. The nice thing about an eBook Reader is you aren't restricted to just sitting in a chair at your desk to use it. You can lay down, go outside or use it where ever you want.

Ballmer just can't see this, probably cause he's not into reading books for enjoyment. To top it off, the Microsoft Reader is a joke.

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Ballmer: Open Mouth < Input = Foot

ERROR
ERROR
ERROR

- REBOOT

E-readers such as the Kindle stomp all over netbooks for reading documents, for multiple reasons. First, e-ink isn't backlit; when you read from a netbook or PC you are essentially staring at a lightbulb. Much easier on the eyes. It can also be read easily in straight daylight. Second, because it isn't backlit, once the page refreshes, there is NO battery drain. With the wireless off, the battery on my Kindle lasts for well over a week with several hours' use per day. Having to jack in can be a major inconvenience at times, and with a Kindle or other e-ink reader you don't usually have to worry about it.

What about a netbook? Their are PC's too, they are small and portable and have a large battery life. I would love to see Amazon books on my smartphone, which runs windows.

Too bad he didn't have the same philosophy when it came to games. That would have saved Microsoft the billions they lost with two failed consoles. Might have also helped Vista sales.

Our E-idiot is Stevie Ballmer

You need a woman for that (or a man depending on your preferences)!

Sure, those fools can just destroy their eyes reading from backlit displays.
I read a lot on my pc's and it's not comfortable at all.

apples > oranges

Different products for different applications.

UMPC (Now called Mids)

Done

I can not believe, I am on the floor, you MS is not going to copy something and say they invented it and try to buy or destroy the rest of them. Unbelievable!

The tech in e-readers is totally different than a normal computer or netbook.
The screen and battery life are totally differenet.

You are all missing the point... The point of e-readers is the technology behind it... E-Ink. Reading on a LCD is not the same as reading on an e-ink screen.
My eyes tend to tire pretty fast when reading on LCD screens and it does not happen when using e-ink devices (I used a sony reader from a friend for some time to experiment with the technology).

LeoM,
Reading on a LCD could be exactly like reading from e-ink screen or paper. The biggest difference between LCD and e-ink is that LCD is active light source and e-ink is reflective. If you having problems when you reading on LCD screen you should change your habits a bit:
1. Make sure you learn how to adjust the brightness of your screen. Average screen brightness should equal to the ambient light brightness. The most comment problem is slightly brighter screen. This puts great stress on your eyes over prolong period.
2. Make sure you don't use glossy display. Glossy displays are good show peace, but they have narrow light beam, like flash light.
3. Make sure you don't have any reflections on your screen, especially reflections from your light or window.
4. When you seat and look straight at your screen your top age of the screen should be at your eye level and the screen should be perpendicular to your sight line.
5. Make sure your desktop theme don't use bright monochromatic colors for static objects. Pastel colors are best for any static object on your screen. Change your default wallpaper. Default wallpapers are design to grab your attention at the store, but will tire your eyes quickly.
I hope this info will help you.

Whilst you're being helpful, you're also helping to make his point. The point of E-Ink screens is to recreate, as closely as possible, the experience of reading paper. No need for 5 helpful points on making the screen less stressful on the eyes, it just IS less stressful on the eyes, therefore better recreates the relaxing nature of reading a novel.

No argument about it. But if he is stuck like me at PC and staring LCD for more then 12h per day. He (and everybody else) should make effort to protect his eyes. My comment was not about argument LCD v. e-Ink. It is about how to protect your eyes when you are reading on LCD. Thank you for making the point.

Understood and agreed

so for all the eReader maker out there, be prepared! If you're product is good and compatible with Windows Mobile, i can see one of you might get an offer from Microsoft!!