Job's has already built an ebook reader (prototype)

Mr. Cringely buys a fake.

Steve Jobs rejects the idea of Apple making or distributing e-books because he says people don't read books. He's right, book readers are older. Young readers graze. They search. Look how they watch TV. Steve didn't say people are stupid or we're all going to Hell in a handbasket. He just said we don't read books.

What does not reading books have to do with the non-utility of an ebook reader? The term "ebook reader" is understood far too narrowly if it literally only refers to "books." People read all sorts of things for which an "ebook" reader would be perfect....such things as — even — blogs!

My god, just porting travel and outdoor guidebooks to an ebook format provides a sufficient economic justification for them. How would you like to travel Europe with 10 (or 20 or 100) guidebooks and yet it's weightless? Or climb to the top of Mount Rainier with the relevant guides? Enough would.

Steve Jobs is either out-of-touch or simply misdirecting the competition. He's already built an ebook reader -- the iPhone -- and now only has to make the screen larger.