Oh, it's not that I don't understand why they did it. I just don't like it. And of course I don't have to use the web browser and all that, but it's a nasty pointy hatpin of a reminder that somehow "just a book" isn't good enough any more. It seems a shame.
I'm a bit of a techngeek, or nerd, whatever the label is - I don't often get the latest thing (I got a laptop/notebook last November mainly so I could participate in NaNoWriMo write-ins), but having done my share of embedded programming, when I see something like that I think of ARM processors and the reams of C/C++ code that make it dance and sing. I'm always of the mindset that the more bits of code you can squeeze into something to make it do more things, the better.
I've sometimes found it annoying about how some products have extra "features" that you buy. What happens when you buy the feature is it toggles one bit in the device that enables the software for that feature - the feature is already there, it just won't work until the 'power switch' for it is turned on (this has been going on in computer software for decades - you call the company to "buy" an extra feature in the software they sold you, give 'em your CC info, they process it, then give you the password you put in that enables the feature. This is also used to turn a shareware/"demo" version into full version). This "pay for new features" feature sounds like something you actually WANT in this, your "ebook-only" ebook reader, so you can choose not to buy it.
This problem is far from limited to e-readers. Computers have been this was since the '90's with email and the Web. The applications available for cellphones have skyrocketed where they can do many or most of the things desktop computers do.
What this problem IS that bothers you so much is that there's a huge amount of interactive content available at the touch of a button from the text your reading or writing or whatever other solo task you're doing that doesn't involve direct interaction with others around the world. How can you continue to do what you're doing when Your Most Favorite TV Show Ever (or something equivalent, your most favorite online activity) is playing Right Now and is only a click away?
It's a matter of ... what's that word/concept? Discipline? I'm good at words, but I only vaguely recall what that means.
I lie. I know EXACTLY what discipline means, but the ubiquitous availability of "being connected" is such a big attraction, it feels like an addiction. Fortunately, you don't get arrested and the judge send you to church basements for checking your email in the middle of reading an ebook.
ETA: if you use it as a floor wax, why would it bother you that
it's also a dessert topping?
may Gilda Radner RIP
I just make sure I stay in airplane mode while I'm not at home and download the books when I know I'll be home for awhile. The only times it's frozen when I'm reading is when I forgot to set it in airplane mode and it tried downloading while I was using it.