Smartphones Pushing Out Ereading Devices

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Phogg

Pew Research is at the very bottom of the research barrel, as far as reliable methodology goes.

Their peers disagree:

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/poll_o...ing_the_i.html

Reads like professionalism to me:

http://www.people-press.org/2012/05/...inion-surveys/

[Atunah]

As long as they make e-ink devices or equivalent screens until I get put 6 feet under, I am good. I cannot read of phone or tablet more than a couple of pages I found. Since I have to drive myself to work and don't use public transit, portability in such hasn't been an issue. I can see the advantage there if its a long enough ride with someone, or something else driving.

My phone screen is 4.5 inches and I don't know if even 5 inches would be large enough for me to see well. I tried reading on it a few times while waiting in doc offices. Thankfully my waits weren't long, but I found that I had to keep re-reading the same page over and over. Just something about those screens that does not work with my eyes.

And I do agree that if you can put a ebook on a device, it becomes an book reader in that moment. I wish I was as lucky and could read on phone, or even a tablet. Although to be honest, I just really prefer a dedicated device. I am a voracious reader and when I read, I don't need any other function than pertaining to books. Its still the closest to paper for me and I love that.

Since books are like lifeblood to me, I shudder to think of the demise of e-ink readers. I can't read paper books anymore for my eyes, I can't get audio books to work for me cause my brain works different reading and listening.

I'll just go with the flow and hope for the best.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Their peers disagree:

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/poll_o...ing_the_i.html

Reads like professionalism to me:

http://www.people-press.org/2012/05/...inion-surveys/

I critique their methodology, and how they gather their data. I am personally quite capable of evaluating those tbings.
You point to a popularity contest among their fellow travelers and attempt to dodge entirely the details I specified in any way.
And really, everyone who tries to defend this feeble echo of an era when few people looked at the methodology has to throw out popularity contests.
Because that is all they can do.

The sample sizes, how the samples are chosen, the lack of a control group, the phrasing of leading questions in polls, all of these things that make me dismiss Pew are beyond that capacity to comprehend for those who would defend them.

It's a sordid push poll hack outfit. And it has been for decades.

This article is actually an example of their less poorly executed endeavors.

[rkomar]

Not believing the numbers just because it's Pew sounds like wishful thinking to me. I don't see anywhere near the number of E-Ink readers out in public that I did a few years ago. Their stats corroborate what I'm seeing, and even though it worries me a bit, I can't say they're wrong.

[Atunah]

I don't really see many people reading period. When they have their phones out they are punching at it frantically, which means they are either texting or playing candy crush. I been guilty of that before while in a waiting room. Since reading is not pleasant for me on those screens, I'll play a short game instead.
Not the texting though as I haven't quite mastered that beast.

[fjtorres]

This is what I remembered from 2014:

http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/0...ablet-28-read/

28% of people read ebooks on ereaders *and* tablets.

So there is no way 32% were using ereaders at that time.
And that is from Pew itself.

Their numbers don't add up.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

This is what I remembered from 2014:

http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/0...ablet-28-read/

28% of people read ebooks on ereaders *and* tablets.

So there is no way 32% were using ereaders at that time.
And that is from Pew itself.

Their numbers don't add up.

If you look later in the post you'll see a chart with the 32% ereader ownership stat.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Not believing the numbers just because it's Pew sounds like wishful thinking to me. I don't see anywhere near the number of E-Ink readers out in public that I did a few years ago. Their stats corroborate what I'm seeing, and even though it worries me a bit, I can't say they're wrong.

I don't just "not believe the numbers because it's Pew."
I want to see how the numbers were generated, because it's Pew and decades of experience with them dating back to when they changed the name from the one they had disgraced have taught me to look at that before I believe anything they might say.

[conan50]

I think Forbes interprets this poll correctly. People are still reading and interested in ebooks, but they are now reading them on devices other than e-ink devices:

It’s possible that using a dedicated e-reader is becoming inconvenient, as smartphone screens get bigger and wi-fi becomes more pervasive. It’s also possible that purchasing another device has become an unnecessary expense, or that the technology servicing e-readers (namely e-ink, the technology that delivers text to e-reader screens using less energy than tablets or phones, which rely on backlights) provides few benefits–particularly in comparison to smartphones, which make up for what they lack in battery life by giving users a high range of functionality.

Regardless, people are reading e-books elsewhere. A survey conducted by Library Journal published on Thursday reports that 94% of libraries surveyed offer e-books to visitors, and their e-book catalogues increased by 37% in the past year. The demand for the adult e-books in these collections has increased 80% over the past year; the demand for young adult e-books has increased 65% and the demand for children’s e-books, 52%. And according to a study published by Digital Book World and PlayCollective earlier this year, children under the age of thirteen read e-books once a week.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenduf...lly-over-2014/

[PeterT]

I actually see more people these days reading on an eBook reader in coffee shops in Toronto than I did a few years ago. Whats more it's people of all ages.

[Alpha o]

I'd bought a used Kindle to keep for recipes. A family member has decided he likes it,
so I registered in his name. He now does his own book shopping. If it isn't Kindle format, I convert in Calibre for him.

I think he likes the older screen. My Acer tablet and cell phone drive him crazy since he wants to hold on to it securely and gets the screen, too. The Kindle is lighter and the screen isn't as sensitive. He also likes the non-glare.

The recipes are now on the original Nook.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

This is what I remembered from 2014:

http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/0...ablet-28-read/

28% of people read ebooks on ereaders *and* tablets.

So there is no way 32% were using ereaders at that time.
And that is from Pew itself.

Their numbers don't add up.

The 2014 survey sample size was 1005, almost half of 2015.

How many Samsung Galaxy and Apple phones were sold in 2014 and 2015?

And how did the respondents define "ebook"?

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Alpha o

I'd bought a used Kindle to keep for recipes. A family member has decided he likes it,
so I registered in his name. He now does his own book shopping. If it isn't Kindle format, I convert in Calibre for him.

I think he likes the older screen. My Acer tablet and cell phone drive him crazy since he wants to hold on to it securely and gets the screen, too. The Kindle is lighter and the screen isn't as sensitive. He also likes the non-glare.

The recipes are now on the original Nook.

I wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks for the idea.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My fall back for the demise of ereaders is to switch completely to audiobooks. Right now, I read one ebook for every three to four audiobooks I listen to. So it would be an easy, painless switch.

You seem to have a limitless supply of money, or you have a way of getting audio books for almost free. Does Amazon still give Audible books away when you buy the ebook?

Over here in the Netherlands, an audiobook can easily cost €20 or so.

===

The e-reader may become unfashionable, but I won't be reading on one. When in public transport, I see loads of people tapping away (so not reading) on mobile phones. Sometimes, people just stop in the middle of the sidewalk, just to answer a message.

Seeing people walk around like zombies with a field of vision no larger than about 5 inches has made me hate mobile phones, and therefore I don't use one in public unless I have to.

I'd rather start taking paper on public transport.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

You seem to have a limitless supply of money, or you have a way of getting audio books for almost free. Does Amazon still give Audible books away when you buy the ebook?

Not give away, but a very, very steep discount. Typically only £3 or so, compared to the normal £20+ price of the audiobook.