Quote:
Originally Posted by astra
Maybe they are right. I am useless in trying to predict anything.
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Most people - even professional pundits - are. But I think a lot of folk here are missing the point. It's not about whether you're right or they're wrong, but simply a conversation-starter for a discussion about market and tech trends.
Myself, I think they're right -- if stress is placed on
dedicated. Sure e-read
ing is here to stay, but devices that do ereading alone probably will never make it past niche status. They'll get it from both ends. Multi-function devices will add e-reading capabilities to lure away the casual reader while at the same time, as technology improves, dedicated e-reader users will demand more functionality (five years ago most folk would probably have said WiFi in an e-reader? WTF?!; and I would love it if my Sibrary allowed me to take the occasional reading break with a quick game of Sudoko). And eventually market convergence will force POERs (plain-old-e-readers) off the radar.
While I personally love reading and my e-reader, my twenty to thirty books a year (underpowered though it may be by MR standards) puts me way up there in the bell curve. There aren't enough of us to sustain an entire market. And once I make the move to a tablet, I'm not sure the form-factor and battery life of my ereader will be enough to justify me carrying both.
--Nathanael