MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - E-Reader Ownership Outpacing Tablets

WalkingDistance · 06-28-2011, 04:20 PM

I also think that marketing has an effect on the results.

Yes tablets are very rigorously marketed now because of the tough competition for a marketshare. The success of the first iPad prompted others to really hop aboard and now you can't watch TV, listen to the radio, or drive on a highway without running into a tablet ad.

I just want to bring this topic up to discussion because it hasn't been discussed in depth yet:

-Demographic aim and Marketing strategies.

Tablets seem to be more popular amongst the younger crowd. BUT does the younger crowd have the money to support a $500 piece of electronic. Yes and no. People this age-range purchase Console Gaming Systems/Computers/Laptops around (or higher) than this pricerange. But the tablet is pretty limited functionally compared to computers and laptops so the price is a more important factor when deciding to purchase the device. Also, tablets are the hot-new-electronic-toys that everyone drools over. That is a factor explaining why the device tends to be more popular amongst a younger demographic

Ebook readers appeal to an older crowd compared to tablets. They are advertised MUCH LESS than tablets. There is less competition (less companies make ebook readers than tablets). I think a big thing (For me at least) is that there is a subcommunity of people with e-readers. And almost all the people i know who own e-readers are passionate about their devices. There is less hate in the market. Just last week I saw someone with the new Nook (simple reader) at the airport and we had a conversation about how great the device is despite the fact that I own a Kindle and am passionate about it. Therefore, there's a more supportive community of e-book reader readers and word of mouth is spreading more effectively than commercials.

Also, Nook-stands in front of every Barnes and Noble may help as well. There are physical salesmen/women there to sell you the nook. I know they have there are iPad salesmen/women at Apple stores but usually they're so packed that the people there take less time to actually sell you the device. In general I just see tablets on display at various stores and no real person talking/describing it to you.

06-28-2011, 04:20 PM	#43
WalkingDistance Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 50018 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I also think that marketing has an effect on the results. Yes tablets are very rigorously marketed now because of the tough competition for a marketshare. The success of the first iPad prompted others to really hop aboard and now you can't watch TV, listen to the radio, or drive on a highway without running into a tablet ad. I just want to bring this topic up to discussion because it hasn't been discussed in depth yet: -Demographic aim and Marketing strategies. Tablets seem to be more popular amongst the younger crowd. BUT does the younger crowd have the money to support a $500 piece of electronic. Yes and no. People this age-range purchase Console Gaming Systems/Computers/Laptops around (or higher) than this pricerange. But the tablet is pretty limited functionally compared to computers and laptops so the price is a more important factor when deciding to purchase the device. Also, tablets are the hot-new-electronic-toys that everyone drools over. That is a factor explaining why the device tends to be more popular amongst a younger demographic Ebook readers appeal to an older crowd compared to tablets. They are advertised MUCH LESS than tablets. There is less competition (less companies make ebook readers than tablets). I think a big thing (For me at least) is that there is a subcommunity of people with e-readers. And almost all the people i know who own e-readers are passionate about their devices. There is less hate in the market. Just last week I saw someone with the new Nook (simple reader) at the airport and we had a conversation about how great the device is despite the fact that I own a Kindle and am passionate about it. Therefore, there's a more supportive community of e-book reader readers and word of mouth is spreading more effectively than commercials. Also, Nook-stands in front of every Barnes and Noble may help as well. There are physical salesmen/women there to sell you the nook. I know they have there are iPad salesmen/women at Apple stores but usually they're so packed that the people there take less time to actually sell you the device. In general I just see tablets on display at various stores and no real person talking/describing it to you.