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Some interesting experiences people have had trying to get friends/family into ebooks.....
None of my family/friends are particularly interested in ebooks, even the more tech savvy ones.
They either do not read that much or prefer to have a tangible object in hand when it comes to books. Hard copy books are seen as having greater value.
And for those who do read, many like books in categories that might be better-suited for reading in hard copy format. I am thinking of books in some non-fiction categories. I myself feel that way. For example, I would not usually consider getting an art or photography book in ebook format.
And as others have pointed out, it does take some tech knowledge (or a learning curve) to get free books. And even if many free "classics" can be downloaded via Amazon, B&N etc., lots of people are not that interested in them. They want the latest bestseller and may get turned off when they see some of the prices.
I do suspect that many people have bought ereaders as gifts simply because they read about how popular they are and thought they would be a nice present. But for some recipients, an ebook reader might be the electronic equivalent of getting a reindeer sweater.
Plus it may also be a simple question of "gadget overload."
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