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leebase · 08-17-2012, 08:29 AM

People who want to read will read. Reading has ALWAYS had to compete with other entertainment options. Books have to compete with the television, with friends, with sports, with movies, with smartphones, video games -- and ignorance.

Tablets and smartphones INCREASE the chance to get more people reading. Same with eInk. They don't increase the distractions as the distractions are already there.

The most important driver of reading is....interesting books. Harry Potter DROVE reading, Twilight DROVE reading...50 Shades of Grey is DRIVING reading.

People who want to read will read. All the devices do one critical think that HELPS with reading...they make it very convenient to acquire and carry books. eInk arrived first, and folks heavily into reading were the early adopters.

Smartphones and Tablets aren't hurting the situation. They are helping. They may be bought for other purposes primarily, but they also give folks the option for convenient acquisition and carrying of books. Those who want to read, will then read.

I went from maybe 2 or 3 books a year to 50 books a year due to reading on my phone and then iPad. Sure, I don't read like some of you do, but I _never_ did.

People will choose eInk or tablets according to their own budget and preferences. ALL of the choices promote reading. The extra abilities of a tablet or a phone to provide non-reading entertainment are simply the reality that reading has always faced. There has always been choices besides reading.

08-17-2012, 08:29 AM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Reading must compete... People who want to read will read. Reading has ALWAYS had to compete with other entertainment options. Books have to compete with the television, with friends, with sports, with movies, with smartphones, video games -- and ignorance. Tablets and smartphones INCREASE the chance to get more people reading. Same with eInk. They don't increase the distractions as the distractions are already there. The most important driver of reading is....interesting books. Harry Potter DROVE reading, Twilight DROVE reading...50 Shades of Grey is DRIVING reading. People who want to read will read. All the devices do one critical think that HELPS with reading...they make it very convenient to acquire and carry books. eInk arrived first, and folks heavily into reading were the early adopters. Smartphones and Tablets aren't hurting the situation. They are helping. They may be bought for other purposes primarily, but they also give folks the option for convenient acquisition and carrying of books. Those who want to read, will then read. I went from maybe 2 or 3 books a year to 50 books a year due to reading on my phone and then iPad. Sure, I don't read like some of you do, but I _never_ did. People will choose eInk or tablets according to their own budget and preferences. ALL of the choices promote reading. The extra abilities of a tablet or a phone to provide non-reading entertainment are simply the reality that reading has always faced. There has always been choices besides reading.