Quote:
Originally Posted by Leep
Obviously, some of the companies that have introduced ereaders, or plan to introduce ereaders within the next 6 months, have completed some market research. They have decided that there is a market that justifies the development dollars to bring an ereader product to market. The validity and makeup of this forum also supports the theory that there is a wide and varied market available.
I agree that non-readers will not suddenly read because of ereaders, except perhaps for senior citizens and retirees who are now in a different place in their lives where they have more available time. I believe that this might, infact, become a very large market. Older people often have discretionary income that allows them to 1)fork out $350for an ereader and 2)fund ongoing ebook purchases.
The ease with which ebooks can be purchase has to apeal to a wide range of folk. Maybe not young people at this stage, but certainly for very busy people who travel a lot and for older people who have a more isolated lifestyle.
Would love to know what the real numbers are, but seems like we're only going to see speculation for the time being.
cheers
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Dear Leep:
Our research shows that only about 2% of the American public know what an e-book really is. Most of it is confusing to them. eBooks cost more (at present) and they cannot yet figure out WHY they should lug around an electronic device when a paperback costs $10.
WHEN we take the time to explain:
easier on the eyes
stores thousands of books
play music while reading
saves tons of paper and thus tons of energy and paper waste
new introductions coming
can be used to store everything from Hollywood Scripts to Student Textbooks
... then a light does go on and the interest grows.
We (the manufacturers of eBook Readers, I distribute both EZ Reader and Mentor lines) are only beginning to be innovative, I think. I am NOT talking about Touchscreen and Wi-Fi... I am talking about Flexi Screens, 10 inch sized Readers, easy access to daily Newspapers and Monthly Magazines, and a lot of ideas not thought of yet... then things will catch fire.
The job of the manufacturers is to illuminate, educate, and make it something that people long for. We are not there yet and have hardly started.
Robert B