Quote:
Originally Posted by Phogg
I don't think they will even have to get cheaper. I foresee textbooks moving to primarily electronic format at Universities in the next five years. This will create a rapidly growing public awareness of ebooks.
I don't see an ebook reader competing with a book. I see it competing with a bookcase, so as long as the price is competitive with a bookcase then they will do alright.
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I totally agree on both points. I think devices will come down in price as a matter of course and more consumers will have them. They will likely be multifunction rather than dedicated readers so even occasional readers and people who read mostly magazines would find them attractive. Then there is, as you say, textbooks. Once students are reading on them for school it will seem the natural thing to do for that generation.
I also see the price as competing with a bookcase, even better since it takes up so much less space in my house. Hence I didn't bat an eye at paying $400. I don't think that's a common view, though. It seems most people think of it as a book. I can't tell you how many comments I've seen on sites like Gizmodo & Engadget to the effect of "Books are cheap and portable. Why do I need to spend that kind of money for a portable device to read them." I guess maybe these folks houses do not overfloweth with bookcases they way mine does.