Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonist
Hm, I'd venture a guess, that there are more people who read, than people who play video games.
Yet, it would be hard to argue, that video games have not "caught on."
Moreover, every decent PC can play video games, yet there is a huge market for dedicated, stand-alone and hand-held video game consoles.
I'd say there is enough of a market for ereaders, too.
|
The Video Game industry is bigger than Hollywood. Anecodatly I know more people who play video games at age 30+ than I do people who read on a regular basis. The video console is firmly entrenched in modern culture, has been since the release of the Sony PS1. With the release of the Wii this has become even more entrenched, that console is responsible for a lot of non-traditional gamers getting into the console buying market.
My thinking at the moment, and after spending some time using the iTouch as a standalone reader, is that the ebook reader might never be anything more than a niche product. Bought by avid readers, but of little interest to the casual reader. I'm not sure there's much room for singular-use devices in a future where the multi-function device becomes the norm.
This is not to say the e-book itself won't be popular, just that it will be read on a multi-function device that is able to do a lot more.