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Originally Posted by ilovejedd
Quite frankly, I don't get this. To me, ebook readers are just tools, a medium on which to read. I don't see them as cool by any means. Heck, I don't know of any teenagers who think ebook readers (as novel a gadget as they may be) are cool. It might be different in Asia, but in the US, I'm pretty sure that's not the case. That may be the case when Apple releases its own ebook reader, but right now, they don't have that cool gadget status.
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All electronic gadgets, even some of the most useless ones, have cool factor among younger people in schools, especially in the middle school or lower levels when there's some "exclusivity" granted by virtue of limited ownership. I grew up in the USA and it was very much the case there too.
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Sure, the current crop of readers certainly seem to have a lot of shortcomings still but that's the case with any new technology. However, I'm thankful that there are people who are willing to be guinea pigs for these imperfect devices as that's what makes them more affordable for the rest of us.
Another thing, ebooks and ebook readers are separate. You can read an ebook on a computer, PDA, cellphone, etc. Indeed, surveys suggest that the computer is still the most commonly used device for reading ebooks. Having an ebook version available does not necessarily equate to getting an ebook reader to show off to friends.
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Absolutely, but netbooks for instance have even more cool factor than ebook readers would.
I just find it amusing how her decision to offer limited format causes so much ruckus amongst the insecure ebook community (which they'll vehemently deny as well). I remember a long time ago I used to make a few products for people. I made those products out of 6al4v titanium alloy. People asked me to make them in stainless steel or aluminum or other materials, but I said no, I only wanted to associate my products with the medium of titanium, even though there was little practical reason for it (indeed, other materials are cheaper and generally easier to work with). I, as the creator of the products, had absolutely no obligation to satisfy the demands of prospective buyers by offering other materials. Rejecting possible profits? Sure. I didn't need any reason other than "I don't want to." Luckily as a niche product, it was easier for people to digest the fact that I wasn't whoring my craft to the whims of the market. Even as an ebook reader/user, if I were to become a bigshot author like Rowling with no practical profit worries, I'd rather enjoy not offering ebooks and hearing the outcry of the fringe (but growing of course) ebook market demanding that I offer something to suit their compulsions.