Quote:
Originally Posted by joblack
I think the e-Book scene is still very small, but will get bigger after reliable e-Book Reader will be released.
|
Actually, I think we have a
lot of reliable e-book readers right now. What we don't yet have is the single overridingly popular format (like music's MP3), which will bring everyone in publishing and reading to the same table, and eliminate a great deal of wasteed time and effort.
We also need the overridingly popular reason for more people to read e-books. MP3s became popular because they were ultimately mobile... but they skyrocketed when Apple created the cool-as-hell iPod that everyone wanted, even before iTunes provided easy-to-get legal content.
E-books need a value-added element... something that makes e-books more desirable to more people (or at least seem better to more people), to spur buying.
If a single reader turns out to have a "wow" factor, like the iPod, that could do it. Or if there is some other desirable content that can be added to the e-book, say, electronic coupons for other products, that could do it. (Imagine if buying an e-book entitled you to 50% off at your favorite fast-food chain or discounts at the sports store... you'd see kids lining up for 'em.)