Quote:
Originally Posted by mbovenka
Yep. A normal ebook reader is happy with Amazon or B&N and buys their books from them, perhaps adding a few PD books if they're adventurous. That's why Amazon wins; their ecosystem has everything they want.
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And Apple.
Let's not ignore Apple.
They are significant (15% US share, international 30-50 countries) and growing share faster than the market, mostly from *casual* readers that aren't likely dedicated reader gadget buyers.
Typical Apple customer just sees iBooks, downloads a few freebies--maybe likes it maybe not. Goes on to playing Angry Birds or the fad du jour in between Facebooking sessions.
(They go on with their life with no great epiphany.)
Next time they get a hankering for a read (maybe twice a year) they pop up iBooks. No muss, no fuss--no big deal. To them. But those casual readers on iOS, Android, and WinPhone are the near-term future of ebooks.
The biggest growth remaining in the *current* US market is casual readers. That is why tablets and smartphones are getting so much attention from Amazon, B&N, and even Kobo. Sell the gadget on games and video and hope for a trickle of incremental book sales.