12-12-2012, 07:26 PM | #1 |
Addict
Posts: 223
Karma: 1006020
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Akron, OH USA
Device: Kindle PW, Galaxy Nexus, iPad 1
|
waning popularity of ebook readers?
According to Ebook Readers: Device to Go the Way of Dinosaurs?, shipments of ereaders appear to have peaked in 2011.
Are the long-run reading advantages offered by ereaders insufficient to offset the web, email, and movie versatility offered by tablets? Last edited by hughes; 12-12-2012 at 07:37 PM. |
12-12-2012, 07:35 PM | #2 |
Wizard
Posts: 4,538
Karma: 264065402
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Taiwan
Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD
|
Some more pertinent questions:
What percentage of eBook readers already have an e-ink device? Could be the market is already close to getting saturated. Also, what percentage of tablet owners read eBooks on their devices? For many readers tablets and e-ink are totally unrelated devices, one more tablet sold does not mean one less ereader sold. Last edited by HansTWN; 12-12-2012 at 07:39 PM. |
Advert | |
|
12-12-2012, 07:54 PM | #3 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,061
Karma: 39379388
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: near Philadelphia USA
Device: Kindle Kids Edition, Fire HD 10 (11th generation)
|
Quote:
However, since Amazon refuses to give absolute sales numbers, I'm skeptical how this web site could know what it claims. Color has triumphed over monochrome, in the marketplace, again and again. It did it in amateur -- and professional -- photography. It did it in television. It did it in computer monitors. It did it in PDA's. It did it in cell phones -- even the cheapest hand-held phones sold in developing countries now have a thoroughly unnecessary color screen. The 7 inch color tablet is just too similar looking to the 6 inch monochrome eReader for color to not triumph over monochrome again. Unpopularity would be no reason for me to move from eInk to tablet. However, I do need a continuing infrastructure where I can read both library books and newspapers on my device. If it gets to where you can't get either the New York Times or the Washington Post on my eReader, I will have to give it up as I did the Palm PDA. |
|
12-12-2012, 09:07 PM | #4 |
GUNDAM PILOT
Posts: 227
Karma: 1110244
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: NEW York, NEW York
Device: Kindle Fire
|
I have the original kindle fire from last year and i love it as an overall device
But I actually find myself wanting a simple paper white kindle for pure book reading. |
12-12-2012, 09:30 PM | #5 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 5,886
Karma: 464403178
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: 33.9388° N, 117.2716° W
Device: Kindles K-2, K-KB, PW 1 & 2, Voyage, Fire 2, 5 & HD 8, Surface 3, iPad
|
Highly disagree
Quote:
|
|
Advert | |
|
12-12-2012, 09:58 PM | #6 |
Captain Penguin
Posts: 2,947
Karma: 2077653593
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Nook Glowlight
|
There will always be a market for eReaders, at least while they offer advantages over tablets like long battery life and reading in sunlight. Plus lack of distractions is also a plus. I used to switch to a tablet when the ambient light was poor, but since I got the GlowLight I haven't used any of my tablets for reading.
|
12-12-2012, 10:01 PM | #7 |
Surfin the alpha waves ~~
Posts: 24,519
Karma: 459220161
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Jersey
Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids
|
I almost always prefer single-purpose devices. My cell phone is a cell phone, my camera is a camera, I play music on an MP3 player that's only an MP3 player, and I read on an ereader.
My wife has an Ipad and she does use it for reading, but most of the time it's for email and videos. She doesn't read as much as I do. I suspect there will always be a market for small (think mass market paperback sized) dedicated ereaders, especially if the price is low. |
12-12-2012, 10:05 PM | #8 | |
Geographically Restricted
Posts: 2,629
Karma: 14933353
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Perth, Australia
Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2
|
Quote:
I have an iPad2 for a specific purpose (PDF's and comics, plus a email.browser etc) AND ereaders for the specific purpose of replacing dead tree fiction. Multi-function devices can never fully replace a single purpose dedicated device. Jack of all trades, master of none. |
|
12-12-2012, 10:33 PM | #9 |
Guru
Posts: 711
Karma: 4033862
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: sony prs-350
|
There are many people who read off ereaders because they mimic real paper. If they ever stopped making them I would think many would go back to paper books. I could not see myself reading off an tablet.
|
12-12-2012, 10:35 PM | #10 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,305
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
Someone is always saying that ebooks are on their way out. I don't believe it myself.
|
12-12-2012, 11:45 PM | #11 | |
Nameless Being
|
Quote:
Dedicated ereaders aren't going to go away anytime soon. The market is probably going to diminish somewhat as general purpose tablets drop in price, but eink has too many advantages over the competition for moderate to heavy readers. |
|
12-13-2012, 12:14 AM | #12 |
You kids get off my lawn!
Posts: 4,220
Karma: 73492664
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of
|
I started out reading on my (color) PDA. When I finally decided I wanted something larger, I looked at UMPC and a few early versions of tables (I remember an Acer model that looked like a laptop, but the screen would turn 180 degrees and lie flat on top of the keyboard).
I wanted color, but I just wasn't willing to spend $1000 for what I could find at the time. I love my eInk reader now, but if today's Fire/Nook were available then, I probably would have bought the tablet and never looked back. |
12-13-2012, 12:48 AM | #13 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,157
Karma: 7068605
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro
|
I don't think they are on the way out. I think I agree that the market is changing again with the cheaper color tablets.
I do love my Nook Color, and will probably get a Nook HD(+), but I've been wanting and eInk device for battery length, and ease on the eyes for strictly reading |
12-13-2012, 12:56 AM | #14 | |
Wizard
Posts: 2,698
Karma: 4748723
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
|
Quote:
I'm currently using my KFHD when I need more light to read by, but the PW is really an attractive option. Edit: I'd also add, if Amazon manages to release an inexpensive, good quality color e-ink device, we might see another surge in e-reader adoption. Last edited by carld; 12-13-2012 at 12:59 AM. |
|
12-13-2012, 01:35 AM | #15 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,305
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
I don't know about color, but there have been threads dealing with the idea of a free e-ink device as part of the Amazon Prime deal or some such. I could see that happening sooner or later. After all if you are offered a free e-ink reader for signing up for this or that deal even if you have to buy a certain # of ebooks within a years time or something I can see that catching people's interest.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
The Rise and fall of the third reich on Amazon | pastanley | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 10 | 10-18-2012 12:44 PM |
H.E.R.O. series book 3 (Rise and Fall) released - $0.99 | kevinrau | Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers | 1 | 09-30-2011 06:42 AM |
Seriously thoughtful 2010: Rise of the e-book, fall of the Indies? | Steven Lyle Jordan | Lounge | 13 | 12-31-2009 04:36 AM |
Other Fiction Phillips, David Graham: Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise. 31 Aug 07 | RWood | Kindle Books | 0 | 08-31-2007 12:11 AM |
Other Fiction Phillips, David Graham: Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise. 31 Aug 07 | RWood | BBeB/LRF Books | 0 | 08-31-2007 12:09 AM |