Waterstones is removing Kindles from stores

[leebase]

Color me not surprised at all. I've long believed that the "only eInk is suitable for reading" folks were wrong. There are advantages to eInk for sure, particularly in bright sun light. There is also weight and battery life.

But there are a lot more going for phones and tablets - IMNVHO. By the time eInk tablets fell below the hundred dollar mark, I didn't even buy one then. I'm more than happy with my phone and tablet.

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by leebase

Color me not surprised at all. I've long believed that the "only eInk is suitable for reading" folks were wrong. .

I think this is how a lot of people feel. (Myself, not included.) I also don't think most people are avid readers really, so in most cases using a tablet or phone suit people just fine, both of which most people already own. A lot of people don't even know much about e-readers nor do they care.

I personally love my e-ink reader and wouldn't want to be without one. For the convenience of carrying books in a small device, for not having the clutter of physical books (I already have a ton as it is) and because I read a lot outside in bright light. Using a tablet or phone doesn't work for me, but I know it does for a lot of people.

I do also agree with Rizla on pricing. I see a lot of ebooks priced higher or close to the pricing on paper versions. Not to mention the fact that you can always pick up used paper copies for dirt cheap on Amazon. I don't think pricing factors all that much into the loss of sales though. I just think the majority of people have little need for an e-ink reader.

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

... For the convenience of carrying books in a small device, for not having the clutter of physical books ...

That can be said of any reader/phone/small tablet. The benefit of a phone reader is that I don't have to carry another device and it is always with me. I can read whenever I have a wait.

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

... and because I read a lot outside in bright light. Using a tablet or phone doesn't work for me, but I know it does for a lot of people.

I've heard the bright light argument most often. I just don't see it. Yes, on older iPads it could have gotten washed out if you angle it exactly right. But that happens very rarely, and if it does I just adjust the screen slightly an voila - fixed. I have even tried reading outside laying around the pool down near the equator on a very bright day...still no issues.

I have heard the "eye strain" argument as well, but I can't speak to that because it seems a personal issue that doesn't effect me and seems like it would only effect those who have problems with computer screens anyway.

I have noticed local book stores either closing down, or drastically reducing inventory of books in favor of toys, games, music, etc. So, I would think that eBooks are here to stay and getting more and more mainstream.

Cheers!

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by leebase

I've long believed that the "only eInk is suitable for reading" folks were wrong.

Only e-ink is suitable for me but not necessarily for everyone. I can't read for hours on end on a tablet but can happily do so on an e-ink device, plus obviously the battery life and reading outdoors. Not giving up my Kindle anytime soon

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Yolina

Only e-ink is suitable for me but not necessarily for everyone. I can't read for hours on end on a tablet but can happily do so on an e-ink device, plus obviously the battery life and reading outdoors. Not giving up my Kindle anytime soon

Same here

[auspex]

Originally Posted by rjcroy

I have been surprised by how few people around me have bought e-readers. It doesn't look like it will get beyond niche in the near future.

Really? What do you consider a "niche"? The numbers I've seen suggest e-book sales are a quarter of the US market. That doesn't seem like a niche. Almost everybody I know who actually reads has, and uses, an e-reader. Some more than others, but they use them.

Selling e-readers in bookstores has always been a losing proposition—you're selling a device to encourage people to actually shop for books elsewhere—so I'm not at all surprised that they're stopping the sales.

However, as for the increase in paper book sales, seen on both sides of the pond, is there a corresponding decrease in e-books? If not, then perhaps Waterstones is making a mistake, and e-sales are actually pumping paper sales.

[leebase]

I realize that there are plenty of people that, for whatever reason, do not find it comfortable to read on a phone/tablet. It's just that back in the day, the voices were loud and strong on this forum that "people just can't read comfortably for long time" on lcd screens.

So much "research" was quoted. It's "proven", only eInk is suitable for reading. Was all hogwash. It's simply a matter of taste and the eInk folks are in the minority.

It's like with me and those First Person Shooter video games. They make me sick. Literally sick to my stomach. But I'm in the minority. Most people have zero trouble playing them and do not get nauseous.

And now that "everybody" (so it seems) has a smartphone, and smartphones are large screen devices these days -- very few people will feel the need to pay for and carry another device. Or if they want something bigger than their phone, they'll just get a tablet because it covers reading and lots more. And unlike an eInk device, a tablet isn't locked to only one store. And yes, you can go around the built in store with effort to get content onto your eInk device but that's an unnecessary hassle..

And, shocker of shockers....tablets have actually gotten cheaper than eInk devices. No more $500 iPad cost of entry

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

I have heard the "eye strain" argument as well, but I can't speak to that because it seems a personal issue that doesn't effect me and seems like it would only effect those who have problems with computer screens anyway.

I don't have a problem with computer screens generally speaking and it's not eye strain - after all I work with images so I spend a fair bit of time staring at a (calibrated) screen anyway but I really can't read a book on a non e-ink screen for long periods of time, my mind just keeps wandering away and I stop paying attention to what I'm reading. I don't have that issue with e-ink or paper

[auspex]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I don't have a problem with computer screens generally speaking and it's not eye strain - after all I work with images so I spend a fair bit of time staring at a (calibrated) screen anyway but I really can't read a book on a non e-ink screen for long periods of time, my mind just keeps wandering away and I stop paying attention to what I'm reading. I don't have that issue with e-ink or paper

Ditto. But there is good research about using LCD screens late at night, and having disturbed sleep patterns.

[DrNefario]

I don't think selling ereaders in Waterstones is necessarily dumb - their customers are readers; if you want them to come into the store, sell them what they are looking for - but as the original article said, the space can now usually be used to better effect for books. That's all there is to it.

[Cinisajoy]

I know at least 3 people that don't have smart phones. Oh wait, I know at least 15 people that don't own smart phones. Half of them don't even own a cell phone.
Now as to personal use of devices, what am I using it for?
Smartphone great for quick information when out. Tablet great for just about everything else. Ereader: great for curling up on my front porch to read.

[Rizla]

Checked and I am seeing savings of about 15% on e-books over new paperbacks, so I stand corrected. I tend to buy used paperbacks which are cheaper than both. Still, seeing as you don't actually own the ebook, then the 15% seems less of a saving...But that's another story.

My comment re: low e-reader sales stands. I don't see much new adoption of e-readers around me. Usage seems to be static. It's mainly upgrades now. That's anecdotal, but I've seen no data to suggest otherwise. Waterstones' comment agrees with that.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by auspex

Really? What do you consider a "niche"? The numbers I've seen suggest e-book sales are a quarter of the US market. That doesn't seem like a niche. Almost everybody I know who actually reads has, and uses, an e-reader. Some more than others, but they use them...

However, as for the increase in paper book sales, seen on both sides of the pond, is there a corresponding decrease in e-books?

I think you're answering the wrong question here. A quarter of book sales may be e-books, but those e-books are being read on all manner of devices.

Friends and family that are heavy readers (I'm lucky enough to know several) do all have a dedicated e-reader (three Kindles and a Nook). But I know more people that are occasional readers and they read on their tablets, phones or paper.

I do think e-readers will remain a niche market.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Checked and I am seeing savings of about 15% on e-books over new paperbacks, so I stand corrected. I tend to buy used paperbacks which are cheaper than both. Still, seeing as you don't actually own the ebook, then the 15% seems less of a saving...But that's another story.

My comment re: low e-reader sales stands. I don't see much new adoption of e-readers around me. Usage seems to be static. It's mainly upgrades now. That's anecdotal, but I've seen no data to suggest otherwise. Waterstones' comment agrees with that.

Well now I can't be positive but if we are just going by people in our vicinity, I could say that there are probably 3 actual ereaders in my entire neighborhood. I might be off by 1 or 2.
The guy on the corner might own 1.
I am not in a reading neighborhood. I would also venture to guess that not counting one house, there are less than 20 books of any kind on the entire block. And of those 20 books at least 15 would be 1 particular book.
So what does this suggest?
Now where the data for the block would get skewed is the one house I left out.
That house has more books than I can count.
I am sure other neighborhoods have the exact opposite stats.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Well now I can't be positive but if we are just going by people in our vicinity, I could say that there are probably 3 actual ereaders in my entire neighborhood. I might be off by 1 or 2.
The guy on the corner might own 1.
I am not in a reading neighborhood. I would also venture to guess that not counting one house, there are less than 20 books of any kind on the entire block. And of those 20 books at least 15 would be 1 particular book.
So what does this suggest?
Now where the data for the block would get skewed is the one house I left out.
That house has more books than I can count.
I am sure other neighborhoods have the exact opposite stats.

: you need to move.