Business Week - Cell Phones take on e-Readers

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by =X=

Thought the article was a direct attack on dedicated eBook readers, like you I don't see it as a negative. Folks that like their eBook Readers will continue to own them and folks that want a multi device will use their phone/PDA as such.

I wouldn't characterize it as an "attack" at all...

Owning a Kindle appears to hold plenty of value for the consumers who are snapping up the devices so fast that it's been sold out since November. Yet the idea of downloading a book onto a device you already own may appeal to cash-strapped and space-constrained consumers.

...and that's really all there is to it. The article actually does a service, because there are plenty of people out there who weren't even aware of e-books before Sony and Amazon stepped up with their readers. It's those people that the article is directed to, letting them know that Yes, Virginia, you can enjoy e-books without dropping $3-400 and up for a dedicated reader.

I think of it this way: Some people won't or can't buy a dedicated reader right now... maybe later. But even if they don't buy a dedicated reader, at least they're reading the e-books now. Win-win.