Study: As E-Readers Increase, So Does Resistance

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by ApK

Avid doesn't mean fast.

This. I read a ton of things, but reading actual stories takes a lot of time. So, while technically, I may read about 20-30 things with official title/author that can be called "books" per year, I also read things like forums, email, online news, etc, probably in equal amounts. But I do try to get a good hour or two of reading in per day.

I also have other hobbies that are rather sedentary, so people may think I am lazy if I don't want to go for that brisk walk as my first option. No, I just have different interests that I am addicted to.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by meeera

They only ask how many books they buy, however. I can't be the only person who gets 90% or so of her dead-tree reading from the library.

Count me in. 100% actually if you count the fact that most of what I buy are former library loans. But yes, a good 90% of what I read is borrowed library books.

I too, read and re-read my favorite books over and over again. I do the same with movies whereas I know people who refuse to watch movies a second time.

[LuvReadin]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Avid ?

10 books a year ??

On the other hand, they might be avid readers. I generally find that people who buy a lot of books tend to read what they buy but not more, whereas at least some of those who don't buy that many, actually read a lot. I certainly fall into the category of buying far fewer books than I actually read - I'd need to take out a second mortgage if libraries and free ebooks didn't exist!

Originally Posted by whitearrow

Or finish the book I was reading when I was at the doctor's office and have nothing to read while waiting..

One of my top advantages too. I reckoned I was quite an avid reader - based solely on my library stats, I read a minimum of 120 books/year (my full allocation of 10 each visit, and I go once a month). I read a lot more than that now, as I always carry an ereader in my bag, so I can whip it out whenever I'm in a queue or stuck waiting anywhere.

[J. Strnad]

Another alternative, if you don't want hassle, is to get a Kindle and don't bother to strip DRM. Take all of the freebies from Amazon and one-click them to your Kindle. Done!

Now, I can already hear the chorus of voices rising up against the Walled Garden and Amazon-in-general, etc. I get that! But millions and millions of people don't care about DRM and personally archiving their ebooks and just want a simple purchasing and reading experience. For them, the answer is a Kindle and doing things Amazon's way.

If people want to choose epub or B&N or Sony or Kobo or whatever they prefer that lies outside of the Amazon Walled Garden, that's absolutely fine! Really...I understand those choices and don't mean to be slamming them.

But for the public at large, "complexity" of ebook loading isn't an issue at all if you're content to buy the Amazon Kool-Aid.

[SensualPoet]

The DRM thing is a total red herring. Buy from Amazon, or ot: your choice. Buy from Kobo or not: your choice. Borrow from the library or not: your choice. None of these requires "complicated DRM" -- get a Kindle and a Kobo (or a Sony ereader) and you have access to almost everything in ebook print in English.

You can get each ereader from $100ish or get an Android tablet for $200ish. I have a Kindle 3 and a Kobo Touch -- these deliver all three formats of books. Even easier: the Kobo Vox tablet (a $200 open Android device) which holds the Kindle app, Kobo app and public library Overdrive app.

There's no need to convert anything to anything ... just go ahead and read and enjoy.

I dunno ... sometimes people seem to deliberately make things complicated.

[Synamon]

The percentages don't surprise me. I expect everyone will eventually have a reading app, but not everyone will have a dedicated eReader. The saturation level for eReaders will be fairly low, since people who don't read excessively will be satisfied with reading ebooks occasionally on their other devices (smart phones, iPods, tablets, computers, etc.).

[speakingtohe]

I agree. While some people will never have a reading app, most have browsers and Adobe reader already.

Surprisingly I have met few people who read books on a phone although I know that they are out there.

Sometimes I have asked people who ask if they can see my ereader if they read on their phone. One guy proudly showed me, but the most common response is "I didn't know you could do that". It's a real conversation killer BTW.


Helen

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

The DRM thing is a total red herring. Buy from Amazon, or ot: your choice. Buy from Kobo or not: your choice. Borrow from the library or not: your choice. None of these requires "complicated DRM" -- get a Kindle and a Kobo (or a Sony ereader) and you have access to almost everything in ebook print in English.

You can get each ereader from $100ish or get an Android tablet for $200ish. I have a Kindle 3 and a Kobo Touch -- these deliver all three formats of books. Even easier: the Kobo Vox tablet (a $200 open Android device) which holds the Kindle app, Kobo app and public library Overdrive app.

There's no need to convert anything to anything ... just go ahead and read and enjoy.

I dunno ... sometimes people seem to deliberately make things complicated.

No, when I strip DRM I am not making things complicated. I am removing a complication that has been foisted on me, to ensure that I will be able to read my books in the future.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by Catlady

No, when I strip DRM I am not making things complicated. I am removing a complication that has been foisted on me, to ensure that I will be able to read my books in the future.

What Catlady said. Apparently in this day and age wanting things to work and wanting privacy for usage of the things I buy makes me high maintenance and "making things complicated", but so be it.

If I buy a book, I have not signed a marriage document with the seller. I can take the book home and it is mine mine mine. I shouldn't have to own 6 different brands of e-readers to avoid "making things complicated" for the sellers. Darn entitled customer that I am.

[carld]

I agree, DRM is a red herring, as are a lot of other complaints about the "complications" of ereaders. Buy a Kindle or a Nook, buy your books from Amazon or B&N, the way most of the general public does, and you'll hardly ever think about DRM or ebook "complications" again.

If you want to make things more complicated than that, well that's up to you.

[ApK]

I think what sensual poet meant was that for those who strip it, it's not very complicated, and for those who simply buy from the store tied to their reader it's not complicated, which means it's just not a complicated issue for most folks.

I agree, though I do think DRM is a needless and inappropriate nuisance with the POTENTIAL to cause problems for people.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by carld

I agree, DRM is a red herring, as are a lot of other complaints about the "complications" of ereaders. Buy a Kindle or a Nook, buy your books from Amazon or B&N, the way most of the general public does, and you'll hardly ever think about DRM or ebook "complications" again.

If you want to make things more complicated than that, well that's up to you.

Yeah, life is never complicated for sheep. Just follow along with the herd ...

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by carld

I agree, DRM is a red herring, as are a lot of other complaints about the "complications" of ereaders. Buy a Kindle or a Nook, buy your books from Amazon or B&N, the way most of the general public does, and you'll hardly ever think about DRM or ebook "complications" again.

If you want to make things more complicated than that, well that's up to you.

If people roll over and take the sub-par status quo, then yeah, things will have no reason to improve. Having standards makes it pretty darn hard for some people to pry the $$$ out of my hands.

As for the Nook, I couldn't even "buy" a freebie from the nook book store. They wanted me to enter my credit card number, then AFTER I entered my info they told me I was unable to buy a book because of living in Canada. WHY then, did they pretend to sell to Canadians by having zip/POSTAL code in the drop down menu. Who made things complicated again? Oh yah, I did

[GreenMonkey]

Originally Posted by carld

Buy a Kindle or a Nook, buy your books from Amazon or B&N, the way most of the general public does, and you'll hardly ever think about DRM or ebook "complications" again.

If you want to make things more complicated than that, well that's up to you.

If by "hardly ever think about DRM or ebook complications again" you mean for an undefined amount of time - sure.

That only works until your vendor folds or is bought by someone else. There's currently outrage going on with the purchase of PC gaming download service Direct2Drive by Gamefly - people have lost a lot of games in the transition (and the new owners don't guarantee they'll have access to all of the games necessarily).

I don't know why people don't understand this. This has happened quite a few times. People have lost DRM'd music that they legitimately purchased due to the DRM not being supported any more. Amazon themselves even did it to people with their early ebooks, apparently.

I doubt that your ebook's DRM will be properly supported in 10 years, nonetheless in 20 or 40. I'll still be wanting to read my books when I'm 50 or 60, I'm sure.

DRM ebooks are not a purchase. They are a rental until your company decides not to support the DRM and/or the device any more, the company goes under or is bought out, or any number of other things that can happen over the years.

I just bought pre-ordered the newest Robin Hobb book in hardcover BTW over the DRM'd digital version. If I want a book badly enough to pay $10-$15 for it, I'll continue to buy and support the author by purchasing a hardcover instead of a DRM'd ebook rental.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

DRM ebooks are not a purchase. They are a rental

No, it's the purchase of license. Don't confuse one misleading idea with another misleading idea.