Amazon’s Kindle ‘Most Unused’ Christmas Gift

[danskmacabre]

I bought a Kobo Touch ereader mid last year sometime. I'm quite tech savvy (I'm a server admin and computer programmer) and immediately settled into it nicely.

I asked my wife if she wanted one and gave the usual "I prefer physical books", argument, without even trying it out of course.
Anyway, so I didn't bother pushing it after that and happily read books via my KT.
After a while she decided to give it a go and actually liked it.
Since then I got her a KT for Xmas and she uses it a lot.

I DO find it irritating I can't lend or just give books I've finished to other people.
I regularly lend or give physical books to friends other people and vice versa.
I do still buy physical books, basically anything that isn't a novel I will buy in a physical format.

I do think the DRM is a pain as well and not always that reliable either. I think this probably scares people off having to install ADE and so on.
I look forward to a more subscription based system like "Spotify" where I pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to books. I believe Amazon do something approaching this model, but it's limited.
I'm not keen on getting a Kindle though as it's restricted to the Amazon Ebook format.

So this program was on my local public radio station. I listened to it hoping to ge an overview of how ereader technology had really taken off. It was disappointing that anyone who was new to the topic would have come away with the impression that Amazon's Kindle was the first practical ebook reader put into the market place and it was that device that introduced the e-ink technology.

http://www.wpr.org/merens/index.cfm?...16%3A00%3A00.0

Last week the Pew Center released data saying that nearly a third of all Americans now own some kind of e-reading device. After five, join Gene Purcell and his guest as they discuss the rise of the e-book.

[scrapking]

Originally Posted by Fringecup

In my home, we have a Sony ereader, a Kobo ereader, and now I have a Motorola tablet, as well as 2 smart phones with lots of books loaded on them. We've found that the main reason to use the ereaders is to save space (we don't have much for paper books). It seems that the phones and tablet get the most use as they're always with us, so they get used for reading while we wait at doctors' offices, etc. I don't mind paying a hefty price for a just-out book if it's one I really want to read, but I DO tend to get a lot of free ebooks when they're available.

Using the ereaders, I've discovered whole new (to me) genres of fiction such as Steampunk, to which I'm really addicted now!

Saving the space associated with a book collection for me is the biggest draw. I also now purchase TV shows through my Xbox, rather than buying DVD box sets. Ditto with video games, I get them through the Xbox's Games on Demand service.

I've recently downloaded a bunch of free ebooks, but the meat and potatoes of my collection are all paid books. Harry Turtledove's most recent is $13.99 in the Kobo Marketplace, or $28 cover price for the dead tree version (both Canadian prices), so I'm happy to pay the former price to avoid the latter. Sure there are lots of free and/or $0.99 books to read, but once you fall in love with an author you're willing to pay what it takes to get their content, presuming you don't want to pirate it (I don't).

Back to the topic at hand, I wonder if the Kindle specifically is experiencing more "unused" feedback than the others? I think it's often that way with the market leader, as it's the default purchase for the uninitiated (and the uninitiated buying for the uninitiated probably produces more unused gifts, versus those in the know buying, or being bought for).

It would be interesting to do a study in different markets. In the US and the UK, where Kindle is the market leader, versus Canada where Kobo is the market leader and backed by the near monopolistic bookstore chain Chapters-Indigo.

[QuantumIguana]

I'd like to see some firmer evidence before I buy the claim that Kindles aren't being used. It's plausible, of course, if you are buying for a non-reader in the hopes that it will make them a reader, it might not get used.

I use a Kindle, and some people get carried away with using e-reader and Kindle as if they are the same thing. Of course, the Kindle didn't invent e-books, e-books actually predate the e-reader.

It reminds me of music videos. Many people think that MTV invented the music video, but it existed long before. Friday Night Videos was very popular, and videos had existed long before FNV.

[RDaneel54]

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

It's interesting the stuff we assume about people just because of what they happen to be doing the moment they are being observed at any given time. We kind of freeze that incident in our mind and assume that is what they are like all the time.... funny that.

I call this the "where you are is where you've always been" assumption. It can also be extrapolated into the future.

I think we all do it. Fortunately, when I'm reading on my Kindle nobody knows what I'm reading, so they can't judge me by that.

Some folks may think they want to read on an e-reader, but don't. Others try it and like it. For others it is just OK, they can read anything, anyway, anytime. In my family, these 3 types are exemplified by my daughter-in-law, son and granddaughter, respectively. All of whom have been gifted an e-reader.

[RDaneel54]

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

I bought a Kobo Touch ereader mid last year sometime. I'm quite tech savvy (I'm a server admin and computer programmer) and immediately settled into it nicely.

I asked my wife if she wanted one and gave the usual "I prefer physical books", argument, without even trying it out of course.
Anyway, so I didn't bother pushing it after that and happily read books via my KT.
After a while she decided to give it a go and actually liked it.
Since then I got her a KT for Xmas and she uses it a lot.

I DO find it irritating I can't lend or just give books I've finished to other people.
I regularly lend or give physical books to friends other people and vice versa.
I do still buy physical books, basically anything that isn't a novel I will buy in a physical format.

I do think the DRM is a pain as well and not always that reliable either. I think this probably scares people off having to install ADE and so on.
I look forward to a more subscription based system like "Spotify" where I pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to books. I believe Amazon do something approaching this model, but it's limited.
I'm not keen on getting a Kindle though as it's restricted to the Amazon Ebook format.

With a Kindle you are no more restricted than you are on a Kobo. With both, you can convert to the other format and read away. Use Calibre, it works.

Also, with a Kindle you can lend certain titles (those allowed by the publisher) one time to another person. No need for them to have a Kindle since they can read the book on many other devices using the Kindle software.

E-readers are probably one of the easiest of current technologies to begin using out of the box. Some do need to get over the fear factor to do so.

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I can't believe the number of people who don't read. I sat next to a woman in her 30s on the train on Friday night, and she just looked out the window. And it was dark.

I'm an avid reader and I don't read on a bus or a train - I can't read in a moving vehicle; I get motion sickness. Not reading on a train doesn't mean people don't like to read.

Also, some people need time for themselves and perhaps that time on a train in someone's only chance to be alone and think.

Or maybe she was a writer plotting her next masterpiece in her mind.

[QuantumIguana]

If you can adjust the font size, it is a lot easier to read in a moving vehicle. When I am on the treadmill, I increase the font size a couple notches.

[Yapyap]

I've tried, it still doesn't work. I can read on a plane but not on a bus, and in cars, all my energy goes on surviving the ride - even the idea of trying to read while in a car is inconceivable to me.

[pierak]

I bought two Kindle 3 kbd for my sister who live in Italy. They are not the most computer-literate people in the world, and they required quite a bit of hand-holding to get the Kindle registered and working properly. Once the initial hurdle was overcome, though, they both started downloading free classics and buying books. They both love their e-readers now.
Maybe it is the same with most of the e-reader gifts non-users. They just need some help getting started.

[LuvReadin]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I've tried, it still doesn't work. I can read on a plane but not on a bus, and in cars, all my energy goes on surviving the ride - even the idea of trying to read while in a car is inconceivable to me.

Feel your pain. When I think of all the hours of reading I've lost through car-sickness... However, I have now discovered Librivox, so at least I can listen to books!

I do find I can read on a train, though, as long as it's a fairly straight route - any curves are grim. Planes are fine, as are ships (some of the time!).