"At least" 10 new e-book readers between now and January

[sforce]

And more on the way. Saturation, dead ahead:

"Manghnani says more than 20 companies are designing e-book readers. At least half of them plan to launch between now and the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, he says."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Qualcomm-Freescale-Among-ibd-2319881367.html?x=0&.v=1

[HarryT]

I have renamed your thread title to replace "e-books" with "e-book readers".

[Moderator]

[PennyPie]

(For those of us old enough) Remember how expensive Microwaves were when they first came out? Paid almost $600 for our 1st one back in the late 70's. Now, you can get one for $39.00 (not the quality or features of the high price spread, but still....) When enough companies get on the bandwagon, competition will drive down the price & make them more readily available. Another example...how 'bout them there portable telephone things? Again, Big bucks in the beginning, few choices...now, they're give-aways!
I, for one, look forward to it!! Now, if the format will just get settled down.....

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by PennyPie

(For those of us old enough) Remember how expensive Microwaves were when they first came out? Paid almost $600 for our 1st one back in the late 70's. Now, you can get one for $39.00 (not the quality or features of the high price spread, but still....) When enough companies get on the bandwagon, competition will drive down the price & make them more readily available. Another example...how 'bout them there portable telephone things? Again, Big bucks in the beginning, few choices...now, they're give-aways!
I, for one, look forward to it!! Now, if the format will just get settled down.....

they still cost over $1000 a year (our family contract comes to over 200 bucks a month)

prices should drop slightly. but still, not enough people read. I don't expect the prices to drop too much. reading is not listening to music. I would say there are 10 people who listen to music for every one person who reads.

maybe 1 in 4 adults read atleast 5 books a year.

ebook readers are really targeted to people who read more than 20 a year. which I think it closer to 1 in 20 people

[CTH]

Anyone wants to guess what e-readers that he is talking about?

My guess is, (without thinking to much about it)
astak 2 models
sony 3 models (the 300, 600 and one more)
irex 1 model
txtr 1 model
plastic logics 2 models (perhaps )
samsung 1 model (why not!)

10 models

I am prob wrong but it is more for starting the discussion

[PennyPie]

they still cost over $1000 a year (our family contract comes to over 200 bucks a month)

?????I'm sorry...what is the 'they' to which you refer that costs $200 a month????? (It's early & maybe I'm being dense.

[HarryT]

I think he's talking about mobile phone costs. When I first read it, I though it was microwave ovens

[PennyPie]

I think he's talking about mobile phone costs

DUH....monthly CHARGES....yep, probly right...I was refering to initial cost of devise, not the on-going charges.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by CTH

....

I am prob wrong but it is more for starting the discussion

Nah, I think you have a good point, and I agree. At least some of those "20 companies who are designing ebook readers" must be re-branding existing devices such as the Hanlin devices and the STAReBook. Creating a new device from scratch is not done overnight. I'm sure we'll hear more if there's anything in it. The article sounded like a lot of speculation and no substantial facts.

[eReaderPlanet]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

ebook readers are really targeted to people who read more than 20 a year. which I think it closer to 1 in 20 people

Although, if eReaders as we know them change into devices that do many things - video, pictures, music, etc - then that market could grow.

I've always thought that one problem with digital pictures is the loss of the traditional "photo album". With an eReader that has color and displays images well, you'd have that back.

[Abecedary]

When I saw Qualcomm mentioned in the linked URL, I was thinking it might have something to do with their long-lost pseudo-epaper technology. Anyone have any idea what happened with that?

[sforce]

Originally Posted by Ea

Nah, I think you have a good point, and I agree. At least some of those "20 companies who are designing ebook readers" must be re-branding existing devices such as the Hanlin devices and the STAReBook. Creating a new device from scratch is not done overnight. I'm sure we'll hear more if there's anything in it. The article sounded like a lot of speculation and no substantial facts.

I don't think we are talking "re-branding" here. Nor do I think it is speculation at all. Note the quote is from Kishore Manghnani, "manager of broadband home business for Marvell Technology." Note also, his company's semiconductor "chips will include wireless circuitry."

Here's the rest of his "quote" as culled from the article:

"Manghnani says the company will soon release a chip set he calls "a complete solution for e-books."

The chips will include wireless circuitry, along with power management chips and a controller chip for the e-paper display.

Manghnani says Marvell is shipping to customers, but wouldn't yet name them.

Manghnani says more than 20 companies are designing e-book readers. At least half of them plan to launch between now and the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, he says.

"And (our chips) will be in quite a few of them," Manghnani said."

I'm reading this as 20 new designs, and maybe 20 new designs with wireless capabilities...

[pilotbob]

I gotta get me some PVI stock. What was that ticker ID again?

BOb

[emellaich]

... and in the list of companies, don't forget that pixel qi claims to be talking to multiple companies.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by PennyPie

DUH....monthly CHARGES....yep, probly right...I was refering to initial cost of devise, not the on-going charges.

But they are related. YOu can sell the device below cost if you have on-going charges. You cannot compare the cost of a device that is subsidized with the cost of a device that is not.

I do not think eBook Readers prices will drop significantly until there are other screen manufactures of E-Ink screens not tied to the patent. And so long as the patent time is in force this will not happen. The only thing that will drive the prices down earlier is another technology that challenges E-INK

Dale