Technology Strikes Again! :: Are You Swayed By The eReader Revolution?
ByCategories ::: | Life | :::
If you know me at all or have read your fair share of articles on this site, you know all too well my affinity for tech culture. I am a fool for new gadgets. Every time something shiny and innovative hits the news, I am all over it. How will it change things? Is it accessible? Practical? Usable?
All these and dozens of other questions buzz through my brain as I attempt to figure out whether or not this latest, greatest thing will ride the tide of hype and hysteria and actually deliver on whatever promises it has been saddled with. And while I try to remain nuetral after so many let-downs and disappointments, I just can’t help myself sometimes. New stuff is so cool!
Yet, with the introduction of the Kindle (Amazon.com’s eReader) in late 2007, I didn’t really get excited at all. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even give it much thought. This was one tech toy that wasn’t going to get me interested. I have a netbook and a Palm Pre. What need would I have for an eReader?
Lately, however, I have started to see the light. Mixing the introduction of school, my love for reading, and my desire to have multiple Bible translations on-hand, I’ve managed to find a small spot in my heart for interest in this new and rapidly-growing technology.
Picture this: You are a student who has four textbooks for class, you fancy a novel on the side, and you are also a student of the Bible. That’s a ton of books to carry around. And yes, you could get them via some software on your laptop or smartphone, but that LCD screen just wears out your eyes. You like to read and study for long periods, so looking at a computer screen for that amount of time is no good. Your back hurts from attempting to lug around a backpack full of texts. And lets not get started on the cost of books.
Enter the eReader. One slim and portable device aimed at one thing: all your books, all in one place. Texts become inexpensive, burdens become lighter, and eyeballs are set at ease. You now can have an entire library in a single, small, easy-to-use package with a screen that mimics the look of a printed book. That sounds really sweet to me!
And it does to a whole lot of others, apparently! We, as of this moment, have Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, and Sony’s Reader that have flooded the market in the last year. It has caused publishers to take notice, bookstores to make adjustments, and consumers to start asking the question, “Is this a good fit for me?”
Heck, I’m asking it, too. Between school books, novels, Christian growth books, and multiple Bibles, I have to admit it…I love books! And all of the sudden, this little device is moving from a smooth idea to a realistic, much-desired commodity for me.
And I wonder about the impact these things will have. What will libraries and bookstores look like with the proliferation of eReaders? How will the market shift? Will the transition be smoother than the music industry’s reaction to the MP3?
And even more pressing, what are your thoughts on all this? Have you ever considered one of these devices? Are you intrigued right now? As the iPod and iPhone revolutionized the music and phone industries, do you think the eReader will eventually have the same impact?
I don’t know. I think there’s a real chance for some really big changes in the near future, though. And, as always, I covet your responses.
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Ok, when I first saw the eReaders I didn’t think much about it. Over the past few months I have been intrieged by more and more books and never have the one I want to read at hand-it’s at home, it’s at the office, it’s in the car. I always hate to lug all thoes books about for school. The more and more i think about it also, I am getting intrigued about this new idea.
The one downside to it is the price tag. $250 just for the equipment and then you have to buy all the books to put on there.
As time goes by, i see this coming to be more popular.
The one thing these things remind me of are the hand held “log readers” from Star Trek TNG. I can see us all having one of these and passing them around to have someone else read the latest and greatest thing that we have read.
Something to think about.
Honestly, no. I think this is a technical product that is more to save book writers the money they spend on expensive print. The cost of paper is still one of the highest cost of business in many industries. I could be wrong (has happened once or twice) but I don’t believe the general public is going to be carrying around these devices in lieu of buying books and going to the library. I do think it is a great idea… but I believe audio books on your ipod are going to make a larger impact.
DP
I’m definitely feeling both of you, here. I could realistically see this being a huge shift in the publishing industry, but I could also see it staying under the radar for a long time. Who knows? I suppose this is why I’m not on Wall Street or in the technology business…I waffle around too much on what people really want in this consumer culture we live in.
Thanks for sharing!!!
I can add this little bit of financial information. In the payment industry, 70% of billers nationwide offer some type of electronic billing medium. Less that 10% of consumers choose an electronic bill over the paper bill in the mail. That 10% number is up from 2-3% over the past 5 years! So it is all about your definition of how far in the future this will catch up. Paper is getting smaller… but it is no where near being extinct. Just my two cents!
DP
Good topic Robby! With Apple getting ready to announce their tablet/e-reader next week I’m sure this type of technology will receive all the publicity it deserves. Link to latest Apple article I’ve read: http://bit.ly/7yJhwK
I’m also curious as to what type of apps the kindle is going to produce and how efficiently they will benefit the market, but my concern is that we’ll end up with a larger version of the iPhone. Link to this topic: http://bit.ly/6jIHeM
A good way to promote “going paperless” would be to offer the e-reader format at a discounted price. Some of my recent book purchases have been in audio or digital format and I prefer those types of media more than paper, but I’m not sure I want an additional device to carry around.
Before I moved back to KY I traveled regularly for work and I was always getting searched at the airport, because my carry on bag contained a hodge podge of electronics and cables. I would have much rather had an actual book with me than the extra hardware.
Right now my plan is to rely on the HTC HD2 as my “go to” device when it comes to the US in March. It’s large screen should be more than acceptable for me. Link to the HD2: http://bit.ly/8yrlbe
Andy – Thanks for the input. I went to Best Buy and handled a Sony Reader Touch Edition and really liked the feel and most importantly the look of the device. Not sure if I could read an entire book on a pocket-sized device (iPhone, Pre, HD2) or not, but I do need a wireless option because I do A LOT of reading online.
Danny – Nice stats! I think you are right on the money…paper’s not going anywhere anytime soon. It’ll be a slow fade. Poor Dunder-Mifflin!
Here’s a nice looking price comparison sheet.
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/17/2010/01/ipad-v-ereader.png
Sweet!!! I hope I’m in the market sooner than later…but I’m thinking it will be later =(