E-book readers still owned by small niche
The tech industry buzzes a lot about e-book readers. But how widely are they actually used?
Among 1,529 consumers who responded to a July 2009 questionnaire from research firm In-Stat, only 5.8 percent currently own an e-book reader. And only 11 percent of those questioned said they planned to buy one in the next 12 months, according to the In-Stat report released this week.
Those low results may be even more significant given that In-Stat's survey audience consisted of high-end consumers who typically adopt new technology earlier than the general public.
Another study released last week by Forrester discovered that consumers find e-book readers much too expensive. Extrapolating from the 4,706 U.S. consumers questioned, Forrester found that almost 65 percent of U.S. adults online would consider a price of $98 or less too expensive for an e-book reader but would still purchase one.
Fewer than 20 percent said $99 to $148 was too pricey for a reader though they would still buy one, while 14 percent said the same about readers in the $149 to $198 range.
(Credit:
Forrester Research)
Those results are significant in a market where Amazon's least expensive Kindle sells for $299, even after a recent price cut, and Sony's less-pricey Pocket edition Reader sells for $199.
In-Stat's survey found a greater tolerance for high prices. Among its audience, 40 percent of potential buyers would pay $200 to $299 for a reader, 29 percent would pay $100 to $199, and 13.6 percent would pay less than $100.
(Credit:
In-Stat)
Among current users of e-book readers, In-Stat found the number one requested feature is e-mail. Potential buyers cited better battery life and Internet connectivity as the two most important factors in persuading them to buy a reader.
Of the number of e-book users questioned in the In-Stat survey, more than 58 percent own the Amazon Kindle, while 9 percent use Sony's Reader. Around 45.5 percent of them spend between $9 and $20 a month on e-books.
In its report, Forrester predicted that 2 million U.S. consumers will buy an e-reader this year, in addition to the 1 million who bought one in 2008.
Forrester's blog dissected the meaning of its survey: "The maximum addressable market for eReaders as they are currently priced is substantial--but to reach the largest market possible, the prices will need to come way down. And even then, eReaders are never going to be as big a market as MP3 players, which 110 million US consumers own."
Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. You can follow Lance on Twitter at @lancewhit. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET. 
Prices high, dropping each year....
which sounds like the adoption curve you see with technology, but this was spun as something other.
I agree, the price, or rather perceived price needs to drop down to $99 or $0, with 2 year contract...its easy to see it dropping that low, if they tweak the model a bit.
Screw that. I can buy books now, as many as I want, and own them once and forever. I seriously would not want something as important as books to be locked onto a device that requires electricity, a "contract", and (more often than not) DRM.
As it is now? Once I buy a paper book, I own it. Thanks to Amazon, that's not true with eBooks.
Literacy is the key to our civilization, and I'll be damned if I'd ever want to see that handed over to any single (or group of) corporation's whims.
Price does remain an issue, however.
Put (in big friendly letters) "Don't Panic" on the back of a kindle2 and I'd buy it as is ;)
(wanders off humming some Pink Floyd)
Also feature set isn't that stable enough and differs from device to device. One device has buttons in layout I like, but lacks features. Another has features I like, but has usability problems. There are still devices not supporting landscape orientation. Problems with zoom and text reflow also persist.
Market is immature, because competition right now goes like "look! we got that feature right!!" while instead it should be concentrated on the extras.
As long as core functionality isn't settled and market matured, I wouldn't buy e-reader - especially at the prices they ask.
Techies are not at the top of thevrrafing curve, the liberal arts types are.
Ebook readers are deplying *despite* the technology in the current gadgets, not because of it.
Its not about the tech but rather about the books.
Kindle rules biggest it has the best bookstore with the best prices, just as iPpds rule bevause of iTunes and the iTunes catalog.
Looking at the tech and trying to appeal to techies is simply a distraction.
Um....no?
Having said that, the reason I hesitate to get a Kindle is due to the closed eco-system of the Kindle system, which makes Amazon the gatekeeper in that case. That is the reason I am happy to see so much competition in the devices and ways to access ebooks.
An irony to the close ecosystem of Kindle is that Amazon has an awesome MP3 store that is DRM-free with a large selection and often good prices. Yet that is a completely open format, which is preferrable.
On the note about Amazon, I recently came across an interesting table that details the discounts on Amazon.
It is at http://www.uberi.com
Maybe someone will find it useful too. While you are there, I would suggest checking out the "Amazon Filler Item" among other things there when you get a chance. It's quite amusing.
If I got to the local used book store the three hundred dollars I would spend on an e-reader I could get hundreds of used books when I look at trading them back in. I can also give them away - something forbidden under any current e-reader format.
- by svgtom September 12, 2009 11:08 AM PDT
- Slightly OT and just to make a clarification, every Ebook reader has the capability to display public domain books which are free of cost and DRM free. There are several websites where you can even download them in your preferred reader's format. Although I have purchased some books from the Kindle store, my main reason for getting one was so that I could read public domain books.
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