This is the first of two posts wondering about what would happen without the Kindle and eReaders.
There is one central assumption in both posts i.e.
We don’t have to make the loser’s choice of choosing between eReaders and physical books.
We can and should have both.
Both eBooks and physical books are good – they’re both very good for reading and readers.
If the Kindle hadn’t taken off
- We might not have new books available at $10.
- We might not have seen Wal-Mart start the hardcover price war.
- We would definitely not be seeing the democratization of publishing.
- The gatekeepers of publishing would be stronger than ever.
- We might not have seen Adobe and Sony and B&N band together under the umbrella of ePub openness and strive for a common format.
- B&N might not have put out an eReader with the somewhat innovative features of lending and in-store browsing.
- We might not have seen books and reading becoming a focus point again.
When was the last time there was a ton of buzz around reading?
Some people will choose to deny it – However, that doesn’t change the fact that the Kindle validated that a market for eReaders and eBooks exists.
The first question is whether anything good has come about as a result of eReaders
That’s an easy answer – Yes.
There are definitely good things that have happened because of eReaders. You can pretend that a couple of the things on the above list had nothing to do with the rise of eReaders. However, even the staunchest ‘smell of books’ person would admit eReaders caused one or two good things.
What are the most significant changes that eReaders have caused?
5 Big Things the Kindle and eReaders have done
Established the $10 price point
$10 is a price point that increases unit sales, increases the amount of value for money readers get, and forces efficiency in publishing.
It’s the first time in a long time that readers are getting more bang for their buck.
The argument will be that you are not getting anything physical, and you can’t share.
Well, to be quite frank, there’s no answer that could make the people who miss the physicality (or the sharing) happy. They should just stick to physical books at $24 or wait for $7 paperbacks.
Started the Democratization of Publishing
For the first time we’re seeing thinking free of the fear of Publishers -
- Indie authors who are figuring out that they will make more money off of eBooks than contracts.
- Authors pushing for higher royalties
- Indie authors getting their books taken up for film projects (in consideration, to be precise) without every having a publishing deal.
- Upstart Publishers that are challenging the traditional views.
This might end up becoming the most significant development of all – Publishers might very well have been holding back the evolution of Books.
Proven that Publishers would sacrifice Books for Profit
The rapid rise of Kindle and Kindle eBook sales has forced Publishers to show their hand.
- On the surface they are all about books and doing things for the love of it.
- In reality – they fight text to speech, they fight sharing, they fight lower prices, they try to delay ebook release dates.
It’s pretty obvious that their wallets and their love for power comes before their customers and before books.
Perhaps, finally, authors and readers will realize that Publishers are just like any other middle-men.
Made Reading and Books fashionable again
It’s easy to look at the decline in reading and blame it on dumb younger generations.
- Perhaps it has more to do with the total lack of any advances in books and reading.
- All we needed was eReaders and new technology and something that gave books a fighting chance against other ways to pass the time.
- Thanks to eReaders a lot of people are reading again and reading more than they would otherwise.
The portability of the Kindle and the Kindle for iPhone app, and the fact that people can read on the go, help. The lower prices really help, as do eInk screens that work in sunlight.
We’re finally giving books and reading some real weapons to compete in the war for young minds.
Shown that there’s still money in Reading and Books
All the companies were busy saving the world and had no time for books. In the last two years we’ve seen –
- 50 or so companies jump in with their take on an eReader.
- Another 20 or so companies jump in with their take on an eReader++ i.e. something that does more than just read.
- Apple and Google jump in because they see there’s money to be made (they still don’t think books have a future – but the money is motivation enough).
- Authors striking out alone, new Publishing companies making bold moves, and even vooks and digital books.
It’s because the Kindle and its success have shown everyone that there is money to be made.
The twin realizations that people actually want to read and that people would pay for eBooks rather than steal them from the Internet have surprised everyone.
You don’t have to like the Kindle, just Books and reading
It’s OK if you can’t bear to think that the Kindle could ever have done anything positive.
It’s your world and you write the story – Credit the Sony Reader instead. If you prefer you can even credit the Nook. However, you have to credit an eReader.
Reading and Books are relevant again and it’s thanks to eReaders.
The rise of eReaders does two critical things -
- It gets more people into reading and into books.
- Because of that it increases the chances of survival for physical books.
Perhaps it’ll be a 50-50 or 75-25 split – However, no one will have to give up physical books.
Filed under: thoughts Tagged: | future of ereader
