Comments on: People not interested in eReaders threaten to not buy eReaders

By: The_Niv

The_Niv — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:46:23 +0000

Heaven forbid you should dispel the myth that ipaophiles aren’t serious readers!

By: Jennifer M

Jennifer M — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:13:56 +0000

Great post and so true. I’ve said it every time one of these multipurpose devices has come out and I will keep on saying it – I JUST WANT TO READ!

All of those “casual” readers are more than welcome to go out and buy an iPad or whatever, but don’t tell me I’m a luddite just because all I want is a dedicated reader. I have several (apple) computers, an iPod, iPhone, etc. but my Kindle gives me far more pleasure than any of them. Sure there are a few drawbacks to it, but overall it has far surpassed my expectations and I’d say 90% of the Kindle owners I talk to feel the same.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:08:01 +0000

Sure they do. In order for something like the iPad to last 10 hours, you have to let it sit idle and not use it.

By: AP

AP — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:50:21 +0000

Sorry, StevesTheMan, but I find it hard to believe that you are staring at a computer for 8 hours a day. Yes, you may be sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day, but are your eyes actually glued to the screen for all that time? What about answering the phone, getting a coffee etc? Unless you’ve tried reading a book for hours on end on a LCD screen without interruption, and tried to be totally immersed in what you are reading on the LCD screen, can you be in a position to make an objective comparison between the Kindle with its e-ink display and an LCD screen. I hope you’ve made the right decision, for the sake of your eyesight and your reading enjoyment. And good luck with your 10 hours battery life on the iPad. We all know that battery life for devices with LCD screens never last as long as manufacturers claim.

By: SAO

SAO — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:11:48 +0000

I read a lot of books. But, less than a quarter of what I read is purchased new. I read a lot of library books. I read a lot of books from book swaps. I read a lot of borrowed books. Note that most of this activity would be called piracy if done with e-books.

I haven’t bought an e-reader because it’s obviously not going to meet most of my reading needs. To convert most of my reading to e-books means I’m going to have to spend a lot more or read a lot less. I suspect it will be the latter.

So, yes, I’m a lousy market for e-books and e-readers, but in the long run, if too many people like me read less, it’s not going to be good for the publishing industry. For example, without the library market, their sales are going to fall.

The switch from paper to e-books is happening. The publishers have to think about the long term, as well as the short term effects.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:51:56 +0000

Have fun trying to read your ipad’s glossy screen screen outside. Don’t forget to bring your charger with you either.

By: StevesTheMan

StevesTheMan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:56:16 +0000

I just sold my kindle. Going to get the ipad. I read 3-4 books a month. I used my kindle 2 hours or so a day. I did every thing else I had to do on my laptop – the screen of which I stared at for 8 hours a day and had no eye-strain issues. If I can get both utilities in the same device, I am a happy camper. Hmm … I can even take my ipad camping. And it plays music. No brainer for me.

By: Marilyn Assenheim

Marilyn Assenheim — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:45:08 +0000

I am aware of this “controversy”. If I know that Amazon actually pays publishers $14.99 for books as a loss leader why aren’t moronic authors??? You should, perhaps, be made aware that the noted radio host, John Bachelor, has been blathering terrible things about the Kindle based on the “unfair treatment authors are getting”, an opinion based, almost exclusively it seems, on one MacMillan author’s disgruntled word. And a slavering love for Apple. Never mind that the IPad is reidiculous and, I believe, will fail. The host of this show, usualy thoughtful and well informed, needs to have his partisan butt kicked with facts. Someone in authority should counteract this virulent idiocy on this show. Publishers are fighting the future of ebooks in general and if they do get rid of the Kindle in favor of products that offer inferior selection (SONY, IPad, etc.) they will go after the next in line if they can. I think Amazon is smart; let the reader decide if they will pay a larger price for a book. When the book flops (NO ONE will pay more than they are used to) on its duff the decision will be clear, even to publishers; get something or nothing. And sell more books in the process. The Kindle offers the widest variety and best, quickest download capability. Period.

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:08:19 +0000

Yes!!! Well said!! Thank you!!

By: cinra

cinra — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:47:40 +0000

Great post and how so true those words ring! My biggest beef with consumers is that they want ebook readers to come equipped with many ‘bells and whistles’. I am one who only wants an ebook reader to do one thing-allow me to read. We have enough devices already that entertain us-our smartphones alone should suffice.