CNET predicts dedicated ereaders are doomed technology

[elcreative]

And there are a lot of companies that'd kill for a "niche" product that sold over 7 million units in the last quarter alone... poor little Apple and their "niche"

[Freeshadow]

I don't believe in future 'cheap-eread only devices' remaining a niche product either
they 'll end up finally as schoolbook replacements. just as mid-class calculators i.e these ones which can do a slight bit more than basic functions and offer real fraction operations, etc but yet no graphs. how many people used them at school and needed them never again?

the same with future basic ereaders: when having the choice to buy such one for 100 or 50 bucks and load it with n PD books your kid 'll have as arecommended for the next year school reading, as opposed to buy said old stuff in paper (king lear for the english classes?) peopl 'll head for the cheap readers as they 'll pay back relatively quick.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by NVash

Honestly Ive put some thought into this and wondered a few times if that is what publishers are trying to do. By gouging peoples eyes out with prices on ebooks they are insuring that no one buys them and sticks to paperback or hardcover.

The premise of your post is completely false. E-book sales tripled in 2010 and now account for 9% of the market. You, personally, may not like the prices, but ebooks are selling well, and the price does not appear to be much of a deterrent.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I don't know. I just think there aren't a lot of people who need tablets in the first place

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

-- Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

So I'll put my prediction against yours, and meet you back here in a decade or two. Winner buys the drinks.

ApK

[elcreative]

ANd I always liked "Six computers will be more than enough for the world" as well... ain't futurology wonderful... rather like the immense value of astrology...

Originally Posted by ApK

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

-- Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

So I'll put my prediction against yours, and meet you back here in a decade or two. Winner buys the drinks.

ApK

[Lastblade]

These type of articles are good to start debate and discussion, but the conclusions are pretty much irrelevant (as there are so many good points being raised here, beyond the scope of the article).

My opinion is that ebook readers market is just getting warmed up. I do think the LCD based ereaders have a bigger buzz (Nook Color/iPad to some extent) because it is in color and people like color. But if you only want to read a novel, it is much better to stick with eInk/epaper tech. We all know color eink will be coming out soon and hopefully, be on par with color/contrast/refresh of LCD in a few years.

And I do agree that 3DTVs is a fad. It is another way for TV manufacturers to charge more money for pretty much the same tech. But I can't get too mad at it since it forced the non-3D HDTVs to drop.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by ApK

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

-- Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

So I'll put my prediction against yours, and meet you back here in a decade or two. Winner buys the drinks.

ApK

Yes, yes...But that's the exception, not the rule. And the big difference is that PCs did something nothing else in their home could do. With iPod Touches, laptops, and netbooks, where's that thing that tablets can do that other appliances can't? The only unmet need I see is "looks cool".

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by Lastblade

And I do agree that 3DTVs is a fad. It is another way for TV manufacturers to charge more money for pretty much the same tech. But I can't get too mad at it since it forced the non-3D HDTVs to drop.

I don't think 3DTV is a fad. I think it's current implementation is transitory. Forcing users to wear those stupid glasses was never a good idea. The should've just waited for holographic displays. The Nintnedo 3Ds already has a non-glasses 3D display, and there were several examples at CES. Now, some of the stuff at CES turns out to be vaporware for one reason or another, but there's a chance that affordable 3DTV sans glasses will be out in a few years. Once that happens, I think it'll take off. If you can have 3D without the glasses, and it's affordable, why wouldn't you want it?

I think what's turning a lot of people off is the content. Movies right now are mostly using 3D as a cheap gimmick. But c'mon....Don't you want to see Shark Week in 3D? Hell, I think it'd be great to watch an episode of "The Universe" in 3D.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

Yes, yes...But that's the exception, not the rule. And the big difference is that PCs did something nothing else in their home could do. With iPod Touches, laptops, and netbooks, where's that thing that tablets can do that other appliances can't? The only unmet need I see is "looks cool".

Why have a cell phone? Portability, of course. Duh.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

Yes, yes...But that's the exception, not the rule. And the big difference is that PCs did something nothing else in their home could do. With iPod Touches, laptops, and netbooks, where's that thing that tablets can do that other appliances can't? The only unmet need I see is "looks cool".

So the bet is on, then....I take my Dr. Pepper on the rocks.

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by queentess

Those fark.com guys are really really good with Photoshop

Doh!

[screwballl]

CNET has also claimed that facebook would be shut down a few years ago, that the Beatles would never come to itunes, they claimed strict DRM would take over ALL digital media by 2010, they said plasma would be the largest TV type by 2010, they said HD-DVD would kill bluray quickly... and so on down the line... this is part f the reason I ignore "news" by CNET anymore.

[ApK]

Being able to predict the future is a requirement for a news source?

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Why have a cell phone? Portability, of course. Duh.

But notebooks and netbooks already have portability covered. In terms of sheer size, the iPad doesn't save you any size compared to a netbook. Unless you're talking about one of the smaller tablets (NC, Dell Streak, Galaxy Tab).

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by ApK

So the bet is on, then....I take my Dr. Pepper on the rocks.

I'll take a Sprite, also on the rocks.