09-08-2009, 09:59 PM | #1 |
Geekette
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US-based ebook reader owners want more features
US-based ebook reader owners want more features, a survey among 1,500 respondents by research firm In-Stat has found. Longer battery life and internet connectivity are the top two desired features among respondents who don’t currently own an e-book but plan to buy one in the next year. In-Stat further found that Amazon is the leading brand of ebook reader owned in the US. Some 45.5 percent of ebook reader owners spends between USD 9 and 20 per month on content, and 11 percent of total survey respondents said they planned to purchase an ebook reader over the next 12 months.
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09-08-2009, 10:02 PM | #2 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Makes me think a lot of the responders who don't have one don't know much about them, at least in terms of battery life. Interesting number for the amount spent per month. That's a lot of reocurring revenue.
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09-08-2009, 10:15 PM | #3 | |
Wizard
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But I guess a feature-oriented mindset is what one should expect from the mass market. I hope my next reader has a built-in air conditioner and perhaps an alarm clock. |
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09-08-2009, 10:22 PM | #4 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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I agree though, on your second comment. I think ebook makers should just focus on getting that core market of big readers and make their moolah from selling ebooks. I really don't want my Reader to do a million things, I have the above gadgets for that. Heh, I don't even want internet access on it. |
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09-08-2009, 10:42 PM | #5 |
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I guess I'm surprised.
I want fewer features and a lower price. |
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09-08-2009, 10:59 PM | #6 | |
Wizard
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Really for the quality of the technology we're getting, we should really be paying $20-30 for the basic ones. Hardly need to strip them down more, they're already as rubbish as we can get this side of a 1980s Casio solar nonscientific calculator. Worse in some ways. I'm happy to pay a hundred or two or even three if the technology warrants it somehow. However, I somewhat fear that things like the poor screen quality will remain stagnant while manufacturers decide to add 2fps digicams to the bezel. |
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09-08-2009, 11:01 PM | #7 |
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09-09-2009, 04:05 AM | #8 |
Liseuse Lover
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What is this "ebook reader" you speak of? Do you mean liseuse?
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09-09-2009, 04:31 AM | #9 |
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09-09-2009, 04:41 AM | #10 |
Wizzard
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No, not a desk...
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09-09-2009, 04:44 AM | #11 |
Guru
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features
I don't particularly need a ereader with a lot of features.
It seems to me its like the people who buy high end computers and only surf the web and don't actually need or use all the features they got. But they are thinking that they got something great. My aunt was all excited when she got her computer because it had all this "free sofware" that was worth an extra $500 and she got it for free! She surfs the web and downloads pictures from her digital camera. Does she use any of that extra software she got? Nope. Amy |
09-09-2009, 06:06 AM | #12 | |
Murderous Mustela
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Though sadly netbooks under 10" are mostly extinct. Last edited by Dylrob; 09-09-2009 at 06:08 AM. |
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09-09-2009, 08:31 AM | #13 |
Now what?
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Amazon addressed (successfully IMHO) the market of readers who just wanted a reader - that was only a reader. Free access to Wikipedia was an incentive for the many readers who constantly look up references, allusions, etc. But the key point of the Kindle was that you didn't have to know anything about computers, or even own one, to successfully use a Kindle. Especially since you now had one-click buying of books via Whispernet. Obviously, for many people, these features alone were worth enough to them to offset the pricing for a reader that was just a reader. All you need to read is the Kindle - no PC required. Also, IMHO from reading discussion boards, blogs, etc. - these Kindle adopters are older folk - who just want to read - a lot, not learn to use a PC - even to just drag books over via USB.
There's another population who cry "That much JUST for a reader!" Who want internet access, synching with PCs/phones/PDAs, etc, email, messaging, etc - all on one gadget - with ebooks. "More features before I pay that much!" And probably, to increase the market of ebook adopters, more features will be added, leading to a situation now seen in PCs (as noted in earlier posts) - people buying new gadgets with ALL the bells and whistles and using only the reader function. So I'm a little cautious in looking at the results of these surveys - it really depends on the pool of respondents and their tech habits. Who knows, this consumer trend might lead to budget lines of readers that only read and more upscale lines of all-in-one gadgets. The growing pool of aging Baby Boomers that 1) love to read, and 2) have a disposable income, and 3) aging eyes - may really influence ebook development, growth, & survival. |
09-09-2009, 08:44 AM | #14 |
Groupie!? GROUPIE!?!?
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09-09-2009, 09:38 AM | #15 |
Wizard
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The only feature I would want in addition on my reader, is an encyclopedia.
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