Then they will need to come down in price and also be available in more user-friendly readers, such as the Apple Tablet.
This is according to a survey of UK publishers and booksellers carried out by The Bookseller.
I think this has got to be a bare minimum before e-books can seriously gain any penetration in the general trade market.
a) Why would you buy a digital version if it costs more?
b) I am afraid the Kindle/Sony Reader are not really sexy/integrated enough with other media to encourage people to read books electronically for pleasure. I know there are advocates of these devices – but the iPhone phenomenon has neatly shown that specific portable electronic devices are a waste of time – devices need to be multi-functional.
Unfortunately the size of the iPhone counts against it as a serious reading device for more than a few minutes – I’ve tried it – the screen is just too small.
Also why would most sensible, i.e. non-geeks, non-tech industry or publishing people, really want to buy something just so they can read books on it? Duh – there’s books for that!?
I can see e-books happening in a big way at some point in the future, but not yet.
Physical books will always be my favourite I’m afraid – I’ve actually started getting snobbier about it recently – for instance I’m loving reading a special edition hardcover everyman which includes a ribbon bookmark – so much classier than your standard paperback.
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Didn’t know about it. Very nice information. Submitted this post to Google News Reader.
E-books simply don’t happen because there is not a real interest in investing in then from the publishers point of view. They control the prices and they don’t want it to popularize exactly because they are afraid that they loose control as did the music industry. Another problem is the prie of the ebook readers. The tehcnology is still expensive also and puting the price of a reader with the price of a ebook, which in some cases is more expensive than a hardcover doesn’t attract many.
Finally, last I don’t agree with you on the point that a reader should be multifuncional… I don’t need a phone of 6.9 inches nor do i need a computed that small or with a e-paper screen. The ipad is an gadget for another market, I would say. the screen is normal and therefore will do no better work than my current laptop… Eyes will get tired of reading a book in a couple of minutes. And against it is already too big to walk around as ereader….