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The E-Book Wars
By Abby Goldstein on Monday, May 11, 2009.
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Electronic books – better known as “e-books” – make up less than one percent of total book sales in this country. But the battle being waged over how to read them – and what device to use – seems like something out of the wild, wild west.
Last week, Amazon released its new version of their Kindle e-reader, and companies like Sony, Google and Apple all want a piece of the action. Right now, it’s too early to say which device will prevail, but what we do know is that this is a growing market with huge potential for the future.
Joining us to talk about the raging "e-book wars" is Sarah Weinman, a freelance journalist and critic in New York who writes about books and the publishing industry for The Los Angeles Times and other publications. She also discusses the controversy over digital rights management in regards to e-readers, and some interesting demographic findings about who uses e-readers. Also, we get some initial responses to Amazon’s new Kindle 2, produced by Ross Reynolds at KUOW in Seattle.
(Photo by C.K. Sample III via Flickr/Creative Commons)
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Word of Mouth is all about what's new. Online and on-air, the show looks at our fascinating and ever-changing world, and puts the latest ideas under a microscope. Word of Mouth investigates everything from science and technology, to health and the environment, to new trends in popular culture. The show airs Monday through Thursday at noon and is hosted by Virginia Prescott.
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I looked at the Sony Reader when it first came out, but couldn't justify spending so much on a reading appliance, when I can get great titles for free from the wonderful Concord Library. Then the Kindle caught my eye, but the price issue hadn't gone away. Besides, I thought, who wants to read on a little electronic device? Then I got the free iPhone App called STANZA, just for the fun of it. Then, I downloaded my favorite title - Pride and Prejudice - for free. Then I went to visit my daughter in NYC, and found my self reading on the subway and loving it. And reading on the plane, or in the hotel room...
And THEN I downloaded the free iPhone KINDLE App. As I said, I thought the idea of reading on a little hand-held was goofy. But I use it all the time! It's great in bed at night while my husband is sleeping. It's great on a car trip. It's great anywhere! I love the free download of each book's opening chapter, so you can check out the writing before you purchase.I love the adjustable font size. I love seeing a title in Newsweek or the Monitor (or hearing about it on your show) and having it at hand in under a minute. And I know I'll love taking it on our 2-week vacation this summer - imagine the space my Kindle app will free up in my suitcase! We are even considering buying a solar charger so we can read all day at the beach.
I still wouldn't consider the hefty Kindle/Sony Reader price points. But I am a little sorry to say I'm a total e-reader fan - sorry because it's just not the same as driving that new book home and cracking open the cover. Back in the good old days......
Thanks for a great show - always the first podcast I listen to!
One of the main problem faced by eBook users is a slight difference in the supported OS, computing device and browsers list offered by eBook software suppliers.