E-Books growing in popularity - CNN article

[Matt Jutras]

This does focus more on so called "e-book readers" like Kindle, but I still found it interesting:

E-books catching on with readers - CNN.com

"The U.S. wholesale e-book market was about $50 million in 2008 (retail would be about double), but it's growing exponentially," McGuire said, citing figures from the International Digital Publishing Forum, a group that tracks the e-book market. McGuire said that in the first quarter of 2009, the wholesale market was about $25.8 million, an increase of 53 percent over the previous quarter.

McGuire concedes that e-books are only 1 to 3 percent of the overall publishing market. But the success of the Kindle, and moves by Google -- who, along with Sony, is offering free titles online -- indicate a bright future, he said.

"I would expect 20 percent of book sales to be digital by 2014, but some have predicted an even bigger percentage by then," he said. "Twenty percent of the current book market is something like $5 billion."

That's a pretty good chunk of change, guys

[Smokey_Joe]

Hmm, reading on the smartphones... I don't know, it just doesn't seem right to me. I may be way behind the times, but reading off the screen cannot compare to reading printed matter. Flipping through pages? Sometimes it's greatly enjoyable. Maybe it's just me.

[SurviveUnemployment]

Originally Posted by Smokey_Joe

Hmm, reading on the smartphones... I don't know, it just doesn't seem right to me. I may be way behind the times, but reading off the screen cannot compare to reading printed matter. Flipping through pages? Sometimes it's greatly enjoyable. Maybe it's just me.

No, it's not just you, Joe. I prefer real books. My e-book reading is confined to how-to stuff. For real reading, I want a good old fashioned book that I can smell.

[Anderson Goncalves]

I also prefer to read real printed books for leisure, nothing compares to it... In my computer I just have guides, reports, how-to and other stuff.

[Rob Hall]

I find it's much easier to concerntrate on printed books as you've not got all them little distractions right infront of you

[craig crawford]

yeah Joe. I know what you mean.
But with it being a digital product, You can get an ebook with ease, And once done reading one you don't need to keep it lying around cluttering up space etc...
Convenience is a big seller

[kevinpotts]

I tinks so too. Printed book are far more better that e-books, but we also must have into considaration that the new generations might think different.

I think that if popularity is growing it's for a reason.

What would prime in us is printed because must of us grow reading and learning from the real thing but nowadays kids or youngsters prefer text messages and so... everything from their phones, laptops, psp's... etc. So when it comes to use the newtechnologies they start using everything that comes new... like E-Books.

I don't know... Just an opinion.

K

[Manda]

Hi,

I'm a recent ebook convert. I have had my ebook reader for about 3 weeks and don't know how I lived without it. It is a lot easier than reading on computer and as a result I'm finally starting to read all the pdf files that have been sitting around doing nothing. It is also great for novels and it didn't take long to get used to reading from different packaging.

The Kindle looks like a great product but it is only one format and the hardware and the books are not available outside the US (hence the reason I don't have one of those).

Manda

[Smokey_Joe]

I agree that e-books offer the convenience unimaginable with printed books. For instance, you can get the books you need when and where you need them - and that's a great thing. Sometimes it is critical to be able to get access to the freshly-baked stuff as soon as it's out of the oven, especially when it comes to learning stuff.

However, what I'm somehow uneasy about is the device dependency, which works in an impersonalizing manner if you will. The physical presence of a printed book makes up a certain part of the reading experience. You can smell it, you can touch it, you can immediately tell where your favorite places sit by how worn the paper looks, you can see your own notes you can't remember yourself making.

With a device it's all different. Worse or better, but it's still different, and probably I will need some time to allow for the adjustment.

Sorry about the pointless rumbling, it's just that this mood got triggered, and once it is, you cannot help it...

[LivingCovers]

I prefer printed books also. Reading too many ebooks after a long time
makes me drowsy.

[Lou Diamond]

Hello,
I am doing well with ebooks for quite some time.
I have a big company that wants to buy my domain name
ebks.com which is short for ebooks for a nice sum.
Not selling yet though.