eReaders and The Ensuing War (that might make you and me a buyer)

When Amazon.com first introduced the Kindle, I thought cool gadget but sadly it will become another undersold gadget and obsolete as the Apple Newton.  Not only did I feel it was an expensive one trick pony but that you had to be a big reader of books to come close to justifying the cost.  I questioned how could my experience be that much better (or better at all) over buying and reading a genuine paperback.  I figured if I ever wanted to read an ebook, eventually I’d be able to on a mobile device I already own that like a netbook, ipod or smartphone. (Sure enough Barnes & Noble released an eReader app to download ebooks to your iPhone/iTouch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac, and Andoid according to the latest rumor).

I’ve since had the chance to experience the Kindle 2.  It is no doubt a slick device.  It’s paper-like screen quality is as easy on your eyes as they say. You have to see it to believe it.  No mobile phone or netbook can match it – yet.  It’s features and capabilities are greater than I originally thought and it’s easy enough for my mom to use.  The portability and mobility of the Kindle provides no greater benefits than to the traveler.  Amazon boasts the Kindle’s ability to carry your “entire library” and not having to pick and choose what you put in your carry-on.   Great for someone who reads a lot, right? I decided to ask my friend Michelle who travels 2/3rds of the year and is the biggest bookworm I know (reading 100+ books/year!) what was important to her.

Before the Kindle she would often travel with stacks of books and often come back with a new ones.  Surprisingly, the ability to carry more while lightening her load isn’t the real benefit for her.   As a seasoned traveler, she’s an efficient packer. Like packing clothes, deciding which books to bring is never an issue.  If she wanted to, she could bring all the books she could possibly read in most cases.  And if it ever becomes a hassle, as she finishes books, she either gives them away (how many books to you read more than once?) or ships them home on the cheap (media rate) with work stuff (expense account!). The real benefit to her is the instant wireless delivery of books and content. Prior to the Kindle, if she wanted something new to read and couldn’t get to a bookstore before her flight,  she was out of luck.   The benefit Michelle derives from it can be summed up in a brief conversation she had recently with a literary professor and skeptic in adopting the idea of an eReader.  The professor protested with her traditionalist view saying “I like books.” To which Michelle responded, “I like to read!” In essence, the Kindle helps her maximize her reading.

For me, the issue is not how many books to bring, but as someone who travels schlepping all sorts of gear, the question is if I bring one at all.  It’s something I can do without if it comes down to space and weight.  I’d rather pack food and other necessities, if not gadgets and gear!  It’s no wonder why its taken me so long to finish that Ludlum book!  Kindle’s footprint in my carry-on is minimalist enough to always tote.  Dare I say I would actually read more and finish more books if I had a Kindle?  I could certainly spare laptop battery not to mention the cost of inflight wifi reading download tech blogs among other things.

As far as costs, in this day in age where companies are cutting their own expenses on paper and ink and sending us our statements, marketing materials, etc. electronically, you’d think ebooks would be a cheaper option to buying a paperback.  After all, you already have to shell out for an expensive medium just to read the ebooks.  But buying a Kindle book offers only a slight price advantage over a paperback. (As of this post the savings is only $0.29 for a typical book like Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons) The biggest savings is with Best Sellers and New Releases that are normally out on shelves in hardcover. You’ll save $7 but you’re still paying $9.99 for the ebook. Doing the math, for a volume reader like Michelle, the cost of a Kindle can be recouped in 6 months if the preference was only to read the latest on hardbacks, but 12 years reading only paperbacks! True, some ebooks and content are free, but so is checking out books at the Public Library (where Michelle sources a lot of her books). To that respect, clearly you do not improve your economics in owning a Kindle. Let’s face it, it’s a luxury item for even the most avid reader. If you’re contemplating buying one, stop trying to justify the cost!  No matter how you spin it, you can’t. Get one because of its cool, convenient, and efficient.

It’s important to note that Michelle still goes to the library when she’s home in SF and buys paperbacks if they’re cheaper to acquire (as surprisingly they are on occasion).  So, she’s not a complete convert to ebooks.  The other week I went with her to the local Book Fair and between us we must have picked up 30 used books costing us all but $1 each and among them – a copy of Angels & Demons!  While I was forced under duress to go, admittedly, I had a fun browsing experience as I’m sure everyone else.  Somehow I don’t think people are willing to give things like that up.

While I’m a gadget lover, I may have to wait it out until there’s a major price drop in both e-readers and e-books unless there’s some major gamer changing technology or feature that makes it a must have.   I’m sure many other consumers will wait it out as well, however a few recent events I’m keeping an eye on just might be the tipping point for at least a few people…

The first is Amazon’s expected October 19th release of it’s new Kindle capable of International (outside the US) wireless downloads. This has been the a big knock on the Kindle and one of the main reasons why International travellers and obviously those living outside the US have been choosing the Sony instead. (Consumers will still pay a $1.99 fee per International download)

You wonder if Amazon rushed to announce and launch their newest Kindle knowing that Barnes & Noble would to be announcing it’s own eReader device as soon as next week.  Already being billed as the “Kindle Killer” , the BN eReader is apparently built on Google Android OS with a touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.  With their own eBook distribution, partnership with Google, and lower price point than the Kindle, Amazon had better stay on top of their game.   Gizmodo seems to have the scoop on this with some “exclusive” photos.

Barnes & Mobile? The BN eReader (courtesy of Gizmodo.com)

Finally, it looks like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com will have some company in the eBook space with Google getting in on the action with it’s bookstore “Google Editions” set to launch in 2010.  They expect to release about 500,000 titles and be eReader agnostic. This is good for Sony, Asus, and other companies cropping up with their own eReaders that don’t have their own eBook distribution.

Sony Digital Reader Touch Edition

All this competition is good news for the consumer.  More innovation, better functionality, more options, and better pricing.

Let the eReader wars begin!