New research by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has made some interesting discoveries.
- E-book consumers say they are buying more books overall, but fewer in print, and are decreasing their total dollars spent
- More than 40% of e-book readers have reduced the number and dollars spent on hardcovers and paperbacks.
- Retailers are becoming more important than publishers as a source of information about e-books.
- General fiction and mysteries are the fastest-growing e-book genres.
- More respondents received e-readers as gifts than bought them for themselves.
- Respondents who bought devices for themselves most often were motivated by suggestions from friends.
- The iPad has only a marginal impact on the popularity of the Kindle and Nook.
- Heavy to moderate book buyers want e-devices that don’t have a lot of other options.
- The iPad may bring new and light e-book buyers into the market.
The full November 17, 2010 BISG press release can be found here.
It will be very interesting to read their findings a year from now. In the next year we will see a veritable flood of “Tablet” devices and more dedicated E-Readers. Plus it is highly likely there will be an iPad 2.0.
I carry my Kindle when traveling and really appreciate the convenience. Transferring documents via wi-fi makes it ideal. I’ve even uploaded all of my speeches and teaching notes, just in case I forget to bring the correct file folder…a backup. In addition I’ve stopped traveling with a laptop. My Droid smartphone provides access to everything I need (in most cases). And now Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) allows for remote access to any files backed up on the office computer, so any file can be retrieved at any time, anywhere. My oldest brother, on the other hand, loves his iPad.
Do you have a e-reader device, other than a smart phone or a laptop? If so, which one, and how do you use it?
