How many CE devices are enough?
Research shows strong trend towards adoption of e-books.
Rick Nelson, Editor in Chief -- Test & Measurement World, 10/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
|
Consumer electronic devices are making significant inroads in surprising places. The Boston Globe (Ref. 1) reported last month that the New England prep school Cushing Academy is trading in its library books on a $500,000 electronic learning center, complete with flat-panel TVs, laptop-friendly study carrels, and a $12,000 cappuccino machine, all supplemented with electronic readers.
I think Cushing Academy might be premature in substituting a digital learning center supplemented by electronic readers for its library. As the Globe put it, “…the long-term shape of the Internet-era news and publishing industries has yet to be settled, and the precise route that progress takes is hard to predict.” One risk is that e-book providers might repossess content they’ve sold, as Amazon.com did with copies of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm.
Nevertheless, the move to e-books seems inevitable. Last month, market-research firm In-Stat weighed in with research showing a strong trend toward adoption of the devices. The firm reports that the market is heating up as Amazon updates its Kindle line-up and as Sony debuts models costing as little as $199 as well as a $399 version offering 3G connectivity through AT&T.
“Until Sony announced its wireless e-reader, the company remained at a distinct disadvantage to Amazon,” says Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst. “But now Sony can not only compete with Amazon more directly, but can also address a wider range of consumers than Amazon since it offers more affordable e-reader models to consumers who may not want wireless connectivity.”
| See Rick Nelson's blog: "Taking the Measure" Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Rick_editor |
Worldwide, In-Stat forecasts, e-reader shipments will reach 28.6 million units in 2013, up from 924,000 in 2008. Market drivers, the firm reports, include new entrants to market, international expansion of e-book availability, price declines, and the electronic distribution of newspapers.
Also last month, In-Stat announced it’s offering a $1495 report titled “Electronic Book Survey: US Consumers’ Attitudes and Behaviors Towards the Burgeoning E-Book Market,” which says the e-book market has plenty of room for growth that will be bolstered by features such as e-mail and Web connectivity. “According to In-Stat’s most recent consumer survey, current e-book owners desire e-mail capability in the next e-book they purchase,” says Ethier. “Longer battery life and Internet connectivity are the top two desired features among respondents who don’t currently own an e-book but plan to buy one in the next year.”
Can a built-in camera be far behind?
Is there really a need for so many multifunction, Web-enabled devices, such as e-books, smartphones, and netbooks (each with a dedicated power supply, of course)? Can you afford to leave your laptop behind when you travel? Have you ever left behind your dedicated camera in favor of your cellphone’s camera (like professional photographer Shawn Rocco, who writes the Cellular Obscura blog)? Just how many devices are enough?
| REFERENCE |
|
No related content found.
- 0 rated items found.
Datasheets.com Electronic Parts & Inventory Search
185 million searchable parts
- Part Number
- Description
- Inventory
- Products
- Manufacturers
View All Webcasts
