What is the future of ebooks?
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the future of ebooks: will they ever become "mainstream"? Will publishers ever agree on a universal ebook format (with equally universal reading devices)? Why should we replace print books, a format that has served well for so long?
I don’t think anyone really expects these questions (and countless more) to be answered anytime soon. However, I came across an interesting blog post from the Oxford University Press blog (OUP) that takes a very practical look at the question of ebooks becoming mainstream, and why print books should be replaced.
In his post, Evan Schnittman (Vice President of business development at OUP), who is a self-proclaimed "Kindle enthusiast and power user" explains that maybe ebooks will only serve a niche market based on its greatest strength:
This is where ebooks have a distinct and very important advantage over print, portability. Ebooks greatest potential audience is the traveler. Those who commute using public transportation and those who are passengers for hours on end in planes, trains and automobiles are the true growth audience for ebooks. Ebooks are about convenience and are what I read when itâs impractical to read in print. When I am commuting or traveling I use my Kindle. The rest of the time I read in print.
The post continues:
This is why ebooks are difficult to believe in beyond a niche market in the same manner that audio books serve a niche market.
Even though I don’t own a Kindle, I do own the Sony E-reader (aff link) and I love the portability of carrying around a handful of books in one convenient device. But how much do I really use the Reader while at home, when I have my entire library of books within arm’s reach? Not very often. In fact, I’m sad to say that since I graduated college and no longer commute on the train, my use of the Reader has greatly diminished.
Mr. Schnittman makes a good point of saying that he never buys the print version of a book he has on his Kindle and vice versa. Technically, that would be paying twice for the same book, which really defeats the purpose of ebooks altogether. What about packaging the two formats together in a bundled price? Good idea, but according to Mr. Schnittman, you then make people on both sides of the table mad:
The problem with what I want is that it cuts across an enormous issue; the valuation of e-content. By proposing that the print purchase grants an ebook license I will be vilified as devaluing the ebook by those seeking to establish profit margins and equally vilified by those who want free or extremely inexpensive ebooks as they will be horrified that they would have to spend on print to get to ebooks.
Indeed, for someone who has no interest in ebooks, why should they pay for it when buying the print version. Of course, the other side of the argument holds true for those who fully embrace ebooks and the convenience and portability they represent.
Personally, I feel that the ebook market will be split between two types of readers; those who read ebooks solely for their portability (ie. people who travel a lot), and those who will read ebooks no matter what. Yes, there will be a lot of overlap inbetween these two groups of readers.
Mr. Schnittman then plays a sly trick on us, by offering his final conclusion about his belief in ebooks in a future post. I’ll be interested to read what he has to say, and you can be sure that I’ll be writing a follow-up as well.
What are your thoughts about ebooks? Do you read them just for the convenience and portability? Or do you read them because you love embracing new technology? Let us know by leaving a comment below. I look forward to your answers!
Related posts
- Who is reading ebooks? The answer might surprise you
- Read ebooks on-the-go!
- Ads in ebooks – coming to an eReader near you
- Bold predictions for the future of publishing
- NYT article gives shallow reasons for not embracing ebooks
