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Digital books: the next chapter for the publishing industry
We’ve entered a digital age, and most of us enjoy the ease of today’s technology. However, even the most technologically savvy enjoy a good book. There is something comforting about curling up on the couch and opening a best seller or an old favorite.
Why is that time so special? Is it just the story that keeps you coming back for more, or is it also the weight of the book in your hands, the feel of each page as you turn it or the satisfying sound it makes as you slam it closed when you’ve finally reached the last page?
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Is that all about to change?
In late 2007, Amazon.com released the Kindle, an electronic book (eBook) reader that allows consumers to download and read books and periodicals without the need for a computer. About a month before Amazon introduced the Kindle, Sony launched an updated version of its Sony Reader.
Electronic readers have been around for almost a decade, but past attempts to market them have failed because, among other reasons, the technology just wasn’t there yet, they were bulky and the screens were difficult to read.
The new readers are a significant improvement. They are much less bulky, with the Kindle weighing about 10 ounces. The Kindle allows users to connect wirelessly to the internet to download books and magazines, unlike the old readers, which had to be hooked up to a computer.
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The screens are easier to read as well. They use a special technology called electronic ink, or E-Ink, and are not lit from within, so users’ eyes react to the screens the same way they would a book, rather than a computer monitor. In fact, the text looks almost as sharp as it does on a printed page.
Some argue that now is the perfect time to market a device that could potentially make paper books obsolete – a time when digital gadgets are becoming the norm, and “living green” isn’t just for tree-huggers anymore. The latest eBook readers could potentially save many trees and create less waste.
Convenience and portability
Jorge Perez, librarian at St. Petersburg College, has had his Amazon Kindle for about a month and appreciates its convenience.
“I can download a book anytime,” Jorge said. “If I finish a book and can’t get to the bookstore because I’m on vacation or because it’s a Sunday night, I can download something new to read without having to wait. It’s nice not to have to plan ahead.”
EBook readers also can hold a small library of books, which saves travelers and commuters from having to carry a pile of heavy books while still giving them access to hundreds of options.
“Digital readers are not a replacement for a print book; they are a replacement for a stack of print books,” said Ron Hawkins, vice president for portable reader systems at Sony, in a Sept. 2007 New York Times article.
So why don’t we all own one?
Although readers have improved significantly over the years, they’re still quite expensive, with Amazon and Sony selling theirs for $399 and $300, respectively, plus the cost of downloading things to read. Although finding and downloading books from Amazon.com is simple and convenient, the company charges $10 per hardcover book. Potential users might find that a bit costly for something they cannot proudly display on their bookshelves.
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While it’s true that readers are efficient compared to a stack of books, they’re still more cumbersome than other portable electronic devices, such as Apple’s iPhone, which fits in the pocket and basically does the same thing as the larger reader.
Users must learn to be patient when using a reader. “Turning” the page can take up to 1.5 seconds, depending on how much text is on the page, and the entire screen flashes black before the new page appears. This feature might prove to be quite annoying for people who read quickly.
But Jorge doesn’t mind the flash or the delay.
“It actually takes about the same amount of time to physically turn the page yourself as it does to wait for the reader,” he said. “So I don’t see that as a bad thing.”
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One complaint of digital readers is that they take away from the experience of reading a “real” book. However, according to Jorge, Amazon has done such a good job of designing the Kindle that he often forgets he isn’t reading a real book.
“They’ve done a nice job of making it seem like a real book. It’s designed very well, and it’s easy to use,” Jorge said. “I still get lost in the Kindle, just like I do when reading a print book. I forget I’m on a digital reader.”
What’s next?
Although digital readers are slowly gaining popularity, they still have a long way to go before they come close to taking over the book industry – and that may never happen.
Currently, Amazon.com only offers 88,000 titles for the Kindle, which means users cannot download every single book that’s ever been printed. But Amazon.com and other eBook retailers are gradually building up their collections.
Over time, just like any other gadget, digital readers will become more sophisticated and easier to use, while also coming down in price. Until that happens, their main audience will be die-hard technology and gadget enthusiasts.
“I compare the current Kindle to the original Nintendo Gameboy,” Jorge said. “It’s a ‘1.0’ version of the Kindle we’re going to see in a year or two. They’ll continue to improve it, adding video and color. I don’t see it ever completely taking the place of print books, but I believe it will make a big impact.”
Many believe there will always be people who will never give up the nostalgic feeling that goes along with smelling a leather-bound book or the comfort of curling up with their favorite paperback. And as long as those people exist, digital readers will never completely take over the publishing industry.