Summary
* Both Sony and Amazon as well as a few other companies such as Team Research have introduced e-book readers * These devices use a technology called e-ink to display text, this is a low power display since power is only used when pages are changed * Amazon just introduced a new generation of e-book reader that can store up to 1,500 books on flash memory and with a better resolution display * As the displays improve and storage capacities increase these devices may be able to give good illustration displays as well as text * Within the next five years we may see a revolution in how we handle and display text and printed material due to such devices
Analysis
At about $360 the Amazon Kindle appeals to high end customers and early adopters. However, this product as well as the Sony Reader and a few other e-book products may well show the future of print media. E-ink technology provides low power displays that only use power when a page is changed. This leads to longer battery life than many other mobile consumer devices. The second generation Kindle has a higher resolution screen with 12 vs. 4 gray scale shades and enough flash memory storage for 1,500 books. Publishers, although somewhat threatened by these products are providing content for e-books.
As the resolution of the displays goes up they will eventually be able to show good illustrations as well as text and perhaps eventually color as well as black and white. As the volume of units produced increases the costs will be able to come down considerably. I can see the day when these sell for $100 or less and offer books, magazines and many other printed and electronic material that can be uploaded and even updated over the network. With higher resolution content in color and large digital storage these devices can be a source of considerable choice in reading and also free users from having to carry large and heavy books with them.
Current total sales of e-books is less than 900,000 total but they appear to be popular, even at the sizable price tag. While not everyone will want to use an ebook reader for all of their reading these devices offer a convenient way to take any electronic document with you to use when you need it. The days of having a complete library of your content and all of your magazines with you are not far off. Of course people will have to back up this content as well, using even more storage…
