New stats from display manufacturer E Ink points to the decline of e-readers. E-reader sales have gone flat, and things don't look all that promising. What's happened? Why aren't people buying e-readers like they once were? There are a few good reasons why e-readers aren't as popular as they used to be.
A Slow Demise
When e-readers first arrived on the market more than three years ago, the devices were novelty. Everyone wanted an e-reader because these types of readers were never seen before. But, those days are over, and the shine has worn off. There's nothing special about e-readers now.
But that's not the only reason. There are tons of small 7-inch tablets on the market that are just as good as the best e-reader. Most people don't want to carry around a ton of different devices, so the purchase of a single tablet makes the most sense. It can also be said that more and more people are reading actual books once again.
Are Books Back?
If record shops are opening up in cities everywhere, then why not bookstores? In fact, there are many new bookstores strewn throughout North America that weren't there before. This means that people are buying and reading books once again. Are books taking over the digital book market? Not yet; but things might be headed in that direction soon enough.
Not only are books becoming stylish in a retro way, but literature enthusiasts might just be getting sick of companies like Amazon that publish all kinds of non-literary works. There's one more consideration too. E-readers were once a niche market. Now, there are lots of different e-readers on the market, and that market is slowly becoming very much saturated.
One More Possible Problem?
Many e-reader owners have noted that most of these devices just don't work in the sunshine. When it comes to reading a book on a sunny day, most e-readers present too much glare to use regularly. So, maybe if a device were to be created that did away with the glare factor, e-readers would rise in popularity once again. Or, maybe not.
For now, it really doesn't seem as though e-reader sales will grow by leaps and bounds over the next few months. While some sales may rise during the holiday season, the projections are that e-readers are on their way out. What should you do if you have an e-reader? Nothing; the companies that make these readers are still behind them, and there are still plenty of digital book options to be found.
But, you might not want to think about buying an e-reader anytime soon either.
The Convenience Is Still There
There's still no denying that e-readers have some place in the world. For one, it's a lot easier to purchase a book via e-reader than it is through a bookstore, but there are still a lot of kinks to be worked out too. The question now is: will e-reader manufacturers see any point in ironing out those wrinkles, or is this technology done for good?