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Are kindles/ereaders on the way down?


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Old 11-07-2016, 16:42
PorkchopExpress
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Purely on anecdotal stuff I feel they are. Can't remember the last time I used my Kindle and I don't see them as much out and about.

When it comes to tablets, do people really need a smartphone AND a tablet nowadays? I see less tablets out and about too.

My personal preference is iPhone for out and about, and MacBook for home. I have never enjoyed using my wife's iPad.
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Old 11-07-2016, 19:36
Mandark
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I use my Kindle all the time and people I know still use their ereaders. I think tablets are becoming more of a home device. In fact I think they always were. That's why the 3G/4G models never took off.

When travelling most people don't need anything more than a big screen phone.
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Old 11-07-2016, 19:41
Stig
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If you go on a train, or sit by the pool at a European hotel, you will see loads of eReaders being used.
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Old 11-07-2016, 20:50
Matt35
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Use mine pretty much every day. I most definitely don't think they're on the way out.
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Old 11-07-2016, 20:58
ML11
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They are fads just like smartphones that will fade in time, personally, I can't stand browsing on a small screen
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Old 11-07-2016, 21:04
IvanIV
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People are addicted to their smartphones. When I travel 8 out of 10 people molest their phones, the rest are reading something, be it a newspaper, a book or an eBook.
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Old 12-07-2016, 10:35
Philip Wales
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They are fads just like smartphones that will fade in time, personally, I can't stand browsing on a small screen
Browsing what? we're talking about e-readers, there's nothing better than an e-reader for electronic books.
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Old 12-07-2016, 20:11
millimole2001
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I tried to go over to using an Android tablet for reading - because of the ability to us both Kindle, non-drm, and Kobo books on the same device.
Battery life was the biggest issue, particularly if I wanted the screen at a readable level in sunlight.
I've gone back to my Kobo Touch, and will be getting a basic Kindle for the books that Calibre can't de-DRM.
eReaders definitely have their place, but a good eInk tablet could be a winner - but most of the current eInk tablets are either disproportionately expensive or get dreadful reviews.
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Old 12-07-2016, 20:56
IvanIV
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You could look around if you can jailbreak your reader and install Kindle app for Android on it. I saw it done with Sony readers.
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Old 12-07-2016, 22:28
gemma-the-husky
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if you want to read outside in the sun, you need a reader (or a book)
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Old 12-07-2016, 23:50
NS_117
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I use my Kindle regularly and don't think e-readers are on the way out. For some people like me the Kindle is more of a home device, I wouldn't take it anywhere with me. People also don't need to upgrade every year or two with Kindle, there are a lot of older Kindle devices still being used today.
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Old 13-07-2016, 06:44
IvanIV
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I use my Kindle regularly and don't think e-readers are on the way out. For some people like me the Kindle is more of a home device, I wouldn't take it anywhere with me. People also don't need to upgrade every year or two with Kindle, there are a lot of older Kindle devices still being used today.
And I wouldn't go anywhere without it. I like to read a lot and a mobility Kindle offers is a great help. I think the market is now saturated and Amazon is trying ways to make people to upgrade, they now have a range from a low to a high end model. The problem here is that even the cheapest one is much more than just competent. It's just bells and whistles the other models can offer.
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Old 13-07-2016, 10:01
timebug
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I use my ereader all the time.In fact I can't recall off the top
of my head,when I last read a 'real' book! I think that most
people have the reader that works for them, and are not
rushing out to buy the latest/newest/all-singing-all-dancing
versions of what they already own.
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Old 13-07-2016, 10:09
Glawster2002
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And I wouldn't go anywhere without it. I like to read a lot and a mobility Kindle offers is a great help. I think the market is now saturated and Amazon is trying ways to make people to upgrade, they now have a range from a low to a high end model. The problem here is that even the cheapest one is much more than just competent. It's just bells and whistles the other models can offer.
I think that is the problem Amazon has.

I purchased my 2nd generation Kindle in September 2010 (I checked on Amazon!!) and as an e-reader it still does everything I want. Apart from a tiny crack that has developed on the casing, where it meets the screen, it is still in perfect condition and the battery still lasts for months, so there is no incentive for me to replace it.

Ans even though I've had mine for the best part of six years now I still use it every week.
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Old 13-07-2016, 17:27
millimole2001
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The market saturation is a two pronged problem for both readers, vendors and authors.
The readers last too well - they are robust devices that don't warrant frequent upgrading (as smart phones seem to), which means that vendors have to try to differentiate their models - hence the 'luxury' kindle.
We have seen - and will continue to see - a reduction in the number of eBook vendors, which will push the price of books upward for readers, and earnings for authors downward.
Having said that, I really do think that eReaders have a niche future - just that the marketplace will look very different as time moves on.
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Old 14-07-2016, 12:51
Kyle_Connor
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Well, the E-Readers have gone through a lot of variants but the recent ones that are out in the market are the best for your reading experience.

The latest "eInk Carta" screen type was introduced in 2015 with a better and higher contrast display for the best reading experience. It's exactly like reading an actual paperback, even under the sunlight.

But the best is yet to come.
http://123helpme.com/ebook-readers-o....asp?id=158705
I read this paper published back in 2008 that predicts the future (i.e. now) and what an ideal ebook reader should be like. I see that we are there already with the predictions coming right.
But i still feel that the kindle sales will catch up soon with better features being added with every release.
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Old 18-07-2016, 21:57
TelevisionUser
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I don't think that ebook readers are on their out at all but they're now just settling down into a level of coexistence with physical books and audiobooks just like radio, TV, cinema, and online all now coexist.
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Old 22-07-2016, 19:51
catherine91
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I use my 2-year-old Kobo a lot but am thinking about finally getting my first tablet as my iPod Touch's battery life isn't as good as it used to be. Another reason I'm looking into tablets is because you can get newspapers and magazines on them, which you can't on a Kobo e-reader.
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Old 22-07-2016, 22:52
Dave 101
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I use my kindle everyday. Bought it in 2011 and it now shows signs of heavy use, but functions as it did when new. Fantastic device that I wouldn't be without.

I use my tablet pretty much daily as well as it's so convenient.

Love them both.
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Old 23-07-2016, 10:02
Moleskin
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They're very useful for holidays, particularly with the baggage allowance so I think they will continue in popularity for that.
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Old 23-07-2016, 11:23
oilman
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I use my Kindle all the time and people I know still use their ereaders. I think tablets are becoming more of a home device. In fact I think they always were. That's why the 3G/4G models never took off.

When travelling most people don't need anything more than a big screen phone.
phone - battery 1 day

ereader - battery 1 month

For reading books - no contest.
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Old 30-07-2016, 15:17
percygumtree
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I use my Kindle regularly and don't think e-readers are on the way out. For some people like me the Kindle is more of a home device, I wouldn't take it anywhere with me. People also don't need to upgrade every year or two with Kindle, there are a lot of older Kindle devices still being used today.
yea, think my kindle is 2nd gen. the one after the physical keyboard but not the touch. Its been used virtually every day since i got it years ago and still going strong.
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Old 31-07-2016, 16:40
Nickelback
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I use my kindle every day,even take on holiday with me, i love reading books so i couldn't live without it, soon i'll be buying another
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Old 08-08-2016, 18:40
JulesandSand
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I travel a lot and I think on my last trip I saw more people using e-readers (mostly Kindles) than I've seen since they were introduced.
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