A Kindle Revolution?

Source: Amazon

E-readers are the platform mobilizing collections of e-books for consumers. Sony and Amazon’s Kindle readers are the most established devices, and although relatively a new innovation, adoption rates are high. For purpose of this paper, I will focus mainly on the Kindle reader. According to Milliot (2008) Amazon has struggled keeping up with the demand of the highly anticipated Kindle. Available titles rose to 115,000 compared to initial offerings at launch of 90,000.

A master’s student in library services Jeanne Kramer-Smyth (Higginbotham, 2008) points to another device, the Apple iPod to focus on a successfully designed innovation. She discusses the comfort level users of iPod’s have with the easy-to-use controls. However, she finds the intuitive design does not transfer to the current readers on the market. Kramer-Smyth also indicates the important connection with a printed book that does not transcend in an Amazon online account. She does assert the value of the Kindle is enticing, but a better business model with lower associated costs should be adapted before she would adopt. Because digital rights management encryption diminishes a user’s ability to effectively “own” the content they buy, Kramer-Smyth mentions a nominal fee for the borrowing of an e-book could work to curtail initial reservations. Similar to the model Netflix uses for video rentals, this way of content borrowing diminishes the worry Kramer-Smyth has that at some point Kindle will not support the same technologies associated with purchased titles. Partial interviews here and here.

Kindle user Brian Higginbotham (Higginbotham 2008) readily adapted the Kindle innovation after realizing his second graduate degree had him overflowing in books. He found the device easy to use and has even purchased newspaper subscriptions (Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post) that operate in conjunction with the reader’s WiFi functionality. He also worked as a change agent by discussing the benefits with his father and aunt instigating a Kindle purchase for each of them. Partial interview is located here.

DC gets literate?

So along with that free Express tabloid paper for the morning commute, we’ll start getting some Oprah-like book suggestions with a Bit o’ Lit. I like reading about reading.

Wal-Mart’s Wrath

Looks like it’s not just the music industry calling fowl on Wal-Mart’s business practices. Border’s announced plans to sell because of diminished returns. It’s one thing when cherished mom-and-pop bookstores close, but what are we saying about our current economic market when these mega stores close? Are we to only buy from Amazon? Scary!

And now Barnes & Noble is looking into possible purchasing Borders.

Amazon killed the bookstore stars

Dutton’s Bookstore in LA is closing its doors this month. So sad, since while at UCLA I’ve spent many of hours at this great personable and comfy store. So many amazing book events occurred here, and you really got a sense that all the visitors really cherished this gem of a bookstore. I loved that I could walk (yes even in LA) to this store and get lost in the books.

A great photo of owner Doug Dutton amidst his volumes of books. On his bookstore’s website, Dutton acknowledges the changing landscape of the book market and physical stores:

It is no secret that the store today is a shadow of its former self. Given our situation as it now stands, the pride we feel in our past achievements, and the vagaries of the current book market, shuttering our doors seems the only realistic solution…The one certainty that we have relied upon for our many years at this location is the honest and dedicated support by this community to the value of books and bookstores in general, and to this one in particular.

While the beloved store-front store is closing, the virtual bookstore of Barnes & Noble is utilizing new functionalities to capture consumers. Original multimedia content will be updated constantly and will “do for the book what the cooking show did for the recipe.”