I am always fascinated to speak with people who notice my readers when I’m out ‘in the wild’ with them. I feel like sometimes I am a little too ‘expert’ for my own good—I’ve tried many devices, read hundreds of books this way, I blog, and so on—that I wonder if the ‘average’ newbie coming in from 0 on this would really find it all as fun and easy as I do. So when a lady on the bus approached me just after I pulled put my Kindle to ask em about it, I was more than happy to show her the ropes.
Her first question was about the font sizes, although she didn’t call it that. ‘Is that one of those book computers?’ Yes. ‘And is it true you can make the writing be smaller or larger any time you want to?’ Yes, again. I went into the settings and showed her the options, and also pointed out that I could have it read to me too.
Next, she wanted to know what was the ‘better’ brand to buy. I said I didn’t think it was an issue of ‘better’ since all of them are slightly different. My Sony was a wonderful device, but my Kindle is too. And there were two very specific reasons why I upgraded.
If was more of a music person, I’d be happy taking an ipod to the gym, so text to speech would not have been an incentive. And if I didn’t read in French, I would not have cared about the dictionary. Those really were the only two reasons I upgraded and I have used these two features enough since I got the Kindle that it has been worth my while.
She wanted to know about where to buy books, and I explained that it depends on what you read (for example you can read pretty much any classic or public domain book for free with very little effort). She asked about prices too and whether it would be more expensive or less expensive than a hardcover new release.
I explained the upcoming ‘windowing’ issue in very layperson terms to her (the book will start out at $15 or so, and then be lowered later) and she seemed to think this was completely fair and she would be happy to either pay the higher price and read it now, or else wait until later and read something else in the meantime (she suggested that this waiting period would be the time where she would read the free classical books I mentioned.)
Always interesting to get a take from an average, non-techie ‘man or woman on the street.’ I scribbled a web link or two on the back of her subway transfer so we’ll see if she turns up at any of my on-line haunts!
According to the statistics I see, the “average” non-techie on the street probably reads one book a year. Those of us who read 3 and 4 a week are the market, and we’re the ones saying hell will freeze over before we pay $15 for an ebook.
Yeah sell those books for about $9.99 and we’ll snap em up like flapjacks.
Enjoyed that article. She’s already onto “the waiting period” – a dangerous time for publishers who think we will just pony up the additional $ for an e-copy we’ll delete after reading it (though it can be archived).
I read all the time but seldom chose books. With the Kindle (or probably any other good e-reader) I have several books going on all the time. I’ve met many who read only one book a year who are reading a few per month now. It’s made so easy for us to not forget to go get a book etc.
Where certain publishers will miss out will be that initial interest they could capitalize on (realizing that in no way would we be going to go buy a hard cover book) and, with windowing delays, the disappearance from the mind unless it is by a favorite author.
What really surprises me are the large number of people who don’t even know that ebooks exist. The most common response to my reading an ebook in public is ‘What’s that in your hand, and what are you doing with it?
When I explain that I am reading a book on a small screen, they express amazement that such a thing even exists.
I think that the ebook market has a long way to go before it is truely mainstream.
It’s a common thing for “insiders” to think that the thing they’re inside of is much better known than it really is, simply because they know all about it and subconsciously tend to assume that everyone else does, too.
Which is why I thought that piece by Peggy Kessinger was so important to post, as a snapshot of the opinions of someone who doesn’t know much about e-books and most of what she does know is incorrect. (I’ve since filled her in on more details.)
In San Francisco I’m finding that people rarely ask about my Kindle anymore. They have become quite commonplace here.
Nice story, by the way!