Article+Analysis

Article Analysis

For E-reader fans, competition is paying off http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/for-e-reader-customers-competition-is-paying-off/?ref=technology
The article was written by Nick Bilton, a New York Times reporter for the Technology section of the paper. The article opens with a flashy photo of a stage promotion of the recent Barnes and Noble 7-inch color e-reader called //Nook Color//.As Nick states, the numbers analysts project are quite promising for the future of e-readers, 150 million will sell by 2013. Now that the demand projections are there, the industry is competing around look and feel, usability and general interface dilemmas. Many of them are competing on grounds of should e-readers be color or cater to the traditional reading habits and go simple e-ink ? Barnes and Nobles has made attempts in both niches, however compared to Apples iPad which is an enhanced version of an e-reader, they are way behind. The specifications of the Barnes and Nobles new color reader is 7-inch color LCD screen and the device is running on variation of Google Android software. The number of //Nook//s sold within a year is around 1 million and are way behind the iPad leading the market with astounding 7 million in the first six months.Sony on the other hand has implemented the most simple version, a black and white e-ink screen for its e-readers. Also, the Amazon Kindle is an important player in the field. According to industry data, one is certain- competition is on and customers are going to benefit from it in terms of cost and features. One thing to determine is whether the future of color e-readers "is ready for prime time" or black and white e-readers are going the be the true extension to the traditional paper and ink experience. We are about to see.How does this tie into e business? The publishing industry and the device manufactures need to standardize a business model, it is perhaps very similar to the one between gaming consoles and game developers, a double sided platform perhaps?Also, these devices might open up new venues for advertising and new e business models.