February was a numbers game, as many analysts sifted through data to try to gauge which ereader was faring the best in the marketplace. With statistics shared at the O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing conference, as well as results from studies in anticipation of the Apple iPad 3, it’s unclear who exactly is topping the charts, though most numbers may indicate that sales aren’t meeting expectations for both the Kindle and Nook. Still, there have been some interesting developments over the past month with Barnes & Noble releasing a less expensive version of their Nook Color that will compete more directly in price with the Kindle Fire and more evidence supporting the creation of an indie ereader. However, the release of the iPad on March 7th may enforce many beliefs that Barnes & Noble and Amazon aren’t equipped to compete in the tablet market, and meanwhile others might be starting to claim ereader fatigue.
So which device is starting the new month on top? Read on to draw your own conclusion:
“Changewave Research, which conducts surveys of U.S. consumers on technology products and services, found that 54 percent of those who have purchased the [Kindle Fire] tablet since its November launch are “very satisfied” with their purchase, with an additional 38 percent declaring themselves “somewhat satisfied.” Last November 74 percent of iPad owners surveyed by Changewave said they were “very satisfied” with their tablets, whereas only 49 percent of those who bought something other than the iPad felt the same way.”
— Tom Krazit, mocoNews (2/2/2012)
“In the wake of Amazon’s disappointing Q4 results, the Kindle Fire has ignited a veritable firestorm of debate.
Lackluster reviews and suspicions that the tablet device is being sold below cost have led analysts to anxiously eye the company’s dwindling cash reserves. But amidst the heated debates about functionality and pricing, one concern has received relatively little attention: should Amazon be competing in the tablet market in the first place?”
— Peter Fader, Forbes (2/3/2012)
“From my perspective, both as a reader and a publisher of ebooks and crowdsourced travel guides, EPUB 3 is a clear winner as it’s an open format – though this isn’t a clear endorsement of iBooks. Titles bought via iBookstore are restricted to devices authorized for the same iTunes account. So ‘choosing iBooks’ is not the same as ‘choosing EPUB 3.’”
— Matt Stephens, The Register (2/6/2012)
“This hybrid market is possible because there is no “killer device” like, for instance, the iPod for music. As long as there are options for digital migration, there will still be multiple opportunities in a hybrid marketplace, said [Jack] McKeown, including the possibility of an independent bookstore-branded e-reader device. For the 2011 survey McKeown cited, a number of different demographics said they would be interested in such a device, including 13% of women over 45. The price for this device? Respondents agreed that it should be around $100.”
— Gabe Habash, Publishers Weekly (2/14/12)
“The Apple iPad 3 is poised to sweep the tablet market and steal more than 50% of the Amazon Kindle Fire’s customers, according to a new study.”
— International Business Times (2/21/2012)
“Barnes & Noble slashed its fiscal 2012 guidance. The company blamed its larger-than-expected losses partly on disappointing sales of the Nook Simple Touch, the company’s $99 black-and-white e-reader. Sales of the Nook Tablet topped expectations, B&N said.”
— Julianne Pepitone, CNN Money Tech (2/21/2012)
