He suggested that e-readers such as the iLiad, Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle “will disappear” in a few years because of “the ‘one-device’ problem. They have limited features (no color, animation, sound or interaction).” With laptops dropping in price, the value of single-function devices, with price tags close to multifunction computer devices, also drops. Plus, he said, “Many e-books cannot work on [dedicated] readers. … I believe that more than 99 percent of all e-books are being read on PCs.” He noted as additional competition the ultra-mobile PCs, which he says are retailing for around $400 in Asia. (Most prices I have seen in the United States are upwards of $700-$900.) Not to mention the iPhone and other mobile devices. Even the iPod, which initially only played music, has evolved into an audio-video entertainment device.
- Companies:
- Adobe
- HarperCollins
- Sony
- Places:
- Asia
- United States
- Victoria