Take heed, Dear E-Reader

The e-reader wars are heating up and gauntlets are being thrown down at the CES show in Las Vegas this week.   E-readers have become so important that they have their own exhibition space at CES this year for the first time.

 As Amazon sets to introduce its larger, more expensive Kindle, stiff competition keeps coming from Barnes & Noble's Nook , Sony's digital reader and the newly introduced Samsung E6/101.  Not to mention...a number of devices running Google's Android operating system.   It's projected that six million readers are expected to be sold in the US this year, up 50% from last year.

 But, printed word lovers, don't despair, we don't think e-readers signal the demise of books...there are definitely points of contention with consumers over price (Samsung's readers are at a minimum $400 and the Kindle's newest iteration will be $500) and content. 

 Samsung's e-reader lacks any notable content, having access to only out-of-print and public domain titles through Google.  Amazon got customers heated this summer by deleting purchased copies of, ironically enough, 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell.  Check out this reaction by a disgruntled Kindle customer. 

The big question for advertisers and publishers...how to monetize these devices without alienating the reader.  With readers complaining about book costs (new books are $10), there is buzz that Amazon may be considering inserting ads in a book's chapter breaks or in page margins.   But while this could offset costs, it could anger consumers even more...and drive them back to good, old-fashioned books.