With the launch of the Apple iPad, W3i surveyed its consumers to see where in the product life cycle consumers were with eBooks.  Interestingly, 70% of respondents have never viewed an eBook; and 37% indicated that they did not even know what an eBook was while 32% said that they were just not interested.

Currently consumers say that they are more likely to view an eBook on their desktop or laptop (67%) with smartphone/iTouch coming in second (49%).  Only 15% indicate that they have an interest in an eReader. 

Of those that have read an eBook, 57% say that they currently use an eBook Reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.), and 37% say they might buy an eReader in the next year.

The library still tops the chart at 47% on where consumers currently discover new books followed by popular book sites (like Amazon, Barnes and Noble) at 27%, best seller lists at 27%, and family and friends at 27%.  Half of the respondents indicated an interest in a desktop application that stored their preferences, recommended books, and allowed them to order directly from their favorite web site.

In a recent Chicago Sun-Times article, a reviewer stated in reference to the iPad that “…it’s just such a bloody good book reader that some folks will never wander far from its eBook functions. And why not?  From one perspective, it’s hands-down the best book reader you can buy.”

An enthusiastic W3i employee/product manager who purchased his iPad this weekend stated, “The iPad is well worth its minimum $500 price tag.  It provides an effortless way to consume content that will likely revolutionize how we interact with computing devices for years to come.  The vivid, high-definition screen is a real attention-getter, providing additional real estate to interact with applications in new ways.  No regrets on this purchase here — I’m throwing out my laptop and replacing it with my iPad.”

If this is any indication, the iPad will change the world; but only time will tell.  As an avid reader, anything that makes it cool and easy to read again gets my thumbs up.

W3i surveyed 306 consumers from 3/1/2010 to 4/4/2010 – 54% female, 39% male with 7% declining to answer. 

Deborah Manthei, Director of Marketing Communications, W3i, LLC, evangelizing the use of consumer application marketing to engage brands’ essential users.

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[ Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 | 7:00 am ] by Deborah Manthei
Categories: Article, Surveys, Technology Trends
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3 Responses to “Will the iPad Change the Way the World Reads?”

1. App Marketing the Amazon Way: Cross Promotion, In-house Promotion, SEO Defense Against the iPad - W3i Blog Says:
   April 7th, 2010 at 11:26 am

   [...] « Will the iPad Change the Way the World Reads? [...]

2. How Amazon is using cross promotion, SEM, and more to promote their Kindle apps | App Marketing Tips Says:
   April 15th, 2010 at 6:53 am

   [...] research conducted by W3i shows 50% of respondents indicate that they have an interest in using an [...]

3. Help Desk services Says:
   April 30th, 2010 at 12:10 am

   Hope ipad can do this and it will change the world reading.

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