Can Google’s New e-Book Store Knock out the Competition?
How do you decide which e-book to buy? After all, there are Kindles, Nooks, iPads and now Google is planning their own e-book. In fact, they are in the final stages of production. What is taking them so long? In a recent WSJ.com article, Google product manager and director Scott Dougall said, “Because of the complexity of this project, we didn’t want to come out with something that wasn’t thorough.” According to that same article, “Users will be able to buy books directly from Google or from multiple online retailers—including independent bookstores—and add them to an online library tied to a Google account. They will be able to access their Google accounts on most devices with a Web browser, including personal computers, smartphones and tablets.”
Currently Amazon controls 65% of that market. Forrester Research is predicting the market to be worth $966 million this year. The first product to market may do well, but it doesn’t guarantee that they will stay number one. Sometimes it is better not to be first on the market. Flydogdesign.com noted, “Apple is known by their strategy of not being the first. None of the Apple’s top sellers today were first in the market. iPod wasn’t the first mp3 player, iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone and iPad wasn’t the first tablet computer. Apple prefers being the best to being the first. And they make billions on that bet.”
Only time will tell if this strategy will also work well for Google. They have done a nice job of catching up in the past. Remember Yahoo? As of September, 2010, Google was used 90% of the time for searching the Internet. Yahoo was down to 4.4%.
If their past performance is indicative of what is to come, Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Sony may have a tough race ahead of them.
- Google’s e-Book Store Takes Off Touting Reading Any Book Anywhere (drdianehamilton.com)
- Google Set to Launch E-Book Venture (online.wsj.com)
- Kindle might face serious competition next month – Google (ireaderreview.com)
- How to get Free e-Books (drdianehamilton.wordpress.com)
- Using Calibre for Your e-Book Conversion Needs (drdianehamilton.wordpress.com)
- E-Textbooks and iPad (drdianehamilton.wordpress.com)
- Colleges to Offer More e-Books (drdianehamilton.wordpress.com)
Dr. Diane Hamilton's Blog 
e-Reader – New options – Google is entering the Market | K12 Educational Blog 3:00 pm on December 1, 2010 Permalink |
[…] image via assets.gearlive.com How do you decide which e-book to buy? After all, there are Kindles, Nooks, iPads and now Google is planning their own e-book. In fact, they are in the final stages of production. What is taking them so long? In a recent WSJ.com article, Google product manager and director Scott Dougall said, “Because of the complexity of this project, we didn’t want to come out with something that wasn’t thorough.” According to … Read More […]
Tweets that mention Can Google’s New e-Book Knock out the Competition? « Dr. Diane Hamilton's Blog -- Topsy.com 2:25 am on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Flydog Design, Dr. Diane Hamilton. Dr. Diane Hamilton said: Can Google's New e-Book Knock out the Competition? http://lnkd.in/8Et3TC […]
wadingacross 3:45 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
I’m currently considering the possibility of getting an ereader. The potential for Google to offer their own ereader does not lead me to want to wait. In fact, considering Google’s business practices and their size, it’s all the reason for me to not want anything to do with them.
I already want nothing to do with Apple or any of its products. I specifically chose my Sony Walkman because it wasn’t an iPod, same with my phone. And I want nothing to do with Amazon anymore since their pedophile literature debacle, moreso finding out that they’d briefly helped Julius Assange and his Wikileaks site.
I’m not impressed by the size of a company or all of the goodies they can provide. Show me your character. Amazon, Apple, Google, all found grossly wanting in my estimation.
sayitwithmusic 3:49 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
I am suprised google has not been in the forefront of e-books… then again, if you are going to be in the runnning, better make sure you are ready
for it…
Sudhir Krishnan 3:50 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
The market for e-books is very low in India.While Google may be a phenomenon.I doubt if the market leader i.e Amazon can be shook off from its current place given the scenario.But if Google can do something like what Facebook did to Orkut then they may be able to go in for the Kill.
runtobefit 3:57 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
I can’t wait to see how the new e-book does.
http://www.runtobefit.wordpress.com
Mikalee Byerman 4:00 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
Like many others, I’ll be buying an e-reader for a special someone this Christmas. Will Google’s version be ready? I’d wait for it…
dearexgirlfriend 4:02 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
google does everything everyone else does…just better in most cases. i prefer opening and turning real pages of a book, but if i were forced into an e-reader, googles would be it.
http://dearexgirlfriend.com/
bertbad 4:39 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
I do not think this will be possible. Google is stretched too thin. They need to go back to the basics. They are doing too many things and are losing their specialization. Color me: disappointed.
evilcyber 5:00 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
Past performance doesn’t equal future success.
Evil
http://www.evilcyber.com/
lanceschaubert 5:05 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
yes, google has the potential to catch up. No, not to amazon. Amazon is the Google of online sales. Google doesn’t do online sales. It’s a market-jump unless google finds a way to provide it for free based solely off of their staple catered advertising. If they can do a free e-book, they can do it.
But since they can’t (as of now), Amazon will win out. Google will beat out the nook and everything else, but not Amazon.
Kathryn McCullough 5:19 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
My Kindle comes in handy here in Haiti, but this actually sounds better! Happy Holidays from my Haiti blog to yours (in the US?).
winxrocker 6:27 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
Well, we can see that Google is a search giant, and has made quite a name for itself in email, blogging, webmastering, chatting, searching, and maybe it will in the e-book business too. I have an iPad, and a Kindle, but I must say I prefer the iPad, thanks to it’s larger screen.
Ashley
enjoibeing 8:02 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
google is a monster when it comes to taking over. the only other thing that is up there with google is apple. i could see google knocking out the e-book/reader competition but the ipad has already done that.
http://enjoibeing.wordpress.com/
call guy 8:36 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
I still don’t see what’s wrong with books made out of paper :o/
jfr 10:09 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
I think the simple answer is YES
robocooker 11:27 pm on December 2, 2010 Permalink |
These are all pretty cool but i prefer paper books.
auntbethany 12:04 am on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
It’s hard to remember a time when Google WASN’T the main search engine of choice. It’s everywhere now, even on smartphones. I’ve been tempted by the lure of these e-book readers, but there’s something so special about having a hardcover book in your possession. I don’t think I could ever make the switch. Great post…congrats on FP!
Evie Garone 3:43 am on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
My boys bought me the Nook for Christmas…it is in color and was on an amazing sale on BLACK friday $99.00. I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth! We’ll see how it goes! Wish me luck.
evelyngarone.com
Designer's Basement 3:52 am on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
Another e-reader, I’m so confuse. I just got my daughter a Look Book from CVS. I know it got bad reviews, but her father paid for it and it’s actually a lot better than people think. I have the Kindle and to be honest I don’t see a major difference. Well, I can’t wait to see what Google is offering. They usually go all out.
http://designersbasementmagazine.com
SOMETHING TO THING ABOUT BEFORE CHRISTMAS « LET'S GET POLITICAL 5:10 am on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
[…] sound like it is going to put out a product that will be quite interesting and competitive. They have been slow and deliberate in development, but for the purpose of ensuring that the first […]
laynechin 5:36 am on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
I may not buy a e-book readers, in the situation that I already got an iphone 4.
Can Google’s New e-Book Knock out the Competition? (via Dr. Diane Hamilton’s Blog) | EU ARTS 3:41 pm on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
[…] “Users will be able to buy books directly from Google or from multiple online retailers—including independent bookstores — and add them to an online library tied to a Google account. They will be able to access their Google accounts on most devices with a Web browser, including personal computers, smartphones and tablets.” image via assets.gearlive.com How do you decide which e-book to buy? After all, there are Kindles, Nooks, iPads and now Google is planning their own e-book. In fact, they are in the final stages of production. What is taking them so long? In a recent WSJ.com article, Google product manager and director Scott Dougall said, “Because of the complexity of this project, we didn’t want to come out with something that wasn’t thorough.” According to … Read More […]
Edward Du 3:55 pm on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
ipad, amazon kindle and other ereader in the market now all have some kinda weakness. ipad doesn’t have eInk screen, kindle’s os is not so good ……, although there’s some great android ebook (using eInk, OPPO), I’m still looking forward to the surprise Google bring us
Google Editions : international launch will happen in the first quarter of 2011 | EU ARTS 4:09 pm on December 3, 2010 Permalink |
[…] The sale of e-readers such the Amazon’s popular kindle and the sale of e-books will be the main cultural business of 2011. Google will launch their platform Google Editions where multiple online retailers — including independent bookstores – could sell e-books. […]
Rebecca Louise Craft 9:52 am on December 4, 2010 Permalink |
Great post, very interesting to read about Google. Have a look at some of my google posts on http://www.rebeccacraft.wordpress.com
Rebecca
Sunflowerdiva 3:23 am on December 5, 2010 Permalink |
Google might surprise us yet. But I still think Apple rocks.
Can Google’s New e-Book Knock out the Competition? (via Dr. Diane Hamilton’s Blog) « Mbconsulting's Blog 5:41 pm on December 5, 2010 Permalink |
[…] Can Google’s New e-Book Knock out the Competition? (via Dr. Diane Hamilton’s Blog) image via assets.gearlive.com How do you decide which e-book to buy? After all, there are Kindles, Nooks, iPads and now Google is planning their own e-book. In fact, they are in the final stages of production. What is taking them so long? In a recent WSJ.com article, Google product manager and director Scott Dougall said, “Because of the complexity of this project, we didn’t want to come out with something that wasn’t thorough.” According to … Read More […]
gypsyjetsetter 6:05 pm on December 5, 2010 Permalink |
I agree with Sunflowerdiva. Although in terms of ebooks, kindle has done quite well, and I’m a bit skeptical that latecomer models would be able to win the catch up game.
Old Hindi Songs 1:23 pm on December 6, 2010 Permalink |
agree with diva…google is good…but when it comes to something big apple rocks!
Google’s E-Book Store Takes Off Touting Reading Any Book Anywhere « Dr. Diane Hamilton's Blog 11:36 am on December 7, 2010 Permalink |
[…] Can Google’s New e-Bookstore Knock Out the Competition (drdianehamilton.com) […]
drdianehamilton 11:39 am on December 7, 2010 Permalink |
Check out today’s blog about Google’s E-Book Store Taking Off! https://drdianehamilton.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/google%e2%80%99s-e-book-store-takes-off-touting-reading-any-book-anywhere/
Hang Bernau 2:41 pm on February 11, 2011 Permalink |
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