Kindle, Nook and Other E-Readers to Take Off in 2010

From PC World: Will 2010 be the year of the e-reader? It sure looks that way. Amazon continues to improve its popular Kindle lineup, and Barnes & Noble claims it can't keep up with customer demand for its new Nook e-reader. Meanwhile, a host of competitors, including the Sony Reader and lesser-known products from Plastic Logic (Que), Foxit Software (eSlick), and others, promise to give e-reader fans plenty of options.

Of course, vendor interest doesn't always translate into consumer demand. So why will e-readers take off in 2010? Here are a few good reasons:

The price is right--finally. When the original Kindle debuted two years ago, it cost $400. Its successor, the Kindle 2, now costs $259, as does the Nook. One Sony Reader, the Pocket Edition, is a relatively cheap $200, although most users would likely prefer the $300 Touch Edition (touchscreen) or $400 Reader Daily Edition (wireless). As e-reader prices continue to fall, their appeal as gifts will grow too. And unlike a mobile phone, the e-reader doesn't saddle the recipient (or giver) with a monthly fee. You pay only for the content you want.

They're really easy to use. Even technophobes can use an e-reader. The controls are simple, and the single-use nature of these devices eliminates much of the complexity of smartphones and other multi-function gadgetry.

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