Digital book readers (e-readers) that are already enjoying a considerable success overseas will be made available in Romania as of December. Even if the first stock of 200 devices has been sold out, market watchers have different views on whether the product will turn out to be the next tech trend in Romania or a niche item only.

Data posted by Amazon, the largest retailing giant, showed that customers bought more electronic books than hard-copy books on Christmas. On the other hand, tech giants such as LG, Samsung or Acer announced they would introduce similar devices, the year 2010 being declared “the year of e-readers”.

But will these handhelds have the same success in Romania?

“It depends on two factors: the price, which should be similar to that of game consoles, namely less than 1,000 – 1,200 lei. But even so, costs are too high as far as I am concerned. For the same money you could buy a netbook. The second factor is the access to a long list of titles. It also depends on how many books will be e-reader compliant. For example business books are very expensive and I doubt publishers will sell the digital formats for their best-selling titles”, Dana Iorga, managing director of IT&S one of the ten largest vendors in the local market.

The manager said the company wasn’t in any talks for importing e-readers, as the market is still at infancy, but she doesn’t rule out the possibility of distributing such devices in the future.

Skin Romania has already had an attempt to sell the iRiver Story reader through eMag, Romania’s biggest online retailing company. The devices had a real success, considering that the first 200–items stock was sold out.

“The electronic readers were sold faster than expected. In mid January, the eMag stock was already low and orders kept coming. In February we will replenish eMag stock and we hope many will f