Comment Pricing and usability (Score 1) 137
eBooks are a great concept, and could have a lot of benefits over paper books, but they don't right now. I wish they did. I would love to try this out.
I can carry a paper book anywhere and not worry about the batteries running out. I do need light though, which an eBook could provide itself.
I don't have to worry about turning off my paper book during take-off or landing on an airplane.
I can drop a book and pick it back up knowing that it's fine. Drop an eBook and it could well be junk.
People love books. Why do you think there are so many bookshelves with dusty books that don't get read more than once at so many homes?
The biggest problems with eBooks lie in the consumer. One is getting the consumer to change, that is often very difficult (a fact that the automatic billing companies use to their advantage).
Another is "borrowing". Yes, I can loan my paper book to a friend, but only to one at a time and I can not read it while they have it. With an eBook I could "loan" it to millions of people; hopefully that's obviously wrong to you. Somewhere in between should be a good compromise, but where?
I love good books. I expect the authors of good books to make a good living so they will keep writing; for my self-centered enjoyment. I would be more than happy to pay for an eBook, but how many people would get it without paying?
Yes, you could go to the library and read it for "free". The library paid for it though, and if it's really popular you will have to wait, sometimes weeks. Don't want to wait? Buy it.
So, are they selling convenience? The physicaly book? The author's work, advertising and distribution costs? Then there's the retailers costs and profits.
eBooks will have a cost, and we'll need to pay for them, or it will be theft. And that is one of the things that the publishers are concerned about.
I'm concerned that they'll still want $7.95 for a "paperback" book.
Hopefully there's a good middle ground.
Wayne
I can carry a paper book anywhere and not worry about the batteries running out. I do need light though, which an eBook could provide itself.
I don't have to worry about turning off my paper book during take-off or landing on an airplane.
I can drop a book and pick it back up knowing that it's fine. Drop an eBook and it could well be junk.
People love books. Why do you think there are so many bookshelves with dusty books that don't get read more than once at so many homes?
The biggest problems with eBooks lie in the consumer. One is getting the consumer to change, that is often very difficult (a fact that the automatic billing companies use to their advantage).
Another is "borrowing". Yes, I can loan my paper book to a friend, but only to one at a time and I can not read it while they have it. With an eBook I could "loan" it to millions of people; hopefully that's obviously wrong to you. Somewhere in between should be a good compromise, but where?
I love good books. I expect the authors of good books to make a good living so they will keep writing; for my self-centered enjoyment. I would be more than happy to pay for an eBook, but how many people would get it without paying?
Yes, you could go to the library and read it for "free". The library paid for it though, and if it's really popular you will have to wait, sometimes weeks. Don't want to wait? Buy it.
So, are they selling convenience? The physicaly book? The author's work, advertising and distribution costs? Then there's the retailers costs and profits.
eBooks will have a cost, and we'll need to pay for them, or it will be theft. And that is one of the things that the publishers are concerned about.
I'm concerned that they'll still want $7.95 for a "paperback" book.
Hopefully there's a good middle ground.
Wayne
