| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 23 Feb 2010 : 20:39:30
I noticed amazon has roughly 40 FR novels either available or soon to be in eBook form. And it looks like most(if not all) new releases are coming available in eBooks as well.
Which form would you prefer to be buying in? Or will you buy a mix of both?
Feel free to share any thoughts. I am debating on going with an eReader of some typr or continuing to overflow my shelving! Anyone planning on going all digital? Or waiting for the readers to be more affordable? My wife was going to buy me one for my birthday, but I told her I was not sure if I was ready to go that direction. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 06:03:05
I wasn't just talking about reference books...It's practically all types. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 05:56:37
quote:
Markustay
The biggest cost in publication is the actual physical printing ...
You might be right, and I don't have any hard numbers, and I actually agree wholeheartedly that book prices could/should be lowered substantially ... but I suspect it's not as simple as that. Costs of printing (in relation to all other costs) would depend on what you're printing and in what volume; ie, quality and quantity. Quantity meaning bulk. Quality meaning popularity of the "brand" or author (which is sadly often only a rough hewn indicator of real quality). What I do understand of the publishing industry is that profit margins are tight, I'd love to blame firmly entrenched bureaucracy, bloated middle management, fat corporate execs, and hordes of middle-men ... though I suspect they're not significantly representative of the real costs/problems in today's publishing industry. To be honest, I suspect the lion's share of the costs really break down into logistics (ie, storage, transport, and distribution) ... the catch-22 of printing "the right number" of books to balance production costs against logistical costs; this is just an aspect of globalization, and it will always be a part of the bookmaking industry so long as it is a profit-driven machine.
What dumbfounds me is when publishers charge essentially the same prices for physical and digital books. Huh? If they cost the same then why wouldn't I want a physical (and resellable) book over an electronic one? Especially when the ghostbook might also include restrictions on use, users, reading software, reading hardware? A physical book doesn't need batteries, doesn't become obsolete, and doesn't require constant updates or some sort of intermittent/subscription money trap to keep it readable. How can publishers possibly justify the explanation that eBooks cost the same as (expensive) paperbooks?
lol, Dennis ... technology (and particularly computer and software) reference books become obsolete rather quickly, eBooks are really the only practical way to go with those sorts of things. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 03:55:31
I usually buy eBooks only as backups, or for research purposes. It's still pretty much easier to search a particular scene in eBooks than browsing the printed pages. But I always make sure I have their printed versions as well. For me, nothing can ever substitute the feeling of holding a real [physical] book. |
| nexus99 |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 03:34:01
All hardcopy books should include the ebook version for free. And ebook only versions should be at a reduced rate than a physical book. Eventually prices on digital only books will drop to a realistic rate. 2 bucks maybe? Other wise they business model will be consumed by piracy. All of this stuff can be pirated as it is alreday. Who really expects people to pony up 7-10 bucks for an eBook?
Kids that are just starting to read now will have a much different outlook on reading than we do. They will expect everything to be avilaable on their mutifunction computing tool. School books, magazines, novels. And it all will have to be very very inexpensive. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 18:43:36
The biggest cost in publication is the actual physical printing, so I think the prices need to come down quite a bit more before I consider it (in both software and hardware). If they sold books for $1, think of how many more they would sell - seems to me that Americans (and others) are forgetting the valuable lessons Henry Ford taught us about 'mass production'. Better to make 50¢ off of a million books, then $5 off of 10,000.
In fact, in a couple of years, I doubt most publishing houses will still be around. People can self-publish quite easily now with e-books, and I see a LOT more opportunities for unknowns to make their mark. I see 'Freelance editing' become in-vogue, and spell-checker and auto-editing becoming much more sophisticated.
The term 'bestselling author' will be meaningless. Why pay top-dollar for a hack like Stephen King (living cars, rabid dogs, and evil clowns? REALLY?!) when I can buy ten novels by 'unknowns' for the same money? (after reading reviews, of course).
WotC missed a golden opportunity with the online version of Dragon - it could have been a trend-setter. Unfortunately, they really dropped the ball during their 'free trial' period (IMHO, of course). Either way, though, that's the future. Between the 'digital age' and 'going green' (no more 'tree-killing' LOL), publishing as-we-know-it will be be all but gone in a few years.
Oh, and I'm no Nostradamus either - just a guy who has seen a lot and has probably lived too long already. 
BTW, I am NOT an advocate for this at all - I LOVE my physical books I can hold in my hands, and curl-up with on cold winter nights, but it is what it is, and we can't stop progress (unless major corporations have a vested interest in 'old tech', in which case they CAN stop progress).  |
| Mr_Miscellany |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 17:49:52
I'm purchasing about 1/4 of my books online through Google books. Being able to access a library "from the cloud" makes reading anytime, anywhere a lot easier via laptop or any other available computer.
IMO this is good for the industry, in that paper books will need to be of higher quality (paper stock, ink, fonts, cover, durability, etc...) to lure people to pay a premium to buy them.
Realy books will still be treasured and that's as it should be. |
| Azuth |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 17:18:39
You're most welcomed to disagree with my opinion; I just never find opinions wrong. My thoughts on the iPad and others is the cost involved with purchasing them. The wireless iPads aren't cheap, and the iPad2 is already out. The cost of one is more than a hundred paperback books. Now, I will grant you that a paperback book will not let you listen to music, nor edit a PowerPoint document, et cetera. But maybe that's why I like books: they can't multitask.  I'm a strong advocate for electronic editions of things (they make books much more accessible to the blind, for example) but there's something special about a book.
I remember a great debate I was having with Grumbar, although the topic is no longer within divine memory. I must admit, arguing with him makes you feel like you're yelling at a mountain...
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| The Red Walker |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 13:14:29
quote:
Originally posted by Azuth
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
<snip>
But I don't find reading display screens for more than an hour or so very comfortable, it's a bit of a subtle strain and slows down reading speed. Paperbooks are the only way to go for pure recreation, very much worth paying the premium.
I couldn't agree more!
I can't disagree, since their your opinions But, I have had good enjoyment reading from my iPad, since you can not only adjust brightness and such, you can also change the color of the "parchment".
Which mine personally is set to something I feel like high quality, thick paper looks like.
I do still find paperback very enjoyable, except for the care I read them in so as not to crease them! Sometimes makes the innner portions hard to make out. |
| Azuth |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 04:20:40
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
<snip>
But I don't find reading display screens for more than an hour or so very comfortable, it's a bit of a subtle strain and slows down reading speed. Paperbooks are the only way to go for pure recreation, very much worth paying the premium.
I couldn't agree more!
|
| Ayrik |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 04:18:11
Pure PDF format for me ... PDF readers exist for (essentially) every computing platform, operating system, and device ever made (and will likely continue to do so for many years). Proprietary formats always eventually become problematic (except when adopted as the new "standard"), converting between formats often strips the documents of niceties in text and image formatting details. DRM controls of any kind are forbidden in my home, though that's not an issue appropriate for Candlekeep.
I used to have shelves and shelves of computer, electronics, and engineering references ... now I have hardly any; it's all ebooks, searchable, indexed, databased, conveniently portable, and always automatically updated. Awesome.
But I don't find reading display screens for more than an hour or so very comfortable, it's a bit of a subtle strain and slows down reading speed. Paperbooks are the only way to go for pure recreation, very much worth paying the premium. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 03:47:53
I find myself buying everything I read in e format, except FR novels.
I just like the way my collection looks in the bookcase as well as not wanting to have them spilt between paper and e. |
| Azuth |
Posted - 18 Mar 2011 : 03:38:32
I am all for saving trees; don't take my books away.
There's something comforting about a book that is different than most othre published works. Newspapers, magazines, trade articles, et cetera, all are disposable. Things like crossword puzzles are a waste of paper because they can only be done once per piece of paper unless a great deal of effort is undertaken (and more paper is used). A book, however, especially a hardcover novel, that's something that is comforting in a soft chair by the fire at night, or in bed when convalescing from the flu. Furthermore, e-readers and monitors in general are hard on the eyes. I seldom get eye strain from reading a good book. For things that need updating (reference books, et cetera) the era of the e-version has already arrived. But for the novel, I shall always prefer paper, I think. In most future-based Sci-Fi series, paper is viewed as a treasured version of a book. I would much rather see us quit using paper and plastic bags at stores (especially the latter) before I focus on switching to e-books. I can truthfully say that my Nook has gone to black on a long flight because I forgot to charge it; I cannot say that I've ever had a novel go white on me for any reason.
I sometimes think that Mystra made me divine so that she could better tune out my ramblings and instead task me with something to do...
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| The Red Walker |
Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 20:16:52
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Can't speak to other devices, but My iPad's battery has yet to last me less than two days and can easily last a week or more with a few hours a day.
How often is it turned on? How is it for reading PDFs or Kindle type books, etc...???
Well....let me think....
I read about 45 minutes at lunch and use it to surf the web for about an hour in the evening and then another 1 to 2 hours reading at bedtime, so...maybe 16-18 hours a week.
The iBooks are great, as are the books I have bought on the BN reader app. I imagine the kindle is just fine...but I really like that some of the iBooks have full color illustrations and any maps. Not sure if BN and Kindle does that or not. |
| ElaineCunningham |
Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 20:14:43
I mentioned J.A. Konrath a few posts up. He has been busy charting new territory in epublishing, first by doing an ebook/print deal with Amazon.com on book 7 of his Jack Daniels series, then by pulling out of a for-print deal with a NY publisher to go the ebook route. Background story in a nutshell: The editors wanted more changes to the book than Konrath was willing to incorporate. By going directly to ebook (with print books available a few months later for those who want them), he is able to publish the stories he wants to tell AND he'll probably end up earning more. His first book in this vein (very scary thrillers) sold about 50,000 copies--solid mid-list numbers. He earned $30K from that book. In order to earn the same amount selling ebooks through Kindle, he only needs to sell 15,000 copies.
The ebook climate is changing. I think you'll see a lot more authors going off on their own. It's the only way, frankly, that makes sense economically. If ebooks are priced around 2-3 bucks, and I think they should be, writers need to earn a higher percentage than most traditional publishers are willing to pay. Some publishers are paying around 15%, but I've seen contracts that offer as low as 5% of electronic sales.
Obviously, "going off on our own" is not applicable to people who write tie-in fiction. I'm glad to see WotC start releasing books in electronic format. As things currently stand, similar royalty rates for print and ebooks are not problematic. But when ebook sales start to outnumber print sales and the price of ebooks is forced down by market conditions and reader demand, something going to have to give.
But it's more complicated than publishers giving writers a high royalty rate on ebook sales. Publishers are also getting squeezed by some of the ebook sellers. The last Kindle contract I saw (forwarded to me by an industry insider--I'm not currently looking into publishing with Amazon.com) appropriated 65% of the sale. If the publisher is only getting 35% of the sale price, most likely they're losing money. So to stay competitive, publishers need to figure out how to distribute ebooks in a way that's worthwhile for everyone: readers, writers, and publishers. Perhaps publishers will become distributors, selling ebooks directly from their websites. I don't know whether or not that's feasible, or the next step is going to be, but we certainly live in interesting times. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 17:47:02
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Can't speak to other devices, but My iPad's battery has yet to last me less than two days and can easily last a week or more with a few hours a day.
How often is it turned on? How is it for reading PDFs or Kindle type books, etc...??? |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 16:39:27
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I downloaded the Amazon Kindle App for my iPhone. I haven't "purchased" any books for it yet but have downloaded a few samples and I actually like using it.
Aye. That's largely how I've been reading Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" series. The Kindle format is very basic, but I've come to love the little features that are part of the App.
Yeah I like the portability of it and how easy it is to stay bookmarked where you are at. Would be nice to be able to get novels you already own for free on it so as not to have to pay twice for certain books.
However a limited battery life isn't a strong point (this based on using the iPhone as compared to a regular Kindle device, lifespan of which I don't know, but probably better simply for being single function)
Can't speak to other devices, but My iPad's battery has yet to last me less than two days and can easily last a week or more with a few hours a day. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 21 Jun 2010 : 16:38:00
quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
I agree with thriller writer J.A. Konrath about ebook pricing. The only way to combat piracy is to make buying ebooks convenient and inexpensive. $1.99 is an ideal price. That's an impulse purchase. $2.99, which will soon be the minimum on Amazon.com, still sounds reasonable to most people. It's about the price of a greeting card and less than a grande latte at Starbucks.
I couldn't agree more. Why I can honestly say I won't buy a pirated eBook, I also most likely won't buy One that is virtually the same $ as the printed version. I want to be sure the author is still getting their fair share, but I dont want to see publishers use it a a tool to increase their profit margin while using the lower cost arguement to try and drive author's pay down. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 18 Jun 2010 : 17:34:56
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I downloaded the Amazon Kindle App for my iPhone. I haven't "purchased" any books for it yet but have downloaded a few samples and I actually like using it.
Aye. That's largely how I've been reading Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" series. The Kindle format is very basic, but I've come to love the little features that are part of the App.
Yeah I like the portability of it and how easy it is to stay bookmarked where you are at. Would be nice to be able to get novels you already own for free on it so as not to have to pay twice for certain books.
However a limited battery life isn't a strong point (this based on using the iPhone as compared to a regular Kindle device, lifespan of which I don't know, but probably better simply for being single function) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Jun 2010 : 16:57:16
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I downloaded the Amazon Kindle App for my iPhone. I haven't "purchased" any books for it yet but have downloaded a few samples and I actually like using it.
Aye. That's largely how I've been reading Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" series. The Kindle format is very basic, but I've come to love the little features that are part of the App. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 18 Jun 2010 : 16:39:52
I downloaded the Amazon Kindle App for my iPhone. I haven't "purchased" any books for it yet but have downloaded a few samples and I actually like using it. |
| ElaineCunningham |
Posted - 18 Jun 2010 : 16:32:45
I agree with thriller writer J.A. Konrath about ebook pricing. The only way to combat piracy is to make buying ebooks convenient and inexpensive. $1.99 is an ideal price. That's an impulse purchase. $2.99, which will soon be the minimum on Amazon.com, still sounds reasonable to most people. It's about the price of a greeting card and less than a grande latte at Starbucks. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 15 Jun 2010 : 20:36:30
quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
The best reason for me to buy an eReader would be all out of print FR novels being available as eBook. Aw that'd be so great! 
Luckily I have every one, but that would be a nice option.
The big plus I am seeing now id the last few "best-sellers" I have purchased as eBooks from $7 to $9.99, vs. the usual $19.99 or so hardcover price.
One negative I see is the paperback FR novles are now $ 7.99 and their eBooks are $ 6.29, which is only about 21% savings. |
| skychrome |
Posted - 15 Jun 2010 : 03:04:42
The best reason for me to buy an eReader would be all out of print FR novels being available as eBook. Aw that'd be so great! |
| ElaineCunningham |
Posted - 15 Jun 2010 : 00:21:45
Ebooks would provide a way to keep all the backlist in print. Ebooks would also give an inexpensive way to experiment with new forms that are not commercially viable, such as a novella, and experiment with new delivery methods, such as sending new installments of a digital serial novel directly to the reader's phone. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Jun 2010 : 10:31:03
nothing can sunbstitute an actual, you-can-feel book. ebooks are good, but printed are a lot better. and of course, if you're into having your own physical (as opposed to electronic) library that you want to expand and expand (like what i do), then the choice is obvious... |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 08 Jun 2010 : 20:07:26
quote:
Originally posted by GERGE
For foreign guys like me eBooks are like a dream come true. You simply cannot find books newer than one year in Turkey. Hardcovers of fantasy novels never come here anyway. Only paperbacks.
I have a Nook and being able to buy anything I want from Barnes&Noble is great.
Let me give you an example: I bought this today:http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Passage/Justin-Cronin/e/9780345516862 It was released today too. If I didn't have a Nook, I would either had to wait for one and half year or so for the mass-market paperback or pirate the book and read it from computer. I could order the book from U.S. but my student budget can't pay for a hardcover plus Int. shipping.
So, you guys from the U.S. might not think that eBook is a big deal, but it is.
To talk about FR novels, I just bought a FR novel I simply can't find in Turkey as a B&N eBook. They are really great
that is awesome! I see more and more FR books popping up available as ebooks and it doesnt hurt that many FR authors are supportive.....Rosemary Jones(you'll like her stuff alot!), Paul S Kemp(of Erevis Cale Fame) and Erik Scott de Bie to name just a few! |
| GERGE |
Posted - 08 Jun 2010 : 15:01:25
For foreign guys like me eBooks are like a dream come true. You simply cannot find books newer than one year in Turkey. Hardcovers of fantasy novels never come here anyway. Only paperbacks.
I have a Nook and being able to buy anything I want from Barnes&Noble is great.
Let me give you an example: I bought this today:http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Passage/Justin-Cronin/e/9780345516862 It was released today too. If I didn't have a Nook, I would either had to wait for one and half year or so for the mass-market paperback or pirate the book and read it from computer. I could order the book from U.S. but my student budget can't pay for a hardcover plus Int. shipping.
So, you guys from the U.S. might not think that eBook is a big deal, but it is.
To talk about FR novels, I just bought a FR novel I simply can't find in Turkey as a B&N eBook. They are really great |
| Rosemary Jones |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 04:44:37
I own an ebook reader that is compatible with my local library system. I do love it for commuting and other travel. And I can check out the FR books that I don't want to lug around in my suitcase! So that's a nice plus.
Last couple of conventions I attended, this has been a HUGE topic of discussion. Most seem to fall into an "either/or" idea: either you go all e-book or all print. I'm finding that I'm more a "both/more the merrier" I'm still buying print books, but I'm reading at least one book a week on my Sony reader. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 01 Jun 2010 : 18:37:03
Still on the fence......kinda.
Wife bought me an iPad and the books on there(especially the illustrated ones) are gorgeous.
I have yet to purchase an eBook FR title though.....I keep looking over at my bookshelves (which hold every FR Novel except the ablolithic thingys) and have a hard time not buying the next one to put with them! Maybe I will get over it , but I have a hard time "splitting" my collection of FR into two parts.... |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 24 May 2010 : 13:04:28
I really, really hate to read anything of a screen and never trust anything computer-based, as it will continually break down when I am near. On the other hand I love to hold books, look at the cover and sort them in the shelves, in addition to reading them.
Anyone curious about what I voted? |
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