Baen Free Library Changes - Page 6

Dahak · 12-10-2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silasgreenback

Thank you so much for hosting these. I've so far been using the torrents from the site linked on your page to hopefully save you some bandwidth and if any of those torrents should fail, I've got a text file of all the iso links on your page to be adjusted accordingly for one run of wget.

I appreciate the gesture, but I don't really worry about bandwidth, per se.

It's just that in the past, I've noticed that the site throws out watchdog timeouts when the traffic peaks above about 75GB/day. (Surprisingly, I haven't seen any timeout alerts this week.) It's been serving over 100GB/day for just over a week, now, and averaging somewhere north of 250GB for the period. (I've been updating the linked image each day, too.)

HarryT · 12-11-2012, 01:41 AM

It was the assumption that "it's not going to last forever" that's been the main driver for me buying every Baen Webscriptions bundle as it's been released.

fjtorres · 12-11-2012, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It was the assumption that "it's not going to last forever" that's been the main driver for me buying every Baen Webscriptions bundle as it's been released.

Good things never last but in this case it is the sudden end that is unexpected. What I expected was a steady stream of small changes (higher prices, maybe DRM) not a literal overnight switch. They did stay at $6 per book for a long time, though...

As is, a 3 month window is a reasonable compromise that stays within the spirit of the original webscription concept.

And its hard to argue when they are raising their ebook royalties along with the prices. Even if total sales do go down the authors should be seeing a boost in income and since we're not talking King or Roberts, that is a good thing.

Times change...

JoeD · 12-11-2012, 09:07 AM

In a way, it may improve the webscription model. You get a bundle for a good discount for a short period of time. More reasons to hit the trigger on bundles you like the look of and since you've now bought it rather than put it off for another month, chances are you'll read it soon and find some new authors.

I'm glad they've worked out a way to keep the free library going with 1st/2nd editions. The free library is for me a great way to try new authors without any cost/risk. Reading a 1st edition or in reality the full story but with some extra bonus content missing, suits that need and in fact, if i really enjoy a book it may even give me an incentive to purchase a copy which I wouldn't otherwise have done (I'd usually only buy the follow on books since I've got the first for free).

Only thing I'm not happy about it the price hike. I won't be buying any baen books until they reach mass paper back levels and generally after waiting that long for a book and losing the hype that comes with new releases I'll probably just wait longer for sales of those books or other amazon books and get some bargains instead.

Blue Tyson · 12-11-2012, 10:30 AM

Price rise was due regardless, I'd imagine, given how long prices have been the same.

HarryT · 12-11-2012, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeD

Only thing I'm not happy about it the price hike. I won't be buying any baen books until they reach mass paper back levels and generally after waiting that long for a book and losing the hype that comes with new releases I'll probably just wait longer for sales of those books or other amazon books and get some bargains instead.

We don't know, though (do we?) what the price will be for the Webscription bundles. I imagine they'll stay lower. Let's wait and see.

JoeD · 12-11-2012, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

We don't know, though (do we?) what the price will be for the Webscription bundles. I imagine they'll stay lower. Let's wait and see.

I hope so

Little.Egret · 12-14-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

We don't know, though (do we?) what the price will be for the Webscription bundles. I imagine they'll stay lower. Let's wait and see.

Toni Weisskopf, High Lady of Baen, hath said (10 December 2012 20:14 UT)

You should know that we will still be able to sell exclusively at Baen.com eARCs and discounted, serialized monthly bundles at our previous prices. {...} once the book is printed and the books made available individually at other sellers, these editions will not be available for orders.

So $US15.00 for aARCs and $US18.00 for Monthly Baen Bundles until further notice but only if bought before print publication.

hwlester · 12-14-2012, 04:19 PM

Will purchased books and bundles remain available for download at Baen's site?

pdurrant · 12-14-2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwlester

Will purchased books and bundles remain available for download at [Baen]'s site?

Yes, for the foreseeable future.

mewmartigan · 12-20-2012, 07:48 AM

I just saw you can get the Kindle version of David Weber's A Rising Thunder from Amazon now. Hardback is $15.54, Kindle version is $9.99.

So I guess the transition has begun.

HarryT · 12-20-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Yes, for the foreseeable future.

They're still listed under "Monthly Bundles" but, interestingly, if you select an author's name from the list at the list side of the main page, for most authors now there are no books listed.

pdurrant · 12-20-2012, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

They're still listed under "Monthly Bundles" but, interestingly, if you select an author's name from the list at the list side of the main page, for most authors now there are no books listed.

If I select "My Books" and then an author's name, I see all the books by that author that I've bought.

The Monthly bundles show up, but as "Not Currently Available", except for February and March 2013.

HarryT · 12-20-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

If I select "My Books" and then an author's name, I see all the books by that author that I've bought.

Yes, that works. You don't see any books if you go straight to an author rather than via "My Books".

fjtorres · 12-20-2012, 09:26 AM

They've started listing Second Editions, three of them, at $6.99.
The corresponding First Editions are in the Free Library.
I can see the Second Edition play serving to relaunch some of their older titles even if the first editions don't go to the Free Library.

12-14-2012, 04:19 PM	#84
hwlester Wizard Posts: 1,343 Karma: 2786741 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Birmingham, AL Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1, Kindle Touch, misc. Android devices, Nook HD+	Will purchased books and bundles remain available for download at Baen's site? Last edited by hwlester; 12-14-2012 at 05:32 PM.

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12-11-2012, 01:41 AM	#77
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It was the assumption that "it's not going to last forever" that's been the main driver for me buying every Baen Webscriptions bundle as it's been released.

12-11-2012, 09:07 AM	#79
JoeD Guru Posts: 895 Karma: 4383958 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: na	In a way, it may improve the webscription model. You get a bundle for a good discount for a short period of time. More reasons to hit the trigger on bundles you like the look of and since you've now bought it rather than put it off for another month, chances are you'll read it soon and find some new authors. I'm glad they've worked out a way to keep the free library going with 1st/2nd editions. The free library is for me a great way to try new authors without any cost/risk. Reading a 1st edition or in reality the full story but with some extra bonus content missing, suits that need and in fact, if i really enjoy a book it may even give me an incentive to purchase a copy which I wouldn't otherwise have done (I'd usually only buy the follow on books since I've got the first for free). Only thing I'm not happy about it the price hike. I won't be buying any baen books until they reach mass paper back levels and generally after waiting that long for a book and losing the hype that comes with new releases I'll probably just wait longer for sales of those books or other amazon books and get some bargains instead.

12-11-2012, 10:30 AM	#80
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Price rise was due regardless, I'd imagine, given how long prices have been the same.

12-20-2012, 07:48 AM	#86
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	I just saw you can get the Kindle version of David Weber's A Rising Thunder from Amazon now. Hardback is $15.54, Kindle version is $9.99. So I guess the transition has begun.

12-20-2012, 09:26 AM	#90
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	They've started listing Second Editions, three of them, at $6.99. The corresponding First Editions are in the Free Library. I can see the Second Edition play serving to relaunch some of their older titles even if the first editions don't go to the Free Library.