The e-Reader Paradox

rhadin · 12-29-2009, 09:15 AM

An interesting blog article about e devices, content publishers, and the problems of getting readers to pay for content.

Bremen Cole · 12-29-2009, 09:56 AM

Interesting, but I disagree on at least one point. That being eReaders will not have people buying more content. Before ebooks I really seldom read, much less bought, a book. I would use a library from time to time, but didn't see buying a book as a good investment. Since I have been using ebooks (several years) I buy ebooks all the time. So at least in my case the publishers are getting revenue they would not be getting without electronic publishing. When you can set at home, see a good price on an ebook, and instantly download it, something happens. That something is impulse buying.

While many folks seldom walk into a book store, once they are hooked on a website they will look and buy.

poohbear_nc · 12-29-2009, 10:12 AM

I agree totally - impulse buying has drastically increased my book purchasing. Esp. with Whispernet connectivity & one-click buying. Plus knowing you don't have to find room for another pbook in the house.
And from most comments I've read here, readers with ebooks have massive TBR lists on their ereadaer and can't stop adding to it.

nbvanyoos · 12-29-2009, 10:21 AM

I still believe a subscription based model will be the future for eReading. At that point, you'll have access to all you can read content within the services vast library. Think about music, gaming, and video subscriptions and then combine them into a mega service (like cable TV) that you can consume with a single monthly payment. Google Media?

Get them hooked, then introduce advertising into the mix. I remember when cable TV had no advertising. Google makes almost all their revenue from online advertising, so when Google Editions comes out, advertising will be somewhere within it. Probably on the web site only, at first.

The good news, some of the content will be for free as long as you put up with the ads. As an author, I don't mind this as long as I get paid for my content.

kennyc · 12-29-2009, 10:26 AM

Thanks for the link!

He's got some good points, but I will continue to reserve judgment.

pdurrant · 12-29-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbvanyoos

I still believe a subscription based model will be the future for eReading.

I don't see this myself. It hasn't worked for music.

khalleron · 12-29-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I don't see this myself. It hasn't worked for music.

I'm with you - I want to own my books, even the free ones.

If you're not a re-reader, then a subscription model would work for you. Since I am, I would object to being charged every time I want to re-read a book.

troykm · 12-29-2009, 03:30 PM

"Ereaders don't make more people read more news"

i don't know about that point, but what i do know is right now in Australia there are 2 ways of reading a newspaper, either buy it which i never do, or read the online site for free, which i do, only because its easier than having a big newspaper on the train.

but i am more than happy to pay for my papers to be delivered on the kindle!!

take note Faixfax Limited and News Limited, i want my Melbourne papers on my kindle and i am willing to pay for them too!! (listens to echo as statement falls on deaf ears lol)

kennyc · 12-29-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troykm

"Ereaders don't make more people read more news"

i don't know about that point, but what i do know is right now in Australia there are 2 ways of reading a newspaper, either buy it which i never do, or read the online site for free, which i do, only because its easier than having a big newspaper on the train.

but i am more than happy to pay for my papers to be delivered on the kindle!!

take note Faixfax Limited and News Limited, i want my Melbourne papers on my kindle and i am willing to pay for them too!! (listens to echo as statement falls on deaf ears lol)

So you have wifi on the train? and you read it on a laptop or Iphone or ?

dmaul1114 · 12-29-2009, 03:56 PM

I also buy more now. I hated buying books before as 99.9% of them I'll only read once, and then you're stuck with the book, or hassling to sell/donate it. And libraries are a pain with due dates (and they're pretty crappy around me anyway).

troykm · 12-29-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

So you have wifi on the train? and you read it on a laptop or Iphone or ?

I have an iPhone and a cell tower signal.

kennyc · 12-29-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troykm

I have an iPhone and a cell tower signal.

Thanks.

nbvanyoos · 12-29-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I don't see this myself. It hasn't worked for music.

So Amazon's interest in Netflix and iTune's movie rental doesn't signal a subscription interest by these content providers? I venture to say it is only a hop skip and a jump before you can "rent" various media from iTunes for a flat rate subscription fee like Netflix. Amazon is angling that direction too. Purchasing and ownership will still be available, but most people don't want to keep their paperbacks, thus why the second hand bookstores and libraries are so popular. With Google, they probably want to give it all away for free and pay for it with advertising. Publishers will prevent that, so a subscription model would make sense for them.

12-29-2009, 09:15 AM	#1
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	The e-Reader Paradox An interesting blog article about e devices, content publishers, and the problems of getting readers to pay for content.

12-29-2009, 10:21 AM	#4
nbvanyoos NB VanYoos Posts: 31 Karma: 668 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Device: Kindle 2	Subscription Based Model I still believe a subscription based model will be the future for eReading. At that point, you'll have access to all you can read content within the services vast library. Think about music, gaming, and video subscriptions and then combine them into a mega service (like cable TV) that you can consume with a single monthly payment. Google Media? Get them hooked, then introduce advertising into the mix. I remember when cable TV had no advertising. Google makes almost all their revenue from online advertising, so when Google Editions comes out, advertising will be somewhere within it. Probably on the web site only, at first. The good news, some of the content will be for free as long as you put up with the ads. As an author, I don't mind this as long as I get paid for my content.

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12-29-2009, 09:56 AM	#2
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	Interesting, but I disagree on at least one point. That being eReaders will not have people buying more content. Before ebooks I really seldom read, much less bought, a book. I would use a library from time to time, but didn't see buying a book as a good investment. Since I have been using ebooks (several years) I buy ebooks all the time. So at least in my case the publishers are getting revenue they would not be getting without electronic publishing. When you can set at home, see a good price on an ebook, and instantly download it, something happens. That something is impulse buying. While many folks seldom walk into a book store, once they are hooked on a website they will look and buy.

12-29-2009, 10:12 AM	#3
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,837 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I agree totally - impulse buying has drastically increased my book purchasing. Esp. with Whispernet connectivity & one-click buying. Plus knowing you don't have to find room for another pbook in the house. And from most comments I've read here, readers with ebooks have massive TBR lists on their ereadaer and can't stop adding to it.

12-29-2009, 10:26 AM	#5
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Thanks for the link! He's got some good points, but I will continue to reserve judgment.

12-29-2009, 03:30 PM	#8
troykm Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 516 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Melbourne Device: Kindle 2	"Ereaders don't make more people read more news" i don't know about that point, but what i do know is right now in Australia there are 2 ways of reading a newspaper, either buy it which i never do, or read the online site for free, which i do, only because its easier than having a big newspaper on the train. but i am more than happy to pay for my papers to be delivered on the kindle!! take note Faixfax Limited and News Limited, i want my Melbourne papers on my kindle and i am willing to pay for them too!! (listens to echo as statement falls on deaf ears lol)

12-29-2009, 03:56 PM	#10
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I also buy more now. I hated buying books before as 99.9% of them I'll only read once, and then you're stuck with the book, or hassling to sell/donate it. And libraries are a pain with due dates (and they're pretty crappy around me anyway).

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