MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Cory Doctorow: "Hardware ebook readers are a dead end"

nekokami · 03-07-2008, 01:55 PM

I've often wondered whether Cory Doctorow really thinks ebooks won't eat into pbook sales eventually, or realizes that eventually the ebook will replace the MMPB but just doesn't talk about it. Certainly for him, right now, free ebooks are increasing his pbook sales. But ebook reading options are improving rapidly and become more common, both multi-function and dedicated versions. I think eventually even he will have to charge for some ebooks-- maybe just the new ones, for a set period of time-- if he wants to stay in business as a writer.

Then again, I notice he's earning money on the lecture circuit now, so maybe he sees that as his future income generator. I don't think all authors are going to go that way, though.

03-07-2008, 01:55 PM	#66
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I've often wondered whether Cory Doctorow really thinks ebooks won't eat into pbook sales eventually, or realizes that eventually the ebook will replace the MMPB but just doesn't talk about it. Certainly for him, right now, free ebooks are increasing his pbook sales. But ebook reading options are improving rapidly and become more common, both multi-function and dedicated versions. I think eventually even he will have to charge for some ebooks-- maybe just the new ones, for a set period of time-- if he wants to stay in business as a writer. Then again, I notice he's earning money on the lecture circuit now, so maybe he sees that as his future income generator. I don't think all authors are going to go that way, though.