Quote:
Originally Posted by tompe
In what way is this question interesting?
|
Interesting to my warped curiosity. It indicates the value people place on the firmware and new features.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tompe
The reason not to pay for bug fixes is to signal to the company that they cannot get away with releasing unfinished products and then charge money to fix bugs. I cannot see what that have to do with buying books. I do not buy DRM infested books since they are broken and I do not want to support the selling of broken books.
|
I deliberately excluded bug fixes as there is a case for saying it is fair to expect them. Feature enhancements are another question.
The somewhat wierd analogy in my head is that a new e-book gives the liseuse something new; firmware (other than bug fixes) does as well. The relative merit of those sort of justifies the effort involved in each enterprise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snuffi
about your comparison to paying for bug fixes: No, I would not pay for a book I already bought again (even at reduced price) if they released a "second edition" which contained a few corrections in spelling, more suitable margins and a different font promising better readability.
|
Which is an interesting comparison with the academic book market which does that to make sure new books are always sold, rather than re-using 2nd hand ones.
(It's perhaps interesting to note that Steve Jordan has, at least on occasion, given e-book bug fixes for free. However, just because you've bought one e-book doesn't give you access to his next e-book....)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snuffi
about the "promised" functionality, let me compare it to online games: If I play a multi-player online game I expect a certain level of bug fixing and game improving measures to be normal for an evolving virtual world. I would, however, certainly be willing to pay for any expansions which are adding all-new functionality and possibilities to the game beyond the "normal".
Of course, it's hard to exactly define what kind of improvements can be expected to be free and which are game-changing enough to merit paying for them but usually that's not a big problem for game makers to decide:
All MMOs are evolving and new ones arrive all the time. All the changes that are necessary to keep up with the competition enough for new customers to buy should be free (as they are the company's own interest to gain a larger customer base). Everything else is worth selling...
It may sound odd that I compare online games (which mostly charge a monthly fee) to an electronic device (which sells for a one time price) but I think the new generation of electronic devices appeals to many customers because they are a "work in progress" and people like the thought of an "evolving" device which improves and adapts to future needs.
That is what makes people buy "unfinished" products and accept short-comings in the initial stages and that's also what the company is using as a means to advertise: They insinuate that you are buying more than what is presently there, you also buy future possibilities ("upgradeable firmware", "can be extended", "future formats can be added", etc.) . They have then, however, the obligation to deliver some "future possibilities" or risk disgruntling their customers.
|
I think I agree with you. I.e. that where you have been "sold" something, it should be delivered to you (even if it takes a year or two). But if it is something really new, then you can expect to pay for it. And woe betide the supplier who doesn't deliver what was expected, or tries to get you to pay twice.
I guess an area of difference is what constitutes something new and what constitutes something you were "sold" when you bought the device. Some devices make this clear (e.g. 1 year's free updates/new maps/support) whereas others are deliberately obtuse trying to fool purchasers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gerraldo
Yep, they're willing to pay hundreds of bucks on new books, but spending say $ 5-10,-- for better firmware of the reader seems impossible... 
BTW: At the moment we're at 40% are willing to pay the price of ONE book for enhanced reading of ALL future ones!  |
Which is another reason I was interested in the split on the ~60%. If all of them also say, no, I'll never pay for a book, then they have a consistent attitude to the value of digital stuff that brings new things to them. I may not agree with them, but I accept and respect that they have a specific view and are sticking to it.