View Single Post
Old 02-20-2010, 12:10 PM   #48
Elfwreck
Grand Sorcerer
Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Elfwreck ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Elfwreck's Avatar
 
Posts: 5,187
Karma: 25133758
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA
Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)
Quote:
Originally Posted by charleski View Post
Publishers need to move ebooks to the same windowing and discount structure that's used for physical books and they need to apply consistently the ~30% discount that's reasonable given the efficiencies involved. But I don't think they should pander to unreasonable expectations fostered by one retailer.
For the same pricing structure that works for pbooks to be reasonable for ebooks, we need to be able to transfer ownership of the ebooks at will. Need to be able to legally sell them or give them away.

Until we've got that ability, ebooks, regardless of their nifty digital features, are inherently less valuable than pbooks, because they're one-owner purchases. Part of many people's willingness to pay for pbooks hinges on their ability to give it to someone else when they're done.

I might pay $25 for a new hardcover book, which I can share with as many friends as I like, allow my kids to take to school, and if I tire of it, can sell it or give it away. I'm not paying $15 for personal-ownership-only of a few thousand words.
Elfwreck is offline   Reply With Quote