Any vendors offer a combination package of paper and electronic?

dcopeland · 12-09-2010, 10:31 AM

I'm a book-lover with a library of several thousand volumes. For most works I will continue to prefer hardbound volumes, but I recognize the utility of digital format especially for travel. So I'm considering buying a reader to use for that purpose. For some titles the electronic version would be enough but for others I would be attracted to a combined package of hardcover for the permanent shelf plus electronic for travel. As best I can tell all vendors I can find would require me to purchase the hardcover and electronic versions separately. Does anyone know of a vendor that would offer a less expensive combination package?

varelov · 12-09-2010, 12:25 PM

Vendor not, but genre, yes. Many IT titles come with media included behind the back cover, either CD or DVD and very often it contains the e-version of that book. Always PDF format though.

avantman42 · 12-09-2010, 12:52 PM

O'Reilly offer print/ebook bundles:
http://oreilly.com/

They've traditionally published IT books, but I think nowadays they cover other non-fiction topics as well. Their e-books are generally available in several formats, none of which have DRM.

wallcraft · 12-09-2010, 07:49 PM

It is currently rare, but Google has included the capability to offer a discounted ebook bundled with a physical book. See Getting started with Google eBooks, which is for Google Books partners. Amazon has been quick to copy any feature of other ebook sellers that gains traction, but it isn't yet clear if publishers will actually offer bundles. One issue is probably what cut authors get on a bundle.

desertgrandma · 12-09-2010, 08:08 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, dcopeland.

SensualPoet · 12-09-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcopeland

I'm a book-lover with a library of several thousand volumes. For most works I will continue to prefer hardbound volumes, but I recognize the utility of digital format especially for travel. So I'm considering buying a reader to use for that purpose. For some titles the electronic version would be enough but for others I would be attracted to a combined package of hardcover for the permanent shelf plus electronic for travel. As best I can tell all vendors I can find would require me to purchase the hardcover and electronic versions separately. Does anyone know of a vendor that would offer a less expensive combination package?

I mean no offence whatsoever. This is a highly, highly niche audience. Essentially, you are asking for digital rights to something you are buying in a physical format, and are willing to pay some premium for the privilege. There is no simple mechanism that could fulfill that. Buy Book X at Borders but want the digital rights for an Amazon Kindle edition ... and so on.

You ought to continue to enjoy your physical books, and acquire digital editions when that makes sense for how you use them, and investigate borrowing ebooks from your library, if available, and explore the incredibly rich public domain titles for your ereader.

Catlady · 12-09-2010, 09:47 PM

I'd love to buy physical copies of backlist titles along with digital copies. I have ancient paperbacks that I'd like to replace, yet now I want e-books as well. It would be great to get a discount, say, if I bought an the same title as an e-book and a physical book at the same time. Or if they were packaged together--like the way Disney, for example, packages Blu-rays with standard DVDs with digital copies. That entices me to upgrade my Disney collection, and would influence my book buying as well.

JeremyZ · 12-10-2010, 09:45 PM

Hardbound volumes are better for a collection. Prettier to look at and smell. Nice tactile sensations.

But for pure reading, nothing beats an e-book reader.

A lot of us start to convert pretty quickly to electronic after we get readers. I'm not throwing out my FAVORITE hardcovers, but the rest of them are just gone. They take up too much space.

Give a Kindle a try, and I bet you only buy your absolute favorites in hardcover again.

ebusinesstutor · 12-10-2010, 10:03 PM

I think a discounted offer of a physical book plus say 30% to 50% more to get the e-book version as well would be excellent and would sell a lot more books and ebooks.

crossi · 12-11-2010, 07:21 PM

Most people wouldn't buy both versions at full price but might pay extra for both versions. This would increase the income of both the publisher and author. The only concern would be people buying the set then selling the paper version.

lene1949 · 12-12-2010, 02:35 AM

I wouldn't want a paper copy of my ebooks.. The reason I read ebooks is to save on physical space... I do buy good quality hard back books every couple of years from The Folio Society - mostly history and reference books... They look fantastic on my book shelves, and I enjoy handling them. The quality is fantastic - right from the paper to the binding..

My most recent bought paperbacks - before 2005 - I found were such a poor quality they couldn't cope with 2 readings before pages became loose - and I have always treated all of my possessions with great care.

EricLandes · 12-12-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lene1949

I wouldn't want a paper copy of my ebooks.

I believe the request was the reverse - an e-version of a paper book.

That said, I've only seen it from computer book publishers. The aforementioned O'Reilly, Packt, and APress (I think) do this. Usually, it's print for X, e-book for 80% X, or both for 120% X. (i.e. heavy discount on the ebook when you buy the bundle.)

Lemurion · 12-12-2010, 01:56 PM

Lots of RPG publishers bundle PDFs with their hardcopy rulebooks - you can usually buy either format separately or both together at a discount.

ATDrake · 12-12-2010, 02:06 PM

Technically, when you buy one of Baen's hardcover sf/fantasy books which come with the bonus CD, this happens. But this only applies to a small set of their titles, although the contents of the CD (often a significant chunk of the author's Baen works + some extras) are more than worth the cost of the hardback.

Also, welcome to MobileRead!

Ankh · 12-12-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Technically, when you buy one of Baen's hardcover sf/fantasy books which come with the bonus CD, this happens. But this only applies to a small set of their titles, although the contents of the CD (often a significant chunk of the author's Baen works + some extras) are more than worth the cost of the hardback.

First, I agree with you that content of the CD is always a generous addition. But when it comes to CD containing the electronic version of the book that it is bundled with, that's not always the case.
For example, Cryoburn CD comes with Cryoburn ebook. 1635:The Eastern Front has only the sample. Mission of Honor has ARC version of the book...

Considering that they are allowing free distribution of CD content, opening up the latest title for free download is a strange decision, IMHO.

12-09-2010, 10:31 AM	#1
dcopeland Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: kindle	Any vendors offer a combination package of paper and electronic? I'm a book-lover with a library of several thousand volumes. For most works I will continue to prefer hardbound volumes, but I recognize the utility of digital format especially for travel. So I'm considering buying a reader to use for that purpose. For some titles the electronic version would be enough but for others I would be attracted to a combined package of hardcover for the permanent shelf plus electronic for travel. As best I can tell all vendors I can find would require me to purchase the hardcover and electronic versions separately. Does anyone know of a vendor that would offer a less expensive combination package?

12-10-2010, 09:45 PM	#8
JeremyZ Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 1000702 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Nook ST, Kindle 2, Samsung Galaxy Stellar phone	Are you a book collector or a book reader? Hardbound volumes are better for a collection. Prettier to look at and smell. Nice tactile sensations. But for pure reading, nothing beats an e-book reader. A lot of us start to convert pretty quickly to electronic after we get readers. I'm not throwing out my FAVORITE hardcovers, but the rest of them are just gone. They take up too much space. Give a Kindle a try, and I bet you only buy your absolute favorites in hardcover again.

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12-09-2010, 12:25 PM	#2
varelov Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 1590 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: nook	Vendor not, but genre, yes. Many IT titles come with media included behind the back cover, either CD or DVD and very often it contains the e-version of that book. Always PDF format though.

12-09-2010, 12:52 PM	#3
avantman42 Wizard Posts: 1,090 Karma: 6058305 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite	O'Reilly offer print/ebook bundles: http://oreilly.com/ They've traditionally published IT books, but I think nowadays they cover other non-fiction topics as well. Their e-books are generally available in several formats, none of which have DRM.

12-09-2010, 07:49 PM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	It is currently rare, but Google has included the capability to offer a discounted ebook bundled with a physical book. See Getting started with Google eBooks, which is for Google Books partners. Amazon has been quick to copy any feature of other ebook sellers that gains traction, but it isn't yet clear if publishers will actually offer bundles. One issue is probably what cut authors get on a bundle.

12-09-2010, 08:08 PM	#5
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, dcopeland.

12-09-2010, 09:47 PM	#7
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'd love to buy physical copies of backlist titles along with digital copies. I have ancient paperbacks that I'd like to replace, yet now I want e-books as well. It would be great to get a discount, say, if I bought an the same title as an e-book and a physical book at the same time. Or if they were packaged together--like the way Disney, for example, packages Blu-rays with standard DVDs with digital copies. That entices me to upgrade my Disney collection, and would influence my book buying as well.

12-10-2010, 10:03 PM	#9
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I think a discounted offer of a physical book plus say 30% to 50% more to get the e-book version as well would be excellent and would sell a lot more books and ebooks.

12-11-2010, 07:21 PM	#10
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	Most people wouldn't buy both versions at full price but might pay extra for both versions. This would increase the income of both the publisher and author. The only concern would be people buying the set then selling the paper version.

12-12-2010, 02:35 AM	#11
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I wouldn't want a paper copy of my ebooks.. The reason I read ebooks is to save on physical space... I do buy good quality hard back books every couple of years from The Folio Society - mostly history and reference books... They look fantastic on my book shelves, and I enjoy handling them. The quality is fantastic - right from the paper to the binding.. My most recent bought paperbacks - before 2005 - I found were such a poor quality they couldn't cope with 2 readings before pages became loose - and I have always treated all of my possessions with great care.

12-12-2010, 01:56 PM	#13
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Lots of RPG publishers bundle PDFs with their hardcopy rulebooks - you can usually buy either format separately or both together at a discount.

12-12-2010, 02:06 PM	#14
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Technically, when you buy one of Baen's hardcover sf/fantasy books which come with the bonus CD, this happens. But this only applies to a small set of their titles, although the contents of the CD (often a significant chunk of the author's Baen works + some extras) are more than worth the cost of the hardback. Also, welcome to MobileRead!

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