Waterstone's to launch new e-reader

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by Arrghus

................They need to expand more into high quality stationary and gifts, and offer a compelling digital service.......

Ours seem to have some pretty pricey stationary and gifts already !

Well, to my cost-conscious eyes anyway....

Nearly died when told the price of a TINY address book I thought of for a present .....

[charleski]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

If they want it to have an impact, they'll have to do something distinctive.

Waterstones certainly needs to do something about their ebook prices, which are definitely on the high side.

But I think Gaunt is more interesting in trying to leverage the advantage he has with physical stores. If he was really smart he'd bring out a reader with a low-res camera on the back, just enough to allow you to scan a bar-code. So you browse for a book in the store, find one you like, scan the code and hit yes to purchase the ebook. No typing in names, no trying to search on a website, and why should you? You've already found the book you want and you're holding it in your hand. If he wants to 'improve the buying experience' he needs to make the link between browsing in his physical stores and getting the ebook on your reader as quick and easy as possible.

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by charleski

But I think Gaunt is more interesting in trying to leverage the advantage he has with physical stores. If he was really smart he'd bring out a reader with a low-res camera on the back, just enough to allow you to scan a bar-code. So you browse for a book in the store, find one you like, scan the code and hit yes to purchase the ebook. No typing in names, no trying to search on a website, and why should you? You've already found the book you want and you're holding it in your hand. If he wants to 'improve the buying experience' he needs to make the link between browsing in his physical stores and getting the ebook on your reader as quick and easy as possible.

A QR code on the back of the pbook is what every sane publisher has to do, and ASAP... Then again, chances of this happening any time soon...

[Ben Thornton]

When I looked at this in the past, Amazon had a much larger selection. I've changed to buying only from Amazon on the Kindle because it makes life easier - it's just too much hassle (for me) fussing about with multiple sources, moving files around and removing DRM. When I've been unable to get something on Amazon, and I've looked elsewhere, I've not found examples where others have the books available - but mine is a small, arbitrary sample.

[avariel]

I am still waiting for a decently price 8" eink reader.

[Ravensknight]

Originally Posted by avariel

I am still waiting for a decently price 8" eink reader.

Aren't many of us? But with the price difference between a 6, and even a 7 [sony 650 and the 950] inch device, not to mention the ridiculous price of the Kindle DX [which I desperately lust after, but that price!], it just doesn't seem that we'll ever see a "cheaper" large eink device.

I have to wonder why. Why has the kindle come down ALOT! while the DX stays at a premium price? Such a small market perhaps?

[avariel]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

Aren't many of us? But with the price difference between a 6, and even a 7 [sony 650 and the 950] inch device, not to mention the ridiculous price of the Kindle DX [which I desperately lust after, but that price!], it just doesn't seem that we'll ever see a "cheaper" large eink device.

I have to wonder why. Why has the kindle come down ALOT! while the DX stays at a premium price? Such a small market perhaps?

If it is the size of the market. It would naturally be smaller at $380.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Ankh

A QR code on the back of the pbook is what every sane publisher has to do, and ASAP... Then again, chances of this happening any time soon...

Won't the existing barcode do? It uniquely identifies the book, and is readily machine readable. What additional info would you want that a QR code could provide?

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Won't the existing barcode do? It uniquely identifies the book, and is readily machine readable. What additional info would you want that a QR code could provide?

Perhaps something that shows that you got it from them? Otherwise, you could add ebooks by scanning every copy.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I am curious. Is the selection of ebooks in the Amazon UK Kindle store better than the selection of ADE ebooks from places like Waterstone's and WH Smith? The ADE bookstores have been around longer than the Kindle store so I thought they might have a better selection.

Selection aside, other than for price-fixed books, Amazon UK is also considerably cheaper than Waterstones. Of the three current Bestsellers and Recommends on the Waterstone eBook page, 3 are cheaper at Amazon and 1 the same price. Of the 4 Man Booker shortlist books, all 4 are cheaper at Amazon. And we aren't talking a couple of pence cheaper, but £3.99 vs £8.96, for the first book on the Waterstone page (Headhunters by Jo Nesbo), although the other price differences are less than that, but still significant.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Arrghus

Thanks for the heads up! Switched on the wireless now!

You have a wireless?

OT: this sounds great, hopefully epub and the more ebooks and ebook readers the better.

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by kennyc

You have a wireless?

OT: this sounds great, hopefully epub and the more ebooks and ebook readers the better.

Well, we've recently taken to referring to it as the "radio" - but I don't know if it'll catch on really..................

Actually, I started to agree with all of your second bit, kenny, but then realised that way madness lies - if every chain chain churned it's own reader out, we'd be even more confused than some of us are already !

[Mind you, I suppose they'd start offering goodies to get us to pick theirs, so it might prove worthwhile... ]

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Won't the existing barcode do? It uniquely identifies the book, and is readily machine readable. What additional info would you want that a QR code could provide?

It is my understanding that a regular (smart)phone does not work well as barcode reader. QR code apps are available for practically every device with the camera.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Well, we've recently taken to referring to it as the "radio" - but I don't know if it'll catch on really..................

Actually, I started to agree with all of your second bit, kenny, but then realised that way madness lies - if every chain chain churned it's own reader out, we'd be even more confused than some of us are already !

[Mind you, I suppose they'd start offering goodies to get us to pick theirs, so it might prove worthwhile... ]

Goodies are good!

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Ankh

It is my understanding that a regular (smart)phone does not work well as barcode reader. QR code apps are available for practically every device with the camera.

I've had about the same luck/reliability with either but I don't do much with them.