Why are ebooks so expensive?

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by nrapallo

OK, let's have a show (wave) of hands...

Who's older than Jeff Bezos and readily embraces new technology but more particularly is "into" ebook readers...

Count me in...

I am so old I even understand my avatar.

Dale

[nrapallo]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I am so old I even understand my avatar.

Dale

Circa 1439? Wow, that's got me beat...

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I don't see an ebook reader competing with a book. I see it competing with a bookcase, so as long as the price is competitive with a bookcase then they will do alright.

I am pretty sure "ebook" on this thread is talking about the content not the container. eBook readers are certainly expensive but it is a one time expense and the price will come down as the market expands and the technology improves, as is true with all tech.

It is the ebook (file) that is being complained about as expensive. Actuallly, most tech ebook sellers recognize that the ebook should cost less. Both Manning and Pragmatic sell tech books. The PDF only version is usually $10-$15 less than the shipped pbook.

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by nrapallo

OK, let's have a show (wave) of hands...

Who's older than Jeff Bezos and readily embraces new technology but more particularly is "into" ebook readers...

Count me in...

Me for another. Why are why talking about youngsters like Mr. Bezos?

[Penforhire]

Count me in with the older crowd who are into e-readers. But I recognize myself as a geek.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Alfy

Nope, I'm not. But I guess YOU are over 40!

First off, I was mainly talking about the people over 50, and yes, I would readily admit there will be a number of exceptions. But come on, MOST of the people over 50 are not tech-savy in the broader sense. They might learn how to use any device, but it is not as much a part of their lives. Think of it: who would have thought 20 years ago you would go to your computer to buy a BOOK??? For me, it's perfectly normal. For my parents, it's science fiction.

However, and in order to show respect for age, I have edited my post above.

When I started in programming in the mid '80's, I drew up the schematics for an electronic book with two display screens that was approximately the size of a paperback book. I was trying to combine my two favorite pastimes, computers and reading. Unfortunately, raising children and a shift in careers got in the way, so I filed the schematics in an old "Great Ideas" folder! I was thrilled when my husband brought home my ebookwise-1150 2 years ago, although a bit disappointed that it took so long for the technology to be developed at a cost I could afford!

As a side note, my parents are in their mid-seventies and are definitely part of the technology movement. They both own laptops and ipods and spend a good amount of time using both devices. My mother loves her digital camera and rarely calls for technical support!!

As an educator, I try to encourage a love of reading in my students, but the battle against hand-held video games is making that increasingly difficult. Don't blame education for the lack of interest in reading - we do our best, but a book just doesn't have that same level of instant gratification as Pokemon, Kingdom Hearts, etc!

Oh and !!
kaz

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I don't think they will even have to get cheaper. I foresee textbooks moving to primarily electronic format at Universities in the next five years. This will create a rapidly growing public awareness of ebooks.

I don't see an ebook reader competing with a book. I see it competing with a bookcase, so as long as the price is competitive with a bookcase then they will do alright.

=

I totally agree on both points. I think devices will come down in price as a matter of course and more consumers will have them. They will likely be multifunction rather than dedicated readers so even occasional readers and people who read mostly magazines would find them attractive. Then there is, as you say, textbooks. Once students are reading on them for school it will seem the natural thing to do for that generation.

I also see the price as competing with a bookcase, even better since it takes up so much less space in my house. Hence I didn't bat an eye at paying $400. I don't think that's a common view, though. It seems most people think of it as a book. I can't tell you how many comments I've seen on sites like Gizmodo & Engadget to the effect of "Books are cheap and portable. Why do I need to spend that kind of money for a portable device to read them." I guess maybe these folks houses do not overfloweth with bookcases they way mine does.

Count me in the "get off my lawn" crowd. But more telling is the large number of members of the generation or two BEFORE me that also are ebookers. But they may not count so much for this informal poll since they are also mostly tech illiterate.

Then how can they be big digital reading fans? Easy. They don't see it as tech, they see it as another book. You know: hardback, paperback, trade paperback, audio, ebook. (I'm not a big Kindle fan but DO fully endorse it for many people if nothing else for the ease of getting books. I have explained the DRM limits to them before but the general opinion is "So? I'll probably be in the ground before they get a chance to change it." You gotta love smart-alecy oldsters.) As long as they can just click, pay and read, they're happy. (And for more than a few, ebooks are the ONLY way they can read again, curse bad mobility and/or failing eyes.)

[Alisa]

My sister isn't near ready for the AARP yet, but she's a proud luddite. She is nervous at the idea of getting books from her computer to a device but she loves the Kindle because it just works. She has fibromyalgia so some days holding a book is just too much. The Kindle is so much easier for her. Lots of older folks deal with these sorts of mobility and chronic pain issues, too. I know ebook readers also appeal to folks that are losing their eyesight. Add to that the fact that, in general, older folks are more likely to read books than the youngins (or folks somewhere in the middle, like me) and I think there's a real market here.

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

1 – editors hate eBooks, they do not want them, they do not like them, they see them as a danger and not as an opportunity, they fly from eBooks they would do from the plague;

2 – to help kill eBooks at birth, editors have tried everything and more, they have put from the first time on eBooks at prices far superior to hardbacks, they have supported, and even tried to invent as many different formats as they can – more formats = more confusion = less credibility = eBooks as a concept die -, they have begun online Bookshops, and then close them 6/12 moths later letting costumers in the cold… everything and more to show that eBooks is a error, no one wants them etc… etc… etc…

3 – editors cry out for more and more restrictive DRM, they can not live without it (they say) and we can not live without it (they also say!) and in the day DRM eBooks stop to exists anarchy will install itself in the world, writers will die of starvation, or plain stop writing because the thiefs all around the world will stop to pay for the beloved eBooks, and the book universe will stop to exist;

None of that is true, in my experience. Editors don't do anything of these things. Do you really think editors are the ones responsible for all these formats? It's the business brains, not the editors. Editors want the books they edit out in as many ways as possible. Not all editors understand ebooks, true. But I've never met an editor for whom a single allegation stated above is true.

Ebooks are a different model, and it's taking time for publishers, not editors, to learn the right way to do it. It can't happen overnight.

[Boston]

My mother is in her mid-70s.

She would not be using her eBook reader if it it required a computer (or was hard to use).

And back to the original topic: she is more sensitive to the price of ebooks than I am.

[Alfy]

Originally Posted by kazbates

When I started in programming in the mid '80's, I drew up the schematics for an electronic book with two display screens that was approximately the size of a paperback book. I was trying to combine my two favorite pastimes, computers and reading. Unfortunately, raising children and a shift in careers got in the way, so I filed the schematics in an old "Great Ideas" folder! I was thrilled when my husband brought home my ebookwise-1150 2 years ago, although a bit disappointed that it took so long for the technology to be developed at a cost I could afford!

As a side note, my parents are in their mid-seventies and are definitely part of the technology movement. They both own laptops and ipods and spend a good amount of time using both devices. My mother loves her digital camera and rarely calls for technical support!!

As an educator, I try to encourage a love of reading in my students, but the battle against hand-held video games is making that increasingly difficult. Don't blame education for the lack of interest in reading - we do our best, but a book just doesn't have that same level of instant gratification as Pokemon, Kingdom Hearts, etc!

Oh and !!
kaz

I still balk at the idea that people over 50 are as tech savvy as younger people. however, it is pretty logical that anyone who is and has embraced eBooks would be present on this forum!

Also, I realize that, if the figures concerning the lack of interest for reading among younger generations are true, eBooks would be a technology addressed to more mature people. And finally, although American myself, I live in Europe, where there's usually a 2 to 5 years gap when it comes to high tech. Might be another reason why I feel my reality is different...

[DDHarriman]

Hi Starriger

Probably this is a question of semantics, In my country (and my language) editors and publishers are synonymous, or if you want, we do not have the term publishers, just Editors.

The Editors I know, are entrepreneurs, some have begun as writers but abandoned the activity long time ago, who are the owners of Publishing companies and make contracts with authors to publish their books, and thus, are the administrators, and for a period of time, “owners” of the “option” to publish in what format they desire, or not, republish or nor, etc… etc… etc…

So, I apologise in advance if I helped to create a confusion.

Still, and having clarified it, I stay completely by what I have said: all Editors I know are exactly how I describe them in my post.

You are right, change does not come in a day… but… eBooks are here for more then 10 years now (PDF is from the last century, Microsoft Reader is from 2000, Mobipocket is a evolution from the early palm reading texts as eReader is, and palm is from the last century too…).

It’s more than enough time for any business to thrive or die!
(If someone in the meddle is not torpedoing it, of course……………..)

Best regards,

[griffonwing]

I also have hundreds of ebooks that I downloaded free from deals or free sites like gutenberg. Thankfully, all of my books are non-DRM, and are in TXT, HTML or PDF format. All the really good books, classics, vintage stories. Excellent reads.

Unfortunately, I have yet to purchase a reader due to unforseen job prospects. It will most likely be a couple months before I have any disposable income.

That being said, were I able to actively purchase and read ebooks, the most I would pay would be between 6 and 10 bucks.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

I also have hundreds of ebooks that I downloaded free from deals or free sites like gutenberg. Thankfully, all of my books are non-DRM, and are in TXT, HTML or PDF format. All the really good books, classics, vintage stories. Excellent reads.

Unfortunately, I have yet to purchase a reader due to unforseen job prospects. It will most likely be a couple months before I have any disposable income.

That being said, were I able to actively purchase and read ebooks, the most I would pay would be between 6 and 10 bucks.

Griffonwing!! Neighbor!!! Well, used to be........I lived in Mountain Home for 12 years....welcome!