What is the greatest threat to the publishing industry (mark II)?

JSWolf · 08-11-2009, 06:03 PM

I'm redoing the poll since the original poll wasn't setup quite right (IMHO).

Phogg · 08-11-2009, 06:14 PM

Forums that help readers to find good amateur writing.

And authors who outsource editing for a flat fee then market and distribute their work themselves.

delphidb96 · 08-11-2009, 07:16 PM

Complacency on the part of the publishers. By that I mean their willingness to ignore the ebook marketplace and keep on doing things the same old way.

I notice that, as of my votes, "Piracy" has zero votes. Too bad the publishers (the big ones) won't notice the poll.

Derek

Moejoe · 08-11-2009, 11:29 PM

Dan Brown

dmaul1114 · 08-12-2009, 02:18 AM

I still think it's really the continued rise of other forms of media. Reading has been declining for years with TV, Movies, Video Games, the Internet (still reading, but not so much novels, magazines etc.).

As the more interactive/visual media continue to become more popular sales of novels etc. will decline. People are working more hours, spending time on social networking sites, etc. etc. which just leaves less time for curling up with a book. It will never die, but I can't see any large scale resurgence.

And I'm as guilty as many my age (30) or younger. I do more leisure reading than most of my friends, but still only 30-60 minutes before sleeping a few nights a week as I'd rather do something social or veg out with TV/Movie/Video games after a long day at work vs. reading for a prolonged period of time. Especially since I do a lot of reading at work, being in academia.

Andybaby · 08-12-2009, 02:54 AM

Let me break it down

The Publishers 17 65.38%
They are a big problem, using backwards practices. (like not keeping the digital text. it's a 50kb file, they could store an authors life work on a damn floppy disk) as well as slow adoption of new technologies, and alot of dead weight.

Tower of eBable (too many formats is confusing) 10 38.46%
For the average person this isn't a problem. if you buy a kindle, you will only buy from the kindle store.

Content not available 11 42.31%
How can you expect to make money if you don't sell?

High prices 15 57.69%
there will be a revolution in pricing, $10 seems to be the sweet spot $6 for paperback type of books, the type of books that never see hardcover

Pirates 1 3.85%
no one goes from buying books to piracy. instead try to get pirates to go to buying stuff by making things cheap and easy. you wont win them all though.

DRM 15 57.69%
this isn't gonna matter in the long run, DRM isn't something people should worry about. a book store will win eventually. Sony is making a push, but I honestly don't see how amazon could loose.

Geographical restrictions 8 30.77%
if your not in america tough luck, your not supposed to have the reader either. if you have anyone to blame its your own country, VAT? are you kidding me. why arent there any authors from your own country that you like? why are you mussing around here for? stop looking at amazon.com and look at bookstores in your own country. stop reading the NYtimes and read your slovak press, or whatever, you cant be mad at geographical restictions if you don't know the book exists.

dmaul1114 · 08-12-2009, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

Tower of eBable (too many formats is confusing) 10 38.46%
For the average person this isn't a problem. if you buy a kindle, you will only buy from the kindle store.

Exactly, I'm having this argument in another thread.

Format's are moot. Once a device comes out that is the cool "must have" device like the iPod and starts selling like crazy, that format will win.

The Average Joe doesn't give a crap about these nerd wars over which format is best etc. They'll buy the hyped device and get all their content from it, just like people bought iPods and all their songs from iTunes and never knew anything about AAC, DRM etc.

The people who do care about formats etc. never determine the success of devices and formats. That's on the joe six pack casual users who don't buy devices based on those, but on hype and ease of use etc.

AprilHare · 08-12-2009, 04:52 AM

OK, put up your hand if you blamed the pirates..

BenG · 08-12-2009, 11:04 AM

I chose publishers. Many of the other choices could be fixed by the publishers.

anappo · 08-12-2009, 08:39 PM

> if your not in america tough luck, your not supposed to have the reader either.

This was a joke?

Kostas · 08-12-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anappo

> if your not in america tough luck, your not supposed to have the reader either.

This was a joke?

I don't think so. If youd don't live in the states (+ Canada ?) you're not supposed to legally have a kindle and buy ebooks at amazon, sony library and most of the major ebook sites...

corroonb · 08-12-2009, 09:02 PM

I think the plethora of formats is the biggest problem. There are few areas where I have seen so many formats as with ebooks. Look at DVDs, Blu-Ray, MP3, PB books, JPEG etc.

I think there is room for specialist formats but there should be a standard one.

carlobee · 08-12-2009, 11:19 PM

i'd go with Tower of eBable. too many formats is indeed very confusing. the competition is widespread which could also mean that anyone can be anything in this world right now.

ficbot · 08-12-2009, 11:19 PM

Canada can buy the Sony and content, just not the Kindle.

fugazied · 08-13-2009, 01:26 AM

The greatest threat and biggest opportunity is the Internet

Also I think DRM is a threat to the publishing industry.

Really it's quite simple, they just need to provide material to consumers at a reasonable cost, make the ebooks easy to obtain, have a sufficient range of ebooks and make licensing flexible enough so you can use them like you would have used a paper book (able to share a book with a friend once you have finished with it). At the moment DRM acts as an impediment to the uptake of ebooks.

View Poll Results: What is the greatest threat to the publishing industry?
The Publishers	47	53.41%
Tower of eBable (too many formats is confusing)	31	35.23%
Content not available	30	34.09%
High prices	36	40.91%
Pirates	4	4.55%
DRM	45	51.14%
Geographical restrictions	24	27.27%
Other (please specify in a message)	4	4.55%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

08-11-2009, 06:03 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What is the greatest threat to the publishing industry (mark II)? I'm redoing the poll since the original poll wasn't setup quite right (IMHO).

08-12-2009, 09:02 PM	#12
corroonb Addict Posts: 317 Karma: 1232685 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura, Nexus 9	I think the plethora of formats is the biggest problem. There are few areas where I have seen so many formats as with ebooks. Look at DVDs, Blu-Ray, MP3, PB books, JPEG etc. I think there is room for specialist formats but there should be a standard one. Last edited by corroonb; 08-12-2009 at 09:19 PM.

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08-11-2009, 06:14 PM	#2
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	Forums that help readers to find good amateur writing. And authors who outsource editing for a flat fee then market and distribute their work themselves.

08-11-2009, 07:16 PM	#3
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	Complacency on the part of the publishers. By that I mean their willingness to ignore the ebook marketplace and keep on doing things the same old way. I notice that, as of my votes, "Piracy" has zero votes. Too bad the publishers (the big ones) won't notice the poll. Derek

08-11-2009, 11:29 PM	#4
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Dan Brown

08-12-2009, 02:18 AM	#5
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I still think it's really the continued rise of other forms of media. Reading has been declining for years with TV, Movies, Video Games, the Internet (still reading, but not so much novels, magazines etc.). As the more interactive/visual media continue to become more popular sales of novels etc. will decline. People are working more hours, spending time on social networking sites, etc. etc. which just leaves less time for curling up with a book. It will never die, but I can't see any large scale resurgence. And I'm as guilty as many my age (30) or younger. I do more leisure reading than most of my friends, but still only 30-60 minutes before sleeping a few nights a week as I'd rather do something social or veg out with TV/Movie/Video games after a long day at work vs. reading for a prolonged period of time. Especially since I do a lot of reading at work, being in academia.

08-12-2009, 02:54 AM	#6
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	Let me break it down The Publishers 17 65.38% They are a big problem, using backwards practices. (like not keeping the digital text. it's a 50kb file, they could store an authors life work on a damn floppy disk) as well as slow adoption of new technologies, and alot of dead weight. Tower of eBable (too many formats is confusing) 10 38.46% For the average person this isn't a problem. if you buy a kindle, you will only buy from the kindle store. Content not available 11 42.31% How can you expect to make money if you don't sell? High prices 15 57.69% there will be a revolution in pricing, $10 seems to be the sweet spot $6 for paperback type of books, the type of books that never see hardcover Pirates 1 3.85% no one goes from buying books to piracy. instead try to get pirates to go to buying stuff by making things cheap and easy. you wont win them all though. DRM 15 57.69% this isn't gonna matter in the long run, DRM isn't something people should worry about. a book store will win eventually. Sony is making a push, but I honestly don't see how amazon could loose. Geographical restrictions 8 30.77% if your not in america tough luck, your not supposed to have the reader either. if you have anyone to blame its your own country, VAT? are you kidding me. why arent there any authors from your own country that you like? why are you mussing around here for? stop looking at amazon.com and look at bookstores in your own country. stop reading the NYtimes and read your slovak press, or whatever, you cant be mad at geographical restictions if you don't know the book exists.

08-12-2009, 04:52 AM	#8
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	OK, put up your hand if you blamed the pirates..

08-12-2009, 11:04 AM	#9
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	I chose publishers. Many of the other choices could be fixed by the publishers.

08-12-2009, 08:39 PM	#10
anappo Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 247 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Device: Cybook Gen3	> if your not in america tough luck, your not supposed to have the reader either. This was a joke?

08-12-2009, 11:19 PM	#13
carlobee Fanatic Posts: 535 Karma: 972 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: The new iPad	i'd go with Tower of eBable. too many formats is indeed very confusing. the competition is widespread which could also mean that anyone can be anything in this world right now.

08-12-2009, 11:19 PM	#14
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Canada can buy the Sony and content, just not the Kindle.

08-13-2009, 01:26 AM	#15
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	The greatest threat and biggest opportunity is the Internet Also I think DRM is a threat to the publishing industry. Really it's quite simple, they just need to provide material to consumers at a reasonable cost, make the ebooks easy to obtain, have a sufficient range of ebooks and make licensing flexible enough so you can use them like you would have used a paper book (able to share a book with a friend once you have finished with it). At the moment DRM acts as an impediment to the uptake of ebooks.