Under the Dome released. We're now officially e-screwed.

[FligMupple]

Originally Posted by Sporadic

Because why would the publishers ever release a new book on launch at $9.99 when they can rake hardcore fans over the coals for a month or two?

It sets a horrible precedent that would actually be worse than staggered releases (which are rare right now)

Hey... what about the "horrible precedent" of the delaying the ebook ENTIRELY FOR 6 WEEKS that you all seem to prefer over other options?

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by FligMupple

Hey... what about the "horrible precedent" of the delaying the ebook ENTIRELY FOR 6 WEEKS that you all seem to prefer over other options?

We (I) don't like that either!

[Sporadic]

Originally Posted by FligMupple

Hey... what about the "horrible precedent" of the delaying the ebook ENTIRELY FOR 6 WEEKS that you all seem to prefer over other options?

Notice how I used the phrase "even worse than" in front of "horrible precedent"?

Let me make it even clearer.

1) Book is delayed for 6 weeks. Rarely happens with new releases.
2) Book is delayed for 6 weeks...that is unless you want to pay them $15-25 more. Potential to be used on every new release since the publishers love $$$ and will do it if they think people are willing to take it.

Yeah, geez, why would that be bad? I paid $200 for a device, I should be able to afford the $25-35 a book for new releases or wait 6 weeks for all of them

[sianon]

Well, the inevitable has occurred and a pirated version has been made available. A very poor scan but it is there none the less. And no I will not reveal where it was sighted even through PM.

[fugazied]

Yes unfortunately we are being 'screwed' at times by retailers and publishers but it is early days and things should get better.

As desertgrandma said, the best way to take action is to wait it out and buy the ebook, money talks to these people.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by fugazied

Yes unfortunately we are being 'screwed' at times by retailers and publishers but it is early days and things should get better.

As desertgrandma said, the best way to take action is to wait it out and buy the ebook, money talks to these people.

indeed. I'm really kind of surprised at people capitulating and buying the hardback now knowing full well that they will get the ebook when it becomes available

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

indeed. I'm really kind of surprised at people capitulating and buying the hardback now knowing full well that they will get the ebook when it becomes available

I'm a big King fan and have many of his books in many formats. I don't do that with any other writer.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I'm a big King fan and have many of his books in many formats. I don't do that with any other writer.

I had meant to put; "with the exception of people who collect and keep the hardbacks" into the post but had bad sushi swimming in my tummy at the time

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I had meant to put; "with the exception of people who collect and keep the hardbacks" into the post but had bad sushi swimming in my tummy at the time

Sorry about the bad sushi.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Sorry about the bad sushi.

easy for you to rofl.... *moan*

[markbot]

Originally Posted by FligMupple

I'm a serious reader, and lover of fiction.

I bought a Sony Reader almost 2 years ago and bought a total of 70 books through the Sony Ebookstore. I got the DX 2 months ago and bought 9 books.

I love buying eBooks and reading them on the DX.

I'm also a big Stephen King fan. But, as I said from a previous post in this forum, I cannot fathom why the ebook version of Under the Dome would be delayed over a month. I read that for The Lost Symbol, 5% of the amazon sales were for the Kindle edition.

But enough rambling.

If, in theory, I wanted to personally protest this stupid delay of the ebook, and get a "pirated" version that can be read on a Kindle, where would I go/look? As someone who has only bought legit ebooks, and will continue to buy non-King ebooks, I don't know where to look. I thought I would ask here first.

Any help would be appreciated.

stealing Intellectual property IS STEALING.

[llurgy]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I have not seen this at all with the majority of the ebooks I purchase. There have been delays in price dropping but release delays have been rare. The last one I recall was the last Stephanie Meyer book which was released 1 day later. I believe the Ted Kennedy and Sarah Palin books are delayed as well (who cares) and maybe a few more but it's still more of exception than a rule. I for one DO NOT want this to become habit.



Why the heck would I want to pay more on release day than I am now? Why would you want to promote a higher price across the board. I don't get it.



Just because it has been that way with pbooks doesn't mean we should carry on doing the same thing with ebooks



I still think this is a horrible idea.

My examples were random but also totally related to the Stephen King ebook release. I wouldn't like for there to be jumps in price of new releases, I was just asking why it seem to be so unbelievable for people to pay more for a new release in ebook format when we have been doing so with hardback/paperback for generations.

[llurgy]

Originally Posted by Sporadic

Notice how I used the phrase "even worse than" in front of "horrible precedent"?

Let me make it even clearer.

1) Book is delayed for 6 weeks. Rarely happens with new releases.
2) Book is delayed for 6 weeks...that is unless you want to pay them $15-25 more. Potential to be used on every new release since the publishers love $$$ and will do it if they think people are willing to take it.

Yeah, geez, why would that be bad? I paid $200 for a device, I should be able to afford the $25-35 a book for new releases or wait 6 weeks for all of them

The main difference between 1 and 2.
Option 1: You have no choices what-so-ever.
Option 2: You can vote with your wallet to wait until the cost comes down.

With option 1 there is no choice and therefore no feedback to the publisher.
With option 2 there is a choice and therefore feedback to the publisher

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by llurgy

I was just asking why it seem to be so unbelievable for people to pay more for a new release in ebook format when we have been doing so with hardback/paperback for generations.

For all the same reasons an ebook and pbook should NOT be priced the same, no matter if it is a new release or back catalog.

[Littermate]

Originally Posted by Sporadic

This type of discussion isn't allowed here as far as I know.

That said, the only way a pirated copy of Under The Dome will turn up before the ebook release is if somebody scans and OCRs the entire hardback. It will take some serious time (I've experimented with other books and a 213 page book took me about 5 hours straight to scan with a flatbed scanner and to fix some of the formatting before sending it to my Kindle. And that's a rough copy without proofreading which would require a readthrough) and I would be surprised to see it before the December 24th belated digital release.

I read that the dodgy e-book of Dan Browns "Lost Symbol" was out on the same day as its paper release, if not before. (I know the official e-book was out the same day too, but the dodgy copies were apparently not based on those.) Serious scanners will dismantle the book into loose pages and feed them through the scanner with a sheet feeder. Also, leaks are quite frequent and, though the publishers try to keep tight hold on documents, they often find their way out anyway. So expect dark copies to be floating around very quickly. There is a lot of kudos to be had by being the first sharer/pirate/criminal to put out a copy.

I really don't understand the thinking behind the e-book delay other than an attempt to maximize profits, but I cant see any real effect of doing it other than to annoy those who buy e-books, and indeed drive them to look for other sources, as witnessed here. In my opinion its just the same lack of understanding, and fear, of digital media that physical media producers are feeling, perhaps with some justification, but change is life and life is change. Stagnant ponds die.