Jerry Pournelle on the Kindle DX

[sirbruce]

But unfortunately JKR doesn't need the pennies or the pounds.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

But unfortunately JKR doesn't need the pennies or the pounds.

She did when she first started.

See, this is the thing. She wrote good books. But she wrote books so large that they were a complete and royal *PAIN* to lug around. Clearly, the later books in the series were designed, designed I say, to be released in ebook format, yet she pissed off so MANY people by ignoring ebook marketing options.

Her loss.

Derek

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by zerospinboson

Not to flame overly much, but Rowling has sold more books than most writers in the world, pretty much only being eclipsed by God. And she thinks the opposite (and does so quite forcefully, hiring a billion lawyers to try to make sure she will stay off-line (I imagine because she got some sort of sweet deal on hardbacks?)), seemingly quite afraid of ebooks. Is it just that she doesn't have a blog about her thoughts that's making you choose to read Pournelle's instead, or are you interested in his opinion for another reason than his book sales?

It's that she has no clue about technology. Have you ever watched any of the interviews with her? If not hunt around YouTube. She comes across as a very nice person, just she is a complete technophobe because she does not understand it in any way. But hey, we all have our talents, but I do not see how she is relevant here. She has offered no opinion on the Kindle or any other ebook device. So, introducing JKR is not germane to the conversation beyond the lack of her work being out in ebook format.

Jerry has been in the tech industry since before it was a real. If you have not been reading him for the TWO DECADES he has worked as a tech author, you really are under informed about why people place so much trust his opinions and observations. He has an interesting ability of divining not only what tech works and what doesn't but also in presenting it in a way that encourages delving into the issue to learn more and form your own viewpoint. I guess you could call him the anti-Oprah.

[pking36330]

Originally Posted by zerospinboson

... but Rowling has sold more books than most writers in the world, pretty much only being eclipsed by God. And she thinks the opposite [about ebooks]...

Her distaste for ebooks is ironic since she describes e-Ink newspapers in her Harry Potter books and they are portrayed in the Harry Potter movies.

[LazyScot]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Rowling ebooks, 2nd link in Google:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...020400654.html

Thanks for the link. It's interesting that its a lawyer for her agency speaking on her behalf. It is probably, as you say, her opinion, but I was wondering if anyone had quoted her directly, or about her view on ebooks generally.

[sirbruce]

Originally Posted by LazyScot

Thanks for the link. It's interesting that its a lawyer for her agency speaking on her behalf. It is probably, as you say, her opinion, but I was wondering if anyone had quoted her directly, or about her view on ebooks generally.

Supposedly what she said DIRECTLY is that there are no ebooks in Harry Potter's world, so the books don't belong in such a format. This despite the fact that there are Harry Potter movies, video games, and other toys. However I can't find a direct source to this quote so I didn't mention it.

She's an old fuddy-duddy is what she is.

[fugazied]

Good to see an author really responding positively to the devices and mentioning the additional sales of back catalogue. Some authors might be seeing a large increase as people get their favourites as ebooks.