Ebook price comparisons

[6charlong]

Now that we have four full-size ebookstores to choose from (Kindle, Sony, Barnes and Noble, and eBooks.com), are folks noticing wide variations in prices? So far I'm coming to the conclusion that Sony's bookstore is the most expensive, right up there with eBooks.com. Most interesting has been my perception that the Barnes and Noble pricing has been surprisingly aggressive, and that more often than not it has the best prices (sometimes significantly so).

Unfortunately I have a Sony Reader, so if I wish to read a book on the Reader I am frequently finding myself having to decide to buy the most expensive book. I am interested in purchasing one now, for example, that is $19 through the Sony Store, but only $9.99 at Barnes and Noble--what a difference! At that price it's not difficult deciding on the Barnes and Noble version, and then reading it on my iPhone. But then, if this continues my beloved Sony Reader may end up as one of those unused "gadgets" collecting dust on my shelf.

What are others experiences, are they different from mine?

Going back to Spinoza's original post, I think we are going about this backward. His/her problem is finding books he wants to buy but that the PRS can't render. If our book readers could render every major eBook format we would be free to go to the lowest priced vendor. That's the only way true competition can enter this debate.

I've been appalled at the number of times I've found a book I wanted that was not published in a format my reader could render, thus I was unable to buy it at all. I think that if we're going to try to pressure anyone we should try to pressure the hardware manufacturers to include all the secure formats except Mobipocket (because it won't work if there's another secure format on the same reader) and provide rendering engines for every DRM-free format as well.

ePub is a step in that direction, but there is an enormous backlog of good material that only exists in other, secure formats and will probably never appear in ePub form.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by 6charlong

I think that if we're going to try to pressure anyone we should try to pressure the hardware manufacturers to include all the secure formats except Mobipocket (because it won't work if there's another secure format on the same reader) and provide rendering engines for every DRM-free format as well.

The DRM-free part is certainly doable.


As for DRM first the DRM providers need to make it possible for the device manufacturers.

eReader is in the works, Astak is working to bring it to their readers to go along with the Adobe DRM support they already offer, but it sounds like B&N being new to this arena is slowing the contract down a bit. I would assume once this has been done once (for the Astak devices) it will be an easier and smoother process for other manufacturers. Unless B&N suddenly pulls an Amazon.

MS Lit would be the other big DRM format, but being that MS has basically done nothing with the format for years and given it's current Windows/IE only restrictions I don't think there's much the device manufacturers can do. Unless MS starts up on it again.

[spinoza]

"Going back to Spinoza's original post, I think we are going about this backward. His/her problem is finding books he wants to buy but that the PRS can't render. If our book readers could render every major eBook format we would be free to go to the lowest priced vendor."

This is a good point, but I don't see the marketplace realizing this any time soon. First, the technology is still very much in development, and settling on a general platform would stifle innovation. And second, the competition among ebook manufacturers is still in its infancy.

DRM is a different story. As an author I can understand the need for DRM, and I personally have no problems with a robust DRM as long as I can control the books I own. The early DRM schemes like the MS Reader were atrocious abominations. Other schemes like iTunes and the Sony DRM, on the other hand, I have found reasonable since they allow me to control what devices I use through my account. As long as I can deauthorize devices I no longer own or use, I'm satisfied.

So until all this plays out, I foresee a proliferation of formats and pricing schemes, and it will take consumers some real "ebook savvy" to navigate the waters and to find the best prices. Communities like this forum, in which we can share notes, will keep the publishers and retailers honest.