How do you plan to wait out the coming ebook shakedown?

[birdbrainbb]

Originally Posted by meaghm00

Just got through reading all these interesting comments. I love my ebooks but find it frustrating that many old classic mystery works (by authors like Michael Innes, Margery Allingham, Arthur Upfield etc.) are simply not available. I long for a system whereby we can acquire these titles "on demand".

Same here! But I especially want more electronic copies of the little-known Victorian detective novels, because I think they're a lot of fun to read but they're impossible to get in paper format without spending oodles of money (or getting lucky in a thrift store or something). Project Gutenberg's got some, but it's not enough! *wah wah wah*

[Musette]

Originally Posted by foghat

You won't buy books from certain publishers because you believe they don't give the author enough of a cut. So you feel that no money going to the author (by you not buying their book) is better than a little going their way? I'm sure the authors who signed contracts (which, I suspect, specified what sort of percentage they would receive) with the 'big houses' would agree with your stance.

Yes, something is better than nothing. I agree with that for the most part, but not in this case. Why should I care? My little stance isn't going to change anything.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by birdbrainbb

Same here! But I especially want more electronic copies of the little-known Victorian detective novels, because I think they're a lot of fun to read but they're impossible to get in paper format without spending oodles of money (or getting lucky in a thrift store or something). Project Gutenberg's got some, but it's not enough! *wah wah wah*

Most must be out of copyright, then. Maybe you can help PG out and offer some of yours for digitization. If other fans of the genre do the same, you'll all be better off.

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by meaghm00

Just got through reading all these interesting comments. I love my ebooks but find it frustrating that many old classic mystery works (by authors like Michael Innes, Margery Allingham, Arthur Upfield etc.) are simply not available. I long for a system whereby we can acquire these titles "on demand". I guess I could try to accumulate them in paperback and scan them but I just can't imagine that electronic copies of them don't exist SOMEWHERE. Those are the books I would pay a little more for. New books I can just wait till the prices eventually fall. Oh, and I hate DRM.

Yes, it's interesting to read complaints about pricing etc, when in Australia we can't buy a lot of books at ANY price. I would gladly pay for any of the old John le Carre spy books, Tom Holt, well, I won't list them or I'll be here all day. But no, due to what I consider to be very restrictive trading "deals" they are not available in Australia. It's no wonder people use illegal download sites, it is very tempting to just bypass the system. Our government rants on about "free trade" agreements with other countries but is not so keen to do the same here in Australia.

[eGeezer]

With pbooks, I have always just waited for the paperback. Most of the time I haven't even been aware that a book had been published in hardback. The problem with ebooks is that there isn't a visible distinction.

An ebook is an ebook at $25, and its still an ebook at $4. The only visible change is the price -- if there is ever any change at all, that is.

So I'm with the OP, but my target price is $7. I seldom ever paid more than that for a pbook, so I just won't pay more for an ebook. Lots of good new books, and old books, out there from $0.00 to $7.00 that keep me entertained. And then there is always the library.

As someone said in one of these threads, I don't have a problem buying old classics for $1.00-$3.00 instead of pawing thru 5 copies of the same "compendium" to figure out which one has all of the books implied.

[thrawn_aj]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

True. BUT, once the work is done, you can read it AGAIN! [and as many times as you wish ]

Forgive me but I'm just not seeing the advantage to scanning a pbook over DRM removal of a purchased ebook either for the purpose of (1) making a statement about DRM or for (2) staying perfectly legal. They both seem equally weighted in either aspect (unless I'm missing something?) Or maybe you're only talking about pbooks that don't exist as ebooks at all - in which case this question is entirely moot .

The publishers are still getting paid for one copy of the book - why would they care which one you bought - in that case, are you really hurting their system money-wise? Also, scanning entire books goes against the copyright notice printed on it (and copyright law) about as much as removing DRM does (though both are equally moral in my view as far as fair use is concerned as long as the resultant file is not distributed to anyone else).

Please don't construe this as an attempt to start anything . I'm just interesting in seeing if I've missed some (objective) reason to favor one over the other. If it's just personal choice, I'll be glad to respect that and move along .

[NVash]

I would think theres only one real benefit to either.

DRM - You bought a book and you dont want to use it for just, say, the Kindle. So you rip the DRM off and put it on other things such as your Nook, iPhone or whichever other device.

SCAN - The book is on pback or hardcover but not yet an ebook. The person scanning has gotten tired of waiting and wants to read it on an ereader of their choice so they rip it apart and scan it.

Now I could be wrong but thats the only reason I can think of for either.

[foghat]

Originally Posted by Musette

Yes, something is better than nothing. I agree with that for the most part, but not in this case. Why should I care? My little stance isn't going to change anything.

Just saying, it seems like a misguided reason not to buy books from a given publisher.

If you feel that ebooks are overpriced, fair enough. But to not buy because you think the author is getting ripped off doesn't help anyone. You don't get a book you'd like to read and the author doesn't get anything; even if it is smaller than you think it should be - and really 'you' likely have no idea what the author is getting. I'm sure that even authors signed to same publisher have different deals worked out.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by foghat

Just saying, it seems like a misguided reason not to buy books from a given publisher.

If you feel that ebooks are overpriced, fair enough. But to not buy because you think the author is getting ripped off doesn't help anyone. You don't get a book you'd like to read and the author doesn't get anything; even if it is smaller than you think it should be - and really 'you' likely have no idea what the author is getting. I'm sure that even authors signed to same publisher have different deals worked out.

Of course each deal is individual, but most are "standard" and if we don't push in whatever way we can to encourage more good authors to write and to change this archaic system we are by going along implicitly supporting it.

[foghat]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Of course each deal is individual, but most are "standard" and if we don't push in whatever way we can to encourage more good authors to write and to change this archaic system we are by going along implicitly supporting it.

So the way to "encourage good authors to write and to change this archaic system" is by not buying their books if we feel they are getting a bum deal from their publisher?

I suspect the 'good' (read: established) authors are getting a pretty good cut.

If by 'good', you mean less established authors who truly are good, I doubt they, for the most part, have really any power to change much when it comes to getting publishers to price ebooks and/or pay them differently.

And not buying their books because you don't like how their publisher treats them is certainly not going to help their cause; I suspect the more books they sell, the more power they have to negotiate better terms...

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by foghat

So the way to "encourage good authors to write and to change this archaic system" is by not buying their books if we feel they are getting a bum deal from their publisher?

I suspect the 'good' (read: established) authors are getting a pretty good cut.

If by 'good', you mean less established authors who truly are good, I doubt they, for the most part, have really any power to change much when it comes to getting publishers to price ebooks and/or pay them differently.

And not buying their books because you don't like how their publisher treats them is certainly not going to help their cause; I suspect the more books they sell, the more power they have to negotiate better terms...

No that's not what I mean or what I said.

[foghat]

Originally Posted by kennyc

No that's not what I mean or what I said.

You didn't say, don't buy their books, true enough.

I have reread both the text you quoted me on and your response. I am not sure how to read into your response as anything but an implied 'don't buy their books'.

What were you meaning, as it pertains to your quote of me?

[kennyc]

Didn't say that either.

[foghat]

Didn't say what either?

If you didn't mean to imply, 'don't buy their books' what were you trying to say pertaining to the text you quoted me on?

[Musette]

Originally Posted by foghat

Just saying, it seems like a misguided reason not to buy books from a given publisher.

If you feel that ebooks are overpriced, fair enough. But to not buy because you think the author is getting ripped off doesn't help anyone. You don't get a book you'd like to read and the author doesn't get anything; even if it is smaller than you think it should be - and really 'you' likely have no idea what the author is getting. I'm sure that even authors signed to same publisher have different deals worked out.

There are other options for free reading, though.

Here is a very informative thread that delves into the subject of royalties and such. All over the web there are blog posts from authors sharing their experiences and knowledge (who better to get the information from?) So while exact figures aren't given, the discussions are out there.

Also keep in mind that this is only one reason I wouldn't purchase from the Big Pubs even after they remove DRM - if they remove it. I probably wasn't clear on that point. One could say I can just remove it myself, and I have done that a couple of times but it's not something I'll make a habit out of.