Cory Doctorow: "Hardware ebook readers are a dead end" - Page 7

ePossum · 03-12-2008, 08:43 PM

The idea that the one-device-does-everything idea is the primary factor in determining market demand is overly simplistic - as the range of response in this long, long thread demonstrates!

I think that diminishing resources will become a significant factor in e-book demand over the next few years. If Steve Jobs is wrong about the decline of 'reading' (and I think he is), there will be an upsurge of interest in finding ways to access content that have a smaller ecological footprint than print publishing. The push won't be simply 'ideological' - it will be the reality of increasing regulation around environmental sustainability.

searcher · 03-14-2008, 03:35 AM

At the lunch, Makinson said sales of e-books in the first two months of 2008 are running ahead of the comparable . The Kindle generated a spike in interest, but Genevieve Shore, global digital director for Penguin Group, said sales have come across all devices, with the most sales coming from the Sony Reader. While the number of dedicated e-book readers has proliferated in recent months, Shore said she believes the long-term trend is toward one device that will eventually allow consumers to do a range of things from reading content to making phone calls.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6540505.html

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-14-2008, 06:45 AM

Gee... sounds like a PDA... or a tablet PC.

searcher · 03-14-2008, 09:17 AM

or Readius...

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-14-2008, 01:53 PM

The PW article also mentions Penguin's using the "value-added" approach to e-books, which I think may be a great way to go: Adding reviews, filmographies, illustrations, even recipies, at least make you feel like you're getting a lot for your money (much like the "bonus feature" sets in DVDs, to make it worth buying and not just watching on TV). If you're going to charge $8 for an e-book, all that extra stuff will help. As long as it's something people will enjoy getting.

I remember buying the novelization of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and discovering that the book included photos and production notes from the movie. That kind of extra content is always appreciated, and the more inventive or interesting, the more likely you'll make sales. If it works for DVDs and paper books, why not e-books?

shivan3000 · 12-03-2011, 07:17 PM

I just bought a Nook Simple touch and loaded it with Philip k dick novels and I can't help but think how wonderful this device really is, E ink screens are fantastic to read on and the technology is just going to get better and better. Mass market paperbacks are going to be obsolete...

luqmaninbmore · 12-03-2011, 08:13 PM

Holy thread necromancy, Batman!

elcreative · 12-03-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

Holy thread necromancy, Batman!

As long as it isn't into brain eating as well...

sabredog · 12-03-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

Holy thread necromancy, Batman!

J. Strnad · 12-04-2011, 12:00 AM

"Set the Way Back Machine for 2008, Sherman...."

The Terminator · 12-04-2011, 12:41 AM

Nobody buys CD's at a music store any more.

Kali Yuga · 12-04-2011, 11:40 PM

3 1/2 year old thread... nice

p.s. Doctorow was wrong.

HappyMartin · 12-05-2011, 01:09 AM

Thought I was having another little "moment" there. Scared me.

corona · 12-05-2011, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

3 1/2 year old thread... nice

p.s. Doctorow was wrong.

I thought this was widely regarded as impossible

afa · 12-05-2011, 05:15 AM

On the bright side, this new wave of posts has helped this thread cross the 100 posts mark.

Congrats!

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03-12-2008, 08:43 PM	#91
ePossum Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iliad v.2, Dana Alphasmart	The idea that the one-device-does-everything idea is the primary factor in determining market demand is overly simplistic - as the range of response in this long, long thread demonstrates! I think that diminishing resources will become a significant factor in e-book demand over the next few years. If Steve Jobs is wrong about the decline of 'reading' (and I think he is), there will be an upsurge of interest in finding ways to access content that have a smaller ecological footprint than print publishing. The push won't be simply 'ideological' - it will be the reality of increasing regulation around environmental sustainability.

03-14-2008, 03:35 AM	#92
searcher Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 344 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505	At the lunch, Makinson said sales of e-books in the first two months of 2008 are running ahead of the comparable . The Kindle generated a spike in interest, but Genevieve Shore, global digital director for Penguin Group, said sales have come across all devices, with the most sales coming from the Sony Reader. While the number of dedicated e-book readers has proliferated in recent months, Shore said she believes the long-term trend is toward one device that will eventually allow consumers to do a range of things from reading content to making phone calls. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6540505.html

03-14-2008, 06:45 AM	#93
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Gee... sounds like a PDA... or a tablet PC.

03-14-2008, 09:17 AM	#94
searcher Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 344 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505	or Readius...

03-14-2008, 01:53 PM	#95
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	The PW article also mentions Penguin's using the "value-added" approach to e-books, which I think may be a great way to go: Adding reviews, filmographies, illustrations, even recipies, at least make you feel like you're getting a lot for your money (much like the "bonus feature" sets in DVDs, to make it worth buying and not just watching on TV). If you're going to charge $8 for an e-book, all that extra stuff will help. As long as it's something people will enjoy getting. I remember buying the novelization of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and discovering that the book included photos and production notes from the movie. That kind of extra content is always appreciated, and the more inventive or interesting, the more likely you'll make sales. If it works for DVDs and paper books, why not e-books?

12-03-2011, 07:17 PM	#96
shivan3000 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo touch	I just bought a Nook Simple touch and loaded it with Philip k dick novels and I can't help but think how wonderful this device really is, E ink screens are fantastic to read on and the technology is just going to get better and better. Mass market paperbacks are going to be obsolete...

12-03-2011, 08:13 PM	#97
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	Holy thread necromancy, Batman!

12-04-2011, 12:00 AM	#100
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	"Set the Way Back Machine for 2008, Sherman...."

12-04-2011, 12:41 AM	#101
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Nobody buys CD's at a music store any more.

12-04-2011, 11:40 PM	#102
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	3 1/2 year old thread... nice p.s. Doctorow was wrong.

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12-05-2011, 01:09 AM	#103
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	Thought I was having another little "moment" there. Scared me.

12-05-2011, 05:15 AM	#105
afa The Forgotten Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4689999 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dubai Device: Kindle Paperwhite; Nook HD; Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	On the bright side, this new wave of posts has helped this thread cross the 100 posts mark. Congrats!