Would you subscribe to a rental service?

IllReadThat · 04-26-2011, 09:25 PM

I am just wondering. I know that Kindle now will be available at the library, but they have a very limited selection so if there was a service out there where you could read the latest releases on any known reader would you use such a service?
Personally I would be happy to pay a fee of $10-$15/month for such a service as I rarely read a book twice, but still would like to get the latest releases.

jersysman · 04-26-2011, 10:34 PM

You think the Big 6 are squawking about libraries lending out books and squashing their so-called profits. Someone try the rental game and they would move heaven and earth to squash that! I can't see something like that succeeding at all. Wish it could.... but alas....we have the Big 6 and that dreaded DRM.

I'm assuming here you are talking about renting e-books.

Ron. · 04-26-2011, 11:09 PM

I don't see how it could work but I would love a service like that.

Nyssa · 04-26-2011, 11:33 PM

Its all about the details. I'd need to know specifics before I could commit, so I chose "Maybe".

Anke Wehner · 04-27-2011, 02:26 AM

Depends on the selection, terms, and prices.

If it was more like a subscription, without access to "older" books, definitely not. Something library-like whose selection is so big it's more likely that a book I'd like to check out is available than not? That would be interesting.

Graham · 04-27-2011, 04:40 AM

Yes, I'd be happy to pay a subscription fee to a good library. I already do this for music (Napster) and have done so for films - and will again soon - (Lovefilm).

I also can't see it necessarily being a loss-maker for publishers, with micro-payments made from the subscription agreements based on lending. Renting (or borrowing) rather than buying means the reader is more likely to risk a new author. This would lead to more reading and reading more widely, resulting in more micro-payments and more actual purchases outside the library.

Graham

Bikeridr · 04-27-2011, 06:29 AM

No.
I don't even rent movies nor do I stream music. I buy what I want to read or watch or listen to. In my opinion, if we get rid of DRM, geographic restrictions, private parking companies, big moneysucking record companies and equally big moneysucking publishers we would ascend to a much better world.
(And if we could have all the crazy warlords to sit down with a sleeping kitten or puppy on their laps, we probably wouldn't have war either

)

elemenoP · 04-27-2011, 09:40 AM

I don't think the publishers are ever going to allow it. Enjoy the Philly and Singapore Libraries now because eventually they will crack down on those.

Anyway, I personally would not have a need for such a service, no matter how cheap, because my library has a great selection and decent wait times (and I don't mind a long wait, I have plenty to read).

eP

abookreader · 04-27-2011, 09:56 AM

Logically I should be all for it because I spend at least $10 a month on books and I really don't re-read all that often. I have a hard enough time getting to all the just released books that I want to read for the first time.

Emotionally though, I like having my books in my little Calibre database and knowing that they are mine. I like to scroll through them and see all the covers and give little happy sighs.

RainingLemur · 04-27-2011, 11:46 AM

Depending on the terms for the service, and the fees and such... I'd say "maybe."

Sydney's Mom · 04-27-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abookreader

Emotionally though, I like having my books in my little Calibre database and knowing that they are mine. I like to scroll through them and see all the covers and give little happy sighs.

Nyssa · 04-27-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abookreader

Logically I should be all for it because I spend at least $10 a month on books and I really don't re-read all that often. I have a hard enough time getting to all the just released books that I want to read for the first time.

Emotionally though, I like having my books in my little Calibre database and knowing that they are mine. I like to scroll through them and see all the covers and give little happy sighs.

+1 to the entire post!

CWatkinsNash · 04-27-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abookreader

Logically I should be all for it because I spend at least $10 a month on books and I really don't re-read all that often. I have a hard enough time getting to all the just released books that I want to read for the first time.

Emotionally though, I like having my books in my little Calibre database and knowing that they are mine. I like to scroll through them and see all the covers and give little happy sighs.

I could not have said it better, right down to the calibre database.

I do this with music and movies (Napster and Netflix, as already mentioned) but it's different with books. I don't know why, can't explain it, it's just the way I am.

Tome Keeper · 04-27-2011, 01:44 PM

If one was started I would want something akin to love film and it's ilk whereby there is a limit on the number of items you can borrow at a time but you can keep them for however long you want (or a suitably long period, say 6 months). Not just for slow readers but those of us with learning difficulties that can mean that reading a book sometimes takes longer than the 21 days allotted by overdrive, I completely understand why libraries need time limits but if I was paying for the rental I'd want longer. In a similar vein I'd expect a bigger selection than a library and no or short wait times.

However, I doubt something like this would ever be started or work.

DiapDealer · 04-27-2011, 02:47 PM

$10-$15 to be able to read the latest releases?
Hmm. I'm a one book a month guy so that's at the steep end of what I'd be willing to pay for a bookflix rental agreement. But ignoring all the "never gonna happen", "how long do I get to keep it?", and "what's in the TOS?" hooplah: if it was in the $4-$7 ballpark, I'd be on it like a duck on a junebug.

View Poll Results: Would you subscribe to a rental service where you could read the latest releases?
Yes	26	27.66%
No	45	47.87%
Maybe	23	24.47%
Voters: 94. You may not vote on this poll

04-26-2011, 09:25 PM	#1
IllReadThat Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Kindle	Would you subscribe to a rental service? I am just wondering. I know that Kindle now will be available at the library, but they have a very limited selection so if there was a service out there where you could read the latest releases on any known reader would you use such a service? Personally I would be happy to pay a fee of $10-$15/month for such a service as I rarely read a book twice, but still would like to get the latest releases.

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04-26-2011, 10:34 PM	#2
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	You think the Big 6 are squawking about libraries lending out books and squashing their so-called profits. Someone try the rental game and they would move heaven and earth to squash that! I can't see something like that succeeding at all. Wish it could.... but alas....we have the Big 6 and that dreaded DRM. I'm assuming here you are talking about renting e-books.

04-26-2011, 11:09 PM	#3
Ron. Evangelist Posts: 448 Karma: 864744 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 3, LookBook, Nook Simple Touch	I don't see how it could work but I would love a service like that.

04-26-2011, 11:33 PM	#4
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 6,180 Karma: 167189477 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)	Its all about the details. I'd need to know specifics before I could commit, so I chose "Maybe".

04-27-2011, 02:26 AM	#5
Anke Wehner Addict Posts: 249 Karma: 177956 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Germany Device: PRS-650	Depends on the selection, terms, and prices. If it was more like a subscription, without access to "older" books, definitely not. Something library-like whose selection is so big it's more likely that a book I'd like to check out is available than not? That would be interesting.

04-27-2011, 04:40 AM	#6
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	Yes, I'd be happy to pay a subscription fee to a good library. I already do this for music (Napster) and have done so for films - and will again soon - (Lovefilm). I also can't see it necessarily being a loss-maker for publishers, with micro-payments made from the subscription agreements based on lending. Renting (or borrowing) rather than buying means the reader is more likely to risk a new author. This would lead to more reading and reading more widely, resulting in more micro-payments and more actual purchases outside the library. Graham

04-27-2011, 06:29 AM	#7
Bikeridr Information Acquirer Posts: 436 Karma: 4265156 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Latvia, Rigas Rajons Device: Kindle 3 International, Pocketbook Color	No. I don't even rent movies nor do I stream music. I buy what I want to read or watch or listen to. In my opinion, if we get rid of DRM, geographic restrictions, private parking companies, big moneysucking record companies and equally big moneysucking publishers we would ascend to a much better world. (And if we could have all the crazy warlords to sit down with a sleeping kitten or puppy on their laps, we probably wouldn't have war either )

04-27-2011, 09:40 AM	#8
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I don't think the publishers are ever going to allow it. Enjoy the Philly and Singapore Libraries now because eventually they will crack down on those. Anyway, I personally would not have a need for such a service, no matter how cheap, because my library has a great selection and decent wait times (and I don't mind a long wait, I have plenty to read). eP

04-27-2011, 09:56 AM	#9
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Logically I should be all for it because I spend at least $10 a month on books and I really don't re-read all that often. I have a hard enough time getting to all the just released books that I want to read for the first time. Emotionally though, I like having my books in my little Calibre database and knowing that they are mine. I like to scroll through them and see all the covers and give little happy sighs.

04-27-2011, 11:46 AM	#10
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Depending on the terms for the service, and the fees and such... I'd say "maybe."

04-27-2011, 01:44 PM	#14
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	If one was started I would want something akin to love film and it's ilk whereby there is a limit on the number of items you can borrow at a time but you can keep them for however long you want (or a suitably long period, say 6 months). Not just for slow readers but those of us with learning difficulties that can mean that reading a book sometimes takes longer than the 21 days allotted by overdrive, I completely understand why libraries need time limits but if I was paying for the rental I'd want longer. In a similar vein I'd expect a bigger selection than a library and no or short wait times. However, I doubt something like this would ever be started or work.

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04-27-2011, 02:47 PM	#15
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	$10-$15 to be able to read the latest releases? Hmm. I'm a one book a month guy so that's at the steep end of what I'd be willing to pay for a bookflix rental agreement. But ignoring all the "never gonna happen", "how long do I get to keep it?", and "what's in the TOS?" hooplah: if it was in the $4-$7 ballpark, I'd be on it like a duck on a junebug.