Comments on: Do I Believe in Ebooks?: Part Two http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/ Introducing brilliant authors to the blogosphere. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:43:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: talkin’ the future of books « the stories of our lives http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-146376 talkin’ the future of books « the stories of our lives Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:13:00 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-146376 [...] for books when their content will be offered through many channels and via many platforms), but Evan Schnittman’s scenario about the pedestrian future of e-books [bottom line: they should and will, he predicts, be free] seems plausible to me: My thinking was [...] [...] for books when their content will be offered through many channels and via many platforms), but Evan Schnittman’s scenario about the pedestrian future of e-books [bottom line: they should and will, he predicts, be free] seems plausible to me: My thinking was [...]

]]> By: talkin’ the future of books « the infotainment follies http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-146363 talkin’ the future of books « the infotainment follies Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:25:45 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-146363 [...] for books when their content will be offered through many channels and via many platforms), but Evan Schnittman’s scenario about the pedestrian future of e-books [bottom line: they should and will, he predicts, be free] seems plausible to me: My thinking was [...] [...] for books when their content will be offered through many channels and via many platforms), but Evan Schnittman’s scenario about the pedestrian future of e-books [bottom line: they should and will, he predicts, be free] seems plausible to me: My thinking was [...]

]]> By: teXtes » Blog Archive » Oup ! Vers un vrai marché du livre numérique ? http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-146207 teXtes » Blog Archive » Oup ! Vers un vrai marché du livre numérique ? Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:14:48 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-146207 [...] les livres et les cd’s sont des animaux très différents. Mais je verrais bien 3% - 4%, chiffres que j’avais déjà indiqués, et qui ne sont plus du tout [...] [...] les livres et les cd’s sont des animaux très différents. Mais je verrais bien 3% – 4%, chiffres que j’avais déjà indiqués, et qui ne sont plus du tout [...]

]]> By: talkin’ the future of books — infotainment rules http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-136740 talkin’ the future of books — infotainment rules Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:36:51 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-136740 [...] for books when their content will be offered through many channels and via many platforms), but Evan Schnittman’s scenario about the pedestrian future of e-books [bottom line: they should and will, he predicts, be free] seems plausible to me: My thinking was [...] [...] for books when their content will be offered through many channels and via many platforms), but Evan Schnittman’s scenario about the pedestrian future of e-books [bottom line: they should and will, he predicts, be free] seems plausible to me: My thinking was [...]

]]> By: Robert Nagle http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-135150 Robert Nagle Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:52:20 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-135150 The question about ebooks is not what percent of the market will they occupy, but what kinds of reading will it enable which was previously not possible? To throw out a few random examples: public domain fiction, creative commons books, technical manuals and html(rss) to ebook conversions. I'm an ebook enthusiast (I help edit a website devoted to ebook technology) but 80-90% of what I read is still from print books. That's not the point. Now I am able to read a lot of titles which were not available commercially. I realize you are not dismissing ebooks as a phenomenon, but you need to remember that the act of reading doesn't take place entirely in the commercial sphere. The question about ebooks is not what percent of the market will they occupy, but what kinds of reading will it enable which was previously not possible?

To throw out a few random examples: public domain fiction, creative commons books, technical manuals and html(rss) to ebook conversions.

I’m an ebook enthusiast (I help edit a website devoted to ebook technology) but 80-90% of what I read is still from print books. That’s not the point. Now I am able to read a lot of titles which were not available commercially.

I realize you are not dismissing ebooks as a phenomenon, but you need to remember that the act of reading doesn’t take place entirely in the commercial sphere.

]]> By: immobilien http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-134671 immobilien Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:43:00 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-134671 do somebody know where i can find english texter for ebooks? i want to write something about network monitoring etc. if i get feedback - great! do somebody know where i can find english texter for ebooks? i want to write something about network monitoring etc. if i get feedback – great!

]]> By: Zach http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-134522 Zach Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:37:39 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-134522 I agree completely, but would add that this will only work if the book publishers do not attempt to force DRM on us. Look at the music industry, they're moving to unencumbered mp3s, the same file format they were fighting and demonizing only 5 years ago. Who's to say that I will have only one reader, or will always want a reader from the same company. Most consumers will do the right thing. I buy a lot of the fiction I read from Baen precisely because I get unencombered files I can dump directly onto my reader, or read on screen, or even print out. All DRM does is put up a barrier for your legitimate customers. I agree completely, but would add that this will only work if the book publishers do not attempt to force DRM on us. Look at the music industry, they’re moving to unencumbered mp3s, the same file format they were fighting and demonizing only 5 years ago. Who’s to say that I will have only one reader, or will always want a reader from the same company.

Most consumers will do the right thing. I buy a lot of the fiction I read from Baen precisely because I get unencombered files I can dump directly onto my reader, or read on screen, or even print out. All DRM does is put up a barrier for your legitimate customers.

]]> By: Harvey Schubert http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-134300 Harvey Schubert Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:16:23 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-134300 I disagree completely with your view of ebook readers. I predicted 8 years ago that paper books were dead and still believe it. We cannot keep cutting down trees to print books. I use the Sony ebook reader and find it easier on the eyes, easier to transport, and can find plenty of interesting books to read through the Sony online store. I have made a personal commitment to never read a paper book again. The ice caps are melting and our planet is on the verge of climatic changes that scare me. This is one small change each individual can make to help our planet. We went from records to cassette tapes to cds and then dvds for music. Why this animosity to this new technology? The format and pricing will evolve but the technology is hear to stay. It is easier for me to carry my ebook reader to work, the beach or a restaurant then say a 500 page book. They sell a lot of books on this planet. The sellers eventually have to be attracted to being able to sell them without the cost of printing them. The only thing missing is a an aggressive advertising campaign from a company ready to profit from the move to this newer technology. Harvey Schubert ImaginedImages.net North Charleston SC I disagree completely with your view of ebook readers. I predicted 8 years ago that paper books were dead and still believe it. We cannot keep cutting down trees to print books. I use the Sony ebook reader and find it easier on the eyes, easier to transport, and can find plenty of interesting books to read through the Sony online store. I have made a personal commitment to never read a paper book again. The ice caps are melting and our planet is on the verge of climatic changes that scare me. This is one small change each individual can make to help our planet. We went from records to cassette tapes to cds and then dvds for music. Why this animosity to this new technology? The format and pricing will evolve but the technology is hear to stay. It is easier for me to carry my ebook reader to work, the beach or a restaurant then say a 500 page book. They sell a lot of books on this planet. The sellers eventually have to be attracted to being able to sell them without the cost of printing them. The only thing missing is a an aggressive advertising campaign from a company ready to profit from the move to this newer technology.

Harvey Schubert
ImaginedImages.net
North Charleston SC

]]> By: Charles F. Wilkes http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-134162 Charles F. Wilkes Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:13:00 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-134162 I agree with this writer yes, no, and maybe. I certainly do not agree than an ebook reader (in my case the Kindle) isn't appropriate to snuggle up to in bed -- in fact it's the first "book" I have ever been able to read in bed due to being able to hold it and turn pages very easily with one hand. Try that with a dead tree book. I have bought thousands of dollars worth of dead tree books from Amazon alone, since I have always found their prices to be cheaper than anywhere else, plus they offer such a wide variety of books they seem to always have what I want. I am an avid reader since early childhood, and I only give my children and grandchildren Amazon gift certificates, since I want to encourage them to read as well. That having been said, I now love my Kindle so much, I don't want to buy any more regular books at all -- really, my book cases runnith over. So I will only buy Kindle compatible ebooks in the future. But what of all the books I bought from Amazon, that I now wish were in my Kindle instead, or perhaps "also". So your comments re using free ebooks as a marketing gimmic to encourage buying real paper books, rang a bell. In fact I have been encouraging Amazon to do just that -- but not only for new book sales as you suggest, but to match all the paper books I bought in the past which are now available in ebook formats. After all, why should I pay twice for the same book (I also like audio books, but realise that this is truly different from a book in text form only). And this should apply to books I bought from Amazon as well as any paper book I may buy in the future (few I am sure). And if you try (as you do) to limit this to just analog books I may buy in the future, then this would mean nothing to me, as I don't plan to buy any in the future, except if a book I want is really a color picture book which I kbow is at least today not going to work as an ebook. I belive the availability of ebooks to match my regular book library would do a tremendous amount to encourge a much wider adoption of the Kindle and other ebook readers. And this is important to really get the Kindle and other ebook readers to go big time, and not just for avid readers like myself. Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif. I agree with this writer yes, no, and maybe. I certainly do not agree than an ebook reader (in my case the Kindle) isn’t appropriate to snuggle up to in bed — in fact it’s the first “book” I have ever been able to read in bed due to being able to hold it and turn pages very easily with one hand. Try that with a dead tree book.

I have bought thousands of dollars worth of dead tree books from Amazon alone, since I have always found their prices to be cheaper than anywhere else, plus they offer such a wide variety of books they seem to always have what I want. I am an avid reader since early childhood, and I only give my children and grandchildren Amazon gift certificates, since I want to encourage them to read as well.

That having been said, I now love my Kindle so much, I don’t want to buy any more regular books at all — really, my book cases runnith over. So I will only buy Kindle compatible ebooks in the future. But what of all the books I bought from Amazon, that I now wish were in my Kindle instead, or perhaps “also”.

So your comments re using free ebooks as a marketing gimmic to encourage buying real paper books, rang a bell. In fact I have been encouraging Amazon to do just that — but not only for new book sales as you suggest, but to match all the paper books I bought in the past which are now available in ebook formats. After all, why should I pay twice for the same book (I also like audio books, but realise that this is truly different from a book in text form only). And this should apply to books I bought from Amazon as well as any paper book I may buy in the future (few I am sure). And if you try (as you do) to limit this to just analog books I may buy in the future, then this would mean nothing to me, as I don’t plan to buy any in the future, except if a book I want is really a color picture book which I kbow is at least today not going to work as an ebook.

I belive the availability of ebooks to match my regular book library would do a tremendous amount to encourge a much wider adoption of the Kindle and other ebook readers. And this is important to really get the Kindle and other ebook readers to go big time, and not just for avid readers like myself.

Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.

]]> By: jerome http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/comment-page-1/#comment-134135 jerome Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:14:45 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/free_ebooks/#comment-134135 Great post. Seth Godin, at TOC today, in fact this is exactly what he's talking about right now, would argue to give away the ebook for free and let people buy the print version as a souvenir. Whatever way you slice it, however, free is in the equation. Great post. Seth Godin, at TOC today, in fact this is exactly what he’s talking about right now, would argue to give away the ebook for free and let people buy the print version as a souvenir.

Whatever way you slice it, however, free is in the equation.

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