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The Push Toward Paperless: A Conspiracy?
I agree. My husband has a Kindle, but it holds no appeal for me at this time. I've been known to change my mind as things grow on me, so maybe someday I'll feel differently. But for now, I love books, love holding them in my hands and turning their real pages. Why do you think, as writers, we're urged to include all of the senses in our work? The smell of newsprint, the feel of paper, and the book itself in my hand, the author's signature, if I'm lucky enough to have it - for me, it all adds to the experience.
I have a Kindle & just love it! I don't think we'll see print going anywhere for quite a while. Maybe in our great-great-great-great grandchildren's time or further on. There's something so special about holding a print book. You have it's special smell too! I never thought about a conspiracy but I did think about the trees the ebook readers will save!
I hope to continue procuring physical books for the duration of my life. A great many of the books I am most interested in are old and out of print, with little or no hope of ever being retrieved by an enterprising publisher. So, I buy the vast majority of my books used and out-of-print, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.Plus, no electric book can reproduce the scent of real life that an old book absorbs over time. A real book, while also becoming worn, seems to gain character with the passing of years. There's no substitute for that.
I will always have my print books to read! Electronic is fine now and then -- I do have quite a variety of e-books on my computer -- but they can't take the place of curling up with a book in front of the fire or leaning on my pillow at night right before I turn out the lights and go to sleep. For those times, I really, really need that paper in my hands!
Like Vera, I too buy tons of books every year. I like the feel of the paper on my fingers as I read and there is no sound as satisfying as the cracking of the spine when you open a new book. Also, I love used books and the notes people leave in the margins, you just don't have that same personal appeal on these new fangled e-readers. Plus, if I couldn't take notes and highlight as I'm reading I would never remember what I wanted to quote, reference, etc.
Vera, thanks for pointing that out! I just learned something new. However, the only e-books I currently read are the ones I get for free or are friends books that were published that way, otherwise it's all used or printed books for me :)
I think it should be choice. I have both print and e-books. I have a digital reader (and yes, I can make notes, so it's great for a fresh look at my own manuscripts). You can also search for words, etc., and bookmark, etc.But the word 'conspiracy' is a button pusher. Why should there be an either or?
While I don't want a paperless society (remember when computers first came out, they said they'd eliminate paper -- if anything, they've increased it, I think), but it's nice to be told I can email a pdf of paperwork instead of using snail mail. Does anyone consider that a conspiracy against paper? It's a convenience, and if I want to mail a hard copy, I certainly can. My choice.
PAT--habits are hard to break. We're all connected viscerally to our paper books, because that's what we've known. Look at the 15-25 year old age group. These young people go crazy for every electronic device. Yes, many of them do like the paper book, but more and more, they will go to the device of choice and find something to read.Why? Because of the ease of buying and the instant availability. Why drive down to the library or bookstore when you can pull up anything you want on your hand-held device of some kind.Want to know a very fast growing market? On-line, interactive stories for the child and middle-schooler. What will he choose when he's 20?
Print books aren't going away--not completely yet, but who knows, say, 25 years from now? Right now, any one of us can buy any book we want, hold it, caress it, keep it. I know I will, and my books come out as eBooks and print. From which do I make the most money? eBooks, for sure. Celia
Print books aren't going away--not completely yet, but who knows, say, 25 years from now? Right now, any one of us can buy any book we want, hold it, caress it, keep it. I know I will, and my books come out as eBooks and print. From which do I make the most money? eBooks, for sure. Celia
Not into ebooks yet. I have done a few for reviews, but still prefer physical books. One day, I will get me a Book Nook and see if I like it or not for travel purposes and light weight. So far, I still love the book.
I love ebooks and I love reading them on my phone but I also love having the option of buying keepers so that I can put them on my bookshelf. I like that ebooks and readers are getting media attention but I would be really bummed if we were forced to go digital. I like having variety and option because some books you want to hold and flip the pages on and some are okay to read electronically. Plus it's quicker to order an ebook if I'm in the mood for a certain type of read. Or the books I come across, mostly indies and smaller presses, are only available in digital format due to the distribution system of the publisher. I think paperbacks and hardcovers will soon become niche-like gift items to collect as the shift toward digital becomes stronger. Hopefully they will still be able to be affordable though!
I don't know about the conspiracy part but I will say I recently became an ebook reader. I was given a Sony Ereader for Christmas and I love it. Doesn't mean I don't still like print books or that I feel they won't be around. But I like reading ebooks because it fits my personal lifestyle and preference. I am not able to get to the bookstores on a regular basis anymore and when I did go, the bookstores didn't have a lot of the books I wanted. I would have to order from Amazon anyway. Ebooks also make it easier for me to get my reading in since I am also a writer. I'm not able to devote the same amount of time to reading as some might, and I've noticed since reading ebooks I read faster and I also have the choice of short fiction versus novels. So I can read according to my mood now.I can't comment on how others feel and I don't like to judge people for how they read. I feel that it's up to the individual. Some people like ebooks, some don't. Some love both ebooks and print books. Will ebooks take over print? I don't think so but I can't tell the future and have no say in that.
I also look at it like this, there are a lot of wonderful authors out there writing other genres. These authors aren't published by print companies for different reasons. I know how hard it is in the industry being an author and since I try to support all, I am glad I now get to know some of the fascinating authors who are only available through ebooks. I think it's those e-published authors that get caught in the middle.
But I will say that we can take more time as writers and readers to understand things that might be new. We have to grow with change but that doesn't mean that change is going to take over what's previously around. The thing I like about ebooks the most is that I can support ALL fellow authors now. When some readers say they hate ebooks, I wonder if they remember the many authors who are not printed that way. Ebooks has opened me up to a whole new world of authors some in print and others who are only available through ebooks. I am glad I get to read those people and it has helped me get through my own prejudice against ebooks. I hated the idea at first then I realized, the method is the least of it. It's that reading is always a good thing no matter how it happens. Also, I am able to support e-authors and some readers don't understand there are a lot of talented authors who are not able to be on bookstores shelves. Another thing about ebooks is I am no longer limited to the genres that traditional publishing thinks is the only ones that deserve to be published. I can now read different mixtures of genres and novels featuring taboo subjects that print publishers wouldn't dare experiment with.
So if anyone hasn't tried ebooks and have been curious, I would say go for it. If you don't like it, you can always go back to reading paper. But remember, it doesn't have to be a choice. You can like ebooks and print books the same and enjoy them both. I feel that some who don't read ebooks are missing out on a lot of good stories and authors that they wouldn't be able to read otherwise. But it's all up to the individual's choice.
Best Wishes!
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
Thanks for all you input and thoughtful comments, everyone!
I have absolutely no intention of ordering or downloading ebooks. It defeats the feel of a book and saving paper, because I would have to print it out to read it. I've spent enough time on computers over the past 20 some odd years and don't intend to read on anything resembling it, no matter how small or magical it is, for entertainment. I know there will be all kinds of reasons sent my way that will be trying to tell me it's not the same thing as reading on a computer, etc. The only time I would even consider it is if my tremor becomes bad enough I can no longer turn pages, heaven forbid!As for libraries, there is a certain social aspect to those visits and even sitting in one to read a book. Also, carrying a book and reading it in coffee shops, on a plane, how often has a conversation started up because of that book? Books are friendly, books have personality. I'm sure conversations are started over ereaders in the same situations, but they won't be as comfy, more likely something along the lines of, what do you think of them? how do they work, and maybe eventually the social part will kick in with what are you reading? With a book, they already know what you are reading and are looking forward to a discussion.
No, I hope I never have to get an ereader, I turn down ebooks for reviewing, and I don't enter any contests for ebooks. Sure, I'm from the older generation, but being shy I like to have someone approach me because of the book in my hand.
An interesting thing happened in our town last summer. There was a project where students, if I remember correctly, were going around town taking pictures of people reading books wherever they happened to be. Smithers Reads.
I like both kinds of books and think there is room for both. Why limit ourselves. There are good writers in all genres, there are good writers in print and in ebook. A lot of ebook authors are print authors too, and vise versa. I love my e-readers, they are so much fun.But for a person with allergies to ink, ebooks are great. However, we are leaving out the possibiliity of self published in ebooks and print. So to me it is totally unfair to outlaw one against the other. Why not enjoy them all, ebooks and print? Why limit our reading. Print books are beautiful, and yes, you can take them by the fireside, but you can also take an e-reader by the fireside and read several books at a time from the same reader. Ebooks take up less space, and it's easier to carry one e-reader than it is to carry forty books on a plane, so consider the fact that both are good and don't limit yourself. There is talent in both ebooks and print.
I was told in 1990 that all the record keeping was going online. I am in the real estate industry and we still have paper files three inches thick on some sales regardless of the paperless technology.I see more people buying books from Costco than I see people reading from a Kindle.
And my e-book sales are considerably lower than my trade paperback sales.
I think paper is here to stay.
I just did a quick check on the most popular e-readers (Kindle 2 ranked highest). Not one of those top readers was more than 4 stars from users. http://ereader-comparisons.com/p13893... Another site actually said "The eReader screen is so paper-like you will not feel the different from a paper book." http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...
What do people think about these two assessments?
I also happened to think of another of my peeves... I can never seem to find the book I'm reading when I next get the chance to read. This is why I have 2 or 3 books going at once: 1 in my purse for away from home reading; 1 by my big chair by the fireplace; 1 beside my bed. That is where they are supposed to be, but sometimes I move them to some other location to read, eg by the computer while waiting for email to load, or downstairs by the TV. Now, they are pretty easy to spot when I'm looking (the one in my purse usually stays there), but heaven help me try to locate our phone, so I don't think I'd fare much better with an ereader! ;-)
I don't know if there is a conspiracy or not.I'm also one of those people who has to be convinced - and it takes a lot of convincing (I still have tapes of some bands that I'll listen to over CDs) - to try something new.
Overall, I much prefer physical books over ebooks and do not own an ereader of any sort. Since about April or so, I have read quite a few ebooks towards reviewing and, since then, I've had warmer thoughts towards ereaders - mainly because I wouldn't be spending as much time sitting at a computer and I have also been introduced to a couple authors this way I wouldn't have been introduced to otherwise.
Having said that, I also don't see me spending any money on any type of ereader in the foreseeable future as I cannot justify the cost for one at this time.
I don't think it's a conspiracy. I think it is a sign of change and the pinch of hard times. The new generation barely read at all, and the "new Parenting" don't have parents finding time to do "storytime" with their children when they can play a game of video game or a movie and call it family time. I imagine if have to reach the new generation through the electronic age it's best to go with it and call it a moement to save paper when it's clear that it's cheaper to publish a ebook.I don't think paper books will ever go out of style completely because some people still like the feel of that paper between their fingers. However, I do believe it will be like it was in ancient time. It will become a luxury afforded by the wealthy, at least we have libraries to keep us reading the paper books unless they all close for lack of funding. So be kind to your librarie, give donations if not of money, buy out of their used book and donate your old books for them to use and sell instead of taking them to a used book store for credit.
Rita, you made another good point I left out on why I like ebooks. I am no longer prejudiced against all self-published books since getting my ereader. I used to be, because so many I tried were horrible. But there are some good ones out there and a lot of SP authors coming along now seem to see the importance of good editing and storytelling. I've read quite a few self-published books since having my ereader and I am currently finishing one up now that I'm enjoying. Before December, I would have turned my nose up to these SP books (yeah I know it's not right). But I was going on the fact that so many were bad and I am sure everyone knows what I mean. But I had prejudged self-published books like I did ebooks. I was wrong to "knock it before trying it", LOL. I think self-published authors who deserve recognition and have put out decent books will find a bigger and more accepting audience with ebooks. I'm not speaking of the bad books where the authors churn out unedited dreck, but the SP authors who've worked to put out a competitive book and who understand how important this is. Besides self-published books aren't even in bookstores and that's what limits SP books with readership.
Now with more SP authors going the ebook route, they can reach tons of more readers. Especially the ones going through Createspace where they put their works directly on Amazon. I recently read a guy's blog. He self-published a book (only available as paperback) and it wasn't selling anything. He decided to release a kindle edition of it and now he's selling steady and pretty well on Amazon and Smashwords. He's hoping it paves the way to an agent and publisher and it might because with ebooks, you don't have to sell as many as you do with print books to be successful. His achievements with ebook might very well help him succeed. Ebook authors are attracting agents and publishers more and more.
It's become easier for ebook authors to get reviews now too. More and more big-time review sites have started requesting PDF copies of books instead of a printed edition. Dear Author (the most popular site for romance books) ONLY accepts PDF or ebooks. They don't allow you to send them print books at all. They have always supported ebooks. That's a good thing for those authors.
I wish all authors well and they all deserve a chance to shine and reach an audience. We should embrace different things and different voices in the industry because it gives new writers a chance. I don't know about some but I am sick of seeing the same authors' books promoted at the bookstores or the same genres. Others deserve a chance to reach audiences too.
Best Wishes!
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
Gabby wrote: "...the pinch of hard times. The new generation barely read at all, and the "new Parenting" don't have parents finding time..."I'm not so sure about the new generation. Sure they do a lot of texting, game-play and that sort of thing, but they also seem to be pretty avid readers. We have quite a number of young people contributing to the discussions on online groups such as GoodReads, and children seem to be reading at a younger age than ever. With the need for both parents to be working, it doesn't allow as much time for reading, but I've also noticed that a lot of parents want to take turns with that close time with their kids, and how did they learn to read before school without someone reading to them earlier. Of course, this isn't possible for everyone. However, most libraries, even small ones, have storytime for kids. Kids are certainly reading a lot younger than I was. Just my opinion from what I've personally observed. :-)
>>Electronic devices break. I’ve had two or three computers crash in the past twelve years. I may live in the stone age, but I don’t want paperless to replace paper. I believe one of the results would be the exclusion of many authors who are currently published. My wish? That we continue to support the publishing industry and buy books. Lots and lots of them. What are your thoughts?<<
Interesting conversation, hot topic, but I'm not sure I agree with your conspiracy theory.
Being an electronically published author, I suppose I am a little biased. I don't own a Kindle, or another electronic reading device, but I can definitely see myself getting one down the road. The space saving alone, being able to save so many books on a reader, is a big boon. I love paper books as much as the next bookworm, but at the rate I'm going I'd have to rent storage space in order to keep all of the books I purchase/read. I'm not sure I agree with your comment "...I believe one of the results would be the exclusion of many authors who are currently published." at all. If it weren't for epublishing my works might not have seen publication at all. I actually believe it's the other way around. I have been dealing with exclusion and bias from the print publishing industry for quite some time as an epublished author. I think the happy medium to paperless is POD and electronic publishing. I don't want to do away with paper altogether, but I do believe e and print can co-exist.
Amazon was very embarrassed when it electronically deleted 1984 by George Orwell off of Amazon e-readers because people had not purchased the downloaded version from Amazon. Of all books in the world to delete without the readers’ permission! The irony was not lost on anyone that Orwell in 1984 warned of the government’s control of thought by controlling the actual printed word.
In this case, however, it wasn’t the conspiracy of government’s claim of national security, it was the other conspiracy we face, a corporation’s mandate to make money any way it can – even at the expense of our privacy, including our private thoughts and our access to information.
Amazon attempted to control peoples’ access to 1984 – in my view the most important political work ever written. Amazon’s efforts were blocked – for now.
The history of the printed word since Guttenberg invented the movable press in circa. 1500 has been the ever-expanding availability of information to everyone on the planet.
The Internet was hailed as another major milestone in that march toward universal knowledge.
I wasn’t so sure about that when the Internet was made public about 20 years ago. What I saw was that the Internet was a major advancement in the government’s ability to control not only the dissemination of information - but something perhaps far more threatening, the government’s ability to know what we know - and think.
Because of computerization and the Internet, if you buy books from Amazon or check them out of the library, the government now knows what you know. If you have any doubts about the significance of this, Google the Patriot Act and read up about the major advancement in the surveillance state brought to use courtesy of the Internet. Of course, the government will know you are interested in that subject.
You can also look up the TIA – a program proposed to monitor and collect information on all of our activities. The government claims the project was abandoned because it was considered too intrusive.
Now we have the e-reader. We have corporations eventually gaining total control under the copyright laws of all formerly printed matter. The ever-expanding circle of knowledge begun by Guttenberg has hit an electronic wall and will now start to recede. Access to all knowledge and information – once readily available – will be controlled by the interconnected world of government and the corporations working together.
I go to my neighborhood used bookstore, buy a book in cash (I don’t show the clerk the title, just the price) and no one knows what I’m reading. I do this – not because I am doing anything wrong or because I have anything to hide – because it is nobody’s business what I read. The government and corporations have no right to know what I read. So why should I tell them? I’m not paranoid, I’m informed.
It's not that the government will do anything wrong with information about you. The worry is that the government will not do anything right with it. Bureaucrats can't do anything as simple as count votes. Do you really trust the government to respect and properly handle your personal information?
I appreciate all your comments. You are building a well-rounded discussion. Sorry to digress, but Tom's comment about using cash stuck a chord. About 20 years ago we were told cash and checks would become a thing of the past and we'd be using cards for our purchases. I didn't believe it at the time, but it's certainly more and more true every day. I'm not adding that to start a new discussion, just as an observation.
I remember a couple of years ago when my mother was upset at the school I attended bacause after my first promotion my new classroom and grade had finished up with there learning cursive, but in my previous grade we had not even started on cursive writing. After going back and forth with the teachers she finally met with the principal and demanded the teach me cursive at some point, but the response was finally , well do not worry about cursive writing it is not important because we soon will only use computers! Well my mom looked stunned and since then she refuses for me to ever stop using paper and pencil even though i do believe one day in the future things will change, but i personally will try to always push the hand held books so much more. I love holding the book in my hands it just seems so exciting that personal touch! 
Hi, PAT. I agree with your views. One major issue in printed copies is the production cost. It is just so high that most people prefer not to buy the book (in my case anyway). But I also believe that the important point is to ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG GENERATION TO READ... And ebooks might even be more effective, faster and cheaper.
I really think that ebooks and print books can continue to be around together. Remember when cell phones first became popular? It was the same argument. People said they wouldn't last and others said they'd put an end to landline phones forever. Cell phones are now the absolute norm. Everyone and their mother has one whether they want it or not, LOL. But my point is, it didn't stop landline phones or things like that. We still have a landline phone in our home. Millions of people still have other phones. I do know some folks said they got rid of all their phones and only use cell phones. But it's not just because of the phone, it's because when the economy got bad, they couldn't afford to have the line anymore. You'll always have landline phones because a lot of people live in areas where they can't get High speed Internet and can only use dial-up. Some folks live in areas where they can't get signal pick up for cell phones. They live in the Dead Zone. So these people will always have phones too.
I think businesses and other places will always have landline phones. People who said cell phones would be the death of landlines were wrong.
Now what cell phones did effect are phone booths. I can't say when's the last time I saw a phone booth where I went. I live in Houston, by the way. I know there are some but not near as many as there were. I believe some places don't have any phone booths.
Sorry if I got off topic, but I wanted to compare things. The ebook vs. print book thing reminds me of cell phones vs. landlines argument. They are both still here and for different purposes, I think they both will remain.
Best Wishes!
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
Hi Christine,I know a lot of people who still buy things with cash, including used cars. I know one guy who buys things in cash but it's not helping him credit wise. He can buy some things with cash, but he needs to build up credit and he's not because he's only using cash for most things. My dad still uses checks and doesn't like debit cards by the way, LOL! I've heard people say checks and money orders will be obsolete because of the Internet. Interesting but not sure if it will happen.
Back to the topic, LOL.
Best Wishes!
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
When my kids were in school, the last graduating ten years ago or so, I had started with them at an early age having nightly discussions about what they learned that day in school. It taught them accountability. As the years progressed, particularly middle school through high school years, gaps began to appear in what they were being taught. Above all, I noticed a dumbing of written texts used to educate our children. (I know dumbing isn’t a real word but I’ve heard it used so often lately) I laid my high school American History book, that I know I shouldn’t have, next to theirs and was shocked discovering not only what’s been left out but moderate to severe revisionist editing of the facts. In balance, I know new historical discoveries are updated into current publications. My point is that ebook media is subject to revision, good or bad, truth or lie. It destroys the concept of printed history. Two local high schools starting the 2010 fall semester will have select senior students carrying Kindles and/or Sony readers instead of textbooks. If the price point for these devices comes down, I know schools will save gobs of money over using regular textbooks. Will the use of ebooks in our schools contribute to the demise of printed books?My guess is the younger generation will with open hands accept ebooking. That is if they are not distracted by the universe of electronic gadgetry available today. My youngest son would rather die than read a book. My hope is with age wisdom will come for him.
I personally prefer books by far and hence will not restate all the reasons given heretofore. To be fair, I also own a Kindle. They are convenient for traveling, especially by car or train and they certainly cut down on the volume of books I have stacked everywhere. I offload Kindle content to my computer for storage. When Amazon offered free Kindle PC software, I’d hoped to be able to use on my PC those ebooks as reference. No such luck, Amazon retains tight control, which lessens my appeal for the electronic form. Another thing to mention is that corrected errors in ebooks are easily retrieved from Amazon. The kicker is, that some of the ebooks I’ve enjoyed, I make it a point acquire the hardback for my personal library. When the occasion comes to reread something, I pick up the real paper in the flesh book. I like real books, errors and all. It is part of the human equation expressed.
My final point concerns all of the newspapers that have vanished into bankruptcy across our nation. They suffered the dilemma in attracting online readers, forced to offer portions of their content for free in order to have that online presence. What a flame to burn in just to be seen. They were told that in order to survive, publish online. CNN survives online because of its programming on cable that we pay for. America lived once in a place where a three day old newspaper was still of value to anyone that hadn’t had a chance to pick it up and read. I believe that we live in a consumer driven economy and books will survive at least for the duration of my life. There may be a day where those who buy printed books may be frowned upon like those who still drive an SUV and don’t recycle. Information these days travels faster and faster and I fear the pace lessens it's quality. At what point do we come in out of the deluge? How to make iron took centuries to travel across Europe and the Middle East. The current day speed of information and knowledge drives the development of new technology. In short, information feeds on itself and the question becomes who will control that stream of information where it applies to published works and constitutional rights currently afforded us.
Stacy-Deanne wrote: "I really think that ebooks and print books can continue to be around together. Remember when cell phones first became popular? It was the same argument. People said they wouldn't last and other..."
EXCEPT ... yes, we may still have landlines in our homes, but pay phones are vanishing. In my state, NJ, Verizon is ripping them out by the hundreds. Part of that is because of the unwinnable war on drugs. But it's also because of the spread of cell phones.
What about people who can't afford cell phones? What about the homeless?
This is comparable to the effect of e-books and computers on the printed word and published books.
Do we really want to go where we seem to be headed?
I didn't realize schools were already in the process of e-textbooks. And yes, students of today have different info in their history books than we did, certainly. My husband studied our childrens' history books and was shocked at the falsehoods in them. There is a group trying to convince everyone the Holocaust a hoax, that it didn't happen. Maybe someday down the line they will be successful.Many people have dropped their landlines and just have cell phones now. You're always trackable that way, which is good if you're in trouble and need to be found. Otherwise?
Hi Tom,Even though I've found a new love for ebooks, I don't think print books will disappear. There are too many readers who love print books and who will (as many on this thread said), will not be interested in ebooks ever. So if that demand is still there and print lovers stand behind it, I think books will always be in print form.
On the flipside, ebooks will become more and more popular and they have attracted a growing number of new audiences (including me) who loathed the idea of them at first. I definitely think ebooks will become a new norm of the future but like I said, as long as there are people who are against the idea and love to read print (only) I can't see books just disappearing. That's a lot of demand. Print publishers have made a way for ebooks in their world but they don't plan on giving up on print books soon.
Some people think it's just the younger generation who is interested in ebooks. I know people over 50 who have ereaders and I was kind of surprised because I thought they would be the ones who wouldn't like the idea the most. I thought that if you couldn't get anyone to try ebooks it would be older people, LOL! But they enjoy them and are getting them more and more.
What it will depend on is how the demand for ebooks grows over the years. Now if in 20 years, less and less people are reading print books and going to ebooks, then the demand might shift. But it's hard to tell. We all just have to wait and see. But like I said, if the demand stays for print books then I can't see why they won't be around.
Best Wishes!
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
We will eventually be a (mostly) paperless and electronic society, but I doubt paper books will disappear completely. They will most likely become more of a novelty, especially as Print-On-Demand grows. I can see POD growing much faster in the next few years. Publishers will see it as a winning solution to taking a chance on a new author or a title that is iffy at best. The ability to go out to a kiosk and have the book of your choice printed and bound for you in a very short time is pretty cool.
There are kiosks and businesses doing this now and there are many kiosks available in Japan (or so I have been told).
The only way I see ereaders becoming more popular is if the prices drop dramatically. It's absolutely insulting what they charge for them now. even the price of ebooks is too high. This product will have to become much, MUCH more cost effective for the consumer for it to become a success.
Stacy-Deanne wrote: "Hi Tom,Even though I've found a new love for ebooks, I don't think print books will disappear. There are too many readers who love print books and who will (as many on this thread said), will n..."
No matter how much we may love print books, their survival may not be up to us. I love newspapers - printed newspapers. But they are closing, even though they still have print readers. They reached a tipping point where Internet readership surpassed print readers, but there was no way to make money through the Internet edition. In a few years, newspapers will disappear. The printing costs, the drop in ad revenues will force them - if they can survive at all, many won't - to deliver their content over the Internet or through e-books, as can be done now.
Much of this is newspapers' own fault. They turned news into a commodity by increasing coverage of celebrities and gossip instead of focusing on what they do that no one else does - cover government in depth, cover local news, investigative adversarial reporting.
But now celebrity news is news - although it's fake news - and can be substituted for real news. Newspapers aren't the only medium to deliver this fake news, so who needs to pay for it? The Internet can satisfy the market's demand for fake news and we don't need real news printed in a newspaper - nor are we willing to pay for online news.
Newsday, the respected Long Island newspaper, started to charge for viewing its website. It has only a few dozen subscribers. People aren't willing to pay for what they got used to getting for free.
Only specialized news services like Wall Street Journal and Economist - whose target audience has money - are successful at charging for on-line news.
The migration of news to e-readers will start improving the economics and cost of the devices. Once they become more affordable and use increases, books will follow newspapers to e-readers. Fewer and fewer books will be published.
So it may be hard cold economics that kill off print books - now matter how much you or I love them.
If you own an e-reader, you are contributing to the demise of printed books.
What I've seen in the newspaper industry is the demise of the large daily papers, the regionals that provide state, national and international news. The small community newspapers have, so far, weathered the storm. Even though they do, indeed, have Web sites, readers seem to continue to prefer getting their local news in the mail and on the stands.
Tom you said:If you own an e-reader, you are contributing to the demise of printed books.
I will just say I find that statement ridiculous. First off, I was given my ereader for Christmas, but even if I bought it, it's no one's business because I can have whatever I want. People can have whatever they want whether others disagree or not. But how can you blame consumers, and readers for the demise of print books, IF that happens? That is unbelievable! That's like blaming the general public for the Internet taking over everything! Consumers have a right to consumer and enjoy what they want to. It's their money and they sure as heck don't have to feel guilty about it. You or anyone else doesn't have to approve but that last statement made no sense!
I can get what you are doing. I was trying to be respectful when I answered you because I thought you wanted to talk with respect and sense. But I am not about to let someone who doesn't even know me personally, try to blame me or others just because they enjoy a product for the downfall of something they cannot control. I think the comment was out of line and not appreciated at all. You want to blame someone, blame the companies or the publishers. But does blaming people solve anything? No.
I still can't believe that silly comment. I don't go back and forth with people on message boards because first off, it's not me. Secondly, I think you're trying to bait me. It won't work because I don't fall for that kind of stuff. I am bowing out of this discussion now out of respect for the group and myself. I feel you have now taken it to a personal level and I don't have to justify myself to you and no one else does. It's none of your business what people have! That's what you don't understand. If you don't like ebooks and ereaders, FINE. But I'm sure as hell not gonna let you blame me or others who enjoy them for some downfall.
Also, I'm a published author. I think the last thing I want to do is bring on the downfall of any method of reading. You should be more respectful and less judgmental. I've never heard something so incredible! Blaming the consumers for things they don't even create? And even if you feel that way, Tom, so what? It's not your business and you don't have a say in what others do or how they choose to read.
Respond if you want but I won't pop in this thread again.
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
Terry wrote: "I think it should be choice. I have both print and e-books. I have a digital reader (and yes, I can make notes, so it's great for a fresh look at my own manuscripts). You can also search for words,..."I was just thinking the same thing when I read the discussion. "Going paperless" has affected more than the publishing industry. It has affected the medical industry and others as well. In the last five years, since most medical offices and hospitals are supposedly "going paperless," I've seen more paper in those places than not. Even if you have to electronically sign your updates or whatever, with the new HIPPA (or HIPAA) laws and information out there, you end up signing more pieces of paper than your chart is thick now.
I don't own an e-reader other than being able to download ebooks on the computer in PDF files but those files are printable and I've done so in order to read the books to review. I work on the computer all day long for my day job and it is very difficult to see the screen after hours on end of sitting her working, working, working for a "paperless" community. As a medical transcriptionist, I only see the pages on the computer - and they are going to the doctors' offices electronically and then only printed if needed, but even the x-ray reports and CT scans are being put on a DVD for other doctors to view. So there is some place for going paperless but I don't think the publishing industry will ever be totally paperless.
Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the JGDS, 50-state, mystery, trivia series
STATE OF WILDERNESS, book 1 of 50, available now
STATE OF QUARRIES, book 2 of 50, available now
STATE OF RESERVATIONS, book 3 of 50, available February/March 2010
STATE OF ALTITUDE, book 4 of 50, available spring 2010
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Stacy-Deanne wrote: "Tom you said:If you own an e-reader, you are contributing to the demise of printed books.
I will just say I find that statement ridiculous. First off, I was given my ereader for Christmas, b..."
After your hysterical temper tantrum, I'm glad that you're dropping out of this thread.
If the Internet is killing off printed newspapers, then e-books will kill of the printed book.
Did you ever watch the original Star Trek. Everybody ribs Captain Kirk for his quaint hobby of collecting printed books.
I'll say it again: if you own an e-reader or purchase e-books you are contributing to the demise of the printed book.
If you find that statement upsetting, good.
Here's a coincidence for you. While we were debating e-books v. paper books, Amazon and the major publisher Macmillan were arguing over Macmillan's wanting to charge more for e-books than the 9.99 that Amazon charges. Amazon said it wouldn't sell either Macmillan's e-books or its print books. They've seemed to have resolved the dispute, but the result is that Amazon will sell Macmillan's e-books for more than Amazon's standardx $9.99 price. So the price of an e-book could go up, not down - which is what is supposed to happen as the device becomes more popular. So good luck with your e-readers.
Macmillan isn't the entire publishing business, and may find they are shooting themselves in the foot by pricing their offerings higher than the "market"--which now--for good or ill--is set by Amazon. I'm truly surprised Amazon backed down.There are plenty of well-written ebooks issued by publishers large and small for sale for far, far less than $14.99. In the Age of Giganto-marts, where consumers have become so completely attuned to purchasing on price alone, I wouldn't want to be the lone company that raises their prices. Hope the other biggies will hang tough on this!
Don't believe print is in any immediate danger of disappearing. At the same time, pulping of warehouses full of unsold books is unnecessary and wasteful. There is truth in the "read an e-book, save a tree" slogan. Some genre books absolutely lend themselves to e. Romances, for instance, where the publisher-decreed shelf life is a single month. The folks who consume these like potato chips love the convenience of download, read--and delete. They, and, (naturally,) S/F readers, have been enthusiastic early adopters of the new technology.
I don't see e books as a "conspiracy," but simply as another way to sell-and-or-buy a book. (The political ambitions of the mega corporations who have taken over so many forms of public media are, I think, another--and far more inflamatory--subject, and not under discussion here.) Until the price of the dedicated e-reader comes down, however, I think a majority of readers will continue to tote paper.
I agree with what Tom said about the price going up as the ebook market matures. Corporations, especially public ones are responsible first and foremost to the stock holders. The argument could be made that eliminating the physical costs of printing books means the price should go down. The balance to that is that loaning an ebook to a friend is not the same as loaning something in print. Electronic copies of anything seem to multiply like rabbits once on the web. If ebook loaning/copying gets too out of hand, the downloaded ebook at some point will be serialized to only run on the ereader that to which it was first downloaded. This scenario will only complicate computer based ereaders.
Nicholas: Curious about loaning ebooks. How does one do that?Is it on a disc? Can you electronically transfer it? Do you copy (download) it the way Napster got in trouble for loaning , i.e. "pirating", music?
Can't Amazon read your Kindle to know if non-Kindle material is stored or e-books that weren't paid for? So if you "loan" an ebook to another Kindle owner, can Amazon go in and take it?
I don't know all the whys and wherefores of the questions and don't own a Kindle myself, but from what I understand from those who do, there is a way to read PDF versions of ebooks on the Kindle.From what I understand (which may not be a full understanding) of ebook copyrights is that, legally, once person A has bought an ebook, then only person A may 'own' it and 'should not' transfer it to any one else.
Gabby wrote: "I don't know all the whys and wherefores of the questions and don't own a Kindle myself, but from what I understand from those who do, there is a way to read PDF versions of ebooks on the Kindle...."
I have a friend with a Kindle who has put PDF versions of books on her reader. Apparently all you have to do is plug the Kindle into the computer via a USB cord and then copy the PDF file from the computer to the Kindle (the computer treats the Kindle like any other external drive).
As far as 'loaning' ebooks goes so far as I'm aware of only Barnes& Noble has a system in place that allows sharing and still complies with copyright law. They do it by allowing only one B&N account to use a particular purchased copy at a time. For example: person A buys an ebook (or more specifically, a license to read/use the electronic content of that particular purchase) which is then associated with his account. Person A can 'loan' the ebook (actually, he loans the license) to person B for up to two weeks... the B&N system temporarily transfers the license to read the ebook from person A's account to person B's. Once person B is done (if he finishes before the two weeks are up) he can sign on to his B&N account and terminate the loan otherwise it automatically reverts back to the original purchaser at the two week mark. The downside is that the ebook can only be loaned once (if person A then wants to loan the book to person C, he can't... well, I suppose he could give out his account info so that person C can 'impersonate' him, or loan the eReader device itself... but I don't really think that's a great idea).
On the bottom edge of the Kindle, one will find a USB port and once it is plugged in to a computer, it can be managed as an extra disk by your computer much the same way a digital camera can off load pictures to your computer’s hard drive. In the same manner in which you can load pictures UP to your camera, you can upload ebooks purchased or otherwise acquired up to you Kindle. I did this with my camera last Thanksgiving to share pictures with family by off loading to their computer once I was there. Sony Reader supports this capability as well. There are ebooks up for auction on ebay that are delivered to you via CD and those in turn are upload to your ereader via USB. I purchased a three CD set that was full of books past copyright limitations that contained 2106 different books, (i.e. A Christmas Carol, Dickens). Another feature offered by Amazon is the ability to up load your own content to your @kindle.com email address that you specify, (it has to be an @kindle.com address) when registering your Kindle. Amazon will convert a variety of file formats for you into usable ebook format. I’ve never done this, so I don’t know how well it works or if it works at all. Accepted file formats are:
Microsoft Word (.DOC)
Structured HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
GIF (.GIF)
PNG (.PNG)
BMP (.BMP)
Compressed ZIP (.ZIP)
I personally use an ebook compiler which are readily available from various vendors. I did this because I don’t trust my private works to anyone, especially convert-for-free services such as what Amazon provides.
So for those of you who are worried about Orwellian content vanishing, one can certainly act as there own backup site for your personal Kindle content. I would have never purchased a Kindle if I were not able to manage my own library. I simply cannot trust web based backup sites.
For those who are interested in having a look at the Kindle User Guide, it can be viewed or downloaded as a .PDF. Adobe Reader is required. It is also part of the pre-loaded content on any new Kindle.
The web address is:
s3.amazonaws.com/kindle/Kindle_User_G...
I know much of this sounds like a commercial for Amazon and it’s Kindle. Let me be clear. I spent thirty years in the financial services business handling very private investment and investor data. Fiduciary responsibilities for that data are highly regulated and audited by several agencies of the federal government. Even with that, leaks happen even under the best of efforts. One would think I am a proponent of all the electronic gadgetry availed us these days. For me, only to a very limited extent, and yes, I keep the wireless feature of my Kindle turned off unless I’m shopping for content.
This guest blog of mine is very related to the "conspiracy" or, rather, the changing world of publishing:http://suspenseinsider.blogspot.com/2...
Cheers
Vin
Nicholas wrote: "On the bottom edge of the Kindle, one will find a USB port and once it is plugged in to a computer, it can be managed as an extra disk by your computer much the same way a digital camera can off lo..."Very interesting--you've clearly done your homework--thanks for the information!
I adore my Kindle and am addicted to it which is something that I never thought would happen because I love the whole tactical feel and smell of a brand new book. BUT -- I buy A LOT of books and the cost savings per book was just too compelling for me. Reading is faster and easier on my eyes than a regular book - a combination of the ability to change the type size and the screen resolution. I too spend all day on a computer, and for those that have never actually looked at an eReader in the store, it is nothing like a computer. There is no backlighting on an eReader (nor should there ever be, as anyone with even any simple knowledge of the major causes of computer eye strain will tell you) which is what actually makes your eyes tired. It is not the print on the screen that makes your eyes tired - it's the smaller print and the backlighting.Another advantage to an eReader is traveling. I already have over 300 books on my Kindle including all of the free classics I've downloaded, I can get the NY Times and the Washington Post before others have it delivered to their doorstep. I can get 7 days out of a battery charge as long as I leave the wireless function turned off. AND, all of those books and newspapers fit in my pocketbook!!
Now - I would NEVER use an eReader for photography books (although Black & White photos look fine), coffee table books, cookbooks or any other book with a high graphical content, massive amounts of genealogy charts, or scientific/mathematical formulas or other types of chart. It just doesn't work well. And, I have to admit I do miss lending good books to friends. But - not lending books just means that I keep up with my GoodReads account so that my friends know which books I've read and what I liked and didn't like so they can get them themselves or check them out at the public library.
People in general, really need to do some of their own intelligence in deciding whether an eReader would fit their lifestyle or not how they really work. First, there is already an Amazon Kindle and eReader Group on GoodReads - look those up in Groups and read some of the pro/con discussions. Also just Google the 3 primary manufacturers (Sony, Amazon, Barnes & Noble) and read up on what they each offer. Or Google "eReader Reviews" and see what the technology experts have to say.
If you read a lot of fiction and non-fiction of the type where there are no drawings or charts (like your average paperback or hardback book), you're a book buyer not a library person, and you read A LOT then you're probably the perfect candidate for an eReader.
Tom wrote: "Here's a coincidence for you. While we were debating e-books v. paper books, Amazon and the major publisher Macmillan were arguing over Macmillan's wanting to charge more for e-books than the 9.99 ..."Actually even at $12.99-$14.99 that's still cheaper than buying the hardcover at $19.99 to 24.99 +/-. Publishing companies, in general, are hemorrhaging money and grasping to hang onto their 40% retail book margin any way they can. So picking on eBooks is just the latest whine. What they also appear to fail to realize is that eBooks, by nature, completely eliminate the secondary/used book market which is a huge margin eater and something that most book publishers have been fighting for years. A reduction/elimination of this market would actually be a plus for them. If the book publishing industry would wake up and smell the coffee they'd figure out that epublishing will actually save their businesses BOATLOADS of money and get on the bandwagon.
ePublishing is also inherently a green business which is good for everyone.
As with all maturing business, as this market grows up and proliferates, the price of eBooks will probably go up a bit before leveling off but the price of printed books will likely increase at even a greater rate.
I patronize a used book store where I can get most mass market paperbacks for 50-cents each, trade paperbacks for $1-$4 and hardbacks for under $5. Most are in perfect condition. That's cheaper and greener than anywhere else. I have 2 dogs. I rescued both. I do the same thing with books. It just requires a little effort. If you buy an e-reader or e-books, you are contributing to the demise of printed books.
One newspaper after the other is going bankrupt and shutting down as people garner news from other sources--television and the internet. I find that both sad and scary on a couple of levels. We are more removed from local and regional issues when we lose our local news sources. Falsehoods float around the internet on a regular basis, but retractions are rare. Where is the accountability?
There have been historic book-burning incidents though the years, which is censorship at its worst. The books were burned due to cultural, religious, or political opposition. Control of the reading material people are allowed means loss of a fundamental freedom, at least in the United States.
We are still in the early stages of the push toward paperless. There is a fight among companies to develop and market the latest greatest reading gadget, and other communication devices. I agree they have their place as alternatives to the old-fashioned communication techniques of making phone calls, or writing notes and letters. Kindle, and other versions, are cost-effective for voracious readers, or people who travel a lot and find carrying an armload of books a hassle.
Electronic devices break. I’ve had two or three computers crash in the past twelve years. I may live in the stone age, but I don’t want paperless to replace paper. I believe one of the results would be the exclusion of many authors who are currently published. My wish? That we continue to support the publishing industry and buy books. Lots and lots of them.
What are your thoughts?