Ebooks
I just read a fascinating guest post by JA Konrath, discussing the topic of ebooks and what the future of the publishing industry will look like.
I have not felt any temptation towards a Kindle, for a number of reasons. I love the feel of a book. Also I'm a control freak and I like having something that can't be ruined by some mysterious electronic illness that I don't understand. I tend to live on the fridges a bit, so I have an aversion to anything where my actions are controlled. I like to be able to buy books from Goodwill or a garage sale and I don't want to trap myself into only being able to buy from one source or another.
But I think Mr. Konrath's comments are right on the money. He predicts that when ebooks start offering "extras", the way DVDs did, and when they are cheap and copyable, then the format will explode and take over. And I admit that in a world where I can copy ebooks or buy them very very cheap, I would very likely get myself a Kindle (or whatever is the reader of the time).
Speaking of copying, now THERE is a can of worms. Personally, I admit that I copy CDs from the library and share sound files from my own cds with friends. Yep, I'm admitting to illegal activity. Would I copy ebooks? Yeah, I probably would. But frankly, if it were a world like Mr. Konrath envisions, where you can get 99 cent downloads of books, I would actually probably buy many more books than I do now. I would also be buying from a source that benefits the author, rather than a second hand place. I like instant gratification, and if I've been hearing my friends talk about some book, I would be more likely to spend the dollar and download it, rather than muck around trying to find a place I can copy it. I know that last year when I was reading the Twilight books, it killed me that I couldn't put my hands on them exactly when I wanted to. I would have loved to log onto Amazon and download them. Get the price cheap enough and even this stingy girl will buy the conveniance.
I have a lot more I'd like to say on the subject, but I'd like to hear your views. (1.)What do you think is the future of the publishing industry, and (2.)What do you think on the topic of "pirating"?
I have not felt any temptation towards a Kindle, for a number of reasons. I love the feel of a book. Also I'm a control freak and I like having something that can't be ruined by some mysterious electronic illness that I don't understand. I tend to live on the fridges a bit, so I have an aversion to anything where my actions are controlled. I like to be able to buy books from Goodwill or a garage sale and I don't want to trap myself into only being able to buy from one source or another.
But I think Mr. Konrath's comments are right on the money. He predicts that when ebooks start offering "extras", the way DVDs did, and when they are cheap and copyable, then the format will explode and take over. And I admit that in a world where I can copy ebooks or buy them very very cheap, I would very likely get myself a Kindle (or whatever is the reader of the time).
Speaking of copying, now THERE is a can of worms. Personally, I admit that I copy CDs from the library and share sound files from my own cds with friends. Yep, I'm admitting to illegal activity. Would I copy ebooks? Yeah, I probably would. But frankly, if it were a world like Mr. Konrath envisions, where you can get 99 cent downloads of books, I would actually probably buy many more books than I do now. I would also be buying from a source that benefits the author, rather than a second hand place. I like instant gratification, and if I've been hearing my friends talk about some book, I would be more likely to spend the dollar and download it, rather than muck around trying to find a place I can copy it. I know that last year when I was reading the Twilight books, it killed me that I couldn't put my hands on them exactly when I wanted to. I would have loved to log onto Amazon and download them. Get the price cheap enough and even this stingy girl will buy the conveniance.
I have a lot more I'd like to say on the subject, but I'd like to hear your views. (1.)What do you think is the future of the publishing industry, and (2.)What do you think on the topic of "pirating"?