Comments on: Why publishers should be wary of the digital book era http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/ Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:37:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: David Devereux http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-255 David Devereux Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:12:45 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-255 To clarify this, I can get hardcopy books easily enough but the electronic version is on release and commercially available and, apparently, the system does not allow me to be supplied with a free author copy of the ebook. To clarify this, I can get hardcopy books easily enough but the electronic version is on release and commercially available and, apparently, the system does not allow me to be supplied with a free author copy of the ebook.

]]> By: Nick Thomas http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-252 Nick Thomas Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:19:01 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-252 After a short stint working in it, I've always thought of the publishing industry as the unworldly trust-fun kid of the media world. But while I agree that the effects of digitization will be profound, the book industry already has differently priced formats (who'd have thought that hardbacks would survive), and a free legal model that has been around for decades (via libraries) without killing off the paid model. Maybe publishers are not so antiquated after all. My take on e-book readers is that they will remain niche for some time, albeit a popular niche. Even then this market will only grow once the market consolidates and a triumphant format/device combination emerges. Of course that device could be the iPhone. The other implication is how writers will respond to the creative potential offered by new formats. We've seen interesting experiments at the cutting edge, but I was struck by the choice of author to launch Kindle - Stephen King, one of the most widely-read authors in the world. Factor in what Paulo Coelho (the no 1 bestselling author globally) has been doing online and we can see how keen even mainstream authors are to explore the possibilities of new formats in new media. After a short stint working in it, I’ve always thought of the publishing industry as the unworldly trust-fun kid of the media world. But while I agree that the effects of digitization will be profound, the book industry already has differently priced formats (who’d have thought that hardbacks would survive), and a free legal model that has been around for decades (via libraries) without killing off the paid model. Maybe publishers are not so antiquated after all.

My take on e-book readers is that they will remain niche for some time, albeit a popular niche. Even then this market will only grow once the market consolidates and a triumphant format/device combination emerges. Of course that device could be the iPhone.

The other implication is how writers will respond to the creative potential offered by new formats. We’ve seen interesting experiments at the cutting edge, but I was struck by the choice of author to launch Kindle – Stephen King, one of the most widely-read authors in the world. Factor in what Paulo Coelho (the no 1 bestselling author globally) has been doing online and we can see how keen even mainstream authors are to explore the possibilities of new formats in new media.

]]> By: David Devereux http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-248 David Devereux Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:11:47 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-248 Physical books are easy, but I've asked for the digital and it never happens. When I sent an advance copy of the latest to somebody just after Christmas, it was esier to just complie the MS into an LRF file from here rather than trying to get an official copy. Physical books are easy, but I’ve asked for the digital and it never happens. When I sent an advance copy of the latest to somebody just after Christmas, it was esier to just complie the MS into an LRF file from here rather than trying to get an official copy.

]]> By: Ian Fogg http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-247 Ian Fogg Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:40:59 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-247 The slow page transitions annoy me enormously too. They make flicking through books quickly impossible. I prefer a conventional LCD screen, like on an iPhone, over these "e-Ink" displays even given that are super low power. The black & white design and slow flicker on every page turn is too much of a trade-off for me. I'm also a bit concerned over having yet another electronic device to carry around. I like the Kindle model as Kindle syncs reading position between the Kindle device (which I would leave at home) and the Kindle iPhone app (which I'd use on the move) automatically and in the background. But as Kindle is US-only for now I can't test this theory out. The slow page transitions annoy me enormously too. They make flicking through books quickly impossible.

I prefer a conventional LCD screen, like on an iPhone, over these “e-Ink” displays even given that are super low power. The black & white design and slow flicker on every page turn is too much of a trade-off for me.

I’m also a bit concerned over having yet another electronic device to carry around. I like the Kindle model as Kindle syncs reading position between the Kindle device (which I would leave at home) and the Kindle iPhone app (which I’d use on the move) automatically and in the background.

But as Kindle is US-only for now I can’t test this theory out.

]]> By: Ian Fogg http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-246 Ian Fogg Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:37:17 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-246 I'm really surprised you don't have copies of your own books! Would be simple if your publisher was Baen, of course. I’m really surprised you don’t have copies of your own books! Would be simple if your publisher was Baen, of course.

]]> By: Michael Stevens http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-245 Michael Stevens Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:12:15 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-245 I'm eagerly awaiting an e-reader device I like. So far the only one I've seen is the Sony one, which is a bit complicated and slow at page transitions for my tastes. The Cybook looks interesting, but I haven't had a chance to see one in person yet. As we've talked about before, Baen are pretty niche content wise, but they're a publisher doing some very cool stuff in the ebook world. I’m eagerly awaiting an e-reader device I like. So far the only one I’ve seen is the Sony one, which is a bit complicated and slow at page transitions for my tastes.

The Cybook looks interesting, but I haven’t had a chance to see one in person yet.

As we’ve talked about before, Baen are pretty niche content wise, but they’re a publisher doing some very cool stuff in the ebook world.

]]> By: David Devereux http://ianfogg.com/2009/04/18/why-publishers-should-be-wary-of-the-digital-book-era/#comment-244 David Devereux Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:42:05 +0000 http://ianfogg.com/?p=399#comment-244 One problem that currently stands with ebooks is the pricing structure. When an ebook costs as much as a mass-market paperback, where is the incentive to invest in hardware? I have a Sony e-reader and adore it, and also read on my iPhone quite happily, but at seven quid a pop the ebook isn't likely to shift so well. Perspectives need to change for the uptake to accelerate, I think, and the main player who needs to do that is the publisher. As an amusing aside, it would seem that my publisher is unable to send me a copy of a book I wrote. Is this a dumb side-effect of DRM? Either way, with London Book Fair happening this week we might have the chance to see some kind of movement. I doubt it, though. One problem that currently stands with ebooks is the pricing structure. When an ebook costs as much as a mass-market paperback, where is the incentive to invest in hardware? I have a Sony e-reader and adore it, and also read on my iPhone quite happily, but at seven quid a pop the ebook isn’t likely to shift so well.

Perspectives need to change for the uptake to accelerate, I think, and the main player who needs to do that is the publisher.

As an amusing aside, it would seem that my publisher is unable to send me a copy of a book I wrote. Is this a dumb side-effect of DRM?

Either way, with London Book Fair happening this week we might have the chance to see some kind of movement. I doubt it, though.

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