The cost of paperbacks

[JWolf]

I think that the word-count of a book should be about how many words and author feels they need to tell their story. I don't mind big books, but to cram them with small font sucks. I wish they would keep the books at $7.99 and then when a big one comes along keep the font the same size, but ask $8.99 for it to cover the added cost. I'd pay an extra dollar not to have to read tiny font.

eBooks!

The real losers in hardcopy are those of us with less than perfect vision. The new fonts are not only small, but they are "light" (thin lined, I suspect to save on ink), and very hard to read.

Again, I say eBooks. You can make the font larger so you can see properly for reading.

 

[Ian Keldon]

eBooks!

The real losers in hardcopy are those of us with less than perfect vision. The new fonts are not only small, but they are "light" (thin lined, I suspect to save on ink), and very hard to read.

Again, I say eBooks. You can make the font larger so you can see properly for reading.

You got $50+ for a reader? I don't.

Furthermore, I don't like ebooks. I want a REAL book to read, one I can put on my shelf and that won't disappear any time the publisher gets a notion to purge my reader. This has happened with ebooks at least once already during a copyright dispute.

Lastly, it's form discrimination. Why should I be limited to ebooks to get a readable product? I find it difficult to believe that publishing margins are so razor-thin that spending a few pennies more per book on ink for a heavier font would kill them.

 

[Sci]

I find it difficult to believe that publishing margins are so razor-thin that spending a few pennies more per book on ink for a heavier font would kill them.

I don't.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I don't know about customs fees, but GST, no, that is above and beyond what the cover price is.

In Australia, our 10% GST is included in the ticketed price, and you can work out the GST by dividing by 11. Most shop receipts will then list the GST paid, separately, above the total.

I noticed the other day that Beyer's "Full Circle" is now $8.99 on amazon.com, even though it was originally published years ago.

Newly-reprinted books usually reflect current new prices.

 

[JWolf]

The real losers in hardcopy are those of us with less than perfect vision. The new fonts are not only small, but they are "light" (thin lined, I suspect to save on ink), and very hard to read.

Again, I say eBooks. You can make the font larger so you can see properly for reading.

You got $50+ for a reader? I don't.

Furthermore, I don't like ebooks. I want a REAL book to read, one I can put on my shelf and that won't disappear any time the publisher gets a notion to purge my reader. This has happened with ebooks at least once already during a copyright dispute.

Lastly, it's form discrimination. Why should I be limited to ebooks to get a readable product? I find it difficult to believe that publishing margins are so razor-thin that spending a few pennies more per book on ink for a heavier font would kill them.

You can get programs for your computer or reading eBooks for FREE. eBooks are real books. The same content is in the Star Trek eBooks as are in the pBooks.

As for Amazon removing 1984, that was a mistake and it is the user's fault for not having the eBook backed up on the computer. yes, you can download eBooks to your computer.

 

[Snaploud]

As for Amazon removing 1984, that was a mistake and it is the user's fault for not having the eBook backed up on the computer. yes, you can download eBooks to your computer.

They remotely deleted the book from kindle devices as there were concerns over rights issues. It's ridiculous to blame the user. As for backing up the book onto your computer: the book is going to be useless unless you strip the DRM (an act of questionable legality).

 

[Sci]

As for Amazon removing 1984, that was a mistake and it is the user's fault for not having the eBook backed up on the computer. yes, you can download eBooks to your computer.

They remotely deleted the book from kindle devices as there were concerns over rights issues. It's ridiculous to blame the user. As for backing up the book onto your computer: the book is going to be useless unless you strip the DRM (an act of questionable legality).

Oh, there's nothing questionable about it. It's a violation of federal law.

I sympathize with being disturbed by the idea of the content providers being able to remotely alter one's eBook reader and/or delete one's library. It's all, at the end of the day, a question about whether you think the benefits of an eBook reader -- increased physical space, ease of transporting large numbers of books on the device, ease of use and of reading -- outweigh the downsides like that.

 

[Sho]

^ That's a false dichotomy. What you want is to stand up for an ebook market that doesn't have downsides like that, which is hopefully on the verge of materializing as things seem to be heading for DRM-freeness. And to stay away from junk like the Kindle ecosystem.

 

[ATimson]

Oh, there's nothing questionable about it. It's a violation of federal law.

There may be no question that it's illegal, but if that was sufficient to make it immoral there would be no United States of America.

 

[Sci]

Oh, there's nothing questionable about it. It's a violation of federal law.

There may be no question that it's illegal, but if that was sufficient to make it immoral there would be no United States of America.

I make no claims about whether or not it is immoral. But it is not legally questionable, as originally claimed; it is very clearly and unambiguously illegal.

 

[ATimson]

I make no claims about whether or not it is immoral. But it is not legally questionable, as originally claimed; it is very clearly and unambiguously illegal.

You're right. I misread the original quote, and missed a word. Mea culpa.

 

[Ian Keldon]

You can get programs for your computer or reading eBooks for FREE. eBooks are real books. The same content is in the Star Trek eBooks as are in the pBooks.

So then I'm stuck reading my books on my desktop (or laptop if I had one)...I'm still having to mess with unneeded technology just to access the content. JUST PRINT THE DANG BOOKS!

You can read a real (ie, physical) book by candlelight if need be. Try reading a ebook on your computer when the power is out, or if it breaks down.

I am sick and tired of people trying to "tech" things that don't need to be "teched", books being one of them. JUST PRINT THE DANG BOOKS!

 

[Sho]

^ I think a useful recent convention is to talk about "a codex" when referring to this particular implementation of books, instead of sillyness like "a real book".

 

[ATimson]

I am sick and tired of people trying to "tech" things that don't need to be "teched", books being one of them.

I either need ebook tech or TARDIS tech to hold and transport all of the equivalent codexes. One of the two is a lot more affordable.

 

[Sci]

You can get programs for your computer or reading eBooks for FREE. eBooks are real books. The same content is in the Star Trek eBooks as are in the pBooks.

So then I'm stuck reading my books on my desktop (or laptop if I had one)...I'm still having to mess with unneeded technology just to access the content. JUST PRINT THE DANG BOOKS!

You can read a real (ie, physical) book by candlelight if need be. Try reading a ebook on your computer when the power is out, or if it breaks down.

I am sick and tired of people trying to "tech" things that don't need to be "teched", books being one of them. JUST PRINT THE DANG BOOKS!

Or just accept that the publishing industry does not exist to cater to your particular whims and that if there is no market for a codex edition of a story written to be an eBook, then it won't be printed. Just like if there's no market to release a film on VHS anymore, it won't be released on VHS anymore. You're not entitled to read every damn thing just because you wanna.

 

[iarann]

You can read a real (ie, physical) book by candlelight if need be. Try reading a ebook on your computer when the power is out, or if it breaks down.

I am sick and tired of people trying to "tech" things that don't need to be "teched", books being one of them. JUST PRINT THE DANG BOOKS!

Conversely, try carrying 10-12 books with you on a two week business trip. I much prefer having a nice ereader that weighs just a few ounces that can fit nicely in a backpack instead of needing a second suitcase.

You can also look at it this way, books are printed in batches. That initial print run may sell through eventually, but not quickly enough to justify the cost of a second printing. An ebook on the other hand, while roughly the same cost to produce as that initial print run, never sells through and will always be available.

There are various benefits to ebooks that saying books don't need to be "teched" just doesn't work. Heck, you're a fan of Star Trek, and while many characters on the show read regular books how often do you also seen them reading on their PADD?

 

[Snaploud]

As for Amazon removing 1984, that was a mistake and it is the user's fault for not having the eBook backed up on the computer. yes, you can download eBooks to your computer.

They remotely deleted the book from kindle devices as there were concerns over rights issues. It's ridiculous to blame the user. As for backing up the book onto your computer: the book is going to be useless unless you strip the DRM (an act of questionable legality).

Oh, there's nothing questionable about it. It's a violation of federal law.

There has been an on-going discussion in the legal community regarding the legality of removing DRM for personal use. That's why I used the phrase 'questionable legality.'

 

[Christopher]

I either need ebook tech or TARDIS tech to hold and transport all of the equivalent codexes.

The plural of codex is codices. (As with index/indices, vertex/vertices, matrix/matrices, etc.)

 

[Ian Keldon]

Or just accept that the publishing industry does not exist to cater to your particular whims

Not "whims", but rather the legitimate concerns of millions of other readers who are in situations similar to mine, either unable to afford expensive tech, unwilling to be tethered to a computer, or with eye problems.

and that if there is no market for a codex edition of a story written to be an eBook, then it won't be printed.

With PoD publishing, there is no excuse for saying that.

You're not entitled to read every damn thing just because you wanna.

So information and entertainment in the written word now become the exclusive province of the "tech heads" with eReaders and download accounts?

The rest of us, who either cannot afford or do not find eReaders desirable can just go hang, is that it?

 

[OmahaStar]

^^ Thanks for once again proving my point, Kia.