July 18, 2012
Publishing: The Digital Age 13
A new report out today from Association of American Publishers indicates that eBooks are now the SINGLE dominant format in adult fiction comprising 31% of the market. I believe the stats are even higher for romance (all genres). Here’s a link to article from GalleyCat.
Up to 2 years ago, I was a die-hard print book fan. Couldn’t see myself switching to ebooks for many reasons, but the largest one had to do with price. That was back when an ereader was almost $400–remember those days–I used to say, “Do you know how many books I could buy with $400?” Now it’s a big chore for me to pick up a print book to read (and I get a LOT of print books sent my way).
Any die hard print book readers out there who don’t want to switch and never will? Any die-hards being nudged in that direction now that the cost of ereaders have plummeted and there are soooo many digital books selling inexpensively? What about you ereader fans who love love your ereaders, is there anything that would cause you to go back to print books?
***BTW, you still have until Friday to enter the PIMP MY READ Contest for a chance to win the Kindle Touch Molly O’Keefe is giving away on the blog.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 14:47:06
I was a die hard paper fan for awhile. I vow that having a book was so much better. However, I belonged to a book club where the person in charge was a die hard ereader fan. So, every meeting she would spout how great her kindle was. I finally broke down & asked my husband for a kindle for Christmas. I got and was excited. I downloaded a book I have been wanting. I was amazed on how much I loved my kindle. I actually read from both. I prefer to read on my kindle, but I will pick up a book at home. Plus, my kindle book is my gym book and bedtime book.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 16:17:28
I am against e-readers because of the cost of the books, e-reader and low battery life. I read 1-2 books a day and it would be prohibtive for me when i can dtb anywhere and trade them for new to me books.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 16:29:02
It took me a while to get onto the e-book wagon. Initially I couldn’t justify the expense PLUS the expense of purchasing books on top of it. Then I broke down and bought one when I saw that ebooks (at that time) were many times being sold in ‘bundles’ where you could get a whole bunch of books for less than the price of 1 or 2 of them, and the library was beginning to have digital versions available which would increase my reading material. Started with a Sony ereader, then after about a year, I actually STOPPED using it because the prices of the digital books were many times more expensive than a print version or the same price – and as JCP stated, I was spending the same amount of money for something only I could read – there was no selling it back to a used bookstore for credits towards other books. Not to mention that there is considerably LESS cost in producing/manufacturing a digital version than there is in a print version – so why should I pay the same price (or more)? Then I discovered Kindle…and with Kindle, I discovered ‘indie’ books and sometimes there are bargains to be found (depending on the publisher). But…I find that I spend alot more time researching which books I will spend money for, and of course, I also have found that there is a limit where I am willing to spend – typically under $5. Occassionally I will splurge and spend the $7.99 on one of my go-to authors, but I find that is less and less as many times I can just check the book out from the library (I may have to wait 2-3 months to actually read it).
Jul 18, 2012 @ 19:14:01
I’m a huge print book reader. I’m not sure if I would want to switch to any digital reader but it is a lot of pressure when the book prices are so low and so easy to purchase. But the thing is I love the feeling of books in my hand and the smell of them too, especially looking at my book self filled with my favorites. But really, it’s when the power goes out for days that I’m afraid I won’t survive on a digital reader, therefore I’ll still survive if I have my print books.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 20:29:33
I adore print books, if I have a choice I will choose a print book over an ebook every time. I do have an ereader, and it comes in handy for the NetGalley’s and other ebooks I get to review. But if I review a book I love as an ebook, I have to go buy it in print when it comes out.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 22:45:24
I’m still a print book fan. I was given an e-reader for my birthday last year and it is chock full of books – lots of freebies out there to check out – but I usually pick up my print book rather than the Kindle. I will be taking it with me on vacation next week, I think it will be a lot easier than dragging the 4 or 5 print books I usually bring, although I’ll stay bring at least one, just in case.
I read more e-books on my iPhone than the Kindle, since I have it with me all the time, it’s very handy for those times I have to sit and wait, etc.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 22:49:58
I like print and ebooks.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 23:51:07
I am a die hard print book reader. I finally caved and got a Nook only because I feel I was being forced by the publishers to get one. As you know most romance is in series and I HAVE to read them in order… Many are publishing novellas in only digital form and I was being closed out. Also it’s getting hard to find old books that are not being reprinted. I refuse to deal with Amazon. And cost plus shipping is a BIG deal to me. I have waited years to get my hands on a book. When I can’t get a book in print for a reasonable price I will reluctantly get a digital copy. I’m not comfortable with “Tech”.
Jul 19, 2012 @ 00:04:36
I have always loved print books: seeing them on my shelves, touching them, opening them, going back to the tabbed pages I’ve marked to read great quotes.
I really want to try an e-reader, but simple economics prevents such. Since I no longer work, I cannot afford to purchase full-priced books. My favorite book stores are restricted to used book stores. It breaks my heart that I cannot afford to support the authors I love and adore because publishers are playing money games (like taking the perfectly-size mass market paperback book and making it a tradeback book so they can charge more). I might save up to buy an e-reader if one could buy used e-books. Is there a way to purchase a used e-book?
What about the share factor? I share my print books. How do e-readers share their books with their family and friends? Over the years I exchanged books with many different people. I hand them a book I loved, and vice versa.
Jul 19, 2012 @ 11:47:41
I just won an ereader and it is easier for traveling (which I don’t do a lot of anymore) but I still have a love of print books. I like being surrounded by them. They are tangible. I too share my books with friends and family and the two-week loan on an ereader just doesn’t work. And once read on an ereader, do you people keep the book?? I do think the younger generation is going to totally embrace it. And, alas, I’m running out of room for my books so it would solve that problem. So I guess I see the good and the not so good in it lol.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 01:29:51
I have an e-reader, but am still figuring out how to operate it. I have no WIFI access at home, so downloads must be done while in town at places with free access. I don’t get to town often and when I do, I have little time to sit and work on my e-reader library. I am sure once it is all set up, it will be enjoyable to have.
I do prefer print books, but the number I own have literally taken over our house. My husband wanted me to get one sooner than later. Another factor was some of my favorite authors were putting out novellas or books only in e-form. An app on my computer just wasn’t going to be convenient for reading books. I tried. We do a lot of traveling and hope to do more in the future. It will be much easier to slip an e-reader in my purse rather than the crate of books I always have on the back seat of the car. Needless to say, that crate isn’t an option on a cruise or a plane. I haven’t addressed the loaning of books or giving them away yet. I do loan books to my daughter, but she takes a long time to read one and doesn’t have an e-reader. Books I don’t plan to keep are donated to my local library for their book sale. E-books won’t work in either case.
Jul 21, 2012 @ 10:57:51
I don’t have wifi either but once or twice a month I’m where I can easily download. There is a way to do it manually and once I figured that out I stopped worrying. It just takes a few more steps. You plug in your ereader to the computer and move the book/file over to the kindle on your computer. I called amazon assistance to figure it out lol.
Jul 22, 2012 @ 01:46:16
I love reading e-books and it’s easier to take notes (for reviews) on my e-reader.
But majority of the books I read are still paperbacks because I pass on my books to a fellow reader when I’m done (we split the cost of the book).
I am glad that the cost of e-readers is going down, though — I think that’s a step in the right direction in terms of literacy. ^_^