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Someone's Wrong on the Internet
Feb. 1st, 2010 05:40 pmI am stopping myself from correcting someone's metaphor in a friends comment because I agree with their point, even if I find their geometry wrong. I will instead show off my research in relation to the Amazon/Macmillan feud.
One bit of misleading information I'm seeing thrown about is the current cost of an e-book (specifically a Kindle book) on Amazon. I keep reading people complain that Kindle books are more expensive. I suspect it is due to people passing on a factiod they haven't looked up. In fact, that $9.99 the current maximum price, and seems to be applicable only to books that aren't available in mass market paperback. Therefore, it is cheaper than the hardcopy of a hard cover or big paperback. In fact, all the books I looked at were cheaper for the Kindle than in hardcopy. Kindle books with paperback versions were between $5-7, compared to the $7-8 paperbacks. Plus, you are not paying for shipping.
I haven't gotten into ebooks for a variety of reasons. First off, I'm picky about form factor. Until I'm sure I can read an ebook comfortably, I'm not dropping hundreds on a reader. Second, I just bought a house big enough for me to devote a room to books and I have enough room for my collection to expand. Related, I haven't traveled anywhere for longer than a week in years so luggage space isn't an issue. Lastly, I'm willing to wait out the format wars*.
*Personally, I'm impressed by Baen. They started selling ebooks without DRM quite a while ago and also offer free versions of the beginning of several of their series. They also have a version equivalent to hardcover - earlier for more money. Sadly, I'm not the Baen reader I once was. The lasted published Baen I've bought is 2004, and they only have one book in the pipeline I really want. Probably related, but I did not see any of their books in Amazon's Kindle store.
One bit of misleading information I'm seeing thrown about is the current cost of an e-book (specifically a Kindle book) on Amazon. I keep reading people complain that Kindle books are more expensive. I suspect it is due to people passing on a factiod they haven't looked up. In fact, that $9.99 the current maximum price, and seems to be applicable only to books that aren't available in mass market paperback. Therefore, it is cheaper than the hardcopy of a hard cover or big paperback. In fact, all the books I looked at were cheaper for the Kindle than in hardcopy. Kindle books with paperback versions were between $5-7, compared to the $7-8 paperbacks. Plus, you are not paying for shipping.
I haven't gotten into ebooks for a variety of reasons. First off, I'm picky about form factor. Until I'm sure I can read an ebook comfortably, I'm not dropping hundreds on a reader. Second, I just bought a house big enough for me to devote a room to books and I have enough room for my collection to expand. Related, I haven't traveled anywhere for longer than a week in years so luggage space isn't an issue. Lastly, I'm willing to wait out the format wars*.
*Personally, I'm impressed by Baen. They started selling ebooks without DRM quite a while ago and also offer free versions of the beginning of several of their series. They also have a version equivalent to hardcover - earlier for more money. Sadly, I'm not the Baen reader I once was. The lasted published Baen I've bought is 2004, and they only have one book in the pipeline I really want. Probably related, but I did not see any of their books in Amazon's Kindle store.
