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Originally Posted by Dave  I admit that I couldn't read this whole thread, but I gathered from skimming that is was mainly discussing whether an e-book could be considered a "real" book. I have the same problem with downloading music - I still want the hard CD.
Now I have another question and a rant. Today, I really dithered over ordering Hardback copies of two books I really want to read (Surface Detail by Iain M Banks & Betrayer of Worlds by Larry Niven.) Both come out in Paperback in May, but I want them NOW. So, I will pay the extra and get them in Hardback. That seems okay, publishers are entitled to rip us off a few pounds extra and force us to buy the Hardback edition, or wait a few months and get the Paperback edition (actually, it is more like 7 months in both those examples.) My problem is that the Kindle edition is already available to download immediately.
I don't think a Kindle edition is a proper book either, and I want a proper book to have and to hold, but when the Kindle version is already available,
How can they possibly square that with making you wait for the Paperback release? |
I can't say for certain on that particular book, Dave, but I suspect you will find the ebook version will currently be priced the same as the hardback and it's price will drop to something like the paperback price when that comes out, which is how they justify it. This is their way of selling the ebook but still protecting their hardback prices.
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Originally Posted by Rodders I was browsing in Books Etc this afternoon and i noticed a CD in the back of one of David Webers books that contained the Baen back catalogue. An interesting move. |
Baen have been doing this for a while but you should note that they are trusting their readers. These are not supposed to be a way of getting Baen books completely free but allowing you to check the books out and then buy them if you like them; so ensuring the author gets his/her due. If you search around a bit, those Baen CD's are also available for free download on the web (with Baen's permission). Baen have to be one of the most liberal thinking (and trusting) publishers around. Note Baen also make any of their catalogue available as eBooks for free to anyone who is disabled; not sure how you register for it and it may only be in America where they could presumably check that you are legitimately disabled.
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Originally Posted by thaddeus6th I've been thinking of what to buy next, and wandered into my local Smiths to get The Heroes, but they didn't have it. So, I went online. The hardback version (and if anybody could tell me if it's bound with glue or stitched I'd be grateful) is more expensive than the paperback, which is ok, but the Kindle version is more expensive than the hardback. Why? |
Again I suspect this is the publisher's protecting their hardback sales. I believe Amazon is trying to force the publishers to change these sort of practices. Though I'm not too sure whose side I'm on. Whilst I love to have cheap books I don't want them at the cost of "cheapening" the whole publishing industry. If that's the right way to express it.