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For the first time, a Terry Pratchett book is available in ebook form.
Legally, I mean.
Thud! is the 30th Discworld book and the first one to be released in digital form. About time, I say.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
I looked at some of the other Sci-Fi titles on that site... and with prices like that, why by an e-book when you can get a paperback for the same price--or much less?
There's no publishing cost involved beyond bandwidth, domain registration, and server space. And that wouldn't take much to get recouped (sp?) for. Someone's being greedy.
Edit: If however, someone can tell me how it's justified, I'd love to hear it. I don't mind being wrong.
Posts: 2880 | Registered: Jun 2004
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The more physical books they sell, the more shelf space, store promotion, pricing leverage and media coverage they get. So they'll take the higher markup from people that for whatever reason prefer an ebook, but if they were going to make the same profit they'd rather sell physical copies and get on bestseller lists.
Posts: 148 | Registered: Feb 2000
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There's also the concept that if people are willing to pay the price, then why not?
I'm continuously baffled that people actually pay 99 cents to download a song. Don't they realize that when they buy a CD the price is often a dollar per song anyway??
Sure, you can pick and choose to make custom CDs if you download, but the price is still ridiculous. I'm amazed that the record companies aren't flipping (for joy) over the fact that they don't have to actually serve up a physical product.
Posts: 2880 | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
E-book pricing - yeah, I wish they were cheaper too. And quite often they are. How much are paperbacks these days, $7.99? Most e-books are $5 and change, especially if you get newsletter discounts and such. The real savings are when the book isn't in paperback yet, or when there are specials or bundles. Or when e-books get released before the print ones -- Baen Books does this as a matter of course.
But for me, the biggest advantage is convenience. I can have the book now, instead of going to get it or waiting for it to be shipped. It doesn't take up shelf space. It's searchable. I can carry dozens with me at all times (and do).
Convenience is also the reason I buy 99 cent songs. Sure it costs that much per song if I buy the CD, but how many CDs are you actually going to want every song? In most cases I want two, maybe three songs, tops, and I can preview all of them to make sure I'm not missing something. $3 to get three songs is cheaper than $12 to get three songs.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I know someone who is sensitive to paper and uses ebooks. Good for him.
I prefer to have a book in my hand...but that site has Magic Street and THAT is tempting. I don't buy anything online, though. Yet. As it is, I'm waiting for it to come out on paperbook AND for me to have the time and inclination to go to the book store.
Posts: 2880 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I haven't entirely eschewed books. I like 'em too much. But I've ben gradually replacing my books with ebooks when possible, and making shelf space to get good quality copies of the books I really like. If I want the book to read the story, I get the ebook. If I want the book to read and to gfet signed and to pass around to friends and to just, you know, have, I get the print one.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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For those in the Washington DC area tonight Terry Pratchet will be at the Olsson's bookstore in Alexandria. Card was at the Olsson's in DC for a small connection.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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What do you read it on, a Palm style device? I don't think my eyes would care for that at all...and I don't have the cash to buy one as it is. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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