Being sucessful by publishing non-traditinally

[Anthony Ravenscroft]

Since we've gotten stuck on chatting about a specific platform -- which has megabucks being tossed into artificially building hype -- here's the page:
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=sa_menu_kdp0?pf_rd_p=328655101&pf_rd_s=left-nav-1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=507846&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER &pf_rd_r=01N16KMTM9QS8P35HC1Q>
If you're on dialup, it'll take more than FIVE FREAKIN' MINUTES to load, which says to me that it's being hyped to people with highspeed access for shopping, or like 3% of the U.S. population.

The reviews are indicative of something that's still (at best) a beta release:

Well, there is no security on purchases at the Kindle store, which means that if it's stolen, or if the kids get a hold of it, you can have your bank account drained pretty quickly.

This does not replace the book. ... I want something that could replace my *laptop* so I can review work related PDF files without printing them out. I do not want something to replace my paperback novel, which is cheaper, more durable, has infinite battery life, and I'll be able to read 20 years from now.
(Not to mention resell or give away...)

When reading a kindle-book, it is impossible to know which page of the physical/printed version of that text you are on. In short, you could never cite the page number of a kindle-book. You could exchange the "kindle location" with other users of the device, but that's not going to get you very far in a footnote.

Kindle has a smaller screen, shorter battery life, and thicker profile than the Sony [Reader]. If most of the time you want to _read_ a book, then all those extra buttons needed to implement the search function will simply get in the way. Sony's requirement for downloading books from a PC is less convenient than wireless, but not really an imposition because you generally download books infrequently. It does, after all, take a modicum of time to actually _read_ them!

Sony Reader PRS-500 has same e-ink screen and looks a whole lot better and cheaper and you can buy from more than one place to get your ebooks.

I was almost ready to buy this until I read that they are charging 10 cents for each personal file you want to read.

The Kindle is only four-step greyscale, so give up on hope for color illustrations, like you'd find in any magazine & many textbooks.

As writers, let's consider the pricing structure of input. A $24.99 hardcover can be bought for Kindle for $9.99. Let's grant that of the $25, 60% goes to the distribution chain, which means printing, shipping, shelving, & spoilage -- with all these things gone, that $15 becomes questionable, & maybe we could agree that $10 is therefore equable. However, the publisher gets hidden advantages, like the ebook won't risk clogging demand for further copies due to resale.

It's nice that Azon has almost 100,000 items available for this platform, but this is heavily padded with short stories ($0.49) which weirdly enough claim to've been entered in 2003. I haven't been able to find a single item that takes particular advantage of the Kindle's much-mooted Features, despite all the hype.

[Steven Labri]

“film spells the end of theatre”

Film is much larger than theatre, and theatre suffers for it.

“television spells the end of film”

My guess is more people stay home to watch TV rather than pay outrageous ticket prices. Notice there are no BIG stars, and don’t say George Clooney, or Russell Crowe.

”video spells the end of television & film & theatre”

It’s not the end, but it has changed.

“on-demand cable spells the end of broadcast TV”

Do you actually know someone that has only broadcast TV?

“none of which has (yet) come true.”

True statement—sort of, but they have all of these industries have changed the way they do business. If they had not, they wouldn’t exist today. Kindle won’t change the world (and I really don’t care) but the publishing industry (old standards) will have to change or die.



From the hype:

Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.

What does that have to do with dial up?

[Cathy C]

Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.

What does that have to do with dial up?

Those of us who don't live near a major metro area don't have access to high-speed data networks (phone, cable or otherwise.) Heck, I just had to replace my cell phone because it really WAS still a cell phone--analog only in this neck. My region just last week finally entered the digital age, but there's no "high-speed" nothing unless you opt for satellite. Every internet connection around me is dial-up.

[Steven Labri]

Kindle doesn't use high-speed (as in DSL/cable) It uses EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized) the same technology as cell phones. Of course, perhaps EVDO is not avail in your neck as well. As far as internet connection, Kindle doesn't need one.

Concerning the dial up comment. AR said only about 3% of the US pop had high-speed. Actually in 2006 46% of the US pop used a high-speed connection and the growth rate is about 48% per year.

Just sayin. Personally, I like a book.

[Wonky]

I think 9.99 is waaay too expensive for a book download. They will have to be a lot cheaper to interest people.