Comments on: State of the eBook: Gains and Losses http://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/29/state-of-the-ebook-gains-and-losses/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:16:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kevinhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/29/state-of-the-ebook-gains-and-losses/#comment-62644 Kevin Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:15:54 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=50674#comment-62644 Do you have any articles about e-textbooks? I'm not sure I feel too great about e-books right now, we'll see what happens. However, e-textbooks I could see as a great potential learning tool. Some people believe that would reduce the price of textbooks. I would agree in the short term. However, I think publishers, as the technologies grows, would add more content that is readily available for students. Such as interactive review questions at the end of chapters that could even upload results to the professors. Even, on non e-ink screens, some short videos. I'd be interested to hear what publishers might do with that technology. Do you have any articles about e-textbooks? I'm not sure I feel too great about e-books right now, we'll see what happens. However, e-textbooks I could see as a great potential learning tool. Some people believe that would reduce the price of textbooks. I would agree in the short term. However, I think publishers, as the technologies grows, would add more content that is readily available for students. Such as interactive review questions at the end of chapters that could even upload results to the professors. Even, on non e-ink screens, some short videos. I'd be interested to hear what publishers might do with that technology.

]]> By: Michael Andersonhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/29/state-of-the-ebook-gains-and-losses/#comment-50097 Michael Anderson Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:02:23 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=50674#comment-50097 It also makes no sense - all you do is penalize legit customers and drive potential customers away. People who were going to pirate will do so anyway. And the Dan Brown example is perfect! But for many of these publishers, they see ebooks as one step from giving it away for free and losing all control. It is much like music was ~10 years ago ... and no one has yet found a hole in the sand large enough to hide and ignore the problem until it goes away! It also makes no sense – all you do is penalize legit customers and drive potential customers away. People who were going to pirate will do so anyway. And the Dan Brown example is perfect! But for many of these publishers, they see ebooks as one step from giving it away for free and losing all control. It is much like music was ~10 years ago … and no one has yet found a hole in the sand large enough to hide and ignore the problem until it goes away!

]]> By: Carly Zhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/29/state-of-the-ebook-gains-and-losses/#comment-50095 Carly Z Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:14:29 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=50674#comment-50095 I am sure it is in part to combat piracy...but it doesn't make it any less annoying. Especially since publishers are desperate to hook and keep readers. I doubt Dan Brown is weeping that his book was sold in ebook and hardcover simultaneously... I am sure it is in part to combat piracy…but it doesn’t make it any less annoying.

Especially since publishers are desperate to hook and keep readers. I doubt Dan Brown is weeping that his book was sold in ebook and hardcover simultaneously…

]]> By: Michael Andersonhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/29/state-of-the-ebook-gains-and-losses/#comment-50094 Michael Anderson Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:37:35 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=50674#comment-50094 I see the whole 'delayed release' as being similar to how many games are delayed on PC compared to console - it is a move to prevent piracy from eating into profits. I see the whole ‘delayed release’ as being similar to how many games are delayed on PC compared to console – it is a move to prevent piracy from eating into profits.

]]> By: jkj1962http://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/29/state-of-the-ebook-gains-and-losses/#comment-50090 jkj1962 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:24:49 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=50674#comment-50090 It reminds me of Capt. Picard on ST:TNG. He had a fondness for printed books, as did Kirk. It also reminds me of those that listen to and prefer record albums over tape/CD. The pops and crackles add to the experience somehow. While the information is there in an eBook, there is something about a printed page that adds to the experience as well. And old books even more so. EBooks, to me, seem to be "sterile", while an old book has it's own character aside from the information contained within. I have an old copy of a ham radio magazine, "QST" from 1924, that belonged to my grandfather. He bought it when he was 14 years old. He was there in the early days of radio and TV, and in later years even worked on some early space projects for NASA. He died before I was old enough to really talk to him his life. I think that modern computers would really fascinate him. Somehow holding that magazine and reading through the old articles makes me feel connected to him. I don't think an eBook could do that. It reminds me of Capt. Picard on ST:TNG. He had a fondness for printed books, as did Kirk. It also reminds me of those that listen to and prefer record albums over tape/CD. The pops and crackles add to the experience somehow.

While the information is there in an eBook, there is something about a printed page that adds to the experience as well. And old books even more so. EBooks, to me, seem to be “sterile”, while an old book has it’s own character aside from the information contained within.

I have an old copy of a ham radio magazine, “QST” from 1924, that belonged to my grandfather. He bought it when he was 14 years old. He was there in the early days of radio and TV, and in later years even worked on some early space projects for NASA. He died before I was old enough to really talk to him his life. I think that modern computers would really fascinate him. Somehow holding that magazine and reading through the old articles makes me feel connected to him. I don’t think an eBook could do that.

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