Re: "The Elusive E-book"

From: "Kent S. Larsen II"
> At 9:19 AM -0400 5/9/08, you wrote:
>>
>>The ebook segment is currently miniscule. A modest publishing 
>>house,
>>like FSG was before Holtzbrink bought it, will sell more than 
>>the
>>entire ebook industry. BUT it's growing, and it has features 
>>that
>>make it important to the future of small press publishing, as 
>>well as
>>potentially a replacement for all paperback publishing, IMO.
>>
>>Still, if that is to happen, only the sales of books will help.
>>Giving books away may get more people interested in reading 
>>ebooks,
>>but I think it increases the chance that ebooks never become
>>significant.
>>
>>Marion Gropen
>>Gropen Associates, Inc.
>
> Marion I assume you mean in terms of interest among the large 
> publishers.
>
> It seems to me that giving away free ebooks does have a role, 
> if people have devices to read them on. Won't free ebooks 
> encourage the public to get used to using these devices, and 
> get them used to the concept of ebooks?
>
> Or do you think that has already happened, and that the next 
> step (developing a pay-for market) needs to happen now?
>
> Just curious.
>
> Kent
>

Kent,

I've given a more complete answer to Rick.   But the problem with 
giveaways - as Aaron points out - is getting people then weaned 
off 'free'.   While the reading device is an expensive toy, and 
tied to limited formats to boot, it will hold back the ebook 
market sector.

Do you really need something technically more complex than a £5 
[$10] mp3 player with a bigger screen?

Joseph Harris 


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