e-book sales in decline

Skybird · 03-31-14, 08:47 AM

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26816884

Somehow, that feels relieving. Personally, I always thought - sometimes more intensely, sometimes less - that it all is about a hyped interest into the new and exotic electronic toy stuff. Once the initial "newness" and fascination has gone, things are normalising again.

TG626 · 03-31-14, 09:04 AM

I don't think printed books will ever die off completely. I think paper will eventually become obsolete for things like periodicals.

Garion · 03-31-14, 09:54 AM

I have just under 2000 books on my Kindle and have not paid for any of them.

They ain't pirated neither.

Cheers

Gary

Skybird · 03-31-14, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TG626

I don't think printed books will ever die off completely. I think paper will eventually become obsolete for things like periodicals.

Yes, and temporary material at work, newspapers, and such.

However, who ever has tried to compare several text passages in some academic book for example, reading the parallel, knows that the use of electronic readers and tablets has limits, ergonomically, and while it is easy to search for keywords, it it also inferior due the just described reasons.

MH · 03-31-14, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26816884

Somehow, that feels relieving. Personally, I always thought - sometimes more intensely, sometimes less - that it all is about a hyped interest into the new and exotic electronic toy stuff. Once the initial "newness" and fascination has gone, things are normalising again.

I used to buy books but i don't anymore.

I like the idea that whenever i wish to i cam pull up my phone and read whichever book i like not needing to carry them around.

On another hand the physical copy has something to it ...sort of like possessing the old records...and you cant delete them with press of a button..

Skybird · 03-31-14, 10:28 AM

Have you ever red the fineprint for Amazon Kindle?

You may have payed for its books, but you do not own them at all. If you take your Kindle to another continent, for example, and use the deiove there for trying to buy another ebook from one of the local Amazon stores there, Amazon reserves the right (and has executed that repeatedly) to delete your account at home and delete all your books ever bought. Books gone, money gone.

Enjoy living at the mercy of somebody else not pushing a button.

That is the biggest issue with digital sales, may it be software, may it be printware: private property is a term that has become useless there. You do not own anything for real with it. You cannot resell it. You cannot exchange or barter it. You are dependent and remote-controllable. And if the other thinks you "owned" something for long enough and that you should not own it any longer, or should not own this version, but an edited, different version of a book, there is nothing you can do - he does what he wants, and you suffer what you must.

MH · 03-31-14, 10:38 AM

Quote:

That is the biggest issue with digital sales, may it be software, may it be printware: private property is a term that has become useless there. You do not own anything for real with it. You cannot resell it. You cannot exchange or barter it. You are dependent and remote-controllable. And if the other thinks you "owned" something for long enough and that you should not own it any longer, or should not own this version, but an edited, different version of a book, there is nothing you can do - he does what he wants, and you suffer what you must

I agree with that.
You sort buy the right to read a book not to own it.

vanjast · 03-31-14, 10:45 AM

When shopping for a tablet, I had kindles and apples shoved in my face.
People say you must feel sorry for sales peoples - just doing a job. Bugger that, 99.9999% of them are so dense, and hard of hearing

All I wanted was a colour tablet with a open memory stick and USB port, so I can transfer docs from my PC to the tablet, and something for the wife to browse with.
Never bought an e-book (except for my kids schooling), and never will - The internet provides enough legal free stuff.

Got myself a nice 10" ASUS 310T (I think the model number is) for 3000 ZARs... nice a cheap, considering the nearest equivalent was 5000 bucks at the time, and apples going for 6000

Kazuaki Shimazaki II · 03-31-14, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26816884

Somehow, that feels relieving. Personally, I always thought - sometimes more intensely, sometimes less - that it all is about a hyped interest into the new and exotic electronic toy stuff. Once the initial "newness" and fascination has gone, things are normalising again.

But down there in one of the links it says:
"Printed book sales fall £98m in 2013"

and the link doesn't even say what BBC claims it said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

For the first eight months of 2013, e-book sale were worth $800m in the US, down 5% on the same period the previous year, according to the Association of American Publishers.

Meanwhile, hardback book sales rose 11.5%.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLink (DigitalBookWorld)

According to the latest numbers from the Association of American publishers, adult ebook sales are up 4.8% through August to $647.7 million. Meanwhile, sales of hardcover books are up 11.5% to $778.6 million over the same period.

The trend over the past several years has been quite the opposite, with ebooks growing in double and triple digits and hardcover sales falling, giving way to the cheaper format. Paperback sales, however, continued to decrease, down 11.6% from a year ago to $898.9 million.

Uh...

Anyway, what I see happening is that sales are polarizing, with people who really liking the print material opting for hardcover and those that don't care buying E-books. Paperbacks are the main losers.

As for me, I like books, but as you know my small apartment hardly has store to store many more. Besides, I need word search more than an advantage in laying up several books side by side, and I want my books in one tablet ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanjast

Got myself a nice 10" ASUS 310T (I think the model number is) for 3000 ZARs... nice a cheap, considering the nearest equivalent was 5000 bucks at the time, and apples going for 6000

Hey, me too! Say, are you having problems with your SD card going offline?

Jimbuna · 03-31-14, 11:44 AM

I much prefer the paper version but also have a growing electronic collection.

Plenty of room in the market place for both IMO.

Admiral Halsey · 03-31-14, 12:23 PM

Personally i've never liked E-Books. The things always seemed off for some reason.

McBeck · 03-31-14, 12:57 PM

I love my kindle for some simple reasons
1) I travel a lot. It saves weight, room and is always handy
2) I dont have to keep my wife up if I want to read in bed
3) It saves a ton of room in our flat, because we both read a lot on vacations.

That being said, I keep some books on paper, because they have illustrations etc...or are of sentimental value.

Wolferz · 03-31-14, 03:33 PM

Quote:

On another hand the physical copy has something to it ...sort of like possessing the old records...and you cant delete them with press of a button..

Nope, all you need is a match and some form of energetic accelerant.

I recall a chancellor doing just that back in the 1930's

the_tyrant · 03-31-14, 05:45 PM

I like ebooks quite a bit. I would much, much rather lug around a tablet or ebook reader instead of my 3 - 5 big textbooks.

I would usually have to carry a solid 5 pounds to class daily, or I can just use an ebook reader.

areo16 · 03-31-14, 09:34 PM

That's because there are very few things that are as satisfying as reading an actual book on the sh!tter, while sipping a cup of Joe!

I'll take the infraction for that one because it was well worth saying.

03-31-14, 08:47 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	e-book sales in decline http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26816884 Somehow, that feels relieving. Personally, I always thought - sometimes more intensely, sometimes less - that it all is about a hyped interest into the new and exotic electronic toy stuff. Once the initial "newness" and fascination has gone, things are normalising again. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-31-14, 09:04 AM	#2
TG626 Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: USS Seal - Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 268 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 3	I don't think printed books will ever die off completely. I think paper will eventually become obsolete for things like periodicals. __________________ T. E. Thompson, LTCDR Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Seal (formerly S-40 (SS-145))

03-31-14, 10:28 AM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Have you ever red the fineprint for Amazon Kindle? You may have payed for its books, but you do not own them at all. If you take your Kindle to another continent, for example, and use the deiove there for trying to buy another ebook from one of the local Amazon stores there, Amazon reserves the right (and has executed that repeatedly) to delete your account at home and delete all your books ever bought. Books gone, money gone. Enjoy living at the mercy of somebody else not pushing a button. That is the biggest issue with digital sales, may it be software, may it be printware: private property is a term that has become useless there. You do not own anything for real with it. You cannot resell it. You cannot exchange or barter it. You are dependent and remote-controllable. And if the other thinks you "owned" something for long enough and that you should not own it any longer, or should not own this version, but an edited, different version of a book, there is nothing you can do - he does what he wants, and you suffer what you must. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-31-14, 11:44 AM	#10
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I much prefer the paper version but also have a growing electronic collection. Plenty of room in the market place for both IMO. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-31-14, 12:57 PM	#12
McBeck Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,027 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	I love my kindle for some simple reasons 1) I travel a lot. It saves weight, room and is always handy 2) I dont have to keep my wife up if I want to read in bed 3) It saves a ton of room in our flat, because we both read a lot on vacations. That being said, I keep some books on paper, because they have illustrations etc...or are of sentimental value. __________________ "I like subcommanders...they dont have time for bull**!" Proud member of the Subsim army of zombies Becks website

03-31-14, 09:54 AM	#3
Garion Commander Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 452 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	I have just under 2000 books on my Kindle and have not paid for any of them. They ain't pirated neither. Cheers Gary

03-31-14, 10:45 AM	#8
vanjast Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere else now Posts: 1,733 Downloads: 825 Uploads: 4	When shopping for a tablet, I had kindles and apples shoved in my face. People say you must feel sorry for sales peoples - just doing a job. Bugger that, 99.9999% of them are so dense, and hard of hearing All I wanted was a colour tablet with a open memory stick and USB port, so I can transfer docs from my PC to the tablet, and something for the wife to browse with. Never bought an e-book (except for my kids schooling), and never will - The internet provides enough legal free stuff. Got myself a nice 10" ASUS 310T (I think the model number is) for 3000 ZARs... nice a cheap, considering the nearest equivalent was 5000 bucks at the time, and apples going for 6000

03-31-14, 12:23 PM	#11
Admiral Halsey Best Admiral in the USN Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USS Enterprise (CV-6) Posts: 1,740 Downloads: 317 Uploads: 0	Personally i've never liked E-Books. The things always seemed off for some reason.

03-31-14, 05:45 PM	#14
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	I like ebooks quite a bit. I would much, much rather lug around a tablet or ebook reader instead of my 3 - 5 big textbooks. I would usually have to carry a solid 5 pounds to class daily, or I can just use an ebook reader. __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

03-31-14, 09:34 PM	#15
areo16 Sonar Guy Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 382 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	That's because there are very few things that are as satisfying as reading an actual book on the sh!tter, while sipping a cup of Joe! I'll take the infraction for that one because it was well worth saying.