Thanks to a couple I am friends with I now have a Sony PRS-600 ebook reader. Brilliant as my book shelves are full. Anyway I thought I would buy some books to go on it from some of my favourite authors. My first port of call was Waterstones where I did a quick search for Neal Asher. For the hardback copy of his book Orbus they are charging £16.19 (apparently saving me £1.80). For the ebook version which requires no manufacturing, incurs no transportation costs and they only need to keep a single copy of on the server they want £14.39 and WHSmith’s want £12.59 for the ebook version. How the hell can they justify this? Another of Neal Asher’s book, Brass Man, goes for £7.99 for the paperback and they want £6.39 for the ebook version but apparently it’s only that price because it’s in the sale The same ebook on WHSmith’s is £5.59.
Early days in this market and the market isn’t that big at the moment. I imagine that as the publishing world gets shaken up by this that prices will come down, which of course doesn’t help you right now.
[Translate]
Apple allowing publishers to set the prices for ebooks in iTunes for when the iPad comes out doesn’t help matters neither. Viva la revolution.
[Translate]
AND, they have no resell value. I don’t like e stuff, ebooks, emusic; you get a lot less for your money!
[Translate]
Never even thought about resale. I know some people say that the DRM is stupid as it means, unlike with a real book, you can’t just give it to a friend once you have finished with it.
[Translate]