Comments on: Ebooks 10% of sales by 2011 says Frankfurt Book Fair Survey

By: Joyce

Joyce — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:55:51 +0000

I am one who often reads books on my laptop. I prefer using my PDA or eink reader, but it is not bad to read on the PC. I use a very large font, put the laptop on the coffee table and change pages with it’s remote control while laying on the couch. It is a pleasant way to read a book.

By: Martin Jenny

Martin Jenny — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:29:06 +0000

I like to take these surveys with more than a grain of salt. So – in nine years time it is expected that 50%+ of the revenue is “digital content” (whatever that means) and almost everyone agrees at a lower price per unit. This must mean huge losses of volume in traditional books since most of it will be substitution. The most important factor in pricing a p-book is the print run, so such a decrease would drive book prices to a ludicrous height and all but kill traditional publishing as well as the distribution network of bookshops.
I am not saying that this might not happen at some point in time. But just nine years? Don’t think so.

By: Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:21:43 +0000

The stated facts seem to contradict you, Richard. And I personally know plenty of people who read on a PC/laptop. For myself, I’ve seen a number of eInk readers, and I don’t like them myself… I’d much rather read on the LCD screen of my PDA. And I am not alone.

People are different. Some people love shiny new Jaguars, and some people love used VW Beetles.

By: Richard Askenase

Richard Askenase — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:12:16 +0000

I am convinced that no one really reads a whole book on a PC/laptop. If they have ever used a ebook reader, they could NOT say that reading it on a laptop is better. So those comments are skewed by people who haven’t experienced them.

By: Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:23:46 +0000

Martin: I expect the former e-book publishers will change when they discover that more and more readers are happily taking their free e-books, and not buying their printed books at all.

I note (with an “I told you so” air) the stats on PC and laptop e-book reading. As I keep saying, don’t count those people out… they are a bigger influence than you think…

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:11:20 +0000

Oughtn’t we to distinguish between the publishers who think that e-books are worthless and those who think that they are worth something?

The former will not consider e-books to be a threat to the printed book – merely a marketing tool that at best increases sales of the printed book and at worst makes no difference. They will be completely free to price e-books how they want. Not really expensive, or the e-book will not be bought; and not really cheap, or the e-book will seem worthless and won’t be bought either.

The latter (the publishers who think that e-books are worth something) have a far harder time because they have to worry about e-books displacing sales of hardbacks or paperbacks. Their pricing decisions will be made in a completely different context, with different constraints.