The use of the Kindle as a DTP tool is extremely interesting, especially since it has a built-in distribution mechanism. Here is an excerpt from the above blog about using the Kindle to do just that:
One of the under-appreciated aspects of the Kindle is how it has the potential to open up not just a whole new world of interesting new content for readers, but a whole new world of readers for small publishers.
As a small publisher, we have been thrilled with how effective and easy Amazon’s DTP service has been in bringing our books to a whole new group of readers at a really affordable price.
One such book, Friday Reflections, packs a “lifetime of working wisdom” into 52 fun and thought-provoking short stories. We feel passionately that people starting out (or renewing) their careers in this uncertain economic climate can benefit from the values and disciplines that these stories emphasize.
We had already sold a respectable number of “Friday Reflections” paperbacks, but by it’s nature a paper book has disadvantages. We really wanted Friday Reflections to be very affordable, environmentally neutral, easily carried with you for whenever you need it, and be easy to search for just the right story or quote.
The Kindle and the DTP made this possible for us. We were able to convert our manuscript and list the title with very little trouble, and have been able sell the book for less than $3.00 … without using up any trees, gasoline or warehouse space. The fact that Kindle books can behave like webpages mean that our readers can search, hyperlink and share these stories to their heart’s content.
Ok… now can you tell us what the hell DTP is? Don’t assume everyone know what an acronym you use is. You should always define it.
BOb
Desktop publishing, I assume, BOb.
Good luck to them, “without using up any trees, gasoline or warehouse space.” Exactly!
“The Kindle and the DTP made this possible for us. We were able to convert our manuscript and list the title with very little trouble, and have been able sell the book for less than $3.00 … without using up any trees, gasoline or warehouse space.”
On the face of it, making publishing easy sounds great…
“The fact that Kindle books can behave like webpages mean that our readers can search, hyperlink and share these stories to their heart’s content.”
For small values of “share” and “heart’s content” this may be true.
But look at the bigger picture – we can already share content using the web. Publishing to the web is easy. Wouldn’t it be better to make use of this rather than setting up a Kindle walled garden that behaves “like the web” and talking it up as if it is something new?
Hi,
First of all, thanks to Paul for picking this up. In this case, DTP stands for “Digital Text Platform” – and it’s the set of tools that Amazon provides to take your manuscript, convert it into a Kindle book, and publish it on the Amazon store. It’s a rather slick system.
In response to RJH, we saw a number of advantages for the reader of a Kindle edition versus accessing our blog (even through a smartphone)
Firstly, you can read it on an airplane or wherever you take your Kindle, regardless of internet connectivity (good for business travelers)
Secondly, a Kindle is still better suited for reading a large-ish amount of text in a comfortable setting compared to a smartphone or computer (our objective is to be read during reflection down-time)
Finally, we wanted to provide something that would be a lasting reference and source of ideas and inspiration. Something you can put on your Kindle and know it’ll always be there.
Of course, as a publisher, it allows us to collect a small amount of money directly from our fans for a work that they hopefully like, rather than being aggressive and trying to put ads in their face at every opportunity. 😉
I really see Kindle doing for books what the iPod did for music – once Amazon nails the design and “Cool” factor.
Neil, those are all valid points and benefits for the user, and all of them are available without requiring the use of the Kindle format – even, as I understand it, on the Kindle.
I’ve been enjoying exactly the advantages you list for years on various devices and more recently on my BeBook.
The almost unspoken advantages of the Kindle are firstly, it is easy for the seller and buyer to purchase a book and complete the transaction; and secondly – the elephant in the room – DRM is built in and invisible.
“I really see Kindle doing for books what the iPod did for music – once Amazon nails the design and “Cool” factor.”
There is little doubt that Apple had a huge influence on people’s listening habits (most people now think iPods and mp3 players are synonymous) and a wider Kindle user base would help widespread acceptance of e-reading. But why only back that device; surely publishing content to all existing and future devices would be a better gambit?
On a personal level, you have what appears to be an interesting, good product and it is priced at a point which makes purchase an easy decision, yet you have shut me out from your market simply because I own a BeBook and not a Kindle. While that may be to Amazon’s advantage, it doesn’t help you or me.
The “walled garden” approach could be discussed at considerable length, but quite a lot of relevant points are made in Zittrain’s somewhat “scholarly” book The Future of the Internet (http://futureoftheinternet.org/) which is available both on paper and (as it happens) in ebook formats able to be read on any device including the Kindle.