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Unless you like a lot of old books, or have fairly eclectic tastes, you should be all set. Aemon Send a noteboard - 01/02/2010 07:11:30 PM
Almost every new book coming out has an ebook version these days. I read a lot of ebooks, and I can't think of anything right off the top of my head that I haven't been able to find. I'm sure there's been something, but there's always some sort of book that I want to read available. You'll never run out of ebooks in your subject of choice, that's for sure, even if you do run across a couple that aren't quite available yet.

In my opinion, there are two main reasons that we haven't seen more widespread adoption of ebooks.

1) Cost of hardware. Ebook readers offer a vastly improved reading experience over a phone, or a laptop, or a pda, or what have you. They really do. Right now, though, they're prohibitively expensive.

2) Ebook formats. I can think of at least 6 popular ebook formats off the top of my head, and they're all supported differently by device makers and ebook stores. You still need some limited technical know-how to make sure that what you're downloading will work on your device. Or some slightly more advanced know-how to convert them to a different format that WILL work.

I really don't think we'll see an explosion in popularity until those two problems are solved. Devices have to be cheap enough for most people, and the average American technophobe must have one-click instant availability. Until that point, though, ebooks will remain a second choice for most people, and I will continue to wallow in my elitism. :|
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Amazon Accepts Macmillan’s Demand for Higher E-Book Prices mapthis - 01/02/2010 04:21:35 PM 1645 Views
Amazon lost me as a customer over all this *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 05:52:53 PM 515 Views
Why's that? Aemon - 01/02/2010 06:55:35 PM 1163 Views
I sum it up here kcf - 01/02/2010 08:42:02 PM 1481 Views
That's an interesting point. And I have an opposite reaction. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 08:56:16 PM 983 Views
I like that they are public - I dislike that they affect the public so directly kcf - 01/02/2010 08:59:41 PM 1201 Views
To each his own. I come away with the opposite reaction and like Amazon even more. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:35:10 PM 928 Views
I agree with you. I like what Amazon did. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 12:45:10 AM 1049 Views
I think his complaint is that he feels Amazon is using public opinion to pressure suppliers. Aemon - 01/02/2010 09:04:16 PM 917 Views
thats a big part of it kcf - 01/02/2010 09:09:15 PM 1308 Views
It's a good tactic. I would have done the same thing. *NM* The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:36:31 PM 479 Views
Is it though - Amazon's stock is way down today. Seems the tactic failed *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 09:53:06 PM 485 Views
Apple stocks have gone down on days after major announcements too. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 10:04:04 PM 895 Views
agreed - short term doesn't mean much *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 10:08:01 PM 479 Views
Still, your overall point stands. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 11:10:25 PM 911 Views
yep - apparently they read the move as a sign of weakness *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 11:20:04 PM 529 Views
Macmillan will lose out when people like myself choose to find the book elsewhere. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 06:46:10 PM 898 Views
How easy is it to find books now? Rebekah - 01/02/2010 06:53:43 PM 834 Views
Pretty easily, actually. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 07:07:11 PM 1319 Views
That's excellent. Rebekah - 01/02/2010 08:19:55 PM 1096 Views
Screens are good. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:50:08 PM 1116 Views
Two words: Leather cover. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 08:54:37 PM 980 Views
True, I do remember liking the cover. It's much nicer than what comes with the Sony. Aemon - 01/02/2010 09:02:56 PM 1135 Views
This is what I have. It sounds like what you have for your Sony. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:39:02 PM 1177 Views
Unless you like a lot of old books, or have fairly eclectic tastes, you should be all set. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:11:30 PM 1306 Views
If you do like a lot of old books ranagrande - 01/02/2010 07:16:20 PM 972 Views
Yep, definitely true. I wasn't thinking quite that old, though. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:24:49 PM 1051 Views
$12.99 to $14.99 for a fiction ebook is ridiculous. *NM* everynametaken - 01/02/2010 07:44:20 PM 525 Views
Agreed. *NM* Legolas - 01/02/2010 07:46:33 PM 455 Views
Then again, it's half the price of a print version, for essentially the same product / experience. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:50:29 PM 889 Views
That's the thing, it's not. Legolas - 01/02/2010 08:24:08 PM 918 Views
Re: That's the thing, it's not. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:55:35 PM 1116 Views
Because, as Aemon says, that's how price discrimination works. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 11:31:14 PM 881 Views
Not really. I buy new hardcover releases at Borders for around 18 to 20. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 12:34:08 AM 1082 Views
I don't know about that. Rebekah - 01/02/2010 08:21:05 PM 990 Views
not really, i buy brand new paperbacks for 6.99 *NM* Apsalar Shadowdancer - 02/02/2010 12:21:16 AM 417 Views
Mass markets, yeah. nossy - 02/02/2010 12:19:25 PM 904 Views
That is bananas. Elaine - 01/02/2010 07:46:28 PM 915 Views
"Most newly released..." Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:55:19 PM 1158 Views
People pay that sort of money for DVd and more for Blue Ray random thoughts - 01/02/2010 08:00:47 PM 959 Views
Physical copy is rather important in that case, you know... at least to me. jh - 01/02/2010 08:54:05 PM 1070 Views
I was with you till that last sentence. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:58:58 PM 1129 Views
I really don't think it is that different random thoughts - 01/02/2010 10:01:20 PM 932 Views
If you have issues with eBook pricing, read this link kcf - 01/02/2010 08:46:47 PM 1293 Views
He makes good points... Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 11:37:22 PM 941 Views
I am unimpressed by his arguments. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 01:06:03 AM 961 Views
Good for MacMillan. I'll cheer on anyone who takes a stab against e-books. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 04:00:05 AM 1003 Views
Whaaa? Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 04:08:50 AM 970 Views
Yes, of course. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 04:33:13 AM 1047 Views
In ten years you'll have an ebook reader. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:34:57 AM 1058 Views
I know. That's the problem. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 12:56:32 PM 463 Views
Oh, hush. Go sit in the corner and listen to your 8-track while the rest of us enjoy The Future. *NM* Aemon - 02/02/2010 02:37:33 PM 559 Views
The lower prices, the increased profit, or the ecological benefit? *NM* Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:17:13 PM 402 Views
The gradual loss of physical books. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 05:32:39 PM 424 Views
Mmm. I detect an illogical argument. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:35:14 PM 877 Views
Obviously they won't disappear completely, or even that fast. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:04:47 PM 909 Views
Why not? It'll spur the growth of used book stores. *NM* Ghavrel - 03/02/2010 01:29:56 AM 399 Views
It will increase the number of books available random thoughts - 02/02/2010 01:55:05 PM 4208 Views
One apt analogy is the widespread use of recording tools like Pro Tools. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 08:07:22 PM 1056 Views
There are already comapnies offering editng services random thoughts - 02/02/2010 10:30:28 PM 905 Views
Uh, so what you want to dictate is the medium by which people read? You have no right. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 08:01:09 PM 1006 Views
And again let me add that it's not necessarily one or the other. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 10:09:20 PM 852 Views
That would be awesome. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:02:42 PM 855 Views
Obviously I'm not dictating anything. I'm stating my view. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:01:41 PM 1123 Views
Good Lord! *NM* everynametaken - 02/02/2010 07:58:03 PM 409 Views
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