eBooks – the Best Thing since Sliced Bread?
Are eBooks a waste of money?…….I’m asking this as a consumer who has loads of unread PDF files on my hard-drive. But I am also posing this question as a potential eBook author and publisher. Being a keen member of John Thornhill’s Masterclass I am looking forward to week 7 which I think is product development, and I’m pretty sure will involve eBooks. So before producing anything I really would like to know what the advantages of an eBook are to the customer?
I know that instant delivery is one advantage, but does anyone really need information that quickly? I think instant delivery is more of an advantage to the producer as it caters perfectly for the impulse purchase. Low cost of production and delivery is certainly an advantage, but this is not always passed on to the customer, with many eBooks being sold for a higher price than a traditional paper book. So what ARE the advantages of an eBook to the customer?
The customer pays a premium for the information contained in the eBook. It’s the information that’s important not the PDF file that delivers it. However if the information has to be constantly refered to, then this is where a traditonal book would be better suited. Perhaps a PDF file is perfect for information that can be delivered in up to 50 pages, but any more lengthy documents would be better in a traditional book format?
Any comments from my fellow Masterclass students would be appreciated, as writing this post has made me realise that I have negative views of eBooks.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Hi
liked your post on e-books and sliced bread.
keep up the good work.
Regards Rob
Hello Rob,Thanks for your comment which was reassuring. I was a bit worried about leaving a negative post.
I like your sports theme blog, and have learned something new about football - the 1969 soccer war!
Good luck with the Masterclass course.
John
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Hi John
A very debatable subject, as there are pros and cons. Some ebooks are huge, and I suppose I’d rather they collect virtual dust on my hard drive, than real dust on my bookshelf. I can’t wait for ebook readers such as Kindle, to come down in price,that would make ebooks much more user friendly. A good book has a feel of it’s own, and it doesn’t give you thigh burn !!
Keep up your very interesting blogs, you obviously don’t shy away from personal subjects, which we all have to deal with, one way or another.
Ciao John
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Hello John,I have seen somebody reading the Sony eBook reader in a pub. I was impressed with it, and this could be a solution when the price comes down.
Thanks for your encouragement.
John
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Hi John,
I had to laugh when I read your post on ebooks. I too have ebooks just lying around on my computer…unread. But, I must admit that when I really wanted the information…for the most part it was very satisfying to receive it immediately. The same thing happens when I buy physical books. There are times I have bought books that sat on my shelf for years..unread..but then one day I am prompted to pick it up because it serves a particular need at the time.
Ebooks is just another avenue of information and I really do think they have their place.
I like your site…I’ll be back….;)
Kathy Dobson
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Hello Kathy,Good point about unread 'real' books - I've got loads of them on my shelves.....I'm starting to warm up to eBooks now;thanks for your comment.
John
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