Comments on: Ebooks cost a lot of money to make; will no one explain why that has to be so?

By: R Davis

R Davis — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:49:38 +0000

Every discussion I have seen on this topic totally ignores an important factor. I buy a TON of older books in second hand stores and yard sales, and alomst never buy books in a bookstore, but would be interested in having them on a reader, and so revenue that was formerly going elsewhere would be going to the people who actually produced the books. Keep charging new book prices for books I bought a decade ago for a quarter? No way. 1/2 price & I’d consider it to get books on a reader. & many of the ‘benefits’ of the reader don’t apply to folks like me…saving trees…nope, somebody else already bought the book…convenience? Sure, if I’m not on a boat, at the beach, camping, or by the pool. I know a lot of people who buy books as I do. So do ya want our money, or should we keep giving it to others?

By: Paul Raven

Paul Raven — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:35:49 +0000

Sounds like you need to speak to an IP lawyer rather than a science fiction blogger, Jan.

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Is it legal to put books of deceased people on-line as a complete book . I have noticed that some of my late-father-in-law and his sister’s books are on the WWW and feel this should not be allowed without permission of living relatives. The books are out of print not available in Uk libraries Please would someone verify the law about this. Who would benefit finacially? Are people making money out this without family living permission.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:17:54 +0000

People also left out the cost of space and storage that dead-tree books take up. Computerized books take up ZERO space. Another cost factor. Sorry… no way a eBook should cost more. And eBooks would become more popular if they were significantly cheaper. But when you can get a small few you can gouge vs. many with low prices… people like to see higher prices. Its like the idiots I work for in the hotel business. They would rather see ONE room go for $89 then 5 rooms at $65. They would rather a 25% full hotel at $89 then 75% full hotel at $65.
There is no way to convince me looking at all the cost facotors (storage for books, transportation for books, equipment to print books, ink to prink books, someone to oversee printing of books, etc etc etc) that eBooks remotely should be running the same cost as a hard copy/paperback.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:11:01 +0000

I call BULLCRAP on ebooks costing the same as a dead-tree book. For the dead-tree you have to hire someone to print the books, you have to pay for ink (and someone is going to say ink isnt expensive? Anyone here ever buy ink for a computer??), you have to pay for the use of equipment to PRINT said books (as well as have money set aside for repairs). I am looking on Amazon.com and the eBooks are more expensive then the dead-tree versions. Only reason? Because people will pay. Same with anything else. I refuse to pay MORE for something costing THEM less. Its the same with ATM’s. They end up costing you when you go to one NOT connected to your bank except there IS NO DAMN COST to the bank. This country is full of thieves. God Bless Capitalism… makes thievery legal. If they will pay it… by God we will charge it. Even if we give some good BS to make it sound good.