Did You Buy An E-Book For Christmas? No, You Didn't!

[+ Lucky]

Here's an interesting article: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20121223,0,1032270.column

 

The gist of it is that e-books are not bought, they are licensed. You are given the right to read it, but that right can be revoked and your e-book withdrawn from your collection. You already know that if you want to lend the book, you also have to lend the device it is licensed to. The publisher or seller stores the book on its servers, never on your device. Right now that storage is free, but there is no guarantee. There's more, so read the story. I am lending it to you...

[tyro]

This old-school girl loves her used bookstores and the feel of paper WAY too much. No e-books for me.

T

[bigvalboy]

This old-school girl loves her used bookstores and the feel of paper WAY too much. No e-books for me.

T

 

Ditto...

[+ honcho]

I think I've mentioned going back to school part time; ... e-textbooks are sometimes way less expensive than hardbound ones

(which can be on the order of $150 these days).

 

If there were an e-textbook offered for a course that I was required to take and otherwise had no interest in, I would seriously

consider the e-option.

 

For other subjects which I would make use of in the future though, I agree that having a physical object to hold may help

recall memories , and possibly be quicker to locate specific topics.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I'm still trying to figure out how to take an ebook to Barnes and Noble for the signing party.

[+ deej]

I'm still trying to figure out how to take an ebook to Barnes and Noble for the signing party.

 

You just ask them to send you an email, of course.

 

I enjoy e-books because I read a lot and I'm not filling shelf space as fast as I used to. I do still buy hard copy of books I intend to keep permanently (or take to a book signing at B&N), but I don't see any reason to keep a permanent copy of the latest Dean Koontz or Clive Cussler novel. I doubt I'll want to re-read them later.

 

Another benefit of eBooks is reading things you might not otherwise read. Kindle users can get a lot of titles for free. I'm re-reading "Treasure Island" (a crackin' good yarn!) for free and have other classic titles queued up.

 

On the topic of reference/text books, I have actually purchased hard copy thinking I'll refer to them later and then also purchased e-copies for the search capability, used both and glad to have them. I've also seen some (but too damn few) publishers give purchasers of the hard copy free access to the e-copy.

 

Everyone has to find their own balance.

[playwrestler]

I have Kindle and they told me that I can give my book to five other users. If I have a friend who wants it -- say on their computer -- all they have to do is download the Kindle app and I can go into their computer on the amazon site and download the book I want to give them on their device or computer... up to five times per book.

[Xander]

Here's an interesting article: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20121223,0,1032270.column

 

The gist of it is that e-books are not bought, they are licensed. You are given the right to read it, but that right can be revoked and your e-book withdrawn from your collection. You already know that if you want to lend the book, you also have to lend the device it is licensed to. The publisher or seller stores the book on its servers, never on your device. Right now that storage is free, but there is no guarantee. There's more, so read the story. I am lending it to you...

 

Yep. This is how they are doing textbooks now days -- You can get 25% off for a licensed copy to an e-book. Turns out to be a shitty deal, because most textbooks now-days provide a one-time-use code for a digital-copy of their book. After the semester your access is revoked.

 

I have a bin full of textbooks. I've referenced my business law and accounting textbooks on multiple occasions. I can't imagine going all digital ... its just not a smart move right now especially as a college student.