[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tac Anderson and others. Tac Anderson said: Dear Book Publishers, Here’s How to Get Me To Switch to ebooks. http://bit.ly/9o02rh (new post) [...]

I'm loving my iPad, where I'm mostly downloading and reading books through the Kindle app (it can be shared and accessed in more places, so I chose IT over iBooks).

But … the process of highlighting and note-talking (I like writing in the margins of physical books) is clunky and still feels artificial to me. Maybe that will change as I read more e-books. We'll see. In the interim, I'd certainly second your proposal-an electronic version that I can reference away from home and a physical copy that I can mark up!

Interestingly they've been doing this with music for awhile, specifically with vinyl (buy an album on vinyl, get an insert for a free download). Maybe this is backward, and publishers should include coupons in books for electronic copies, especially since less than half of all gift cards are ever redeemed.

My experience has been similar, except that i'm holding out for a subscription service. Charge me $200/year for all the books i can read, and i'm yours.

More recently I even remember Bloc Party offering the digital version to download if you pre-purchased the CD. I can't do the subscription service. I want to keep the book. Forever.

Amazon seems like they would be the perfect supplier to push this through. They're on every device and if I could buy the Kindle version when I purchase the book I'd buy a Kindle today. Still would love a non-proprietary version but I'm not holding my breath.

Tac,

I agree with your points in this post to a point. Don't know if I'd be willing to pay extra for a digital copy of a hardcover book that I've Already purchased. I really do enjoy the DVDs that have the digital copy built in to the disc as an option and think that model works.

I'd like to add two thoughts to this… First, as a recent convert to the iPad I've been very disappointed to see that both amazon and iTunes have priced many of their ebooks the exact same price (and sometimes even higher if you cans believe that) as buying the hardcover edition… This is ridiculous since their cost to distribute is way cheaper than the paper version regardless if the chunk itunes takes.

2nd- i wish I could take notes on every ebook and also share them. It would be awesome to be able to see the sections of books we both own that you thought were important and be able to swap notes…

Just my .02 but I did enjoy the post. Curious to hear if you go kindle or iPad

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Tac,

I agree with your points in this post to a point. Don't know if I'd be willing to pay extra for a digital copy of a hardcover book that I've Already purchased. I really do enjoy the DVDs that have the digital copy built in to the disc as an option and think that model works.

I'd like to add two thoughts to this… First, as a recent convert to the iPad I've been very disappointed to see that both amazon and iTunes have priced many of their ebooks the exact same price (and sometimes even higher if you cans believe that) as buying the hardcover edition… This is ridiculous since their cost to distribute is way cheaper than the paper version regardless if the chunk itunes takes.

2nd- i wish I could take notes on every ebook and also share them. It would be awesome to be able to see the sections of books we both own that you thought were important and be able to swap notes…

Just my .02 but I did enjoy the post. Curious to hear if you go kindle or iPad

I'm working with a content publishing startup that will be going live in the next couple of months with a publishing platform that includes audio syncd to text, video, and direct access to facebook and other social media on a paragraph or sentence basis. This will allow a much higher level of interaction with a community, or the author herself. And it'll all run on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. It'll probably be a while till Amazon embraces or duplicates the concept, but I think that's where we're headed. For now, I'm sticking with my similar piles of books.

As to the cost issue, the savings between electronic and print are not as great as we'd like to think. And the real value is the content… the research and hopefully original thinking and artistry of the author. So I'm OK with ebooks costing with 10 or 20% of the cost of a paper book. And for me, shipping is usually at least 25% or more of the cost. Heck, I often buy $.01 books used that cost me $3.99 to mail.

It's a limited publishing field but both O'Reilly and Pargmatic Publishing offer exactly what you are asking for. I've been supporting them for ages exactly because the offer non proprietary formats and a bundle for print plus electronic.

[...] Physical Integration I echo Tac Anderson’s thoughts on how to get him to switch to ebooks - Why don’t physical books come with the option to purchase the digital copy? Tac says [...]

I couldn't agree with you more. Marvel comics recently offered the Iron Man Annual at (get this) a higher price than the physical copy. I'm not sure ebooks are going to take off until these issues get sorted out!

I couldn't agree with you more. Marvel comics recently offered the Iron Man Annual at (get this) a higher price than the physical copy. I'm not sure ebooks are going to take off until these issues get sorted out!

I could not, could not, could NOT agree more. I would buy an ereader in a heartbeat if the physical book came with a pdf. The technology is there, lock the hell out of it… I just want to be able to travel and not carry 1000 books, and I still want a bookshelf at home. Great post. Hope someone is listening.

I'm sure book pubs all over the World have read and are making appropriate plans now

Yeah, the ebook pricing scheme is a sad state of affairs. Publishers have always done this though. CD's cost much less then tapes (way back then) but they were priced higher. This tactic obviously runs out now that things have gone truly digital. I know most of the costs are fixed costs that don't change just because the medium does but it sure doesn't go up.

[...] Of course dedicated eBook readers seem to be doing okay and I’m even seriously considering getting one. [...]

[...] Dear Book Publishers, Here’s How to Get Me To Switch to ebooks. [...]

Great post, just read it from my iPad.

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