I'm taking a poll . . .

Entlover · 12-18-2002, 10:45 PM

And I thought I'd ask the most intelligent people I know (or, well, the biggest cross section of people). . . so if you would be so kind, mooters:
if you wanted to buy a novel on the internet (say for example mine), would you be more likely to get a Print on Demand book or an ebook in some format like PDF or PalmOS? (I know we're all poor - but just suppose.)

Thanks for your input.

Beleg Strongbow · 12-19-2002, 08:39 AM

Well, I think I'd be more likely to buy a real book. Most likely from a bookstore, but I might get it from Amazon.com. I love the feel of something substantial, physical... But if I were to buy a copy online, an ebook wouldn't be top choice.
Hope that helps...

Dunadan · 12-19-2002, 11:03 AM

I'd look for the most robust, platform-independent, cheap, reliable and portable format with the lowest power requirement, best usability and ease of searching.

i.e. a book!

elendili · 12-19-2002, 11:18 AM

As cheap and printer friendly as possible

Shadowfax · 12-19-2002, 09:06 PM

I think if I were to buy a book over the internet I would definitely buy a real book, like one that would be shipped to me and I can treasure forever. I don't think I will ever buy an ebook.

Coney · 12-19-2002, 09:11 PM

People actually pay money to download a book?

What a curious notion

If I'm downloading a book I always try to get it in pdf format........Adobe Acrobat seems to handle large documents a lot better than Word.

Hasty Ent · 12-20-2002, 01:47 PM

I would never buy an e-book -- I own 100s of books, and they are my most cherished possessions. I love the feel and the smell of them, especially the older, used books. Most of all I love the fact I can take them into my garden, on a plane, even read them in the bathtub!!!

Smaug · 12-20-2002, 02:39 PM

I will never buy anything protected with a DRM (Digital Rights Management) scheme that "tied" my right to use that media with only one computer/device.

Digital distribution of books, music, video, etc will never work until DRM is tied to identity, rather than a single device, OS installation (reinstalling Windows can cause DRM licenses to be lost), etc, or better yet, drop DRM entirely.

Why buy an eBook that's tied to one reader, when one can buy a real book that can be taken anywhere, lent, donated, sold at a yard sale, etc?

Why buy DRM-protected audio that's tied to one computer, when one can buy a CD that can be listened to anywhere, ripped to MP3 and used on portable players, etc?

I've bought quite a bit of software via online download, and none of it is DRM-protected. As long as the majority of ppl pay for their licenses, this will probably continue to be true.

Wayfarer · 12-20-2002, 02:56 PM

If I were going to download a book, i'd make sure to get a hardcopy with electronic ink.

Entlover · 12-20-2002, 08:54 PM

Thank you kindly; I believe you've answered my question. Intelligent people prefer books. Got it.
(I knew that!)

12-18-2002, 10:45 PM	#1
Entlover Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 463	I'm taking a poll . . . And I thought I'd ask the most intelligent people I know (or, well, the biggest cross section of people). . . so if you would be so kind, mooters: if you wanted to buy a novel on the internet (say for example mine), would you be more likely to get a Print on Demand book or an ebook in some format like PDF or PalmOS? (I know we're all poor - but just suppose.) Thanks for your input.

12-19-2002, 08:39 AM	#2
Beleg Strongbow Truest of Friends Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pennsylvania, but I have a vacation home in the Westfarthing. Posts: 520	Well, I think I'd be more likely to buy a real book. Most likely from a bookstore, but I might get it from Amazon.com. I love the feel of something substantial, physical... But if I were to buy a copy online, an ebook wouldn't be top choice. Hope that helps... __________________ "...Beleg Strongbow, truest of friends, greatest in skill of all that harboured in the woods of Beleriand in the Elder Days..." Aure Entuleva! John Kerry for President!

12-19-2002, 11:18 AM	#4
elendili Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: a galaxy far far away (aka Manchester) Posts: 320	As cheap and printer friendly as possible __________________ Dovie'andi se tovya sagain "Courage my soul, now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield Place on thy head thy helmet bright Ballance thy sword against the fight See where an army strong as fair With silken banners spreads the air Now if thy bee'st that thing divine In this days combat let it shine: And shew that nature wants an art To conqeur one resolved heart" Andrew Marvell

12-19-2002, 09:06 PM	#5
Shadowfax The Fleet-Footed Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: British Columbia Posts: 913	I think if I were to buy a book over the internet I would definitely buy a real book, like one that would be shipped to me and I can treasure forever. I don't think I will ever buy an ebook. __________________ Jesus saved me "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child" (Cicero, 106-43 B.C.) "Art is a lie which makes us realize the truth" (Picasso)

12-19-2002, 09:11 PM	#6
Coney The Buddy Rabbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Trapped in the headlights.. Posts: 3,372	People actually pay money to download a book? What a curious notion If I'm downloading a book I always try to get it in pdf format........Adobe Acrobat seems to handle large documents a lot better than Word. __________________ Blessed are the cracked, they let the light in Beatallica

12-19-2002, 11:03 AM	#3
Dunadan The Quite Querulous Quendi Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oxon, UK Posts: 638	I'd look for the most robust, platform-independent, cheap, reliable and portable format with the lowest power requirement, best usability and ease of searching. i.e. a book!

12-20-2002, 01:47 PM	#7
Hasty Ent Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 516	I would never buy an e-book -- I own 100s of books, and they are my most cherished possessions. I love the feel and the smell of them, especially the older, used books. Most of all I love the fact I can take them into my garden, on a plane, even read them in the bathtub!!! __________________ Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

12-20-2002, 02:39 PM	#8
Smaug Enting Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New England Posts: 70	I will never buy anything protected with a DRM (Digital Rights Management) scheme that "tied" my right to use that media with only one computer/device. Digital distribution of books, music, video, etc will never work until DRM is tied to identity, rather than a single device, OS installation (reinstalling Windows can cause DRM licenses to be lost), etc, or better yet, drop DRM entirely. Why buy an eBook that's tied to one reader, when one can buy a real book that can be taken anywhere, lent, donated, sold at a yard sale, etc? Why buy DRM-protected audio that's tied to one computer, when one can buy a CD that can be listened to anywhere, ripped to MP3 and used on portable players, etc? I've bought quite a bit of software via online download, and none of it is DRM-protected. As long as the majority of ppl pay for their licenses, this will probably continue to be true.

12-20-2002, 02:56 PM	#9
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	If I were going to download a book, i'd make sure to get a hardcopy with electronic ink. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

12-20-2002, 08:54 PM	#10
Entlover Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 463	Thank you kindly; I believe you've answered my question. Intelligent people prefer books. Got it. (I knew that!)

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