Comments on: Crunched: the Next Generation http://thedigitalist.net/2008/10/crunched-the-next-generation/ a blog by the digital team at Pan Macmillan Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:40:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Peter Jurmu http://thedigitalist.net/2008/10/crunched-the-next-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-3475 Peter Jurmu Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:23:23 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=265#comment-3475 Ebooks depend on ereaders in a way similar to how print books depend on the various materials that go into their production. If somehow the price of paper or ink or glue spiked to such a degree that the price of a print book increased dramatically, demand would decline. Whether publishing is "recession proof" is an odd discussion to be having: no company that engages in commerce is completely "recession-proof." (A medium-sized publisher near one of our clients in New England, for example, has just sold to another publisher in California and given its employees sixty-day termination notices.) Books, however, as expressions of an author's creativity, ARE recession-proof and practically sell themselves if written well enough and allowed some air and light in a society/market disposed to read. Cutting prices on ereaders is one avenue to helping ebooks retain the toehold you describe, Michael, and certainly another is giving available-content lists a shot of espresso. A third, perhaps: I do think that judging by this article over at <a href="http://jwikert.typepad.com/the_average_joe/2008/10/where-is-everybody.html#comments" rel="nofollow">Joe Wikert's Publishing Blog</a>, a different approach to expansion into print books' territory--specifically brick-and-mortar bookstores--is needed. He has a few ideas, but what are your thoughts? Peter P.S. I'm not as sick of "economic crisis" or "credit crunch" as I am of "road to the White House." Ebooks depend on ereaders in a way similar to how print books depend on the various materials that go into their production. If somehow the price of paper or ink or glue spiked to such a degree that the price of a print book increased dramatically, demand would decline. Whether publishing is “recession proof” is an odd discussion to be having: no company that engages in commerce is completely “recession-proof.” (A medium-sized publisher near one of our clients in New England, for example, has just sold to another publisher in California and given its employees sixty-day termination notices.) Books, however, as expressions of an author’s creativity, ARE recession-proof and practically sell themselves if written well enough and allowed some air and light in a society/market disposed to read. Cutting prices on ereaders is one avenue to helping ebooks retain the toehold you describe, Michael, and certainly another is giving available-content lists a shot of espresso. A third, perhaps: I do think that judging by this article over at Joe Wikert’s Publishing Blog, a different approach to expansion into print books’ territory–specifically brick-and-mortar bookstores–is needed. He has a few ideas, but what are your thoughts?

Peter

P.S. I’m not as sick of “economic crisis” or “credit crunch” as I am of “road to the White House.”

]]> By: Jack H http://thedigitalist.net/2008/10/crunched-the-next-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-3473 Jack H Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:53:18 +0000 http://thedigitalist.net/?p=265#comment-3473 Two of my colleagues have e-readers, one being from Sony and I'm not sure about the other. I was mightily impressed by them and decided I want one but they're going to have to slash the price point first. I'm lucky enough to be able to spend a couple of hundred on a new toy every now and then, but I suspect '09 won't be a fun year financially so I just can't justify that sort of outlay in the near future. I doubt I'm the only potential e-reader customer in this situation. Give me a half decent e-reader for at most £100 and I'll join the queue :-) Two of my colleagues have e-readers, one being from Sony and I’m not sure about the other. I was mightily impressed by them and decided I want one but they’re going to have to slash the price point first.

I’m lucky enough to be able to spend a couple of hundred on a new toy every now and then, but I suspect ‘09 won’t be a fun year financially so I just can’t justify that sort of outlay in the near future. I doubt I’m the only potential e-reader customer in this situation.

Give me a half decent e-reader for at most £100 and I’ll join the queue :-)

]]>