Ok, let's admit - internet and Ebook have revolutionized the way we read books. Of course, lot of people (including myself) still read traditional books but we are reading more and more books/magazines/newspapers on the screen!
I still read non-technical books in conventional book format, but prefer to read the technical books (mostly computer related because of my profession) on internet or Ebook format. The obvious advantage is that I can copy and paste any commands on my application instantly and check the benefit.
Sites like www.scribd.com or www.lulu.com (and many similar sites) have indeed changed the landscape of book writing and publication.
I believe the profit from publishing book or royalty from the sales are gradually diminishing over the years. In the past, the only way to read a book was to either buy it or borrow from library. But now, a lot of books are either available free of charge on internet or they cost a minuscule amount.
I am not arguing with the fact that sometimes copyrighted versions of some books are available on the internet which is illegal, but the bottom line is you can still download a very good book at no cost to you.
Most Ebook readers are still expensive. However, you can read ebooks on PDF format in most PDAs and small net book computers. In near future, the Ebook readers' price will only go down. More and more authors will publish their books in ebook form. Some ebooks are in proprietary format. However, as the ebooks will gain more popularity, there will be some hackers who will always make things breakable (again I am not going in the debate of how un-ethical is that).
Gone the days when people used to consult giant technical manuals when something did not work in software. Now people search on internet and unless the problem is too difficult or uncommon, usually within few minutes a solution can be found and problem is solved.
Even if problem is not found on the web search, you can often raise it on discussion forums and people all over the world in your profession will browse and try to give you an answer. This is like having access to lots of technical experts at your finger tip. I admit that sometimes you do get crap suggestions for your problem, but most of the time, the tricks do work and people really help each other.
Perhaps the funniest part is in newspapers! Gone the days when I avidly read first page on your favourite newspaper. Now you already know what will be on the first page - as you have seen the breaking news on previous evenings new sites! This is one reason why newspaper circulation in developed world is dwindling down every year. Another reason is obviously, the high cost of buying a newspaper. £1.20 a newspaper a day is not cheap!
From the consumer's perspective, though, there is a huge difference between cheap and free. Give a product away and it can go viral. Charge a single cent for it and you're in an entirely different business, one of clawing and scratching for every customer. The psychology of "free" is powerful indeed, as any marketer will tell you. From C. Andersen's blog - the author of Long Tail theory. However, I do wonder whether the author is willing to give away his next title "Free" for free.
We shall see how rise of "freeconomics" and "freemium" products continue to affect our lives.
I still read non-technical books in conventional book format, but prefer to read the technical books (mostly computer related because of my profession) on internet or Ebook format. The obvious advantage is that I can copy and paste any commands on my application instantly and check the benefit.
Sites like www.scribd.com or www.lulu.com (and many similar sites) have indeed changed the landscape of book writing and publication.
I believe the profit from publishing book or royalty from the sales are gradually diminishing over the years. In the past, the only way to read a book was to either buy it or borrow from library. But now, a lot of books are either available free of charge on internet or they cost a minuscule amount.
I am not arguing with the fact that sometimes copyrighted versions of some books are available on the internet which is illegal, but the bottom line is you can still download a very good book at no cost to you.
Most Ebook readers are still expensive. However, you can read ebooks on PDF format in most PDAs and small net book computers. In near future, the Ebook readers' price will only go down. More and more authors will publish their books in ebook form. Some ebooks are in proprietary format. However, as the ebooks will gain more popularity, there will be some hackers who will always make things breakable (again I am not going in the debate of how un-ethical is that).
Gone the days when people used to consult giant technical manuals when something did not work in software. Now people search on internet and unless the problem is too difficult or uncommon, usually within few minutes a solution can be found and problem is solved.
Even if problem is not found on the web search, you can often raise it on discussion forums and people all over the world in your profession will browse and try to give you an answer. This is like having access to lots of technical experts at your finger tip. I admit that sometimes you do get crap suggestions for your problem, but most of the time, the tricks do work and people really help each other.
Perhaps the funniest part is in newspapers! Gone the days when I avidly read first page on your favourite newspaper. Now you already know what will be on the first page - as you have seen the breaking news on previous evenings new sites! This is one reason why newspaper circulation in developed world is dwindling down every year. Another reason is obviously, the high cost of buying a newspaper. £1.20 a newspaper a day is not cheap!
From the consumer's perspective, though, there is a huge difference between cheap and free. Give a product away and it can go viral. Charge a single cent for it and you're in an entirely different business, one of clawing and scratching for every customer. The psychology of "free" is powerful indeed, as any marketer will tell you. From C. Andersen's blog - the author of Long Tail theory. However, I do wonder whether the author is willing to give away his next title "Free" for free.
We shall see how rise of "freeconomics" and "freemium" products continue to affect our lives.
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