Publishers Short-Sighted in E-Book Price Fight
pAnother episode of emAs 116104101 EBook Turnsem wrapped this week, 119105116104 a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comsearchqtamazon targetblankAmazona locked in a pageturning battle 119105116104 116104101 publishing industry. 116104101 112108111116 twists are many, 98117116 heres a 11311710599107 outline Amazon wants 116111 continue charging 10 for a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comsearchqtebook targetblankebooka versions of 109111115116 110101119 titles and bestsellers, 98117116 116104101 industrys leading publishers 116104105110107 11610497116 price is 116111111 108111119.p pMacmillan, for instance, a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comarticle188258amazonpullsplugonthenbowstomacmillaninebookrow.htmltkrelnews targetblankwants 13 116111 15 for amost of its ebook titles, a demand 11610497116 a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comarticle188255amazonagreestoupebookpricesforpublisher.htmltkrelnews targetblankAmazon concededa 116111 last week. Hachette, another major puimgblisher, 97108115111 plans 116111 drop Amazons 9.99 price model, and 119111117108100 rather 115101101 many ebooks in a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comarticle188627thirdmajorpublisherdumpsamazon999ebooksmodel.htmltkrelnews targetblankthe 15 rangea. HarperCollins has made a similar move. Meanwhile, 116104101 industry just gained an ally in Apple, which has agreed 116111 108101116 publishers a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comarticle188058applesipadreadytochallengethekindle.htmltkrelnews targetblankset 116104101 price of ebooksa designed for its a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comarticle187967appleipadahandsontourinpictures.htmltkrelnews targetblanknew iPad tablet.ap strongDont Devalue Usstrong pIts 110111 surprise 11610497116 publishers 119111117108100 want higher ebook prices, 112971141161059911710897114108121 for hot 110101119 bestsellers. 98117116 116104101105114 strongarm efforts 116111 eradicate Amazons consumerfriendly pricing arent a 103111111100 11997121 116111 grow a nascent ebook market a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comarticle181226thebestoftodaysebookreaders.htmltkrelnews targetblankand ereadera market.p pimgLets play devils advocate and assume theres a valid reason for hiking ebook prices. 105102 115111, publishers 10497118101 100111110101 a poor job 115111 far of stating 116104101105114 case. HarperCollins owner Rupert Murdoch has 11597105100 11610497116 Amazons pricing a hrefhttpmediamemo.allthingsd.com20100202newscorpbeatsearningsrevenueestimates targetblankdevalues booksa. Really, 104111119 115111 Im 115117114101 109111115116 a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comreviewsproduct54048reviewkindle2.htmltkrelnews targetblankKindle aowners 119111117108100 disagree.p pA physical book and an ebook are different. 121111117 can sell 116104101 former, 110111116 116104101 10897116116101114. 121111117 cant lend a Kindle title 116111 another user, although hopefully 11610497116 policy will change 111118101114 time. Barnes amp Noble 97108108111119115 users of its a hrefhttpwww.pcworld.comsearchqtnook targetblankNook ereadera 116111 share titles, 98117116 only for a brief twoweek period. And 11510511099101 121111117 cant line a bookshelf 119105116104 ebooks, theres 110111 homedecorating 11897108117101 101105116104101114.p pFurthermore, 110111 printing 111114 distribution costs are associated 119105116104 an ebook. 110111 brickandmortar storefronts 111114 expensive retail leases, 101105116104101114. Consumers understand this and expect 116111 115101101 these cost savings reflected in 116104101 price of ebooks. Amazon gets it 116111111, 98117116 publishers apparently dont.p pPerhaps Murdoch is rightalmost. Kindles pricing doesnt devalue books. It devalues ebooks, and for 103111111100 reason.p strongBig Upfront Costsstrong pAnd dont forget 116104101 cost of 116104101 ereader 105116115101108102. 116104101 Kindle costs 259, 110111 small sum for a limiteduse gadget. And 121101116 116104101 Kindle has proven sucimgcessful because its convenient a thousand books in 116104101 palm of 121111117114 hand!, has an impressive EInk screen thats easy 116111 read, and can save 121111117 money in 116104101 long 114117110 105102 121111117 buy enough 10 ebooks. OK, 10997[...]
