If you’re interested in reading ebooks, what would be the right price for you? Many readers just don’t find ereaders all that affordable or even worth it. The average reader doesn’t even associate quality to a device like this compared to it’s paper counterpart.  Also, there are just too many disadvantages like high costs and DRM stopping many readers from purchasing an e-device altogether. I can’t say that I blame many of you for being hesitant. I’d say wait a few years and see what the market finally spits out but you might be waiting forever. There’s bound to be somebody out there who loves books more than they love profits.
I love reading ebooks and it is my preferred format. I just am puzzled by the lack of changes to make the ebook market really boom. There really isn’t much in the way of overhead costs in creating ebooks and distributing them online compared to the brick and mortar store down the street. The problem as I see is the fear of piracy and copyright infringement which is understandable and a valid concern for publisher and authors alike. However, I continue to hope and struggle along in my optimistic view of what the ebook market could potentially become if allowed it’s freedom to grow without restrictions. Right now the market is stagnant and the Kindle makes it no better. Too many people just don’t get it or if they do, they don’t want to “get it right.” For every two steps we take forward, we move three steps backward. I know that the one thing that is holding the ebook market back and that is money (no surprise there). It has to be. Everybody wants their cut. Everybody has their hand out.
I would have thought that the ebook market would be soaring by now but it’s not and it won’t ever be if we continue to flood the market with proprietary products and high costs. I could list a laundry list of complaints about my experience with ebooks. But you know, at the end of the day, I still love reading my ebooks. I need somebody out there - for the love of reading-to just create an ebook device that is affordable and that will read all formats without DRM and allow this market to flourish. I must admit that I had a moment of crisis. I started to cave and purchase the Sony Ereader this weekend but thought about it’s proprietory format, BBeB, and how I wouldn’t be able to read the books that I already own;thus my sanity returned. Sure there are programs out there to convert this to that. I’ll just continue to wait for the device that will render all my non-DRM files readable without the extra work and cost.
Must mention the really great deal about the  Sony Ereader $100 credit for ebooks at their eConnect store, puchase is necessary. If you read the fine print, you must purchase the device between 8/4/07 to 1/2008. You must use up your $100 credit by 2/29/08. Browsing through their “classics” catalog, I don’t think I would have made the deadline.
Dennis Lehane's next published novel is a major publishing event. 
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Dana 12.10.07 at 12:01 pm
I’m still happy with the ebookwise and I see no reason to switch to a more expensive and restrictive devise.
What really keeps me from buying more ebooks is how expensive they are. I don’t want to pay close to print price for a book I can’t sell or trade after I read it.
vanessa jaye 12.10.07 at 2:23 pm
Good point about not being able to do as you’d like with your ebook after you’ve purchased it Dana.
Although I can totally see an e-published author’s concern in that multiple copies of an original ebook can be made and distributed at no cost that would retain the integrity of the original, unlike a print book. Nature of the beast I guess. You just have to accept that.
Keishon, i would love an ebook reader, but like you I’m willing to wait until they becaome more user friendly (non-DRM, etc).
Chris The Erotic eBooks Reader 12.10.07 at 3:48 pm
I would love to buy an ereader but I’m not going to pay $350 for what is basically still embrionic hardware. Especially when I’m not certain that the sony ereader will read ordinary pdf’s. I will wait tell the market is more open. I just looked at the irex Iliad, it is 649 Euro’s. Come on, thats rediculous. This market won’t grow until ereaders are cheap and work with all formats.
avagee 12.11.07 at 5:40 am
I think because the devices are expensive and they are not paper fetish objects the market for eBooks is small. Therefore they need to charge a lot for the actual books. Channel conflict with paper publishing also keep eBook prices high.
Until some breakout device comes along to shake things up it probably will not change much. You all probably have a pretty good book reader with you now - your cell phone. Don’t dismiss too quick … you can see what I mean at http://www.booksinmyphone.com - they give free public domain books you can install in your java enabled ‘dumb’ cell phone. Go find a book you like and then see how much you need to spend $400 to be able to read novels.
Avid Reader 12.11.07 at 1:45 pm
The restrictions are a big problem which makes me hesitant to buy a dedicated ereader. I am so far content with my Pocket PC. I guess it’s those big screens and that E-Ink technology that makes me want to give them a try. Sigh.
A friend has given me instructions on how to use my cell phone as an ebook reader but I am somewhat gun shy right now in trying that but thanks for the link. I’ll check it out.
Richard Dickison 12.11.07 at 5:49 pm
I asked Santa for a Palm T/X with a 4 gig card.
I think that will hold me till something comes out that will be worth buying.