Digital Book World 2011: Publishing CEOs Optimistic About Future Of E-Books

Los Angeles Times:

Four of publishing's leaders filled a massive ballroom to capacity and then some in New York City on Tuesday morning as Digital Book World kicked off in earnest.

Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[trnimmo]

08:39 AM on 01/27/2011

I love my iPod for bringing music along, but when I cuddle up with a book at night, gimme the real thing please.

[hairydodger]

07:31 PM on 01/26/2011

Once my enhanced ebook gets through the Apple approval filter I will have an ebook with built in videos in the iTunes store, probably by the end of next week. Apple has the enhanced ebook section burried and I'm a bunch of upset over it. The cost to build an enhanced ebook is lots higher than a traditional ebook and I felt enhanced ebooks should be given more respect, especially since they can only be read on an iPad and no other reader. As for traditional books vs ebooks I imagine there were lots of people that, when it was invented, didn't want power steering on their cars because they still wanted the feel of the road.

[My Good Babushka]

10:19 AM on 01/30/2011

I'm having an illustrated story turned into an App, too. I'm pretty excited about it. It seems really cool. I don't even have an iPhone or an iPad, though, so I might have to borrow someone else's to see it.

[mssreader]

06:37 PM on 01/26/2011

I'm old fashioned or stubborn or both but I have no desire to read a book other than a real book and not from a metal "cover." I grew up with books, I have loads of books but had to stop buying like I used to because I couldn't fit another bookshelf in my house so I had to start taking what I could part with to the library where hopefully others can enjoy. I want the paper book in my hands and I want to take it to bed and I don't want cold metal to touch. I read between 140-150 books a year though I only managed 138 this year due to some classes ti took. I also work part time at a REAL bookstore which means an Indie! And when it's time for me to go I'm sure I shall call a WAIT but surely there is a book I must finish.

[LairdFoster]

12:13 PM on 01/26/2011

"How will readers get what they want, and how will publishers best get it to them?"

Readers will get what they want if publishers provide affordable, quality, diverse choices for readers. Publishers, however, will need to restructure their present business models. Dead tree book marketing is a different beast than marketing in the digital market place. Saturating limited shelf space in brick and mortar venues with volume will no longer be a dispositive factor correlated with large sales. Platform is still key. Access to platform will never be a level playing field but it will be moderated somewhat in the ebook world. Leveraging smaller markets in the digital world will be a viable and profitable alternative for the savvy publisher. Valuing and listening to discerning readers is a good place to start.

[Donkan]

11:22 AM on 01/26/2011

I like my Kindle, but I discovered the hard way that not all digital books are equal. The first book I read was a newer one and it was fine. I'm currently reading an older book, published in 1995, and it has a lot of formatting problems. I don't know what process was used to scan the book and produce a digital copy, but words and phrases are often cut from their proper place and relocated elsewhere in the paragraph. The book, "The Movement and the Sixties," is fascinating, but the formatting problems are really irritating. I'll probably avoid digital editions of older books in the future.

[XFilesTheTruthIsOutThere]

10:00 AM on 01/26/2011

John Grisham in a interview from the Today show over a year ago stated that within the next 10 years, traditional book stores will be obsolete. He acknowledged that ebook will be the only route for today and future authors. This allows for more control in the hands of the author and how they want to market themselves to the public at large.

The days of dominance from Publishing companies are over.

[mssreader]

06:39 PM on 01/26/2011

I hope John is wrong because it's hard for me to even read long article on my computer. I know there are, at present, lots of hold outs because I work with them every day. I do know that the book business itself is not in good shape because I don't get as many mss as I used to read.

[pita143]

08:11 PM on 01/26/2011

Traditional megabook stores MIGHT be gone but you will never replace the book stores that cater to collectors. There is something about the smell of an older book store that is great. I read books on my IPad but I will never give up my traditional books completely.

[Cael]

09:26 AM on 01/26/2011

I like the idea of ebooks, but Amazon needs to start to play ball and support the standard, it will help the ebook market in general. Amazon seems to only want to help themselves. You would think the benefits of pushing the ebook market would pay off for Amazon in the end.

If you have the best selection and product you shouldn't need to have a propriotary format and force people to buy only from you.

[3reddogs]

10:53 AM on 01/26/2011

Totally agree. I've been a loyal Amazon customer for years but when I finally decided to get an e-reader last month I chose the NOOKcolor. Unlike the Kindle, it's backlit so I can read in low light or no light and, unlike the Kindle, I can read library e-books that are in EPUB format. (I believe the Kindle only supports .pdf files -- Barnes and Noble's NOOKcolor supports both formats.)

[ChelleAgain]

03:27 PM on 01/26/2011

You have to make the choice that's right for you, but a lot of people chose the Kindle specifically because it's not backlit. I like using the cover with the built in book light, and there's been at least one study that backlit screens at bedtime cause sleep issues.

I respect a lot of people like doing library books as well, but it holds no appeal for me.

My Kindle is ideal for me, but Nook is the only other one I'd even consider for 2 seconds.