Posted on 03/29/2005 9:21:06 AM PST by TommyDale
Baen publishes fiction. I write nonfiction, specifically textbooks. It would be interesting to see if the same model would work for both. Would students buy my books if they could download them without paying for them?
Note that many of the novels that Baen publishes are part of a series. Baen does not put the entire series online for free download, but only the first one or two books in the series. Why do you suppose they do that instead of making the entire series available? Could it be that they are not confident that people would pay for them?
Assuming you are telling the truth, so few people really need that big a hard disk that their use could be licensed, kind of like an FFL. That would help keep the bad element out.
And what legitimate legal use do you have for a car that can go twice the speed limit? Observing you driving that kind of vehicle is, of itself, probable cause to suspect that you will commit a criminal speeding violation (as opposed to a mere civil infraction).
Without order and obedience of the law there is no freedom.
I don't like Weber's Harrington series at all - but if you do, check out Lois McMaster Bujold's (much better) Miles Vorkosigan series.
Ringo's "A Hymn Before Battle" and "Gust Front" were great, the sequels are fun but not quite as powerful IMO.
Heh, those "free" books have cost me more money in recent years...
which is why book publishers have been hestant to adopt a uniform standard for mass distribution of ebooks.
Also with textbooks, I would think having an electronic copy would help somewhat for convienience, but you can't hardly mark one up the way one would a dead-tree edition. I think the two technologies complement each other.
Are you serious about putting limits of hard drives? That's ridiculous.... even if I didn't need the space for "legitimate" uses, why shouldn't I have it?
Here's a gray area for you: I don't download movies or music, I download unlicensed anime - that is, no one in this country have the rights to it. Three years from now when a series I like finally is licensed and released, I buy the dvds. Am I permitted to have a 30-gig hard drive, master? I use ten of that for school-related stuff and will probably have to double my capacity once I start my thesis...
ZANZ KANT DANZ (J.C. Fogerty)
CHORUS:
Zanz can't dance, but he'll steal your money,
Watch him or he'll rob you blind. (X 4)
CHORUS
Out in the street a crowd is gatherin',
Pushed down by the heat of the building, they're wantin' to dance.
Makin' their way up the street, a boy with a pig and a radio;
Little Billy can work on the crowd, put 'em into a trance,
For the little pig Zanz.
CHORUS
You're watchin' 'em dance, not a care in the world;
So Billy and Zanz get busy, they're makin' their move;
The little pig knows what to do, he's silent and quick, just like Oliver Twist;
Before it's over, your pocket is clean,
A four-legged thief paid a visit on you.
CHORUS
CHORUS
CHORUS
("Zanz Can't Dance" refers to Fantasy Records head Saul Zaentz, whom Fogerty recorded for with Creedence Clearwater Revival. When Zaentz sued, Fogerty changed "Zanz" to "Vanz".)
I will keep my eye on Baen. If they are able to turn a profit, I will certainly recommend that my publisher consider their business model.
Do you like living in a country where every horny young male is wanking to gigabytes of stolen p0rn? If not, I'd expect you to stand with the people in our government who work hard to keep Janet Jackson tit off your TV.
Many thanks for the info on Baen Free Library, which I'd never heard of. Will check it out.
I'm one of those really old-fashioned readers who just loves books, typefaces, good paper, wonderful bindings. Books have been my life all my life. But even I spend a lot of time online now and less time reading books. This has to end! And is ending! My freeping time is way down and getting "downer." Boot me off if you find me here, pleeeeese.
Because I will read chapters of books online. If it catches me in 50 pages, I'll go buy it and be glad to buy it.
Nothing like reading on paper versus the LCD screen
Send the company an email - they seem to like to brag about their model on their webpage! And check out some of the books, quite a few are very good.
What? That's an amazing non-sequiter. I can only have a 500 meg hard drive, because someone might steal porn? There are thousands and thousands of legitimate reasons to need space and you think because someone might use it for porn - which I think they can get other ways, right - we should have to go without?
Are they opposed to circulation of their books in public libraries?
Have you never heard of a public library? In spite of the existence of public libraries where you can get the latest bestsellers, book stores continue to make money.
I too am really into books. I almost got myself in serious trouble last time I went to Half-Priced Books. They had a 10 volume encyclopaedic history set published in the early 40s that I was majorly drooling over. I've been building a collection of older books for years. I love the way they look on my bookshelves. I'm still looking for a good set of the 1909 Brittannica. I've got a mostly complete 1903 set but the binding was extremely damaged.
Of course. That is why many publishers will post a few sample chapters online. Most, however, are reluctant to post an entire book in digital form.
Nothing like reading on paper versus the LCD screen
Although I agree with you, I am told that many younger readers prefer the screen. If that is so, then book publishers could find themselves in quite a bind.
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