No one can deny it. The e-book is here and it’s here to stay. Whether you’re for or against the e-reader doesn’t change the heart of the matter. The question now is how will the publishing industry adapt to the advent of such a new and exciting technology?
Many are concerned that as devices like Kindle, Nook, and the Sony Reader continue to take over the reading world, printed books will cease to exist. A very scary thought.
So, what is the publishing industry to do?
Well, if you’re Simon & Schuster, you’ve already thought of a solution. The question is, is it the right one? In an effort to address new technologies while continuing to sell printed materials, Simon & Schuster has decided to delay the sale of their publications’ e-books, only making them available four months after the initial hardcover release. And, they’re not the only ones, with companies like HarperCollins and Hachette Book Group following suit.
So, is this an ingenious plan or a childish antic?
Some believe that this makes sense. Wait a few months, let the printed version sell, and then release the e-book for those who desperately want it for their electronic devices. That way, everyone wins. As Simon & Schuster spokesman Adam Rothberg states,
We understand that there is an urge with digital media to have it more, faster, now. We’re trying to hit upon a happy medium.
But, some don’t agree. They argue that waiting to release an e-book version doesn’t cater to what the public wants most. Instead, these people believe that publishers are sticking to an antiquated system of scheduled releases (hardcover first, paperback second, etc) that doesn’t fit with the public’s desire. And, after all, aren’t the customers’ needs supposed to be priority #1?
Whether you agree with the publishers’ plan or not, be prepared to wait a little while for the e-book version of some of 2010’s exciting new releases. And remember, it’s not so bad. Reading print books is still an experience all its own!
-Sarah
#1 by Michael Makovi on January 5, 2010 - 6:15 pm
“And, after all, aren’t the customers’ needs supposed to be priority #1?”
Yes, but there’s also the “tyranny of the majority” (Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America; and the Federalist Papers) to be reckoned with.
Simon & Schuster seems to be thinking that if they sell paper-books and e-books equally, then most people will buy the e-books, making it too cost-prohibitive to sell paper-books at all. Thus, the majority (the e-books buyers) will have tyrannized the minority.
I’m not saying whether or not I agree with Simon & Schuster here (though, as a lover of hard copies, I’m inclined to indeed agree with them here). I’m just trying to put their actions within the context of Locke-ian democratic social-contract theory.
#2 by CVBruce on January 5, 2010 - 11:49 pm
I think that this is dumb. A publisher spends money on advertising for the release of the hardback. Hopefully the book will sell well enough to make it onto a best seller list. When interest it at its peak, they decide to keep it off the market.
#3 by Nathan Shapiro on January 6, 2010 - 1:40 pm
I think it’s an OK business model. After all, it’s their product and they’re simply trying to develop a means that will sell it best. Good sales=more future product for the consumer. If they’re wrong, they will change it down the line.
Personally, I don’t have a Kindle yet, though I definitely want one.