Should I Buy an iPad ?

[Segilla]

- there's a paperback version too which I think is cheaper (I don't have a generous son )

Of recent years I have usually bought PBs but find that in some of them the print is too tiny to read comfortably now that my eyesight is past its best.

So I'm looking at tablets - but am not happy at the cost of ebook versions, which in some cases is dearer than the HB.

[Stunsworth]

The disciples queued up to buy the alpha-version ipad, only to throw it away shortly after when the beta-version that works a bit better replaces it

I can only speak for myself, but I have been perfectly happy with my purchase of an iPad, and my old one isn't being thrown away it's being purchased by a friend. If you don't want one that's fine too, but I'd prefer it if you at least tried to remain civil.

[Stunsworth]

So I'm looking at tablets - but am not happy at the cost of ebook versions, which in some cases is dearer than the HB.

That's very annoying and is down to the publishers I'm afraid. However there's a court case in progress at the moment that may lead to that being changed.

[teamsaint]

That's very annoying and is down to the publishers I'm afraid. However there's a court case in progress at the moment that may lead to that being changed.

Hmmmmm, now there is an interesting little worm can.

there are, in fact, some very good reasons why the price of e versions is likely to remain similar to the hard copy versions.
First, in order to get most things of any value published, the total cost and revenue of the book over its lifespan, (ie all the versions likely to be published) need to be taken into account.
secondly, origination costs need, in general terms, to be split between those versions in some sort of sensible proportion.
Thirdly, the variable cost of e versions is some way from zero, and the cost of printing , selling, storing and distributing a paper copy is , although considerable, only one component of cost.
Fourthly, VAT at 20% is a very significant component.

Publishers will gain income and market share where they can, and will price by looking both at costs and the potential market.

I suspect that the current market model, with most e versions at prices similar to H/B or P/B, and with certain specific titles discounted short term to gain market share and a visibilty, is here for a while.

Oh,and not that many well known or serious authors are going to like their work being flogged at bargain basement prices, (even if it does already happen in the supermarkets on mass market stuff).

[Flosshilde]

I think most publishers have a policy of not pricing the e-book edition much lower than the print editions. Of course, given that the e-edition would be much cheaper to produce & therefore generating larger profits, it would be interesting to know if the author gets to share in those greater profits in the form of increased royalties, or whether the publisher pockets them all. No prizes for guessing which!

[teamsaint]

I think most publishers have a policy of not pricing the e-book edition much lower than the print editions. Of course, given that the e-edition would be much cheaper to produce & therefore generating larger profits, it would be interesting to know if the author gets to share in those greater profits in the form of increased royalties, or whether the publisher pockets them all. No prizes for guessing which!

I will find out, but my guess is that royalty rates are probably not too far apart for the various versions.
Either way, even if there is an element of cross subsidy, (and I am not sure that there is), it might easily even out for the author. it really is to the mutual benefit of both author and publisher to maximise revenue across all editions.
It is too simplistic by far to suggest that what appear to be expensive e editions are producing healthy incomes for publishers, and reduced royalty rates for authors.
99% of professional publishing is done on wafer thin margins, and it simply is not a workable model to load all the origination cost onto a paper version, and only the marginal cost onto the e version. Even if you did that, there is no saying that it would work, or be popular.

marketing of books, whether niche or mass market is very expensive, and really cannot be covered by charging just the marginal cost plus a bit of profit on the E version.

[teamsaint]

seems its not just R3 Forum members worried about the price of e books.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2128240/eBook-pricing-Americas-Justice-Department-sue-Apple-days-price-fixing.html?ITO=google_news_rss_feed&google_editors_picks=true

[Dave2002]

Of recent years I have usually bought PBs but find that in some of them the print is too tiny to read comfortably now that my eyesight is past its best.

So I'm looking at tablets - but am not happy at the cost of ebook versions, which in some cases is dearer than the HB.

For text most people seem to find the Kindles are very much better than iPads, even though only Black on White. The print can be read in sunlight, which is pretty much impossible with most tablets. There's a fairly low outlay in bying the new Kindle, though if you want something which will do all the other things that tablets will do this is not the way to go. For books and articles most people I know who have them love them. They're great for people who travel a lot, and who use public transport.

I have one too, though as I don't read many books and have access to desktops, laptops other tablets, I tend not to use it too much, but others in my household are using them all the time.

If you don't need the mobile connection, and are happy to download books via a PC or other computer, then the new Kindle for around £89 is a really cheap way of getting into ebooks - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-D0110...N%3DB0051QVF7A
It can also do email and web browsing, but it's very limited in those regards. For use in extremis rather than as a regular thing.

[Stunsworth]

Dave, I agree that the Kindle is preferred when reading text, though I think the iPad is better if it's a book with illustrations. I have a couple of Adobe Lightroom books that are much easier to read on the iPad.

One other possible advantage of the iPad is that it's possible to read in the dark or in poor light - say in bed. With the Kindle you need a case with an attached light.

After saying all of that I still read more on the Kindle than I do on the iPad.

[gamba]

Dave, I agree that the Kindle is preferred when reading text, though I think the iPad is better if it's a book with illustrations. I have a couple of Adobe Lightroom books that are much easier to read on the iPad.

One other possible advantage of the iPad is that it's possible to read in the dark or in poor light - say in bed. With the Kindle you need a case with an attached light.

After saying all of that I still read more on the Kindle than I do on the iPad.

I love books. Just to hold them, the feel, the look & even sometimes, the smell of them.

Yes, I would like an iPad but no thank you to a Kindle.

If I ever get involved in photography again, I would imagine an iPad would be very useful in assessing the picture as against a little screen on the camera. There now, I've already talked myself into getting one, just a moment while I convince the wife !

[amateur51]

I love books. Just to hold them, the feel, the look & even sometimes, the smell of them.

[gamba]

Hurrah ! I'm not alone.

[teamsaint]

I love(d) the smell of new record sleeves, especially singles.

[johnb]

I think most publishers have a policy of not pricing the e-book edition much lower than the print editions. Of course, given that the e-edition would be much cheaper to produce & therefore generating larger profits, it would be interesting to know if the author gets to share in those greater profits in the form of increased royalties, or whether the publisher pockets them all. No prizes for guessing which!

As you have probably heard, the US government is suing Apple over the price fixing of e-books. The story goes that Apple cut a deal with the major US publishers whereby the publishers could specify the price they wanted the e-books to sell for and Apple took a 30% cut. Yes, a whopping 30%.

This then formed a pattern for the whole of the e-book industry, with the likes of Amazon raising their prices accordingly.

So, we might well see the price of e-books falling as a result of the US court case.

[Nick Armstrong]

From my own experience, the answer is No to any sort of 'Pad. As a dedicated Mac person (with scars to show from forays into the murky world of Microsoft et al), the iPad was a no-brainer. We are going away to Japan in May and I wanted a device to back up my wife's camera (being a Sony, it has Sony's proprietary memory card and there is no simple backup option...believe me, I looked). Other benefits would be keeping in contact email-wise, being able to find out where we were (as we're driving around) plus other travel related Apps. All loaded, tested and ready to go. That was two months ago. Since then, it has sat on my desk buried underneath a pile of paper.
So when we come back, I will be selling it! Nothing wrong with it...a brilliant piece of kit...just that I won't use it.

I completely agree. I am a passionate Mac person too (Macbook Pro, iMac, iPod...), and am sure the iPad's great - but exactly as you point out, I have no use for it. I think it all depends on lifestyle. I cycle into work and back. I have a computer at work and others at home. I would simply never use it. If I need a computer for a journey, I would want one that is more versatile than an iPad (i.e. with a proper keyboard). So I've never been remotely tempted.

If I commuted by train, on the other hand, I would have had an iPad like a shot - remembering my commuting days, it would have been a godsend.

I am quite tempted by the smallest Macbook Air. My 17" Macbook Pro is actually quite large and comparatively heavy. I've taken it on short trips eg the Eurostar, and it materially eats into hand luggage space. The little 11" Macbook Air is about the same size and weight as an iPad but would suit me more, I think. That said, I don't feel sufficient need to get one.