Comments on: Who is to Blame for Slow E-Book Adoption in the UK? http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/ International publishing news and opinion Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:46:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kobo UK: “First of Many International Launches this Year” http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-5279 Kobo UK: “First of Many International Launches this Year” Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:47:03 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-5279 [...] this month we wondered why the UK was so far behind other countries in e-book adoption. Well, things are suddenly heating up: Kobo, the Canadian e-book [...] [...] this month we wondered why the UK was so far behind other countries in e-book adoption. Well, things are suddenly heating up: Kobo, the Canadian e-book [...]

]]> By: Tony Newson http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4995 Tony Newson Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:38:11 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4995 Might it not just be that the public are quite happy with reading a traditional book? Why does the book industry feel it has to try and force the market in a direction where it thinks it should be going - rather than where it wants to go? There's a terrific article on the Book Trade Info site about this - http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/25652 The book and reading is NOT like the vinyl record and music. The book is the major part of the reading experience - why use just another machine to try and replicate this same experience? Might it not just be that the public are quite happy with reading a traditional book? Why does the book industry feel it has to try and force the market in a direction where it thinks it should be going – rather than where it wants to go? There’s a terrific article on the Book Trade Info site about this – http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/25652
The book and reading is NOT like the vinyl record and music. The book is the major part of the reading experience – why use just another machine to try and replicate this same experience?

]]> By: Marco http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4986 Marco Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:47:32 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4986 Theresa is correct – while OverDrive are doing a great job of attempting to squirt new ebooks into as many channels as possible, the reality is that the only major retailer of eBooks in the UK is Waterstones' online service. And with all due respect, it ain't Amazon or iTunes. When Amazon and iBooks hit, and if there is the equivalent of specialists like Fictionwise and, for the fantasy/SF types Baen Subscriptions etc, there will be far more pick-up. But right now, customers cannot find eBook files easily enough. Theresa is correct – while OverDrive are doing a great job of attempting to squirt new ebooks into as many channels as possible, the reality is that the only major retailer of eBooks in the UK is Waterstones’ online service. And with all due respect, it ain’t Amazon or iTunes.

When Amazon and iBooks hit, and if there is the equivalent of specialists like Fictionwise and, for the fantasy/SF types Baen Subscriptions etc, there will be far more pick-up. But right now, customers cannot find eBook files easily enough.

]]> By: Margaret Harrison http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4979 Margaret Harrison Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:56:14 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4979 OverDrive distributes publishers' content into many UK channels, including leading institutions, and retailers such as Waterstone's and WHSmith. An application for publishers is available at www.contentreserve.com/publisherapplication.asp. OverDrive distributes publishers’ content into many UK channels, including leading institutions, and retailers such as Waterstone’s and WHSmith. An application for publishers is available at http://www.contentreserve.com/publisherapplication.asp.

]]> By: Theresa M. Moore http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4978 Theresa M. Moore Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:33:32 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4978 As a publisher of my own ebooks I have found it difficult at best to work with ebook hosting sites in the UK when there are obstacles like the conversion engine not being able to parse apostrophes in the titles being listed. When that gets fixed I will be delighted to participate. Also, the issue of ISBNs being required on ebooks is a barrier to those of us who know that there is no inventory to carry. Amazon has no problem hosting ebooks without them, and neither does Barnes & Noble, yet many UK hosts seem to think they are necessary. It is apples and oranges where many readers are concerned. They want the product, not the number. So when UK hosts open up to us independent publishers we will feel more welcome. As a publisher of my own ebooks I have found it difficult at best to work with ebook hosting sites in the UK when there are obstacles like the conversion engine not being able to parse apostrophes in the titles being listed. When that gets fixed I will be delighted to participate. Also, the issue of ISBNs being required on ebooks is a barrier to those of us who know that there is no inventory to carry. Amazon has no problem hosting ebooks without them, and neither does Barnes & Noble, yet many UK hosts seem to think they are necessary. It is apples and oranges where many readers are concerned. They want the product, not the number. So when UK hosts open up to us independent publishers we will feel more welcome.

]]> By: Andrew Malkin http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4977 Andrew Malkin Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:48:57 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4977 Anxiety, fear and the difficulty within larger houses to push through a decision that broadly impacts content are all contributors from my experience. Many lack the staff to participate as widely as they would like too. I can say that conversations with UK houses, at least those unitiated, is more about DRM/privacy and rights concerns but the other obstacle of revenue justification. If you are so focused on that last part rather than experimenting, finding new customers, getting consumer information, potentially testing out new products and prices, then you should pack it up or get on the beam. I think many wait for the better devices to arrive at lower prices and use that as a stalling technique as well as the overwhelming feeling of where do I start between DAMs, rights, formats, conversion houses, retailers and much more. Anxiety, fear and the difficulty within larger houses to push through a decision that broadly impacts content are all contributors from my experience. Many lack the staff to participate as widely as they would like too. I can say that conversations with UK houses, at least those unitiated, is more about DRM/privacy and rights concerns but the other obstacle of revenue justification. If you are so focused on that last part rather than experimenting, finding new customers, getting consumer information, potentially testing out new products and prices, then you should pack it up or get on the beam. I think many wait for the better devices to arrive at lower prices and use that as a stalling technique as well as the overwhelming feeling of where do I start between DAMs, rights, formats, conversion houses, retailers and much more.

]]> By: Marion Tzichlibly http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4974 Marion Tzichlibly Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:39:13 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4974 The answer to this question: Who is to Blame for Slow E-Book Adoption in the UK? is to be found within the 'Publishing Houses' themselves. Very slow and wary in anything they don't fully understand or see as a potential threat. Instead of embracing new technology they seem to shy away from it. Technology already exists within the UK. Technology created and developed for the Uk, its publishers and authors. Traditional publishing, as we know it, needs to embrace change and take that much needed step. Regards M The answer to this question:
Who is to Blame for Slow E-Book Adoption in the UK? is to be found within the ‘Publishing Houses’ themselves. Very slow and wary in anything they don’t fully understand or see as a potential threat. Instead of embracing new technology they seem to shy away from it.
Technology already exists within the UK. Technology created and developed for the Uk, its publishers and authors.
Traditional publishing, as we know it, needs to embrace change and take that much needed step.
Regards
M

]]> By: robert hyde http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4971 robert hyde Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:16:53 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4971 It's very deja vu to see Fionulla Duggan and Sara Lloyd's names leading this discussion. 15 years ago they were at the forefront of the discussion as to whether the CD-ROM would make the printed book obsolete. We (I was there as well)got it all dramatically wrong back then. It is tempting to see parallels here, but this time I reckon a change is truly underway. Your question as to why the US is so far ahead of the UK in taking up e-books? I would venture to suggest that it is primarily a question of relative wealth. There are far more people over the pond in a position to afford a £250 reading device than over here. A device, which, let's be honest, still looks remarkably clunky. The iPad will probably change this situation, though I must say I am perfectly happy reading books on my iPhone. When the price comes down, so will the uptake dramatically increase over here. Corporate dysfunction? Probably on both sides, not just here. You can't overnight expect a generation of managers brought up to create and distribute a physical product to embrace something so wholly different. The problem is that in the transitional period between physical and digital- 10 years?- the industry will still need to have people with two sets of skills. It’s very deja vu to see Fionulla Duggan and Sara Lloyd’s names leading this discussion. 15 years ago they were at the forefront of the discussion as to whether the CD-ROM would make the printed book obsolete. We (I was there as well)got it all dramatically wrong back then. It is tempting to see parallels here, but this time I reckon a change is truly underway. Your question as to why the US is so far ahead of the UK in taking up e-books? I would venture to suggest that it is primarily a question of relative wealth. There are far more people over the pond in a position to afford a £250 reading device than over here. A device, which, let’s be honest, still looks remarkably clunky. The iPad will probably change this situation, though I must say I am perfectly happy reading books on my iPhone. When the price comes down, so will the uptake dramatically increase over here.
Corporate dysfunction? Probably on both sides, not just here. You can’t overnight expect a generation of managers brought up to create and distribute a physical product to embrace something so wholly different. The problem is that in the transitional period between physical and digital- 10 years?- the industry will still need to have people with two sets of skills.

]]> By: Radical Changes Needed to Put UK E-book Strategy on Track http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/02/who-is-to-blame-for-slow-e-book-adoption-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-4969 Radical Changes Needed to Put UK E-book Strategy on Track Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:01:20 +0000 http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=11607#comment-4969 [...] DISCUSS: Who is to blame for slow e-book adoption in the UK? [...] [...] DISCUSS: Who is to blame for slow e-book adoption in the UK? [...]

]]>