I still prefer the tactile quaintness of a nattily dogeared paperback Penguin classic

I love paper books because of the fact that they are actually tangible, but understandably they take up space; especially on trips where that space is valuable.

My question is why don't they have some sort of unique download code actually bundled with the real book so you can have the option of taking it with you in a reader or computer?

I know you're thinking that that's two for the price of one, but on the other hand its better than scanning every page if you want to take something like ten books on a vacation with you.

I see no reason why you shouldn't get both at the same time. Yes you could put the e-version on somebody else's reader, but you loan out the hard copy as well. It's really no different than ripping a CD for your MP3 player.

[www.baen.com] is the only one that's gotten it right so far. Cheaper than paper books; twice the royalties to the author; no DRM; multiple formats (including all the major ebook readers and PDAs and HTML and RTF). And new releases are available at the same time as the paper versions (or earlier if you can't wait and are willing to pay a premium for an advanced copy).

The only problem is that they're a sci-fi/fantasy publisher only and not a general publisher.

"Unfortunately, the prices will not be lowered for the ebook varieties"

What can be the justification for that? Create a file and host it versus print, bind and distribute. To not lower the cost for ebook readers is just gouging in my mind. But, I guess if we're willing to pay it...

Sorry but I hate books, why sit there reading a book when you can just spend a few hours and watch a movie.

@gamecrazychris: Have you seen the drek that's in the theatres? Bad horror remakes and brain-dead action movies.

I'm a loser who reads a lot and talks to people who read a lot (we're like gamers except our friends are imaginary and don't have handles), and the biggest shortcoming from ebook readers is the fact you can't underline or annotate your book. The number of times I've written "omg funny!" in the margins of books is mindboggling. We need ePens for our eInk!

@gamecrazychris:
you dont know what it feels like. you wouldnt understand.. kindly, get out of this thread.

Blech. Another half-baked distribution scheme. Someone needs to really figure out this e-book stuff out.

@Amiash: No need for that kind of talk. Some people just don't like reading or haven't found a genre that holds their interest. You shouldn't hold it against him.

@ OMG! Ponies

I can understand Amiash's reaction. Too many non-readers think reading is a pointless hobby. Ran across too many of those people that remarks such as Gamecrazy's automatically sets one's teeth on edge regardless of intent.

@gamecrazychris: Sure, why read a book when you can watch the butchered version that bears little or no resemblance of the written version on the silver screen or the idiots lantern?

@gamecrazychris:

"Ensign, I need that reading, and I need it now!"

"Sorry, Cap'n, the Sarcasm Detector Dish is offline."

"Dammit, Ensign! OK, we'll have to think this one through on manual. Let's see, on the one hand, it could be a comment conceived at such a highbrow level of parody that even we cannot detect its humorous intent. Hmm..."

"Or, Cap'n? Gamecrazychris could really just be a total dumbshit?"

"Exactly, Ensign, exactly..."

Apple e-book reader? You can get it at the Apple store. Its called the Macbook Air.
[images.pcworld.com]

And you need an "Apple" eBook reader because....

Yeah. Thought so.

There are several good iterations of the eBook reader around. Why someone needs something overpriced just because it has a logo of an Apple on it to satisfy their needs is beyond me.

@russdogg: And for two times the cost of the MacBook Air, you can buy the entire Penguin Classics collection

@IPingUPing: My guess is that it's the retailers that are putting pressure on publishers not to release ebooks. Retailers, especially the big box stores, have a tremendous amount of influence on how things get published. They can put a book on a table up front or on the end of an aisle with a big display, or they can classify it as fantasy or how-to and put one copy on the shelf somewhere in the discount aisle. I'd guess that the retailers are incredibly threatened by ebooks, having seen the demise of the local music store and major music retailers. Amazon's the only one not threatened and the only retailer that would actually benefit from a reduction of distribution costs. No wonder they're pushing the Kindle.

@OMG! Ponies!: Have you tried a dedicated ebook reader? It's actually remarkably natural feeling. Of course, I used to read ebooks on my Palm III so maybe my standards are a little different. I don't have an ebook reader now but I'm pretty sure I'll get a Kindle when the 2.0 version comes out.

As for Penguin releasing all their stuff on ebook; this is huge...depending on how they do it and what formats they support. Penguin is a publisher of a lot of popular literature, not just the classics (most of which btw are already available in ebook form for free from Project Gutenberg). This is akin to when Sony BMG decided to sell DRM free music through Amazon's MP3 store. Hopefully this will open the floodgates and between ebook readers and print-on-demand people will be able to read what what they want how they want.

You've all missed the biggest issue here. Clearly, these will only be available for Linux.

@Baladen:
The only problem is that they're a sci-fi/fantasy publisher only and not a general publisher.

I fail to understand why this is a problem. ;)

@klaybc: "Clearly, these will only be available for Linux."

This is meant as humor, right? If so, can you explain the joke?

@weatherman: "My guess is that it's the retailers that are putting pressure on publishers not to release ebooks."

Probably a good guess. On the other hand, with some just-in-time color printers, "big box" stores like Borders could turn ebooks into an inventory solution. You could walk out with the file or the book. Ebook readers and files should sell very well in areas where retail space is expensive, like airports. Especially if the books aren't DRM-encumbered. (it would suck to own the "Borders" ebook reader and only find a "Waldenbooks" store in the airport.)

Once they get full color into the readers, magazines would be an even better use for them. My recycle bin would drop in weight be 80%.

@shawn_dude: Linux. Penguin. At least I think that's supposed to be the connection.