Comments on: The tragedy of the virtual bookshelf http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/ Commentary on media, technology, marketing and clamming strategies Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:04:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Battelle http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-667306 John Battelle Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:25:22 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-667306 As it was with music, so shall it be with books (and I'm an author). F*CK DRM, let us SHARE! As it was with music, so shall it be with books (and I’m an author). F*CK DRM, let us SHARE!

]]> By: Christa Avampato http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-666646 Christa Avampato Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:54:38 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-666646 Hi Chuck, I wonder about these same issues. I just bought a new set of beautiful bookshelves that I love. They showcase my books so well, and I considered how I would feel if those bookshelves were only virtual. I get as much joy from having my books near me as I do reading them. They provide me with a chronicle of where I've been and different interests I've developed over time. Books I sat with long into the night while I was in college, studying the library. Books I consulted for certain new projects I worked on. The challenge for literature going forward is how do we incorporate technology without that technologies diminshing our enjoyment of the literature. I don't have any answers to that yet... -Christa Hi Chuck,
I wonder about these same issues. I just bought a new set of beautiful bookshelves that I love. They showcase my books so well, and I considered how I would feel if those bookshelves were only virtual. I get as much joy from having my books near me as I do reading them. They provide me with a chronicle of where I’ve been and different interests I’ve developed over time. Books I sat with long into the night while I was in college, studying the library. Books I consulted for certain new projects I worked on.

The challenge for literature going forward is how do we incorporate technology without that technologies diminshing our enjoyment of the literature. I don’t have any answers to that yet…

-Christa

]]> By: tecosystems » The Post-Thanksgiving Grab Bag: Favtape, Kindles, Hulu and More http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-666465 tecosystems » The Post-Thanksgiving Grab Bag: Favtape, Kindles, Hulu and More Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:06:29 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-666465 [...] one of the - happy - Kindle users I know explains for me why I won’t get one: I like the Kindle. Indeed I love it. But I can’t indulge my penchant [...] [...] one of the – happy – Kindle users I know explains for me why I won’t get one: I like the Kindle. Indeed I love it. But I can’t indulge my penchant [...]

]]> By: Tim http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-666258 Tim Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:37:34 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-666258 I think we are all conflicted... especially us book nuts. Of course there are advantages that I love but we give up a lot that cannot be replaced. A few additional ones that come to mind are the secondary market for used books, getting your books signed, and the future appreciation and retention of the cultural artifacts. I do not see the printed book going away anytime soon but I worry that we will reach the point where fewer titles will actually get printed and their costs will be very high because the volume of actual printed books will dwindle to the point of financial infeasibility. I think we are all conflicted… especially us book nuts. Of course there are advantages that I love but we give up a lot that cannot be replaced. A few additional ones that come to mind are the secondary market for used books, getting your books signed, and the future appreciation and retention of the cultural artifacts.

I do not see the printed book going away anytime soon but I worry that we will reach the point where fewer titles will actually get printed and their costs will be very high because the volume of actual printed books will dwindle to the point of financial infeasibility.

]]> By: Tom http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-666009 Tom Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:09:08 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-666009 Unless Amazon has changed their policies, multiple Kindles registered to the same Amazon account can share books, magazines and newspapers. Obviously, this would almost start to make economic sense if Amazon reduced the price of a 2nd or 3rd Kindle to the sub $100 range. Not likely. A feature that enabled Kindle users to publish their reading lists and "share" with other Kindlers might provide Amazon with evidence to extend a 2nd/3rd Kindle discount if one's sharing resulted in new book purchases by the sharees at or above some threshold. Unless Amazon has changed their policies, multiple Kindles registered to the same Amazon account can share books, magazines and newspapers. Obviously, this would almost start to make economic sense if Amazon reduced the price of a 2nd or 3rd Kindle to the sub $100 range. Not likely. A feature that enabled Kindle users to publish their reading lists and “share” with other Kindlers might provide Amazon with evidence to extend a 2nd/3rd Kindle discount if one’s sharing resulted in new book purchases by the sharees at or above some threshold.

]]> By: John B http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-665920 John B Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:34:58 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-665920 It's too bad that the recording industry didn't set a good example for how to operate profitable, open media distribution in the digital age. I suspect your quandary will exist for quite some time, at least as long as it takes for a critical mass of writers to go around publishing companies and publish online in less restrictive formats. It’s too bad that the recording industry didn’t set a good example for how to operate profitable, open media distribution in the digital age. I suspect your quandary will exist for quite some time, at least as long as it takes for a critical mass of writers to go around publishing companies and publish online in less restrictive formats.

]]> By: The Tragedy of the Virtual Bookshelf | All Things Cahill http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/2008/12/the-tragedy-of-the-virtual-bookshelf/comment-page-1/#comment-665805 The Tragedy of the Virtual Bookshelf | All Things Cahill Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:09:22 +0000 http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/?p=2313#comment-665805 [...] Churbuck has found that which we are losing in this digital age.  It reminds me of the discussion I had with my 9 year old yesterday when she asked me if [...] [...] Churbuck has found that which we are losing in this digital age.  It reminds me of the discussion I had with my 9 year old yesterday when she asked me if [...]

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