BellaOnline Forums Computers Desktop Publishing Will Ebooks Sink or Swim?

There's a lot of debate about whether ebooks and ebook readers will permanently replace paper books, or whether they're just a passing fancy of the tech-obsessed. Current market trends seem to indicate that ebooks are rapidly gaining on their paper counterparts. Check out this article for an overview of the changing landscape in the book publishing world, and tell me what you think will happen: Ebook Sales and the Ebook Market.

--Maria

I think they are here to stay and only will replace paper books in certain areas. Everyone that TV's and computers were passing fancies. This is another one of those that will go through many metamorphoses but will remain.

Because of the ease of obtaining ebooks and the cost effectiveness of them, I think they will grow even further in the academic arena.

Personally, give me a paper book any day. I love the feel in my hands.

Maria,

I just read your ebook articles and I'm blown away! I've been researching writing and publishing opportunities for what seems like ages, but you've given me information I never came across before! Somehow, I never managed to find out about CreateSpace or Smashwords. So thank you so much - it feels like the fog of confusion is lifting!

Grace

That's so interesting. Thanks for writing about that. I wonder how this compares to ebook sales by information marketers like all the people that run blogs or sites that sell ebooks via clickbank or shopping cart etc.

I've bought a ton of ebooks to learn how to do something plus a big chunk of my income comes from selling other people's ebooks. I think ebooks were such a strange concept to people a few years back and people had a hard time buying something they couldn't actually get their hands on but thankfully that is not the case anymore. Does anybody keep figures on digital info products?

I actually prefer when it comes to something I need to learn but still prefer holding a real book when reading for fun : )

I'm pretty sure Amazon has announced that it now sells more ebooks than hardcover books. So they are selling very well!

I think there will be both. We have TV - but we still have radio too. One did not replace the other.

Wow, thanks so much. I feel like what I've written so far is just barely scratching the surface, so I'm glad it's been helpful. I have lots of articles planned for the coming weeks that will hopefully provide a lot more detailed step-by-step instructions. I want folks to have some guidance, and not have to stumble blindly through the processes like I did .

--Maria

That's just the thing--the ebook sales in those figures are all just the ebooks sold by the big publishers. It doesn't include that enormous chunk that is sold by small publishers and individual authors and websites. The publishers really have their heads in the sand on this one!


I understand what you're saying, but I have to admit, the older my eyes get, the more I like the adjustable font sizes on an electronic device!

--Maria

Bigger fonts is definitely a plus. The last couple of books I've read the print has been so small and I can't read for long before my eyes get exhausted and start twitching.

I haven't broken down and bought a portable ereader yet (although i really really really want one :)), but I use both the nook and kindle apps on my laptop and kindle on my blackberry (nook on the blackberry is useless, imo). I love having so many book choices in one small device. To take that many books with me, I'd have to cart around a bookbag and I'm long past having the back for that!

You might want to hunt around for blog and book contests with free Kindles as prizes. You'd be surprised how many of these you'll find. I'm aware of a couple of small contests going on right now (think good chances of winning):

Indie Authors Win-a-Kindle
Scott Nicholson Kindle & Free eBooks Contest

--Maria

I would love to get a Kindle for Christmas! I've been talking about them a lot, so hoping hubby has gotten the hint!

I think ebooks are here to stay. You can't beat them for convenience and portability. And I don't think they'll replace printed books. Nothing beats snuggling with a child in your lap and reading books together. Just wouldn't be the same snuggling up with a Kindle!

You bring up a good point. Even though I've gone totally digital myself, the idea of children's books on a screen just doesn't appeal to me. I always loved the big, beautiful artistic drawings in my books as a kid, and loved looking at the pages again when reading to my children. It just doesn't seem like it would be the same even on a crisp color screen.

--Maria