I think bundling is a good idea if and only if the cost is reasonable - i.e., the bundle costs $2 more or the ebook is free with the purchase of the print book.
Part of the resurgance of vinyl for music (see the review-system-is-fould-up thread in this forum for more of that discussion) has been that often if you buy the vinyl the digital copy is included.
For me, however, I buy in eformat because I live in a teeny tiny house and have no storage space for more books, so I doubt it would change my personal buying habits, but I expect that a lot more people would buy HCs (the publishing industry's bread and butter) if the digital file was included for free.
RHWright wrote:I think more and more, we have to recognize that the way people think about content is shifting. Especially where e-content is concerned, people really like the flexibility of viewing it on multiple devices.
Take the growth of the BluRay+DVD+Digital Copy combos.
Or a multitude of other bundled services.
I think it is more of a sea change for publishing than it was with video. So, I think it may take longer for bundling to become standard.
Of course, for the content to continue to have value, this will naturally lead to a devaluation of the physical printed copy.
As much as I love books, I see them becoming a niche product. More of an emphasis on POD and higher-end hardcovers. By high-end, I mean both limited editions as well as a greater shift back to quality materials for the hardcovers that are done.
I totally agree with you, but if you read some of the posts on the "Review system is fouled up" thread, you would see that some posters violently disagree with us. It's apparently a very emotional issue for some. The fact that the supply side of the microeconomics seems to believe that the future rests primarily with electronic images and text is evident (at least to me). Why else would we even see these technologies in such widespread use? Why else did so many readers receive NOOKs and Kindles as holiday gifts? Why else are so many elderly people learning how to use this technology, instead of simply continuing to purchase paper books?
It's a mystery to me ... 
deesy58 wrote:
RHWright wrote:I think more and more, we have to recognize that the way people think about content is shifting. Especially where e-content is concerned, people really like the flexibility of viewing it on multiple devices.
Take the growth of the BluRay+DVD+Digital Copy combos.
Or a multitude of other bundled services.
I think it is more of a sea change for publishing than it was with video. So, I think it may take longer for bundling to become standard.
Of course, for the content to continue to have value, this will naturally lead to a devaluation of the physical printed copy.
As much as I love books, I see them becoming a niche product. More of an emphasis on POD and higher-end hardcovers. By high-end, I mean both limited editions as well as a greater shift back to quality materials for the hardcovers that are done.
I totally agree with you, but if you read some of the posts on the "Review system is fouled up" thread, you would see that some posters violently disagree with us. It's apparently a very emotional issue for some. The fact that the supply side of the microeconomics seems to believe that the future rests primarily with electronic images and text is evident (at least to me). Why else would we even see these technologies in such widespread use? Why else did so many readers receive NOOKs and Kindles as holiday gifts? Why else are so many elderly people learning how to use this technology, instead of simply continuing to purchase paper books?
It's a mystery to me ...
Actually, everyone in that thread agreed with this EXCEPT you, dessy58. LOL. I guess we now all agree?
keriflur wrote:
deesy58 wrote:
RHWright wrote:I think more and more, we have to recognize that the way people think about content is shifting. Especially where e-content is concerned, people really like the flexibility of viewing it on multiple devices.
Take the growth of the BluRay+DVD+Digital Copy combos.
Or a multitude of other bundled services.
I think it is more of a sea change for publishing than it was with video. So, I think it may take longer for bundling to become standard.
Of course, for the content to continue to have value, this will naturally lead to a devaluation of the physical printed copy.
As much as I love books, I see them becoming a niche product. More of an emphasis on POD and higher-end hardcovers. By high-end, I mean both limited editions as well as a greater shift back to quality materials for the hardcovers that are done.
I totally agree with you, but if you read some of the posts on the "Review system is fouled up" thread, you would see that some posters violently disagree with us. It's apparently a very emotional issue for some. The fact that the supply side of the microeconomics seems to believe that the future rests primarily with electronic images and text is evident (at least to me). Why else would we even see these technologies in such widespread use? Why else did so many readers receive NOOKs and Kindles as holiday gifts? Why else are so many elderly people learning how to use this technology, instead of simply continuing to purchase paper books?
It's a mystery to me ...
Actually, everyone in that thread agreed with this EXCEPT you, dessy58. LOL. I guess we now all agree?
I don't think you and I read the same posts, and I don't think you really understood my position. I apologize for not being able to state it more clearly.
It is my opinion that paper books will slowly fade away until you and I will no longer be able to drive to our local bookstores to browse and purchase them. I believe that the process has already begun, and that the citing of narrow exceptions does not disprove the rule.
I guess that only time will tell.
