Part 4 of eBooks and the Real Reader [17.08.2011]
This is the final instalment in our small series of four Q&As with readers who are not writers, not publishers, not in any way involved in the creation or distribution of books or magazines. Publishers talk among themselves of course – the eBook is going to change the way people read that’s going to affect the business of publishing. Writers are talking too – in fact there’s a dialogue going on that includes writers, publishers and booksellers. Meanwhile, readers are just getting on with reading. These Q&As provide some insights into how a small group of them are deciding what eBooks to read, how much they’re willing to pay for them and what to read them on.
Our fourth and final reader in this series is R-
R- is a test analyst, working in Information Technology, who reads on his Kindle and also continues to enjoy print books.
Miriam Zolin: Is this the first Kindle you’ve owned?
R-: It is actually the third unit that I have had – the Kindle broke twice … but before the Kindle I had never used another eReader.
My cousin had an eBook reader before me and when I saw it I thought it was quite a good idea. I liked the screen contrast ratio. It was very similar to a book and that is the thing I dislike about backlit computer displays – I find my eyes get sore after a full day’s use. That’s what I prefer – on the way back home or the way into work, to have a more traditional device to read on, like the Kindle.
MZ: How many books would you have in your Kindle?
R-: Normally I have about five books. I tend to read one then delete it then read and delete.
MZ: What kinds of books are you reading on it?
R-: Well, it depends. Recently I enjoyed a book called Forest Gump, same as the movie. The book was a lot more expanded than the movie – it contained a lot more detail and I enjoyed it.
MZ: Have your reading habits changed since you got the eReader?
R-: I think my habits largely remain the same. Before, when I had heard about a book, I would usually source it from amazon.com or from a local store if they had been discounted – now I think I buy and download from Amazon and in addition to this I sometimes sample illegally downloaded books, to try it out first, say read a few first chapters. And then if I decide I am going to proceed, I buy the book.
MZ: So why do you choose to buy the book instead of just reading the illegal download?
R-: Well it’s similar to the sampling process. I feel when you are in a bookstore you open a book for a few pages to see if you like it. Currently, I acknowledge, I do it in an illegal way but I don’t want to abuse the system so if I enjoy the book I still either buy it for my Kindle or buy the paperback.
MZ: So when you download eBooks you are paying for them, are you happy with the prices that are being charged? Would you expect to pay the same for an eBook as you would for a print book?
R-: I think I would expect less for an eBook because it does not involve the print cost or distribution costs and currently the print book in Australia is way over-priced compared to say, when I buy a book online from amazon.com or UK sellers … and Kindle books are usually a lot cheaper than buying from the bookstore … books that are about $25 in a local bookstore are $9.99 online. So I think the price difference kind of justifies purchasing the eBook.
MZ: And you said that even before you had an eReader you were trying to find books at a more reasonable price anyway – either discounted locally or purchased overseas.
R-: Yes, that’s right and purchased overseas mostly.
MZ: I’m getting quite a bit of feedback that books in Australia are priced too high.
R-: It’s usually double the American prices and it’s the same book.
MZ: Is there anything you find in the eReader that you miss about the print book? Are there aspects of it that you don’t like or are you comfortable just using that from now on?
R-: I think recently I read that there was a guy in New York who would be happy to live with just a MacBook and his Kindle but I think I’m different. I think if I have a good book, I’d rather buy it in paper back, read it slow and have the feeling of turning the pages, smelling the fragrance, all of the sensory things about the paperback. But content-wise I find that the content of the eReader doesn’t present a problem during the reading process.
But usually for boring content I just lose my patience on an eBook reader. For me I still discount eBook over traditional book because of the overall sensory experience.
MZ: Do you have print books at home that you wouldn’t give up even if you were doing most of your reading on your eReader?
R-: I think I compare this to my collection of wine bottles! When I drink a wine that I like I tend to put the bottle away in my spare cupboard, just to acknowledge that I appreciated it. I would rather buy a book in paperback and store it in the same way – that sense of belonging or just … kind of a feeling that I own this thing, that I enjoyed and acknowledge it.
Miriam Zolin is the publisher at extempore and the convener and coordinator at the National Jazz Writing Competition, now accepting entries! She reads and writes fiction, blogs, reviews and essays.
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Comments
Emma — 17 August at 12:36PM
Great series Miriam. Fascinating to see the different motivations behind using eBooks. As a reader whose books are mostly sourced from the library it will be interesting to see how they respond to the growing demand for eBooks.