21st
Publishers say e-books at $9 are unsustainable
“I’m thrilled that another major player is entering the fast-emerging e-book market,” [publisher] David Young said. “But I remain deeply concerned that our most valuable front-list titles are being sold at mass-market paperback prices.” — Barnes & Noble Plans an Extensive E-Bookstore, New York Times.
Here’s the problem in a nutshell, Mr. Young: readers will not pay full price for a DRM-crippled e-book. A first-edition hardback is solid and shareable, and meant to last for ages. It looks handsome on the shelf. Paying $26 for it is like an investment.
An e-book is locked away on a device, and digitally protected in a way that makes it clear that you only own the right to read it. If this is worth much less than what you want to charge, I suggest you find a way to add some serious value, fast. Note that iTunes charges more for tracks without DRM…
