http://bit.ly/dzytVQ

Some personal notes: As an avid Kindle user I can’t wait to try the iPad — especially to be able to read illustrated and full-color material, in particular, PDFs and web pages.

The Kindle was a great step forward, but the range of what can be read on it is terribly limited. I find that I can’t use the Kindle for any serious research of any kind, for example.

And how long will Amazon be able to adhere to its policy of licensing e-books to consumers, rather than selling them? We don’t own Kindle e-books and can’t move them from to a computer to read — a serious limitation, especially for anyone who works on more than one digital device when researching, reading, writing. I wonder when this point will enter the discussion about pricing: to me, a $9.99 Kindle e-book license is not nearly the same value as a $9.99 e-book purchase with few restrictions on use.

Last point: I find that instant sampling of e-books via wireless download is even more important than instant purchasing. Whenever I hear or see news of a new book (print or online review; talk show; BookTV), I can instantly download a sample if there is an e-book and read a chapter, to form my own judgment about the merits of the book.

Whereas, I seldom wand or need to have an entire book instantly and can wait a few days or more to get it in one form or another; because it will go on the lengthy queue of p-books and e-books piling up in my study. I easily sample in a ration 10:1 or more versus the books I purchase (or license from Bezos!).

Charles Levine

P.S. I am former publisher of Random House Reference, among other sins.

http://netfiles.uiuc.edu/hyunhong/www/ent_demand.pdf

I suggest as a starting point, this paper An Economist’s Guide to Digital Music which reviews some of the changing habits of consumers in the context of declining CD sales.

Regarding this:

“Publishers may have won the pricing war….”

I know what you mean, and don’t disagree, but it’s useful to remember that the real pricing war is still being waged, and that’s the war with the consumer. All that Macmillan did was assert publishing’s authority to command that offensive.

If consumers reject the prices that publishers set, not only will publishers have to relinquish power, but Amazon and Apple and other e-tailers will gain sympathy/credibility in the marketplace — echoing what happened in the music biz.

Publishing is in charge of its products, but only temporarily, and only as long as it can produce positive advantages and returns for everyone. Given that publishing seems determined first and foremost to protect physical book sales, I’m not so sure this moment won’t be seen as a Pyrrhic victory as events progress.

I propose developing a “Godzilla Index.” The Godzilla Index would measure consumption of media on flights to and from Tokyo. Passengers would be given a survey after the flight and asked what they watched or read on the plane and in what format.