Comments on: The Death of Books- Free is Not Always Fun http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/ David Usher's blog on art, technology and the communication revolution Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:25:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Steve Nixon http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-209 Steve Nixon Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:18:06 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-209 I've published two books in the past two years and have sold next to nothing. The problem is that while everyone in world can self-publish there are few people who can support the exhaustive and expensive effort necessary to make it a success. The other problem is: what can you put in a book that isn't available in spades with a google? his does not effect evey type of book out there but it impacts one type mainly - factual information. Books "The Best of Astraea - 17 Articles on Science, History and Philosophy" "Owlcat - The Cat Who Thought He Was An Owl" (illustrated by 12 year old daughter!) Steve I’ve published two books in the past two years and have sold next to nothing. The problem is that while everyone in world can self-publish there are few people who can support the exhaustive and expensive effort necessary to make it a success.

The other problem is: what can you put in a book that isn’t available in spades with a google? his does not effect evey type of book out there but it impacts one type mainly - factual information.

Books
“The Best of Astraea - 17 Articles on Science, History and Philosophy”

“Owlcat - The Cat Who Thought He Was An Owl” (illustrated by 12 year old daughter!)

Steve

]]> By: Svetlana http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-150 Svetlana Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:25:11 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-150 in some case e-books are really convenient - to exchanging. I have lots of e-books, but what is a strange deal- I still wish to have them in a traditional hard- or paperback! a few copy to give to my friends...one day :) The futurists are always imagine that after N- years ago, we will wear silver-space clothes, fly in gravitation-less-cars or read o n l y ebooks and blah blah. Like in "Le future" concept-stores is considered that designers ideas has reached the future - nonsense! They reached only the t o d a y, the future hasn't come still! In fact, many of futurist's ideas are not in use and can't adapt in the routine. Maybe cause in "smart-digital" things we lose half of pleasure?.. so much part of our life-way. And we ready to pay for it and free some space in our home and heart. yeah, really like in a vinyl story. P. S. and it was proven one more time last weekend by my friend who is out of this "on-line - discussion", said to me at the theatre that TV- or E-version can never replace the real atmosphere! in some case e-books are really convenient - to exchanging. I have lots of e-books, but what is a strange deal- I still wish to have them in a traditional hard- or paperback! a few copy to give to my friends…one day :)
The futurists are always imagine that after N- years ago, we will wear silver-space clothes, fly in gravitation-less-cars or read o n l y ebooks and blah blah. Like in “Le future” concept-stores is considered that designers ideas has reached the future - nonsense! They reached only the t o d a y, the future hasn’t come still! In fact, many of futurist’s ideas are not in use and can’t adapt in the routine. Maybe cause in “smart-digital” things we lose half of pleasure?.. so much part of our life-way. And we ready to pay for it and free some space in our home and heart. yeah, really like in a vinyl story.
P. S. and it was proven one more time last weekend by my friend who is out of this “on-line - discussion”, said to me at the theatre that TV- or E-version can never replace the real atmosphere!

]]> By: yvette http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-148 yvette Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:39:46 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-148 As I say, Always be prepared! David, I got your autograph at the end of your live show DURING St. Lawrence River! I had my sharpie and the cd liner notes ready...I loved it when others wanted you to sign and you said "I don't have a pen"...with a shrug and a smile:-) Like you carry a pen on you at all times! C'mon people! Meeting you would have been even better; longpen...sounds cool too, and A "Hi" is always nice ! XO As I say, Always be prepared! David, I got your autograph at the end of your live show DURING St. Lawrence River! I had my sharpie and the cd liner notes ready…I loved it when others wanted you to sign and you said “I don’t have a pen”…with a shrug and a smile:-) Like you carry a pen on you at all times! C’mon people! Meeting you would have been even better; longpen…sounds cool too, and A “Hi” is always nice ! XO

]]> By: Kristine http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-147 Kristine Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:38:36 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-147 I find the whole idea of having various forms of art, including books, available online interesting. I mean, maybe it's a common thing for musicians like David to share work-in-progress online (I don't know as I don't follow any other musicians' websites). But I've often wondered "Isn't David worried about people ripping off his work?". I thought that if it wasn't "completed" yet then it couldn't be copyrighted yet, but I could very well be mistaken about that. I know I'm being very old-school here, but I don't see myself giving up books. As others have said, watching a screen can be hard on the eyes (especially if you already sit in front of a computer for most of your work day). And I like taking books with me on vacation, to the beach, and also like to read in bed sometimes...just wouldn't be the same reading from an electronic device. Maybe it's just that I'm not into all the latest tech stuff. I don't download music, but prefer to buy CDs. I do load music from my CDs onto my MP3 player for use at the gym, but I like owning the actual CDs and being able to flip through the liner notes. As for the LongPen thing...I'd read about it but hadn't seen it in action until I watched that link. Very cool concept and great for allowing artists to interact with their fans. But as someone who has been guilty of bothering David for several autographs of my CDs in the past, I have to say that I just don't think it would feel the same as the "real thing". (Having said that, I do realize that it's not always possible for artists to give in-person autographs, nor will they always want to, so I do feel very fortunate to have experienced that. And a LongPen autograph/interaction would certainly be better than nothing at all). I find the whole idea of having various forms of art, including books, available online interesting. I mean, maybe it’s a common thing for musicians like David to share work-in-progress online (I don’t know as I don’t follow any other musicians’ websites). But I’ve often wondered “Isn’t David worried about people ripping off his work?”. I thought that if it wasn’t “completed” yet then it couldn’t be copyrighted yet, but I could very well be mistaken about that.

I know I’m being very old-school here, but I don’t see myself giving up books. As others have said, watching a screen can be hard on the eyes (especially if you already sit in front of a computer for most of your work day). And I like taking books with me on vacation, to the beach, and also like to read in bed sometimes…just wouldn’t be the same reading from an electronic device.

Maybe it’s just that I’m not into all the latest tech stuff. I don’t download music, but prefer to buy CDs. I do load music from my CDs onto my MP3 player for use at the gym, but I like owning the actual CDs and being able to flip through the liner notes.

As for the LongPen thing…I’d read about it but hadn’t seen it in action until I watched that link. Very cool concept and great for allowing artists to interact with their fans. But as someone who has been guilty of bothering David for several autographs of my CDs in the past, I have to say that I just don’t think it would feel the same as the “real thing”. (Having said that, I do realize that it’s not always possible for artists to give in-person autographs, nor will they always want to, so I do feel very fortunate to have experienced that. And a LongPen autograph/interaction would certainly be better than nothing at all).

]]> By: Kat http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-146 Kat Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:44:22 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-146 @David - Wow. LongPen is an amazing idea and I like it, but I still want my book. ;) @David - Wow. LongPen is an amazing idea and I like it, but I still want my book. ;)

]]> By: ElizabethLouise http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-145 ElizabethLouise Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:16:34 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-145 LongPen™ eh? Simple but I never would have thought of it. How is it I'm younger than David but often manage to feel rather old when reading this blog? All very interesting though. Thank you. LongPen™ eh? Simple but I never would have thought of it. How is it I’m younger than David but often manage to feel rather old when reading this blog? All very interesting though. Thank you.

]]> By: Brenda http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-144 Brenda Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:20:00 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-144 When I woke up, listening to music as I usually do (love me back to life by Corneille was playing), suddenly I had two loop holes in my mind David!!! Alright, to awaken children's senses we need colour, texture, the real deal. If everything is electronic and insipid then the children of the future risk failing the development of some very artistic parts of their brains. Secondly, if you drop your book (not in the rain of course), a hope remains to eventually find your page, if not you start over; if you drop the device, no matter how hard the try to make it shock proof something always happens to crystal liquid, all depending on the weather and so many different things. Can you imagine loosing your entire library in a flash? If your physical library catches on fire, the firemen can hurry and save some; they can do nothing for an electronic device. How exactly does one calculate the added value day by day of the books in the device? Have a great day David!!! Bren. When I woke up, listening to music as I usually do (love me back to life by Corneille was playing), suddenly I had two loop holes in my mind David!!! Alright, to awaken children’s senses we need colour, texture, the real deal. If everything is electronic and insipid then the children of the future risk failing the development of some very artistic parts of their brains. Secondly, if you drop your book (not in the rain of course), a hope remains to eventually find your page, if not you start over; if you drop the device, no matter how hard the try to make it shock proof something always happens to crystal liquid, all depending on the weather and so many different things. Can you imagine loosing your entire library in a flash? If your physical library catches on fire, the firemen can hurry and save some; they can do nothing for an electronic device. How exactly does one calculate the added value day by day of the books in the device? Have a great day David!!! Bren.

]]> By: David Usher http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-143 David Usher Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:05:39 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-143 @Kat no but...:) "Invented by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, LongPen™ is the world's first long distance, real pen and ink signing device - perfect for connecting writers, athletes, and musicians with their fans." http://www.longpen.com/ @Kat
no but…:)

“Invented by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, LongPen™ is the world’s first long distance, real pen and ink signing device - perfect for connecting writers, athletes, and musicians with their fans.”

http://www.longpen.com/

]]> By: Kat http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-142 Kat Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:42:55 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-142 Although everyone has brought up some good points, I'm still hanging on to my printed media. I have a ton of books in my home and although they're a pain to pack and move, I love them. Some are first editions and I even own some precious signed copies of my favourite books. You can't get an autographed edition on a digital reader. Although everyone has brought up some good points, I’m still hanging on to my printed media. I have a ton of books in my home and although they’re a pain to pack and move, I love them. Some are first editions and I even own some precious signed copies of my favourite books. You can’t get an autographed edition on a digital reader.

]]> By: JulieD http://www.cloudid.com/2008/04/11/the-death-of-books-free-is-not-always-fun/#comment-141 JulieD Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:53:11 +0000 http://www.cloudid.com/?p=15#comment-141 Your questions have raised another issue... I just followed the links that you have provided and ended up on a web site (scribd) where you can upload/download .pfd files for sharing. On this site, I saw work of unknown authors who want to publish for free, which I think can be good for them, to get known. But I also saw copies of books which are still copyrighted and which should not be available 'for free'. Copyright lasts 50 years after the death of an author, if my memory is good. And it can (and will) be defended in court eventually (remember the Napster case). I do hope that, in time, people will wake up and realize the value of the work of the artists/writers and will start paying for it. Everything online can't be free. IP law is there to protect creative work, but creators also have to find ways to protect it. Certainly sharing a book online is a risky business, because in such a case can the author still claim that he holds a copyright on his work? If yes, to what extent, if not explicitly written on the face of the document? Many questions raised and we will have to wait and see how all this evolves. In the meantime, I still like to buy paper books and albums. I bought most of yours, David, all at once, one day on Amazon... Your questions have raised another issue…

I just followed the links that you have provided and ended up on a web site (scribd) where you can upload/download .pfd files for sharing.

On this site, I saw work of unknown authors who want to publish for free, which I think can be good for them, to get known.

But I also saw copies of books which are still copyrighted and which should not be available ‘for free’. Copyright lasts 50 years after the death of an author, if my memory is good. And it can (and will) be defended in court eventually (remember the Napster case).

I do hope that, in time, people will wake up and realize the value of the work of the artists/writers and will start paying for it. Everything online can’t be free. IP law is there to protect creative work, but creators also have to find ways to protect it.

Certainly sharing a book online is a risky business, because in such a case can the author still claim that he holds a copyright on his work? If yes, to what extent, if not explicitly written on the face of the document?

Many questions raised and we will have to wait and see how all this evolves.

In the meantime, I still like to buy paper books and albums. I bought most of yours, David, all at once, one day on Amazon…

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