WWWWWOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Quantum Vagina]

I can KIND of understand it from an ownership standpoint, but then again, I love the crap out of Steam.

[BathTub]

I'd be more interested in ebook readers if I didn't think ebooks were a huge rip off.

Considering they are cheaper than normal books, I'm not quite sure where that feeling stems from.

Are you talking about the fact that technically you don't own the book?  It's not that hard to pull the text out of the files and save them on your computer if you're worried about that sort of thing.

I looked up Pandora's Star which happens to be the book I am currently listening to. The Kindle version saves 40 cents. Sure that counts as 'cheaper' but only just.

[Edward J Grug III]

I'd be more interested in ebook readers if I didn't think ebooks were a huge rip off.

Considering they are cheaper than normal books, I'm not quite sure where that feeling stems from.

Are you talking about the fact that technically you don't own the book?  It's not that hard to pull the text out of the files and save them on your computer if you're worried about that sort of thing.

I looked up Pandora's Star which happens to be the book I am currently listening to. The Kindle version saves 40 cents. Sure that counts as 'cheaper' but only just.

The saving in storage space is more than worth it for me!

[MartyS (Gromit)]

I'd be more interested in ebook readers if I didn't think ebooks were a huge rip off.

It's funny how it takes a format change to understand that the price of the media is negligible compared to the various royalties and other costs.

You would think the cost of printing a book would be a factor but I guess they don't add anything to the cost, just like CDs, DVDs, and even Blu-Rays.  All those discs only cost a few cents to create when done by the millions, but the cost of albums and movies continued to go up after they were introduced.  I think everyone thought books were different, but when you see a hard cover selling for less than an e-book you realize the printing costs must not be a factor at all in the retail prices charged.

[BathTub]

I'd be more interested in ebook readers if I didn't think ebooks were a huge rip off.

It's funny how it takes a format change to understand that the price of the media is negligible compared to the various royalties and other costs.

You would think the cost of printing a book would be a factor but I guess they don't add anything to the cost, just like CDs, DVDs, and even Blu-Rays.  All those discs only cost a few cents to create when done by the millions, but the cost of albums and movies continued to go up after they were introduced.  I think everyone thought books were different, but when you see a hard cover selling for less than an e-book you realize the printing costs must not be a factor at all in the retail prices charged.

I'm actually the exact same way with Music. I've purchased about 2 albums in iTunes. Mostly because I didn't have a choice (Brett Domino did at sell a labeled blank CD to copy their album too). If I have a choice it's physical all the way. I do have a lot of game soundracks in digital form, mostly from humble bundle sales and the like, but only in DRM free lossless versions.

[RoninFox]

I'd be more interested in ebook readers if I didn't think ebooks were a huge rip off.

It's funny how it takes a format change to understand that the price of the media is negligible compared to the various royalties and other costs.

You would think the cost of printing a book would be a factor but I guess they don't add anything to the cost, just like CDs, DVDs, and even Blu-Rays.  All those discs only cost a few cents to create when done by the millions, but the cost of albums and movies continued to go up after they were introduced.  I think everyone thought books were different, but when you see a hard cover selling for less than an e-book you realize the printing costs must not be a factor at all in the retail prices charged.

I still think it's a small factor, though you are likely to see stores desperate to slash prices to drive sales.

[LucasM]

I'd be more interested in ebook readers if I didn't think ebooks were a huge rip off.

It's funny how it takes a format change to understand that the price of the media is negligible compared to the various royalties and other costs.

You would think the cost of printing a book would be a factor but I guess they don't add anything to the cost, just like CDs, DVDs, and even Blu-Rays.  All those discs only cost a few cents to create when done by the millions, but the cost of albums and movies continued to go up after they were introduced.  I think everyone thought books were different, but when you see a hard cover selling for less than an e-book you realize the printing costs must not be a factor at all in the retail prices charged.

I don't think that is it.

The ebook (and music and film download) industries just count on people wanting instant gratification so they charge more, and get more profit from things that users have less control (and 'ownership') of than the 'hard copy' versions of the same items.

About 60-75% of the books I've bought (and about 35-50% of the CDs, and about 25% of the films) are worth as much or more now than what I paid for them (yes, generally what I like tends toward the obscure and collectible).  That is why (if I could read with any regularity) I'd still never get any kind of electronic reader (and why I refuse to buy downloadable music or films).

The other thing is - when someone is done with any electronic media - they have nothing at all to sell or trade: it is illegal to redistribute any of it.  That is not true with any physical media format, even if the thing hasn't become collectible in the interim.

</my 2¢ [which I assured myself over the last day that I wouldn't add because I have been in such poor shape the last five weeks]>


[EDIT: I think some of this was written by others while I was trying to think clearly enough to write.]

[RoninFox]

I tend to go for physical media except for some games and comics.  I buy some graphic novels in physical form, and have sold them after I decide I don't want to re-read them, but when it comes to individual issues, I know I'm not going to keep them in excellent enough condition to make it work selling later and I really enjoy the comixology apps for reading them.  Plus, the app doesn't shoot me weird looks for buying an MLP comic.

As for games, I tend to download older games and anything I can get for "free" through PSN.  The only new game I've looked into downloading otherwise is the new Tex Murphy game.  If theres something I've been wanting I'll hit up Gamestop, maybe even jump on a preorder deal.

[Edward J Grug III]

I'm too lazy to sell things on. I usually just give them to a charity shop.

[d00hickey]

I like downloading stuff because I don't like having physical stuff all over the place.

[Darth Geek]

I like downloading stuff because I don't like having physical stuff all over the place.

Thanks to technology, hoarding is so much less messy!

[LucasM]

I'm too lazy to sell things on. I usually just give them to a charity shop.

But there too, there is a massive benefit: someone who likely could not otherwise have afforded whatever it is now has a chance to own it.  Not possible (legally) with digital versions of anything.

[And you do get paid: in good Karma. ]

[Sideswipe]

Whats the exchange rate for good karma to US currency? 

[Variety of Cells]

Whats the exchange rate for good karma to US currency?

Let's do a little math.  Depending on what kind, a chameleon will cost you an average of $80.00 in the US.  Some a little more, some a little less.  But $80.00 seems to be a good average. 

Now, as we all know, there are 5 karma's in a chameleon.  So we divide $80.00 by 5, and we get $16 per karma.  That's an exchange rate of 6.3¢KA/US$.  The dollar is pretty strong in comparison.  But that could always change, as exchange rates come and go.

[gbeenie]

I have a nook. 

AND an  HD-DVD player? Oh, my poor, sweet baby.