I like print - prefer it in many cases, but really wish some of the numismatic resources were available in more modern, accessible, mobile formats. Clearly there’s enough of a market for authors to write books, lots of magazines/periodicals, and lots of websites (CT being my favorite forum So why haven’t they made the transition well? Specifically, Books - Very few are available in eBook, specifically Kindle version, and those that are have been ported terribly. From the brand new 2013 RedBook to the Coin Facts, Myths, Mysteries, they’re horrible IF there’s a version at all. Magazines - are available in an online version in addition to print, but no Apps or version readable on tablets and mobile devices. Forums/sites – Reading on my tablet is okay, but replying is frustrating at best without an app-version, and even reading on the mobile devices is difficult at best. eBay with their app has addressed this, but few others. So, two questions: Is my perception correct? Are you guys seeing the same thing, and if so, would you utilize/prefer a mobile version of some of your resources? Which ones? I don't know anything about what is involved, but why is it that more resources aren’t available in mobile versions? Wouldn't it expand the market slightly? For example, I might buy another magazine if I could read that one while traveling, and leave the print versions for at home. So, why not?
I don't know. Coin World has a very nice digital version of their magazine. And I use Heritage's mobile version all the time for research purposes on the go. As far as many numismatic books are concerned, they are published independently by the authors so that may explain the absence of a Kindle version. But, I like paper books anyways. Guy
I think you will find that most dealers, authors, and collectors in the numismatic community are of an older generation and generally do not like change much. That said, I am under 30, own a kindle and an ipad but much prefer a real book to either of the two.
I have an older kindle so its in black and white and there's no way I will buy a coin book with color pictures for it. The ANA' s mafazine is online and works well.
This. Plus, most of the best books in the world for coins are older. Yes, every year some good books are printed, but the last 100 years is just way greater than what has been printed in a couple of years. An additional thing to consider is how much resale value does a ebook have? Most coin books I buy actually go up in value, thereby mitigating my cost of ownership.
Ebooks have no resale value. In fact, they have no intrinsic value at all as you don't actually own them. But yes, I prefer a paper based library. Its not the best if you travel a lot, but thats just a minor inconvenience. Guy
Agreed, and I can't help but think getting your publisher to offer it in more versions could increase sales.
I want all my coin books in print. I've taken to eBooks for fiction and literature for the most part. I travel a lot and two items have been a godsend - iPod and Kindle.
[QUOTEAn additional thing to consider is how much resale value does a ebook have? Most coin books I buy actually go up in value, thereby mitigating my cost of ownership.[/QUOTE] That isn't something I've thought of before . . . good point. That's an advantage to the buyer though, not the seller, and while not always true, I would think some great books the publishers might want to port them over to get more sales - if it's worth more, it's probably in at least small part due to the demand for an out-of-print book? So again, why don't we see more ported to the other versions?
I agree, for the most part. But some books, like the RedBook for example, I'd like in Kindle version IN ADDITION TO my spiral-bound version, so that I have it retreive it when I don't have my book with me. But the Kindle version is awful.
There's a question that stares me in the face - if you can carry a Kindle or tablet around, why can't you carry a book around ? Yeah I know, the Kindle or tablet could have lots of books if they were only available. But they aren't - yet anyway. Possible solution though. I believe you can access the internet with a tablet. So why not scan any book you own, save the scans to a personal cloud drive, and then access the cloud with your tablet whenever you want. Dunno, but seems like it would work to me.
Quick answer: follow the money. The market's still too thin for electronic editions. Plus, e-books may be obsolete in a few years; no telling what's just over the horizon. Holographic books?
