Jazzer Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 WIt has been explained that the high cost of ebooks is related to the high VAT. This makes interesting reading:http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/21/amazon-forces-publishers-pay-vat-ebookWe are all in it together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Yesterday's Guardian Amazon Kindle story is also interesting, if murky.http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/oct/22/amazon-wipes-customers-kindle-deletes-accountAmazon's actions with ebooks and Apple's actions with itunes are indicative of companies that are becoming too powerful to be in the interest of the consumer ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 I must say I was already feeling uneasy about amazon and yesterday opted for another company to buy a book on line, rather than amazon. I'm glad I did!Recently I had been looking at the very new kindles with a real view to buying....... but not now. I hate this greed and manipulation by big companies and their not paying their fair dues as the rest of us are expected to........nay, apparently they are making us pay when we shouldn't be, it is disgraceful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 They must hate me. I seem to be able to stick to free books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ceour de Lion II Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 [quote user="You can call me Betty"]They must hate me. I seem to be able to stick to free books.[/quote]I have that problem too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzer Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 ,,, me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex H Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 [quote user="idun"]I must say I was already feeling uneasy about amazon[/quote]http://www.bekkelund.net/2012/10/22/outlawed-by-amazon-drm/Not too concerned about the reasons why the account was closed, but I never knew you didn't own ebooks and that they could be deleted by amazon, if you have the appropriate connections switched on [8-)][8-)][8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzer Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Yes,I could never understand that in a way you are leasing a book at purchase price.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ceour de Lion II Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I seem to recall Bruce Willis is fighting iTunes because he wishes to leave his digital collection in his will, but Apple are saying that he doesn't actually own the music. Very strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Actually I think Amazon may be on a sticky wicket.I don't have a kindle, so maybe the page appears differently if you do, but if I go to an ebook the amazon button offers to let me "buy now with 1 click" - note buy, not lease, rent or otherwise temporarily take possession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 On Watchdog on BBC last night, it was mentioned that Kindles have a 'life' of approx 3 years, IF they 'live' that long.Do you know what, I'm going to stick to my good old fashioned books. Their shelf life is rather longer.[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pommier Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I prefer paper books anyhow. They last ages, can be lent out, read on the beach without worrying about damage or theft, can be bent back on themselves, put in a pocket..............who wants a Kindle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Until very recently, I was of the same opinion. But since my eyes got so bad, I've only been able to keep reading because of my kindle. Even now, with one eye mended, I am still using it, and even when eye no 2 is done, I cannot, at this moment, see me quitting it altogether.I love books (well having been a librarian, I would, wouldn't I) and have my own "book room" just waiting for the time when I can read them again - but I am now quite happy to use the kindle as well. Mind you, in the 14 months since I've owned a Kindle, I've actually only bought 2 books, and one of those was by accident - but saw it was charged too late to reverse it. Since all the others I've downloaded have been freebies, I reckon I've got my money's worth out of it, when or if it does pack up sometime. As to whether I "own" the books I've downloaded .... I had a problem once and rang Amazon - it is obvious from what they did to put the kindle right, that they do have control over your kindle .... but so far, I've not been too concerned ... all software / hardware seems to come with restrictions these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViVienne Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I prefer books, but it is much easier to take a loaded kindle with you when travelling than a bookcase. I have also discovered for the 1st time ever I can read in the car without feeling sick, I don't know why as I can't read books or magazines in the car. It makes the long journeys go much faster! I haven't yet paid for a book on there either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ceour de Lion II Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 [quote user="Pommier"]I prefer paper books anyhow. They last ages, can be lent out, read on the beach without worrying about damage or theft, can be bent back on themselves, put in a pocket..............who wants a Kindle?[/quote]You can give out your books on a kindle too. The benefit is, you don't have to go chasing after the person who you lent it to to get it back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 [quote user="Pommier"]I prefer paper books anyhow. They last ages, can be lent out, read on the beach without worrying about damage or theft, can be bent back on themselves, put in a pocket..............who wants a Kindle?[/quote]I was reading a book in the pool over the summer - last time we HAD a summer - and the phone rang. I got out of the pool, having left my book by the poolside. After the phone call, I resumed reading, only to think "hang on: I don't follow this!". Upon closer inspection, the glue of the binding had melted and several chapters were blowing around the garden. They don't make book glue like they used to, as that wasn't the first time!My girly pockets (in those garments which have them) seem to be much more Kindle-sized than book-sized, and a Kindle doesn't need bending.This year, on holiday - admittedly quite a long holiday - I "read" around twenty five books. They were split between a Kindle and an Ipod so eight or so were audio books. Those have the special advantage that you can read them with your eyes closed!I love proper, paper books, but when it comes to being able to read a lot and travelling with reading material, then the answer to "who wants a Kindle?" is "Me". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 [quote user="idun"]On Watchdog on BBC last night, it was mentioned that Kindles have a 'life' of approx 3 years, IF they 'live' that long.Do you know what, I'm going to stick to my good old fashioned books. Their shelf life is rather longer.[Www][/quote]Possibly, but (and whether it's a good or a bad thing, it's true) my OH is now on Kindle no.4. but he's still only paid for one, plus £30.Kindle no.1 had a problem. He rang Amazon and it was replaced within 24 hours free of charge.Kindle no.2 had a different problem - same resultHe dropped Kindle no.3 and the screen went funny. He rang Amazon and they said "We're sorry, your Kindle is now out of guarantee, but if you want to replace it, we'll sell you a brand new replacement for £30"I don't know why I'm defending the damned things. I mean, I like them fine, but I'm still a book person at heart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ceour de Lion II Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 [quote user="idun"]On Watchdog on BBC last night, it was mentioned that Kindles have a 'life' of approx 3 years, IF they 'live' that long.Do you know what, I'm going to stick to my good old fashioned books. Their shelf life is rather longer.[Www][/quote]That's pretty typical of technology anyhow. Most people replace their cell phones, computers, tablets every 2 to 3 years anyhow. Ebook readers are so cheap too, that they can easily be replaced. Once replaced, just load all your books back onto it and job's done.I like books, but my ebook reader is more convenient and doesn't take up any room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Ah dear, you have suddenly made me feel very old, Mr Lionheart[:(]I obviously cannot get my head round modern life........ I am told to tri........... bottles, cans, paper, garden waste, plastic. And yet, apparently modern technology is ready for the scrap heap in approx 2-3 years. And when I think about all the noxious things in the techno stuff, then, nothing makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frecossais Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 I don't think having a Kindle precludes you from reading real books. I do both depending on where I am and what I'm doing. Since having my second Kindle, (I lost the first somewhere in my house in France and it has never turned up), I have also bought quite a few books, because I belong to a book club.For me it is the words and the ideas, my understanding and empathy that come from the act of reading, not the container they are in.Idun, I hadn't thought of the consequences for dumping. But just think of the amount of personal information lying around waiting for unscrupulous people to steal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ceour de Lion II Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 [quote user="idun"]Ah dear, you have suddenly made me feel very old, Mr Lionheart[:(]I obviously cannot get my head round modern life........ I am told to tri........... bottles, cans, paper, garden waste, plastic. And yet, apparently modern technology is ready for the scrap heap in approx 2-3 years. And when I think about all the noxious things in the techno stuff, then, nothing makes sense. [/quote]Those things can still be recycled easily enough. When I replace my old cell phones, there's a box I place them in where they get sent off to the troops in Afghanistan to use. I always sell my computers and unwanted other electronic gadgets on ebay, so their use goes on. It's very easy to wipe a hard drive.There's a cost to everything. For real books, it's trees :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Trees, yes, usually fairly easy to grow..... aren't they[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 [quote user="idun"]Trees, yes, usually fairly easy to grow..... aren't they[;-)][/quote]Yes but they take time - lots of it[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Rabbie said:time - lots of it [:D]........ and until I started reading this thread.......... that's what I thought I had[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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