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G'Day
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Who here (Australians) owns a kindle? An iPad? Or any other e-reading device? I'm guessing iPads will come out on top.
I recently acquired both, a kindle and an iPad. My new found love for ebooks has made me ponder how and when ebooks will revolutionise Australia... because Australia is seriously dragging behind in the e-revolution.
Perhaps a lot of this comes down to the fact that there's no dedicated Amazon store in Australia. So most Australians have never heard of a kindle, and for those that have, the only option to is to buy from overseas which involves paying $20-$30 postage on top of the price of the kindle itself. Not to mention sometimes the delivery can be a nightmare.
Although, with the exchange rate so high (1 AUD = 1.10 USD), now would be a good time to buy.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on the future of ebooks and when Australia will adapt? It is only a matter of time after all...
I see that Kobo has teamed up with Borders and are attempting to crack the Australian market. Still to early to tell how they'll do. On that note, does anyone own a Kobo? Are they any good?
I recently acquired both, a kindle and an iPad. My new found love for ebooks has made me ponder how and when ebooks will revolutionise Australia... because Australia is seriously dragging behind in the e-revolution.
Perhaps a lot of this comes down to the fact that there's no dedicated Amazon store in Australia. So most Australians have never heard of a kindle, and for those that have, the only option to is to buy from overseas which involves paying $20-$30 postage on top of the price of the kindle itself. Not to mention sometimes the delivery can be a nightmare.
Although, with the exchange rate so high (1 AUD = 1.10 USD), now would be a good time to buy.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on the future of ebooks and when Australia will adapt? It is only a matter of time after all...
I see that Kobo has teamed up with Borders and are attempting to crack the Australian market. Still to early to tell how they'll do. On that note, does anyone own a Kobo? Are they any good?
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I don't own any ereaders, but I would like one purely for travelling purposes. I mean, if I travel somewhere for a week or so, I'd rather have an ereader with 20 books on it than carrying 5 books in my suitcase...
Otherwise, I'm a paper-book fan.
I think ebooks are already pretty big in Australia. I mean, book stores are shutting down all over the place, and the ones that are still open aren't getting as many sales as they would have a year or two ago.
Personally, I give it about 5-10 years before paper-books are more or less a specialty item, and ebooks are the common ones, worldwide.
And in maybe 20 years, my collection of 150+ paper-books could be worth a lot of money, if only for the novelty value in a world full of ereaders.
Otherwise, I'm a paper-book fan.
I think ebooks are already pretty big in Australia. I mean, book stores are shutting down all over the place, and the ones that are still open aren't getting as many sales as they would have a year or two ago.
Personally, I give it about 5-10 years before paper-books are more or less a specialty item, and ebooks are the common ones, worldwide.
And in maybe 20 years, my collection of 150+ paper-books could be worth a lot of money, if only for the novelty value in a world full of ereaders.
I've been looking into getting an e-reader, maybe a Kindle? Bookstores are closing down everywhere, the one closest to me just got shut down. It's sort of a bummer though, I have a love for paper books.
Irrelevant - is anyone watching the Logies tonight? xD
Irrelevant - is anyone watching the Logies tonight? xD
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I've got a Sony Reader that I've had for several years, but my Kindle is coming soon. It'll be easy for me to get books through Amazon because I do have a US credit card and address. But even though I've heard that there are some issues with which books are available to non-Americans, I've seen quite a few people with Kindles while on the Metro here in Melbourne.
I think e-books are taking off, because back in '07 when I first got my Sony, nobody knew what the hell it was. Now I get 'is that a Kindle?' a lot.
There's no doubt in my mind that e-books will eventually edge out the printed page for novels! It's the way of the future, and I think it will dramatically change the face of publishing as we know it now. My thought is that if you mean to make self-publishing your primary route of reaching the masses, better do it quickly now while the e-pub market is young and hasn't reached saturation point with .99 cent novels.
I think e-books are taking off, because back in '07 when I first got my Sony, nobody knew what the hell it was. Now I get 'is that a Kindle?' a lot.
There's no doubt in my mind that e-books will eventually edge out the printed page for novels! It's the way of the future, and I think it will dramatically change the face of publishing as we know it now. My thought is that if you mean to make self-publishing your primary route of reaching the masses, better do it quickly now while the e-pub market is young and hasn't reached saturation point with .99 cent novels.
It's also interesting that since buying a kindle I've been reading roughly 4 or 5 public domain ebooks per 1 retail ebook. Having a seemingly endless amount of FREE classics at my disposal is a great thing.
ManyBooks and Feedbooks are two great examples of where to find works in the public domain and offer a wide range of formats for most, if not all, e-readers.
It's also interesting when you come across a title that is in the public domain in Australia, but not in America. Most of George Orwell's work falls into this category...
I agree with Lils, we're on the verge of an e-revolution so it would be wise to get in early.
ManyBooks and Feedbooks are two great examples of where to find works in the public domain and offer a wide range of formats for most, if not all, e-readers.
It's also interesting when you come across a title that is in the public domain in Australia, but not in America. Most of George Orwell's work falls into this category...
I agree with Lils, we're on the verge of an e-revolution so it would be wise to get in early.
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My dad offered to buy me an ereader for my birthday. Right now I could really use cash more than an ereader, but the deal isn't done yet. I'll have to see how much cash I get for my birthday from everyone else before I make my decision yea or nay on the ereader.
I mean, I'd love to have one... but it's not the highest priority right now. *shrug*
I mean, I'd love to have one... but it's not the highest priority right now. *shrug*
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To be honest, I'd mostly use an ereader for the free books that come with it, at least to begin with.
Doesn't it bother your eyes though? And I was always curious does it run on AA or AAA batteries or do you plug it into an outlet like a cell phone to charge it?
Personally I hate the idea of reading a book on an LCD screen. I love the feel of books. I will buy paperbacks until they stop selling them, unfortunately I am already having difficulty sourcing books. Damn you technology.
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I know right? And books are way too expensive here in Australia! After moving from the US to Melbourne, I was totally shocked by the pricing! Especially of hardbound copies.
The thing with Kindles and Sony readers, though, is that it's not an LCD screen. It's an e-ink screen, completely different technology with no backlighting to make your eyes sore the way they sometimes get after you've spent too much time staring at a computer screen while writing. The reading area here looks like print taken off a newspaper with a grayish background and darker text. It mimics paper pretty well, and is very comfortable to read out of.
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Ereaders hurt my eyes, so I stick to paperbacks. Awesomebooks do free shipping to Aus if you buy more than one book at once--and they have a lot of books for about $3. I just bought 12 rare(ish) sci-fi books from the last thirty years for $36. Also, ebay is your friend.
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I'm not a fan of buying books online, for a couple of reasons.
1. Someone could steal my bank card information and royally screw me. (Not definitely going to happen, but it has happened to my mum...)
2. I'm trying to start a career in retail, so I'd really prefer to give my business to a bookstore that I can physically walk into, in the hopes that book stores won't die out quite as fast as they seem to be already.
Actually, both those things apply to any product I might want to buy, not just books.
The exception to the rule is that if there's something I really want that I simply cannot get in South Australia, I'd buy it online.
1. Someone could steal my bank card information and royally screw me. (Not definitely going to happen, but it has happened to my mum...)
2. I'm trying to start a career in retail, so I'd really prefer to give my business to a bookstore that I can physically walk into, in the hopes that book stores won't die out quite as fast as they seem to be already.
Actually, both those things apply to any product I might want to buy, not just books.
The exception to the rule is that if there's something I really want that I simply cannot get in South Australia, I'd buy it online.
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Paypal is watertight. As long as you're careful who you're giving your money to, you shouldn't have a problem (it's the same philosophy as downloading viruses--my PC's never had anti virus software, and I've never had a virus; I just don't download them).
That said, I can understand your reluctance. But when you can literally get 10 books online for the price of one in real life, why wouldn't you buy online? The sites I buy from are retail stores that specialise in used books; they don't have a brick-and-mortar shopfront but they're still small businesses towards which I'm happy to contribute
I've never been to a bookstore in this city that stocks my favourite authors. 80% of the sci-fi shelf is fantasy (which I don't read), 10% is Star Wars books, and the rest is $25 - $30 per paperback. I feel totally justified in buying "obscure" (i.e., huge in decades past) stuff online.
That said, I can understand your reluctance. But when you can literally get 10 books online for the price of one in real life, why wouldn't you buy online? The sites I buy from are retail stores that specialise in used books; they don't have a brick-and-mortar shopfront but they're still small businesses towards which I'm happy to contribute
I've never been to a bookstore in this city that stocks my favourite authors. 80% of the sci-fi shelf is fantasy (which I don't read), 10% is Star Wars books, and the rest is $25 - $30 per paperback. I feel totally justified in buying "obscure" (i.e., huge in decades past) stuff online.
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*waves hello*
I'm pondering the idea of paying $990 for an editor for my book - to give it a thorough going over. Really can't afford it, so maybe I'll just have to try and find some brainpower somewhere to do it myself.
I have found another editor who will do proofreading for $170, which is a lot more budget friendly, and now I have to choose.
Doesn't help that I'm having a blah day.
Cliff I'm like you. I'd rather buy local but my budget is so horribly tight at the moment, that I buy the occassional book from a bookstore and the rest on line (because they are generally cheaper.) But if I had options, I'd rather go into the bookstore and flick through a book and buy it, than buy it online or via a kindle.
I'm pondering the idea of paying $990 for an editor for my book - to give it a thorough going over. Really can't afford it, so maybe I'll just have to try and find some brainpower somewhere to do it myself.
I have found another editor who will do proofreading for $170, which is a lot more budget friendly, and now I have to choose.
Doesn't help that I'm having a blah day.
Cliff I'm like you. I'd rather buy local but my budget is so horribly tight at the moment, that I buy the occassional book from a bookstore and the rest on line (because they are generally cheaper.) But if I had options, I'd rather go into the bookstore and flick through a book and buy it, than buy it online or via a kindle.
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I normally only catch flues in summer. But then this past summer I was only sick for about 5 days in December.
Hopefully this does not mean that I'll spend all winter coughing...
I'm feeling better than I did while I was out today. 2 cups of Lemsip and 3 or 4 Vitamin Cs, which is keeping in time with what I'm allowed to take.
But from 4am till about 4pm, I only had access to Vitamin C, which just wasn't good enough, especially as I was doing my Retail course today. Blech.
Hopefully I start to feel better and better as of now.
I'm probably going to have to spend loads of money on Cold and Flu stuff though... I've already spent about $22.50 on Lemsip (10 sachets, max. 8 per day...) and Vitamin C (max. 6 per day, about 50 I think in the container).
The Vitamin C will last, but I can foresee spending another $12.50 on Lemsip before I'm better, and maybe even $10 or so on antibiotics if my throat gets infected (which happens a lot to me)...
*sigh* I really can't afford this right now. Technically I can, but it means I'll fall behind on my bills again, after only just getting everything paid off...
Hope you and your family get better soon too.
Hopefully this does not mean that I'll spend all winter coughing...
I'm feeling better than I did while I was out today. 2 cups of Lemsip and 3 or 4 Vitamin Cs, which is keeping in time with what I'm allowed to take.
But from 4am till about 4pm, I only had access to Vitamin C, which just wasn't good enough, especially as I was doing my Retail course today. Blech.
Hopefully I start to feel better and better as of now.
I'm probably going to have to spend loads of money on Cold and Flu stuff though...
I've already spent about $22.50 on Lemsip (10 sachets, max. 8 per day...) and Vitamin C (max. 6 per day, about 50 I think in the container).The Vitamin C will last, but I can foresee spending another $12.50 on Lemsip before I'm better, and maybe even $10 or so on antibiotics if my throat gets infected (which happens a lot to me)...
*sigh* I really can't afford this right now. Technically I can, but it means I'll fall behind on my bills again, after only just getting everything paid off...
Hope you and your family get better soon too.
iOTA
Just in passing - if anyone gets the chance to see iOTA's show "Smoke And Mirrors", they should grab it. It's probably the most moving show I've seen in years - and the most entertaining.
And here's a youtube link to the song that broke everyone's heart. (Although for the show's purposes it was sung by an ancient, arthritic rabbit... and no less effective for that.)
Just in passing - if anyone gets the chance to see iOTA's show "Smoke And Mirrors", they should grab it. It's probably the most moving show I've seen in years - and the most entertaining.
And here's a youtube link to the song that broke everyone's heart. (Although for the show's purposes it was sung by an ancient, arthritic rabbit... and no less effective for that.)
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I normally only catch flues in summer. But then this past summer I was only sick for about 5 days in December.
Hopefully this does not mean that I'll spend all winter coughing...
I'm feeling better than I did while I was out today. 2 cups of Lemsip and 3 or 4 Vitamin Cs, which is keeping in time with what I'm allowed to take.
But from 4am till about 4pm, I only had access to Vitamin C, which just wasn't good enough, especially as I was doing my Retail course today. Blech.
Hopefully I start to feel better and better as of now.
I'm probably going to have to spend loads of money on Cold and Flu stuff though...
The Vitamin C will last, but I can foresee spending another $12.50 on Lemsip before I'm better, and maybe even $10 or so on antibiotics if my throat gets infected (which happens a lot to me)...
*sigh* I really can't afford this right now. Technically I can, but it means I'll fall behind on my bills again, after only just getting everything paid off...
Hope you and your family get better soon too.
Hope you get better soon Cliff - I really can't stand Lemsip - I pretty much want to gag even when I look at the package. I can't even stand honey and lemon *shivers down spine*
*waves hello to everyone*
Trying to edit while Master two is asleep - so I'm running around doing a lot of "argh's"
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Not exactly better. Just a different kind of sucky.
It's mostly my nose that is on the fritz today, as opposed to my throat for the last few days.
I actually managed to get about 6 hours of sleep last night. Much better than the 2 or so I got the night before.
The Lemsip makes me feel queasy, but it does help the rest of my flu symptoms.
It's mostly my nose that is on the fritz today, as opposed to my throat for the last few days.
I actually managed to get about 6 hours of sleep last night. Much better than the 2 or so I got the night before.
The Lemsip makes me feel queasy, but it does help the rest of my flu symptoms.