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Google Offering Print Versions of Online Books

Posted by timothy on from the ungreppable-format dept.

carluva writes "Google is teaming up with On Demand Books to offer paperback versions of its collection of over 2 million public domain books. The books will be able to be printed using ODB's Espresso Book Machine, which is already in use at several book stores and libraries and can print and bind a complete, paperback copy of a 300-page book in less than 5 minutes. Google and ODB each get $1 in royalties per book sold (Google has pledged to donate its proceeds to charities and nonprofit organizations). See also ODB's PDF press release."

4 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Public domain!!! by Zlurg · · Score: 0, Troll

    Let's be clear: only the public domain books. Basically, combine Guttenberg with Lulu and you have an equally ludicrous business proposition.

    1. Re:Public domain!!! by Cruciform · · Score: 0, Troll

      Even if the tax break never equals 100% that money is now going to something the donating company supports, rather than into government coffers where it will be spent on things like Haliburton and male prostitutes.
      Now that the democrats are in power, what do they spend tax dollars on? Starbucks and rose colored glasses?

  2. print? by Lord+Ender · · Score: 0, Troll

    Print is extremely wasteful and bad for the environment compared to reading them on an ebook reader.

    --
    A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    1. Re:print? by cbs4385 · · Score: 0, Troll

      No kidding. I don't have nor want descendants, so what the hell am I saving the environment for exactly?