I wonder if you have ever actually worked in a company or considered why certain policies may exist. I'm not particularily old, only 2 years out of college, but I see major issues with your positions above.
Have you ever heard of LUA for security reasons? If a user isn't supposed to be going to SSL sites as part of their job, then there isn't a need for SSL. In this case, I wouldn't block it, but depending on other factors in the company, perhaps that's a reasonable option.
Forbidding non-default apps. This is a big one as I'm on two sides here. My IT position says hell yes forbid non approved apps (you can get apps approved). Why?
When you have to support 70 Windows machines(per admin) for doing particular jobs, say e-mail, calendering, writing reports and such, it really helps if they all have the same setup. It really helps if you can *actually test* a patch, or new software deployment on an identical system before pushing it out. You *can't* push out updates, or even check patch levels if you don't know what web browser someone is using. Oh, and it really makes it easier to try and walk through a problem over the phone if you can know what app they're using. If you know Thunderbird, and they're using The Bat!, you really can't do anything for them. It's not practical to try and have a passing familiarity with every possible browser, e-mail client, chat program etc... that someone might decide to use for a week. And, using the same apps makes trainings practical.
Do you know if your install will overwrite a critical DLL? Can you fix it? Can everyone who wants to install Palm Desktop? Etc.
Beyond the technical and support/training level, there's this thing in the US which is legal exposure. Specifically, did the user validate the EULA with legal, or even read it themselves before installing it? Spybot S&D was popular, but we had to work hard to eradicate it from where I work because you are not licensed to use in a business. Rember the BSA stories? I'd like to not get fined a few hundered grand. Oh, and by the way, even if you purchase an app, it's normally licensed for use by you on a computer you own. Your work machine is owned by the company. Guess who the app has to be licensed to? Not the end user.
Finally, what about data you have on your PC. Can you always tell if an app is trojaned? Can everyone else? Do you have any SSNs on your HR reps PC? Maybe she shouldn't install whatever she likes from the net, huh?
On the other hand, I easily understand wanting to use Firefox or Opera, and other apps that greatly improve personal productivity. I do myself. And if a user wants to get an app approved, there is a standard process available that usually takes maybe a month to complete. And they get a yes or a no, and an explanation of why it's a no (if it is)...
So the policies likely aren't counterproductive as you might think.
You know, I recently had to purchase several appliances and am currently trying to purchase a good vacuum cleaner. I can't find any useful information regarding either really. Consumer Reports only covers some models, and I can't really tell if it's real info, or the equivelent to PCWorld...
So I figured, I'd ask some appliance repairman, but I don't actually know one. So, how do you find good info on stuff you don't spend a lot of time working on? This is why users are pretty much at the mercy of a salesman.
Hell, Firefox will easily chew through 200M RAM on my machine with just 5 tabs open.
Isn't this a bit of an inditment against Firefox though? I mean, 5 tabs...? That's like saying that I can't *view* pics because Photoshop eats 200MB of RAM. Well, it does, but you could just as easily use MS Picture Viewer or Infranview that takes up about the memory needed to display the image. I'm still not sure Firefox is doing it right.
Well, sure, but by your definition, KDE 4 is substantially similar to XP...
I think you may underestimate how a non-technical user may use an interface. I've seen users who can't use a system that has a different *screen resolution* for an XTerm. I think these users are like an autoit script, using some memorized pixel colors and distances to navigate the UI.
Plus, the start menu is pretty different, it has scrool bars rather than expanding out. This is a *big deal* to many non-savvy users.
I can't imagine why. I liked Bill Clinton well enough, he was ok. Better than Bush, but that's not much of a bar to jump. But he's clearly a 50% sort of person, that is, his policies were ok in some places, not great in others: NAFTA, DMCA and probably more I can't think of. And while I think the entire Lewinsky scandle was rediculous, it was a stupid thing to do anyway.
I mean, the main reason I've stopped supporting McCain is his statements in debates that he wants to continue the Bush Doctrine. Personally I'd like someone better than Clinton was, I think we NEED someone better than Bush.
Personally, I've not liked her actual voting records on the whole GTA:San Andreas issue, and continued "think of the childern" censorship. I'm from NY, and am still pissed that she felt she could represent a state she lived in for 5 weeks prior to running for the senate. I'm not so impressed with her negative ads. And I don't buy the whole experiance arguement - and that seems to be her main argument.
I wish more users thought like you. But for reasons unknown, it seems to be standard today for users to expect work "stuff", for lack of a better term, to be for personal use as well. Note the internet use getting people fired etc.
I think it will really depend on your bank. HSBC USA will cover debit transactions as long as they've been notified of fraud. I assume this would be the same as with your credit card, if you haven't notified them and your credit is maxed out, they will decline further charges.
Also, I've had to deal with several disputes on my debit card account and had the money back for use within a day.
What are the positive sides of the war in Iraq? I mean, we spend billions of dollars, kill a LOT of people, people still don't want us there, it's unclear how many Americans want us there - what is anyone getting out of our presense in Iraq anymore that's good? It isn't even helping gas prices.
Star Trek example - "it was a lot, but not enough", if it wasn't enough, it might as well have not been raised in the first place Budgets go down, but what about venture capital - venture capital is getting your budget for 2-5 years available now, at a large in Well, my point is here that they might have to *gasp* do Star Trek on a budget closer to the original ST budget... rather than millions for a year.
I'm saying prices might have to go down, like they have for lots of consumer goods. I don't think lower prices are a bad thing. Would the cost of books go down - yes, and with it the rewards for authors, which would kill the amount of new books being written VERY fast Well, if people want more books, they will pay more - if they don't then they didn't want books.
"Author's edition" - you're kidding, right ? No, I've got the LOTR Extended edition movies on my shelf, I rented Blade Runner: Final cut, I've seen new releases of the LOTR books with movie pic covers... Why not have multiple editions? We do now...
You haven't addressed several of my points such as paying for a chapter, subscriptions to a book, paying to get another book written. I mean it's simple, if not a little different from the current method.
You still have to write your first book for free. You have to do that now, very rarely are you offered an advance or a publishing contract on a book you haven't written if you haven't already written books. Then you have to reach out to fans rather than agents...
Finally, you need to set up a payment/donation meter, and say how much you need to write the next book, whether it's in a series or not. You update it based on donations, profit from print sales and other parephinalia. You can do your own printing at lulu.com IIRC, something like that.
Several Webcomics have given away the content since the beginning, yet can sell print books. They get target goals to do whatever.
This could work for anything. Now, I understand that if we switched to this *today*, for maybe several years we'd have no new books etc, as no one would front money towards another book/movie whatever. Then we'd likely have several years of everyone just looking at all the back catalog they never got because it cost money. But I'd be very suprised if people didn't work out a new way to get new stuff created. It wouldn't look like it does today, but I'm not convinced that's a bad thing.
And, just like prohibition, if it really dosen't work out, we can go back.
I'm not so sure copyright is necessary to have Barnes & Noble, for instance, I once bought a $20 copy of the Illiad and the Oddesy, pretty much out of copyright (well, the translation may not have been, but the source was and there are lots of editions). Would the average cost of books go down? Yea, but I don't think printed books will go away. I'm not sure about authors getting paid however. I would guess you could make some money selling your own e-books and maybe getting paid for an "Author's Edition" or whatever.
I've always also thought why wouldn't a Bug Bounty style per chapter or a subscription style Baen thing work? And don't forget the money that was raised toward continuing Star Trek Enterprise, that was a lot, if not enough for that particular show. Budgets might go down, but what about venture capital? I'm sort of saying there won't be one model without copyright, just like there isn't one model with copyright.
Well, just like physical property, wherever you get Governmental protection for it you get taxed what that government feels the property ought to be taxed. You could not get copyright in some countries if it was too much money... I mean, IP isn't some universal thing right now, you get different protections in France than in the US than in China . . .
Well, true, but there are a bunch of rocks that are essentially the same. There is a market of rocks that could cover billions of items. For houses, there's a bunch of similarities that can create housing classes. But for IP, how would you even create these categories? If I'm selling, say, The Dresden Files IP, what other sales (if any have even occurred) should I compare it to? What metrics ought I use?
Isn't market value supposed to be an estimate of what someone would be willing to pay for the property? An Auction finds out how much someone is willing to pay. It would also give us a better idea of the value of something for the purposes of the various lawsuits seeking damages - no more "my song was worth eleventy bajillion dollars"...
I think it would be ok if they asked me to pay $3 per song + sue for $20 per song... something that slaps me on the wrist for a minor wrong. The punishment is way out of whack IMO.
I'd say there is a difference between providing information on breaking the law and breaking the law yourself. Whether the punishment or liability ought to be same is unclear, but there is a real difference here. Morally we get into where free speech and passing on unpopular information (how to break copyright like how to build a bomb may be relevant, see Anarchists Cookbook etc) end and conspiracy or aiding and abetting begin.
Technically, Google does the same, and has been sued for the same with Google News, the search exerpts on their search results page, and of course all the torrents that will show up on a google search. Are they equally liable here?
Would TPB be more moral if they did what Google does with Youtube, that is accept DMCA style takedown requests, but until someone does the paperwork, they make money on ads from the infringment?
For me, TPB is squarely in the murky edge case. I strongly believe in the principles of the First Ammendment, and think the idea that a link to DECSS is OK if printed in the NYT but illegial if on a website is abhorrently wrong. Many on Slashdot have railed against the "on the internet" addition, as if it makes something novel (patents etc). It should be simple, Imagine a postit board in a public place - if it would be legal/moral to post 3x5's with URLs there, then it ought to be legal/moral on the internet.
Finally, I do think there is another important distinction, and perhaps an answer to my question - Many people profit on many illegial activities, but yet, are not morally responsible for the activity. Some Lawyers primarilly profit over illegial activities, from speeding to murder, but few would hold them morally responsible in any way. Doctors often profit over suffering, yet they are not morally responsible for it. What level of Moral responsibility do mutual fund holders have for the activities of the companies their fund invensts in?
All ways you can facilitate or profit by an activity and yet have unclear moral responsibility for it. TPB provides content and ads from which they make a profit. Their content is not infringing on anyone's copyright, it's a list of links to that infringing content. To what extent is copyright "viral"? Should it affect references to where to find the work?
I think in the end, I'd prefer to say no. I think TPB is somewhat like the regulated porn industry, we may not think what they do or say is right, but the right to say things should not be abridged without great cause.
Any comparison to OpenRPG? Does it have lots of stuff pre-entered? As they don't have a demo for v2, it's hard to know if it would be worth paying for... Are there any reviews you could point me towards?
I think they are missing the open source idea, that is, if 4E is non OGLed, and it is, what's to stop LOTS of people from just Forking D&D? I mean, Iceweasel works ok, why not a d20 core or whatver...
What VTT are you using? I've looked into the free OpenRPG, which was ok, but not that easy to use. I didn't really see anything amazingly enticing from other vendors several years ago when I last looked.
Great for boston. I live in Upstate NY and can get DSL at 1Mbit down for that price. Your Mileage WILL vary a bunch. Also, the problem with going after the top 5% is you can do that until you have no subscribers left. One major problem is P2P traffic is mainly what iTunes or Netflix traffic is - video or audio transfer. But now, it's no longer illegial, so you can't just block it without users who could legitimately get a class action going getting pissed. But they're still using all that bandwidth, so what do you do as an ISP? You have to build up and out your network.
Wouldn't it be easier (and faster) to create a Syspreped image with Acronis, and use Universal Restore to get the HAL + Mass Storage Drivers right?
If I pay attention I can get a fully configured system going in 35 minutes using the image, and it'd be faster if we didn't have a hundred different hardware configurations that requires me use DriverGenius to inject the rest of the drivers once I'm booted.
You know, I've never minded paying for books. I'm not sure why, because I often hate paying for TV or movies or music. Maybe it's because there's enough books that are "mainstream" such that I can find stuff much easier that isn't unmitigated crap. Maybe it's the fact that the price per hour of entertainment is incredibly low. Maybe it's the collectibility of the books. Or the ease of resale.
The reason I originally got my e-book reader (RCA REB1100) was because of all the really enjoyable free content on the net, and I mean freely given away fan fiction, slashdot discussions (I didn't used to post), etc. Now there is even more out there like your novel, some of the stuff from Baen/Tor, the Agent to the Stars novel...
I wouldn't even mind paying for e-books as now adays I just don't have the space for a personal library:( so I just give away the books when I'm done reading them. So if I could get the e-book version of Nonsense for $5 instead of paying $12 + shipping, that would be fine. It'd need to last the week or two it takes me to read it. What I won't do is pay $24 when the hardcover is $26. E-books are massivly over priced most places I've looked. It seems to me they ought to be able to realize real savings *to the consumer* by not paying the actual distribution and printing costs, and in my savings on shipping. Charging almost hardcover prices for an e-book is just greed IMO.
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I wonder if you have ever actually worked in a company or considered why certain policies may exist. I'm not particularily old, only 2 years out of college, but I see major issues with your positions above.
Have you ever heard of LUA for security reasons? If a user isn't supposed to be going to SSL sites as part of their job, then there isn't a need for SSL. In this case, I wouldn't block it, but depending on other factors in the company, perhaps that's a reasonable option.
Forbidding non-default apps. This is a big one as I'm on two sides here. My IT position says hell yes forbid non approved apps (you can get apps approved). Why?
When you have to support 70 Windows machines(per admin) for doing particular jobs, say e-mail, calendering, writing reports and such, it really helps if they all have the same setup. It really helps if you can *actually test* a patch, or new software deployment on an identical system before pushing it out. You *can't* push out updates, or even check patch levels if you don't know what web browser someone is using. Oh, and it really makes it easier to try and walk through a problem over the phone if you can know what app they're using. If you know Thunderbird, and they're using The Bat!, you really can't do anything for them. It's not practical to try and have a passing familiarity with every possible browser, e-mail client, chat program etc... that someone might decide to use for a week. And, using the same apps makes trainings practical.
Do you know if your install will overwrite a critical DLL? Can you fix it? Can everyone who wants to install Palm Desktop? Etc.
Beyond the technical and support/training level, there's this thing in the US which is legal exposure. Specifically, did the user validate the EULA with legal, or even read it themselves before installing it? Spybot S&D was popular, but we had to work hard to eradicate it from where I work because you are not licensed to use in a business. Rember the BSA stories? I'd like to not get fined a few hundered grand. Oh, and by the way, even if you purchase an app, it's normally licensed for use by you on a computer you own. Your work machine is owned by the company. Guess who the app has to be licensed to? Not the end user.
Finally, what about data you have on your PC. Can you always tell if an app is trojaned? Can everyone else? Do you have any SSNs on your HR reps PC? Maybe she shouldn't install whatever she likes from the net, huh?
On the other hand, I easily understand wanting to use Firefox or Opera, and other apps that greatly improve personal productivity. I do myself. And if a user wants to get an app approved, there is a standard process available that usually takes maybe a month to complete. And they get a yes or a no, and an explanation of why it's a no (if it is)...
So the policies likely aren't counterproductive as you might think.
Does Opera Mobile work on the blackberry? I would think that would be about as good as you'll get on there.
You know, I read that, and wondered why you wouldn't just restore the tabs and set them side by side. Then I realized you're using Firefox.
You know, I recently had to purchase several appliances and am currently trying to purchase a good vacuum cleaner. I can't find any useful information regarding either really. Consumer Reports only covers some models, and I can't really tell if it's real info, or the equivelent to PCWorld...
So I figured, I'd ask some appliance repairman, but I don't actually know one. So, how do you find good info on stuff you don't spend a lot of time working on? This is why users are pretty much at the mercy of a salesman.
Hell, Firefox will easily chew through 200M RAM on my machine with just 5 tabs open.
Isn't this a bit of an inditment against Firefox though? I mean, 5 tabs...? That's like saying that I can't *view* pics because Photoshop eats 200MB of RAM. Well, it does, but you could just as easily use MS Picture Viewer or Infranview that takes up about the memory needed to display the image. I'm still not sure Firefox is doing it right.
Well, sure, but by your definition, KDE 4 is substantially similar to XP...
I think you may underestimate how a non-technical user may use an interface. I've seen users who can't use a system that has a different *screen resolution* for an XTerm. I think these users are like an autoit script, using some memorized pixel colors and distances to navigate the UI.
Plus, the start menu is pretty different, it has scrool bars rather than expanding out. This is a *big deal* to many non-savvy users.
I can't imagine why. I liked Bill Clinton well enough, he was ok. Better than Bush, but that's not much of a bar to jump. But he's clearly a 50% sort of person, that is, his policies were ok in some places, not great in others: NAFTA, DMCA and probably more I can't think of. And while I think the entire Lewinsky scandle was rediculous, it was a stupid thing to do anyway.
I mean, the main reason I've stopped supporting McCain is his statements in debates that he wants to continue the Bush Doctrine. Personally I'd like someone better than Clinton was, I think we NEED someone better than Bush.
Personally, I've not liked her actual voting records on the whole GTA:San Andreas issue, and continued "think of the childern" censorship. I'm from NY, and am still pissed that she felt she could represent a state she lived in for 5 weeks prior to running for the senate. I'm not so impressed with her negative ads. And I don't buy the whole experiance arguement - and that seems to be her main argument.
I wish more users thought like you. But for reasons unknown, it seems to be standard today for users to expect work "stuff", for lack of a better term, to be for personal use as well. Note the internet use getting people fired etc.
I think it will really depend on your bank. HSBC USA will cover debit transactions as long as they've been notified of fraud. I assume this would be the same as with your credit card, if you haven't notified them and your credit is maxed out, they will decline further charges.
Also, I've had to deal with several disputes on my debit card account and had the money back for use within a day.
What are the positive sides of the war in Iraq? I mean, we spend billions of dollars, kill a LOT of people, people still don't want us there, it's unclear how many Americans want us there - what is anyone getting out of our presense in Iraq anymore that's good? It isn't even helping gas prices.
Star Trek example - "it was a lot, but not enough", if it wasn't enough, it might as well have not been raised in the first place
Budgets go down, but what about venture capital - venture capital is getting your budget for 2-5 years available now, at a large in
Well, my point is here that they might have to *gasp* do Star Trek on a budget closer to the original ST budget... rather than millions for a year.
I'm saying prices might have to go down, like they have for lots of consumer goods. I don't think lower prices are a bad thing.
Would the cost of books go down - yes, and with it the rewards for authors, which would kill the amount of new books being written VERY fast
Well, if people want more books, they will pay more - if they don't then they didn't want books.
"Author's edition" - you're kidding, right ?
No, I've got the LOTR Extended edition movies on my shelf, I rented Blade Runner: Final cut, I've seen new releases of the LOTR books with movie pic covers... Why not have multiple editions? We do now...
You haven't addressed several of my points such as paying for a chapter, subscriptions to a book, paying to get another book written. I mean it's simple, if not a little different from the current method.
You still have to write your first book for free. You have to do that now, very rarely are you offered an advance or a publishing contract on a book you haven't written if you haven't already written books. Then you have to reach out to fans rather than agents...
Finally, you need to set up a payment/donation meter, and say how much you need to write the next book, whether it's in a series or not. You update it based on donations, profit from print sales and other parephinalia. You can do your own printing at lulu.com IIRC, something like that.
Several Webcomics have given away the content since the beginning, yet can sell print books. They get target goals to do whatever.
This could work for anything. Now, I understand that if we switched to this *today*, for maybe several years we'd have no new books etc, as no one would front money towards another book/movie whatever. Then we'd likely have several years of everyone just looking at all the back catalog they never got because it cost money. But I'd be very suprised if people didn't work out a new way to get new stuff created. It wouldn't look like it does today, but I'm not convinced that's a bad thing.
And, just like prohibition, if it really dosen't work out, we can go back.
I'm not so sure copyright is necessary to have Barnes & Noble, for instance, I once bought a $20 copy of the Illiad and the Oddesy, pretty much out of copyright (well, the translation may not have been, but the source was and there are lots of editions). Would the average cost of books go down? Yea, but I don't think printed books will go away. I'm not sure about authors getting paid however. I would guess you could make some money selling your own e-books and maybe getting paid for an "Author's Edition" or whatever.
I've always also thought why wouldn't a Bug Bounty style per chapter or a subscription style Baen thing work? And don't forget the money that was raised toward continuing Star Trek Enterprise, that was a lot, if not enough for that particular show. Budgets might go down, but what about venture capital? I'm sort of saying there won't be one model without copyright, just like there isn't one model with copyright.
Wouldn't this have the positive effect of having less patents? Rather than three for a device, you patent the device? Or would this not work?
Well, just like physical property, wherever you get Governmental protection for it you get taxed what that government feels the property ought to be taxed. You could not get copyright in some countries if it was too much money... I mean, IP isn't some universal thing right now, you get different protections in France than in the US than in China . . .
Well, true, but there are a bunch of rocks that are essentially the same. There is a market of rocks that could cover billions of items. For houses, there's a bunch of similarities that can create housing classes. But for IP, how would you even create these categories? If I'm selling, say, The Dresden Files IP, what other sales (if any have even occurred) should I compare it to? What metrics ought I use?
Isn't market value supposed to be an estimate of what someone would be willing to pay for the property? An Auction finds out how much someone is willing to pay. It would also give us a better idea of the value of something for the purposes of the various lawsuits seeking damages - no more "my song was worth eleventy bajillion dollars"...
I think it would be ok if they asked me to pay $3 per song + sue for $20 per song... something that slaps me on the wrist for a minor wrong. The punishment is way out of whack IMO.
I'd say there is a difference between providing information on breaking the law and breaking the law yourself. Whether the punishment or liability ought to be same is unclear, but there is a real difference here. Morally we get into where free speech and passing on unpopular information (how to break copyright like how to build a bomb may be relevant, see Anarchists Cookbook etc) end and conspiracy or aiding and abetting begin.
Technically, Google does the same, and has been sued for the same with Google News, the search exerpts on their search results page, and of course all the torrents that will show up on a google search. Are they equally liable here?
Would TPB be more moral if they did what Google does with Youtube, that is accept DMCA style takedown requests, but until someone does the paperwork, they make money on ads from the infringment?
For me, TPB is squarely in the murky edge case. I strongly believe in the principles of the First Ammendment, and think the idea that a link to DECSS is OK if printed in the NYT but illegial if on a website is abhorrently wrong. Many on Slashdot have railed against the "on the internet" addition, as if it makes something novel (patents etc). It should be simple, Imagine a postit board in a public place - if it would be legal/moral to post 3x5's with URLs there, then it ought to be legal/moral on the internet.
Finally, I do think there is another important distinction, and perhaps an answer to my question - Many people profit on many illegial activities, but yet, are not morally responsible for the activity. Some Lawyers primarilly profit over illegial activities, from speeding to murder, but few would hold them morally responsible in any way. Doctors often profit over suffering, yet they are not morally responsible for it. What level of Moral responsibility do mutual fund holders have for the activities of the companies their fund invensts in?
All ways you can facilitate or profit by an activity and yet have unclear moral responsibility for it. TPB provides content and ads from which they make a profit. Their content is not infringing on anyone's copyright, it's a list of links to that infringing content. To what extent is copyright "viral"? Should it affect references to where to find the work?
I think in the end, I'd prefer to say no. I think TPB is somewhat like the regulated porn industry, we may not think what they do or say is right, but the right to say things should not be abridged without great cause.
Any comparison to OpenRPG? Does it have lots of stuff pre-entered? As they don't have a demo for v2, it's hard to know if it would be worth paying for... Are there any reviews you could point me towards?
I think they are missing the open source idea, that is, if 4E is non OGLed, and it is, what's to stop LOTS of people from just Forking D&D? I mean, Iceweasel works ok, why not a d20 core or whatver...
Do you end up also using a VoIP product? Hmm, and once you buy it there isn't an ongoing cost to use, it does direct connections?
What VTT are you using? I've looked into the free OpenRPG, which was ok, but not that easy to use. I didn't really see anything amazingly enticing from other vendors several years ago when I last looked.
Great for boston. I live in Upstate NY and can get DSL at 1Mbit down for that price. Your Mileage WILL vary a bunch. Also, the problem with going after the top 5% is you can do that until you have no subscribers left. One major problem is P2P traffic is mainly what iTunes or Netflix traffic is - video or audio transfer. But now, it's no longer illegial, so you can't just block it without users who could legitimately get a class action going getting pissed. But they're still using all that bandwidth, so what do you do as an ISP? You have to build up and out your network.
Wouldn't it be easier (and faster) to create a Syspreped image with Acronis, and use Universal Restore to get the HAL + Mass Storage Drivers right?
If I pay attention I can get a fully configured system going in 35 minutes using the image, and it'd be faster if we didn't have a hundred different hardware configurations that requires me use DriverGenius to inject the rest of the drivers once I'm booted.
You know, I've never minded paying for books. I'm not sure why, because I often hate paying for TV or movies or music. Maybe it's because there's enough books that are "mainstream" such that I can find stuff much easier that isn't unmitigated crap. Maybe it's the fact that the price per hour of entertainment is incredibly low. Maybe it's the collectibility of the books. Or the ease of resale.
...
:( so I just give away the books when I'm done reading them. So if I could get the e-book version of Nonsense for $5 instead of paying $12 + shipping, that would be fine. It'd need to last the week or two it takes me to read it. What I won't do is pay $24 when the hardcover is $26. E-books are massivly over priced most places I've looked. It seems to me they ought to be able to realize real savings *to the consumer* by not paying the actual distribution and printing costs, and in my savings on shipping. Charging almost hardcover prices for an e-book is just greed IMO.
The reason I originally got my e-book reader (RCA REB1100) was because of all the really enjoyable free content on the net, and I mean freely given away fan fiction, slashdot discussions (I didn't used to post), etc. Now there is even more out there like your novel, some of the stuff from Baen/Tor, the Agent to the Stars novel
I wouldn't even mind paying for e-books as now adays I just don't have the space for a personal library