more on Technology Rewrites the Book

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Rob McMillin <rlm () pricegrabber com>
Date: July 25, 2006 9:46:14 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: Egor Kobylkin <egor () kobylkin com>
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Technology Rewrites the Book

David Farber wrote:

> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Egor Kobylkin <egor () kobylkin com>
> Date: July 24, 2006 5:51:23 PM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: Technology Rewrites the Book
>
> Dave, for your list, if you wish.
>
> > From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
> > Date: July 23, 2006 11:02:15 PM EDT
> > To: undisclosed-recipient:;
> > Subject: Technology Rewrites the Book
> >
> >
> > Technology Rewrites the Book
> >
> > By PETER WAYNER
> > The New York Times
> > July 20, 2006
> > ...
> > said. "This is as good as any book in a bookstore."
> >
> > ...
> >
> > and Blurb will make a
> > copy just for that buyer.
> I was confused as to why the CD's or DVD's are not made completely  
> on  demand? They have way lot less polygraphy on them, and they  
> are  intrincically digital. But then I thought, there must be much  
> less  titles of them in the top 80% of sales, than there will be of  
> the  books. So by keeping, say 1000 preprinted titles in stock a  
> small DVD  shop with no Internet can be in business.
>
> But also because of the higher variety, books should have a higher   
> price/cost ratio to cover the additional costs of the logistics  
> due  to lover average volumes, it makes bookstores a more  
> attractive  victim to substitution with a print on demand service.
>
> On the other hand, one already can have almost any album from a  
> major  music studio for 9.99 from iTunes in 5 minutes.
>
> So now, when the books can be done on demand economically, when  
> will  I be able to go to a shop and let them print for me any CD/ 
> DVD in the  world in 5 minutes?

Having been involved indirectly with a venture that was attempting to  
do exactly this, I can tell you. The reason is basically Microsoft.  
No retailer wanted to devote floor space to a system that couldn't  
sell Microsoft products, and no software publisher wouldn't come on  
board unless Microsoft was, too. Microsoft always hemmed and hawed,  
saying it was a good idea, but approval never got past the middle  
levels of the company. It's kind of too bad, because Comp USA  
penciled out the numbers and estimated that not having returns on  
software would add a percentage point to their profit margin.


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