Digital or Print Books?
Dilemma!
This is a comment I posted to Amazon.
First of all let me say that the introduction of Match Book (I prefer to call it Matchbox) was a great IDEA.
But I could not edit my titles until yesterday since there was no new option available (for already published books) without editing almost the entire title.
But yesterday I got a WARNING from you that my book on Meditation would be taken away from the store since the Pricing of the Digital book was higher than the Print version.
I am not in agreement on this issue for number of reasons.
I will enumerate this for your consideration.
Number 1
People on the this side of the world have no access to digital books.
Less than 10% have Internet access (wired or wireless) but almost 90% have cell phones.
Number 2
Even those who have cell phones 80% do not know how to use the phone for digital access and Internet.
This is mainly due to lack of command in English.
Number 3
Due to above reasons I would prefer to have the Print form less expensive than the Digital form.
Not all Titles (my choice) but a few of them.
Number 4
I am conceptually for Paperless World (save the rain forest) but we are not yet ready.
Number 5
Sri-Lankan government is politically backward and give FREE books to all primary students (I call it a political gimmick) which are about 30 years outdated (more in Science).
For example if I ask students when they entire the university how the Island of Sri-Lanka was formed in a geographical point of view, none can answer.
Geography is not taught properly.
They only know what is in the books (PRINTED) given FREE by the government and none of the books are in Digital form and the contractors (I do not call them publishers) will never allow them to get converted to Digital form in a hurry.
Number 6
Unlike India Our Cell Phone Region is banned for Amazon to enter due to political reason (they fear American Influence).
The know it is going to be a complete white wash in cricketing parlance.
For a trial period I want the Print Form (let me decide) to be cheaper.
I have not targeted any book at the moment with Sri-Lankans in mind.
I just write for fun and not solely on monetary value.
Number 7
That is why I like the Match Book (I prefer t5o call it Matchbox) since a wealthy reader from US can donate the print form, ideally to a KID in Sri-Lanka, since he may not need it in his book shelf.
It will ignite a chain reaction of reading habits (in English) in this part of the world starved of good books (strike a match of enthusiasm).
Call it Matchbox, will YOU!
In that context Amazon does not lose much (postage is Heavy if the reader decides to post it to a institution here) on the deal to begin with.
I will have few targeted BOOKS of mine FREE in Match Book, so a poor reader gets a chance to read what a wealthy reader reads in Americas.
On a minor note my download speed was cut down (I used more than 20 GiB of downloads this month and I am punished for my small indulgence ) to 5kb /sec (I pay for 50 units/sec).
Visitors here know I download Linux distributions for testing.
I was all up yesterday night updating my Titles and Upload speed is much slower, mind you.
Your 5 day deadline was like a shock to me.
Thank god I did (NOT) have a heart attack but I enjoyed every minute of my exercise.
I am joking!
Parafox with much appreciation of all what you do in Amazon Books.
Thank you Guys/Girls at Amazon.
