I couldn't find any indication if this mailed physical books or is just eBooks. Disclaimer, I only skimmed article (its breathless hype style is too annoying/worthless to read in detail).
If just eBooks, total complete meh.
Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
81–90 of 98 posts
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#82Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#83For $9.95 a month, I'd rather support my local library/bookstore. Unlike movies, where I could watch 5-6 on a really lazy Saturday, books take quite a bit more time. I'm a pretty regular reader and I'm lucky if I get through 2 books a month. Based on: http://gawker.com/5971571/are-you-an-above+average-book-read... I read about the average (outlier) person, so for $9.95 I'd rather own the one or two books I can read t…
That's assuming they only stick to books. If they start carrying magazines/newspapers it'd be a viable platform.
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#84It would be good to see which books they have before signing up. I like the idea though a little expensive.
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
In some libraries you pay an annual membership fee, not dissimilar to the flat monthly fee paid to Netflix (and now Oyster), as opposed to the per-rental fee Blockbuster used to charge.
Where? Is it for some sort of "premium" access? Otherwise, that's what tax dollars go towards.
Municipal libraries often allow non-resident access for an annual membership fee.
University libraries are funded by tuition, and may allow non-university access for a fee.
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel the same way. I love owning my stuff. My MP3 files, my ebooks, my hardcopies, vinyls, cd's, etc. All this "in the cloud" stuff just adds an extra overhead to my already stressful life. "Will this company perish and all my shit be gone? Is it secure?" are questions I always think about. When I have that physical copy, the (mostly) only person I have to blame is myself for not maintaining my items integrity.
Different strokes. Owning that stuff would add way more overhead and stress for me. Different folks.
.. or the same folks, at a different life stages.
I used to love to own stuff. Had great pride of my mp3 collection with pristine ID3 tags, my Star Trek TNG collection, or the piles of magazines and books...
After my last couple of moves between cities, I got tired of having to carry stuff around. Or to keep things organized, sync'ed, backed up across multiple devices. What a waste of time and money.
Can't say I won this battle yet, but at least I started to be more rational. Started donating half my books, and only purchasing ebooks (except for programming languages; still prefer the dead tree version). Also gave away DVDs, almost all CDs (still need to rip a few rare ones before giving away). Threw away most magazines, except for MakeMag and Circuit Cellar.
A couple of more moves and I'll be really free :)
ps: speaking of donating stuff, a friend created an awesome startup for exactly that reason: http://www.bondsy.com. Rather useful for things that you still care, but it's time to find a new home for it.
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#87The model is just too compelling for consumers: Pay a reasonable price, get access to all the content you want without having to own it I quite like owning my books, actually. There's already an alternative to doing so, called a library; since the book sales business did quite well int he pre-internet days despite the widespread availability of libraries, I'm not sure why the author thinks a functioning e-book librar…
I like owning books, too, until I had to move continents and sell my entire library.
I think folks are missing one aspect of the Netflix-style experience; discovery. Sure, the joy of flipping through the sci-fi/fantasy section in the local bookstore or library is an unparallelled experience -- but I've found book discovery via Amazon to provide me with far more than simply gazing at shelves.
It's not only the product consumption experience that is changing, but how we interact with books in general. And while I'm a big fan of libraries, we're all getting used to metadata, social annotations, reviews and suggestions -- add that to the ease of access an 'all you can eat' approach provides, and I for one am looking forward to where it leads. (mind you, I read anything from 10 to 20 books a month, so I'd definitely benefit from this kind of service!)
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#88[deleted]
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#89This would be a neat idea if it's free considering I can read as many books as I want for free at the library "paperback" might I add. Sorry but the library deserves my support more than your service.
Re: Oyster, Netflix for books, is launching the beta version of its iPhone app
#90The model is just too compelling for consumers: Pay a reasonable price, get access to all the content you want without having to own it I quite like owning my books, actually. There's already an alternative to doing so, called a library; since the book sales business did quite well int he pre-internet days despite the widespread availability of libraries, I'm not sure why the author thinks a functioning e-book librar…
I agree, owning books after I'm done reading them gives me a sense of accomplishment it's like a treasure.