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Old 24-07-2014, 16:26   #1
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Downloads or Hard Copies?

An audio publisher, New Street Communications - has released downloads of very nice readings of our first book, Cruising in Seraffyn and Herb McCormicks bio about Larry and I (As Long as It's Fun.) I am trying to get the publisher to put the stories on CD's. I think there are still people out there who would like solid copies - any opinions? Or are CD audio books out of date?

Thanks for the input.
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Old 24-07-2014, 16:28   #2
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

Lin,

I used to listen to CDs while driving back in the 80s. Now I listen on my iPod. No more CD books for me!

p.s. really enjoyed the hard copy of Herb's book.
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Old 24-07-2014, 16:45   #3
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

CD's are far enough out of date that many car stereo's and computers no longer have the ability to play them at all. And it has been a decade since I have seen anyone with a CD "walkman". It has been many years since I used a CD for anything.

Audio files are the only way to go now for this - physical media is dead. I'm sure there are still some that use CD's, but the cost of producing and shipping must be a killer - doesn't make sense.

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Old 24-07-2014, 17:49   #4
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

I agree with Mark. Audio and Ipods are the way to go especially for the boating community as downloads can be done almost anywhere where as getting post is another matter.

So I vote Download. Cheers Sue
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Old 24-07-2014, 18:09   #5
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

I 4th the motion. eBooks and digital audio only for me. I'm an Audible guy.
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Old 24-07-2014, 18:29   #6
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

I do not listen to CDs anymore. I download mp3 files.

I might be wrong, but protecting your files from being copied is a big problem when you want to use any easily readable format, like mp3.

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Old 24-07-2014, 22:48   #7
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

Quote:
Originally Posted by barnakiel View Post
I might be wrong, but protecting your files from being copied is a big problem when you want to use any easily readable format, like mp3.
On the other hand, impossible to prevent that on CD's also.

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Old 25-07-2014, 05:24   #8
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

I buy most of my audio books from Audible.com. They come in a protected format that plays only on a registered device (my iPod), so I can't share them with others.
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Old 25-07-2014, 05:49   #9
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

Yep.

But this creates another issue: if a format cannot be read on any device, then you limit your market. Some huge markets are vastly non-iThing territories.

E.g. the EU, which is predominantly Android / PC world.

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Old 25-07-2014, 06:09   #10
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

I suspect you're going to get a rather skewed response by asking this on an internet forum. My guess is that if you went down to the local F.Y.E. and asked the same question, your responses would skew quite differently. Indeed, the very fact that F.Y.E. still exists, and is doing a fair business, indicates pretty clearly that there are still plenty of people out there who want to buy "real" CDs and DVDs.

Good luck.
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Old 25-07-2014, 07:06   #11
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

Hmmmm, I can't remember the last time I or my wife bought a CD for any reason. I certainly wouldn't choose that format. It just doesn't make sense to use a CD over digital media for most people. I can see carrying reference books in hard copy, but a physical version of digital media? Not any more.
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Old 28-07-2014, 11:59   #12
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Re: Downloads or hard copies?

Hi Lin, As an out of the box idea, how about Flash drives? Amazon sells bulk 2gb flash drives beginning at a price of $2 per unit and up. You can just bake the price into your audio book. You can decide whether to lock the file to the drive or not. Either way, there should be enough left over usable space for your customers do do as they wish with the drive.
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Old 28-07-2014, 18:49   #13
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Re: Downloads or Hard Copies?

Lin, there still are technoklutzes who would prefer CDs. Of course most of the millenials already think CDs belong with rotary phones and grandfather clocks.

Libraries still use the, but that's only because the publishers are all scared of digital rights management, and if you check out the CD audiobooks in any library? They are horribly published, every track on every disc numbered and named the same so that someone can't just copy them to a flash drive and listen to the whole thing without discs, without a lot of work.

CD sets are also expensive compared to downloads, no profit motive.

Folks who can't deal with downloads are a limited market. Sailors are a limited market. Throw in a few more limits...I don't see a lot of market for CDs. You could always have a dozen sets produced by burning them, gamble on that small inventory and see for yourself how long it takes to sell. If they sell fast, by all means, set up commercial production.

Some printable media, an inkjet printer that does discs, it should only take a couple of hours to make a small trial inventory.
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Old 29-07-2014, 01:03   #14
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Re: Downloads or Hard Copies?

As an antique cruiser,

I wouldn't buy a CD, either. I like books I can hold in my hands. I can listen to audiobooks on the iPod, so even I don't need a CD. Exceptions made for exceptional music performances, rarely.

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Old 29-07-2014, 09:16   #15
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Re: Downloads or Hard Copies?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lin Pardey View Post
An audio publisher, New Street Communications - has released downloads of very nice readings of our first book, Cruising in Seraffyn and Herb McCormicks bio about Larry and I (As Long as It's Fun.) I am trying to get the publisher to put the stories on CD's. I think there are still people out there who would like solid copies - any opinions? Or are CD audio books out of date?

Thanks for the input.
I would say that unless you are one of the increasingly few devoted to the CD format, you are going to either be "full analog" with a book, or "full digital" with an MP3 or equivalent file, Lin.
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