In a previous discussion on the Petrona blog I expressed (!?) some doubt about the value of the Espresso, the monstrous machine to go in bookshops that prints books on demand in a few minutes.
I’ve just heard a piece on it on You and Yours or Radio 4 (yes, something good on Y&Y – must be a first) that has partially changed my mind.
One is they pointed out that they would be useful on cruise liners. Absolutely. And everywhere else you NEED books but can’t get them. Practically anywhere on holiday in a country where they don’t speak your language, for instance. How many times have I run out of books while on holiday in France?
Secondly, rather than speculate, they talked to people in a bookshop in the US which has had an Espresso for quite a while. Interestingly, only a very small percentage of users buy ‘real’ books this way. The rest are printing their own book, POD – like Henry used Lulu but on the spot. It hadn’t struck me, but it’s obvious that printing your own stuff, whether taking it in, or emailing it to the shop and picking up, is likely to be quite popular.
Go Espresso!
I’m not a book publisher, but it is clear that there are lots of very good POD services now for individuals or for bulk production that are really changing the economics. (For book publishers, well hooked up to online marketing at their sites, bookseller sites and elsewhere).
On the other hand, Publishers Weekly this week reports Amazon’s claim that 12 per cent of sales of books (that are available in print or Kindle) are now being sold as Kindle versions. (Amazon is apparently shy of producing acutal figures).
So, “go figure”, ourselves, I suppose. Glad Radio 4 is good for something ;-)
For a minute I thought you were talking about coffee! I think this has the potential to save print waste, but I wonder what the quality of the books is like.
Going on other POD books, like those from Lulu – not hugely different from a mass market paperback.