However, people are assuming too much when they think Macmillan will lower the ebook price later on. They never have before, as a general practice (sometimes they have if the ebook was given away free w/o DRM in the past). Ebook prices, even for novels that have been out in paperback for twenty years (e.g. Jordan’s Eye of the World), list for $14-$15.

Nothing in Macmillan’s statement says that ebooks will drop in price alongside the print prices. And their track record is that they will keep ebooks at paperback list price plus around $7. ‘Cause, you know, it costs SO MUCH MORE to put out that ebook. I guess.

Ah well, I guess we’ll see how things shake out. In the meantime Macmillan certainly isn’t getting any of my money.

I love that no matter how many times I move in the future, I will always be able to take all of my e-books with me, and I love being able to ‘carry’ so many whenever I go anywhere without having to lug book bags (not to mention, getting a new book in under a minute without having to leave my house). I could go on, but I realize that this is starting to sound like an ad for digital readers, which is not my intention. My point is: I think e-books are important, as is their affordability. I can’t wait until MacMillan’s books are back on Amazon, especially for Kindle, and I really hope that they are always at prices under print versions, which I believe is only fair given that after the initial app development, there are no printing costs.
And I love the concurrent-with-hardcover release plan. I’ve been waiting for the Kindle version of The Gathering Storm.