Article Summary #1

In the New York Times article, E-Book Price Increase May Stir Reader’ Passion, the journalist Motoko Rich and Brad Stone explore consumer’s reactions. Prices for books on “portable book shelves” are highly increasing, along with the demand. The problem is that e-book consumers are irritated, yet not concerned, with these changes. They feel they are being ripped off based on the amount of money it takes to produce e-books, as opposed to physical paper copies.


If prices of the e-books increase, consumers say that they will just turn to another form of entertainment, or piracy will just spread to e-books. Publishers don’t seem to be worried about this new technology dying out because of this possible prices increase because a new crop of E-book distributers, such as the iPad, will keep the ball rolling.

I chose this article because it shows how this can lead to a substantial problem in our entertainment industry. This is a prime instance of how inflation will lead to piracy. Acquiring movies and television shows is a perfect example showing how the trend in peeved e-book consumers will react. If its not free, or cheap, then there’s a free, and/or cheaper, way of obtaining it. The article just touched upon this outcome. It mainly focused on how e-book buyers will revolt if the prices of e-books increase. People can ultimately stop paying for basic cable and going to movies, and simply pay the internet fee and get all of that, and a couple viruses, for cheaper.

I also chose this article because it shows how the technological industry will not control the people. I like to see this happen in a way because I feel it shows how people are trying to control and settle the recession. There will always be those few who splurge on unnecessary technology, yet when consumers are being taken advantage of, by being charged more for e-books then print books, they fight back. I don’t condone piracy at all; I feel that it can tear our economy apart. Not al piracy is illegal though. Youtube provides plenty of videos, movies, and tv shows that other people pay for. (The YouTube Phenomenon, pg 318, Media Programming) David Pakman, the former chief executive of the eMusic makes an extremely valid and realistic statement, “Entertainment and media companies keep forgetting that consumers have a choice. They can decide not to buy the book at all.” This is what our world is coming to, and a price increase of electronic books will just add to this jaded society.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/technology/11reader.html?scp=2&sq=e-books&st=Search