Dead-tree edition exclusive is the most draconian DRM of them all in 2014. I bought the first, but won't be a customer anymore. I'm also surprised it's a full price upgrade so soon.
Referring to their decision to go print-only as "DRM" is inflammatory.
It's a book, dude. Not a piece of technology that allows publishers to control your access. It has it's limitations, which are fairly well known at this point in history.
Perhaps it's a form of copy protection but IMO, without it being digital, DRM isn't possible.
I did purchase this book because the last version has so many good reviews and I too would have preferred a digital copy but to me, calling it DRM is technically incorrect and smells like bait. I'm mostly disappointed that I fell for it.
This discussion hinges on some pretty fundamental questions of what is "a book," whether you can protect digital rights by not having a digital form, and whether the term DRM is understood to mean any kind of IP protection. I think there are reasonable answers to all of those that would have people falling on both sides of the question.
If physical only was done to prevent piracy, it is at the least a "RM" move.
Seems like they're shooting themselves in the foot, creating a bigger incentive to scan the book and promoting the distribution of unofficial digital version of their book and not getting a dime for those.
Now, not only they made themselves look bad, show they misunderstand the digital world but they will also pass on a whole market.
Really? That's the last point of three. I gave more weight to this one:
"Creating and proofing each ebook format is not a trivial effort. It involves reformatting every code sample to work on every ebook reader, accounting for differences in screen contrast, accessibility testing, and proofreading the text and code samples several times on each device. Instead of spending our time struggling with reformatting, we're choosing to focus on improving the technical material."
In the comments of the announcement, PyDanny lists their reasons why they skipped an ebook format this time:
- The print version of Two Scoops of Django 1.5 has been by far the most popular version of the book with readers, selling several times more than the e-books. In addition, the feedback we've gotten has been that technical books are generally better to have in print than as an ebook.
- Creating and proofing each ebook format is not a trivial effort. It involves reformatting every code sample to work on every ebook reader, accounting for differences in screen contrast, accessibility testing, and proofreading the text and code samples several times on each device. Instead of spending our time struggling with reformatting, we're choosing to focus on improving the technical material.
- Considering that we publicly offered a free electronic copy to those who requested it, seeing piracy of the electronic editions from the first day of sales has been disheartening. As indie authors, it hurts to see this happening.
They can't produce a digital edition without extra cost and it would be frustrating to make that investment only to see people immediately circulating copies. Yes, they'll loose readers, but they've estimated that is an acceptable trade off at this time.
Good point on the PDF version, especially if Amazon allows PDF sales (instead a Kindle version). I am a bit surprised that pirating was a significant issue with the first book. Didn't they offer free or discounted versions if people requested they didn't have the money? If so, that might have gave people the impression that passing around copies wasn't a concern of the authors.
It's an interesting conclusion the authors have reached.
As far as I can tell, they've made sure that they go from poor profit from e-book sales, to no profit, as the only e-book version that will be available (and it will, I'm quite certain) will be a non-sanctioned pdf of the scanned paper edition. Additionally, those that do download the copy, won't have any reasonable recourse to pay for the privilege -- if they want an e-book they're not very likely to want or need a paper edition as well.
Additionally, I'm not sure how good one year (or is it two) old data for e-books are -- I know I didn't have a reasonable reading platform for e-books until mid-2013 (and therefore no need for e-books) -- now that I have one, I don't see any reason to put an additional burden on my shelves, the environment etc in purchasing paper books for all but the most exceptional of texts. As I only have a small e-reader -- I'd very much prefer a DRM free epub to a pdf -- but hopefully 2014[1] will be the year of a4(ish) e-ink readers -- in which case I will be more than happy to rid myself of most of my books.
Also note that they've chopped off all revenue from Asia and Australia since the book is unobtainable there. Whether or not that is a large sum of money (I'm one of their former customers) is probably something they've already taken into account using the 1.5 book sales. Still sad to see them not offer an e-book version.
Well they put a single sentence in another announcement page that said:
> We're also exploring distribution in Australia, Asia, and South America.
But considering how money seems to be the primary motivator behind not offering an e-book version, that pretty much means they will never get the print book to any of those regions (distributions to those areas will cost far more than creating the e-book due to demand risk and distributors). I've already emailed them yesterday with information on the major book outlets in Japan, but I have serious doubts I'll ever hear back. Non-English speaking regions in particular are almost guaranteed to never see this book because the distribution cost for a print book far outweighs the market demand.
I'd buy the book in a heartbeat if it were digital.
I went paperless a few years ago, one of the biggest deciding factors was my huge collection of dead-tree books that continued to take up space even though the content was obsolete.
A $20 digital version for me would be an instant buy. A $40 dead-tree only version is a no-sale.
As someone who has moved between continents a little bit too much, a $40 digital no-DRM version would be an instant buy. A $20 dead-tree version is a no-sale.
Nope, you're wrong. I was pretty clear that those are two separate complaints. Paper is a form of DRM, and they specifically noted that as a primary reason why they were using it.
I would have (begrudgingly) paid for another electronic copy. However, had I known the first time that I'd just have to buy it again for a much-expanded 1.6 in a few months, I'd have waited and bought only the 1.6 version (assuming it wasn't paper only).
DRM is bad because it punishes your customers. I'm not giving up shelf space, ctrl-f ability, and loss of mobility because they chose this DRM.
And part of the reason that "upgrade discounts" aren't being considered is because it's impractical with a paper book. That makes sense, and is another reason not to use them exclusively. O'Reilly on the other hand, does provide upgrade discounts. This is always a better deal for both the vendor and the consumer, because the number of customers who buy every edition of a paper book they already have is incredibly small.
I don't really understand this point of view. If you'd prefer not to purchase their book then that's cool - but only Audrey and Daniel are in a position to assess if it was worth their effort to publish an ebook or not, surely you can respect their decision not to do so.
Really, you don't understand why a programmer would want a digital version of a programming book in 2014? You don't have to agree, but I'm surprised that someone would claim to not even understand it.
I don't think they are in a position to assess it, and I think it is a poor decision, so I don't really respect it. This is like saying only the RIAA are in a position to assess the effect of piracy and using this as rationale to keep something off iTunes.
My prediction is that they will soon discover that most of those pirates won't suddenly buy the paper version, and neither will anybody who previously only bought the ebook version. They will also lose a fair bit of the word-of-mouth promotion from anyone who was a fan of the ebook version.
This story ends with them eventually caving and releasing an ebook version again, so they're just throwing away sales between now and then, and since release time is when the majority of purchases occur, they'll permanently lose that benefit.
No, I understand why you might want a digital version.
What I don't understand is why you think you're entitled to a digital version.
These are two independent authors making their own informed decision about which medium they'd like to publish in. Their work, their choice.
(Not the op) I can still be annoyed by their apparent conclusion that 'nobody wants an ebook' and attempt to make them aware that not only do I want an ebook, but I actively do not want a printed book.
It is a dumb decision for it will not prevent a digital version to be shared on the internet and alienating your potential customers is not the best marketing move.
The ability to search and to copy/paste is something programmers usually like, being deprived of these on the premises that the author want to maximize profit is sure to alienate a significant portion of them.
> surely you can respect their decision not to do so.
Personally, I can't. Just as I can't respect any game publisher that decides to tack on an always-online mode for their game with some lame excuse of why they did it when the real reason is that it's a form of DRM.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer upgrade discounts. This is due to the following:
* The sheer amount of work that it has taken to update and revise the book. We have had to take significant time off from consulting in order to get the 1.6 edition done on time. The effort involved in putting together the 1.6 edition is equivalent to a whole new book in itself.
* The inability to offer discounts to specific readers on print books through Amazon.com. Offering discounts would require us to manually coordinate payment and ship books one at a time, which is impractical.
* We need to be able to cover our costs for printing a significantly larger book, and for working with multiple printers and fulfillment warehouses around the world in small quantities. We have been shouldering quite a bit of financial risk with international logistics and wholesale printing orders.
I'm assuming it's a tactic to increase dead-tree edition sales, so they can go a big reseller and have them agree to sell it at a much bigger scale. I know of authors who've employed this strategy before (and had it work). So, I suppose give it something like 6 months, when it's available at your local Barnes&Noble and whatnot, and the eBook version will be made available then.
