[heresyforme]

I really don't care how much it costs THEM. I care how much it costs ME.

I've been reading books from the Gutenburg Project on my PDA for a few years. Someone recently recommended a book to me that was released about 10 years ago. I go to buy it in electronic format and it's $24.99. I pass. I end up borrowing it from someone I know instead.

For me, I must provide the storage medium, electricity, and data connection. On top of that I must pay 10.00 - 30.00 for a small file that possibly contains some kind of DRM that would leave me unable to transfer the file to another device. What did I buy?

However, what if I was able to buy 50 ebooks for $25. Well, I would probably go for something like that. Right now, it's simply not worth the time, energy and money to buy what's on the market.

[Dryw]

I'd go even further. Why not sell a subscription pass? For $20 a month, you get unlimited access to all the books in Amazon's catalog. Each rental would expire after two weeks, and you'd be free to take that book out again and again.

I'd deal with the necessary DRM if this idea was implemented.

[elblanco]

Most local library systems nowadays let you do something kinda like this -- except for free.

[InclinedPlane]

You should care how much it costs them. If they can't recoup their costs in making books then they will stop making books.

Books are already a very slim margin business as it is, author superstars, let alone folks who can make a living from writing alone, are far, far rarer than in other similar industries such as music, tv, and film.