quote:

Originally posted by Lilith He owns a printing business.

^^^ This, I guess. I'm only a mini-business though, compared to the big guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa http://www.fonerbooks.com/pod.htm

It's a great looking website. I would definitely want to have my life's work printed up by them. Their design skills are magnificent, and their marketing is beyond reproach (nice Google adwords in there too. Right at the top! I always appreciate that from a professional business, on their website). Why are there horses in the top right hand corner?

Apologies, I'm not discussing this with you any more.

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I read your description before looking at the page.

then i loled

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk ^^^ This, I guess. It's a great looking website. I would definitely want to have my life's work printed up by them. Their design skills are magnificent, and their marketing is beyond reproach (nice Google adwords in there too. Right at the top! I always appreciate that from a professional business, on their website). Why are there horses in the top right hand corner? Apologies, I'm not discussing this with you any more.

There are a thousands of other papers written about it - that one was just a relatively quick read. The quality of the site doesn't negate the points that are made...

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa There are a thousands of other papers written about it - that one was just a relatively quick read. The quality of the site doesn't negate the points that are made...

*I'm such a sucker*

Print on demand cannot work the way you envisage it.

Rent paid for space in a RETAIL area would immediately negate any cost effectiveness or waste. The machines to print his stuff (assuming you would have it done with some kind of quality) take up a LOT of room.

The cost of media and consumables, in a non-mass-production environment would far outweigh any chance of profit from such an ideal.

The cost of having qualified people running the (rather expensive, lol) equipment needed to fulfill in-store customer demand would ruin the idea even further. And then there are the costs of getting professionals to come in and fix your busted equipment. And you WILL need them.

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quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk *I'm such a sucker* Print on demand cannot work the way you envisage it. Rent paid for space in a RETAIL area would immediately negate any cost effectiveness or waste. The cost of media and consumables, in a non-mass-production environment would far outweigh any chance of profit from such an ideal. The cost of having qualified people running the (rather expensive, lol) equipment needed to fulfill in-store customer demand would ruin the idea even further.

Awww.... you discussed with me!!



I am going to search for the video I watched about it. I'm pretty sure your points were addressed in it, but I watched it a really long time ago and can't remember much of it other than the basic discussion points.

If I find it, I will post it

Anyway, I don't know anything about renting retail space or the cost of the machinery etc. etc. but from what I have read, POD seems better in general, even if it isn't in-store or whatever. Ordering online and having to wait for it to be mailed still seems more efficient. Do you agree, or no?

EDIT:

I just realized... it was at the University of Waterloo from my hometown where I heard about it!

They actually have one and it takes less than 4 mins. to print a 300pg. book.

http://www.printondemand.uwaterloo.ca/home.html

'Energy cost' of making a book in the long term is probably smaller than the ongoing maintenance of electronics.

Kill tree, pulp it, make paper, print book, send to consumer = lasts several hundred years in the right conditions.
(Little laser printers on cheapo, $2 reams of A4 don't last all that long)


E-reader, drag minerals out of earth, send them to a few third world countries process them, send them to some other countries to engineer the device and its batteries... then send it across the world to consumer.
Charge device off mains power (a good old coal/petrochemical/nuke burning source!)
Lasts 8 hours reading time, battery lasts 2-4 years
Process more minerals, make another battery
Device is superseded in 5 years, buy new one
Process more minerals, make new device and battery
Re-image non-standardised data after software is superseded in 10 years.

Yeah, this is a permanent solution to our data storage requirements... not

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa Awww.... you discussed with me!! I am going to search for the video I watched about it. I'm pretty sure your points were addressed in it, but I watched it a really long time ago and can't remember much of it other than the basic discussion points. If I find it, I will post it Anyway, I don't know anything about renting retail space or the cost of the machinery etc. etc. but from what I have read, POD seems better in general, even if it isn't in-store or whatever. Ordering online and having to wait for it to be mailed still seems more efficient. Do you agree, or no?

Considering how I feel about conspiracy theorists, a YT vid won't really mean much to me

POD is good in theory, but not so effective cost-wise. You have to remember that the price you pay for a proper book includes not only its nice shiny/pretty appearance, but that the publisher has (hopefully) spent money advertising and marketing it to the consumer populace. And, that book stores deal directly with the publishers.

If you have your book printed POD, you don't get that. You'd want to have some amazing content, just to generate sales. And a website that's a little shinier than the POD website you posted. Unless you're a CT'er

(All of this is assuming that you/a person would like some book sales).

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quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk Considering how I feel about conspiracy theorists, a YT vid won't really mean much to me POD is good in theory, but not so effective cost-wise. You have to remember that the price you pay for a proper book includes not only its nice shiny/pretty appearance, but that the publisher has (hopefully) spent money advertising and marketing it to the consumer populace. And, that book stores deal directly with the publishers. If you have your book printed POD, you don't get that. You'd want to have some amazing content, just to generate sales. And a website that's a little shinier than the POD website you posted. Unless you're a CT'er (All of this is assuming that you/a person would like some book sales).

I am pretty sure it was a video developed by the University of Waterloo... not just some Youtube video. I vaguely recall seeing some sort of presentation thing by them, perhaps in preparation of getting the machine? Not sure if it is around anymore though because everything I search is turning up squat.

Anyway, apparently some University educated Joe in Waterloo thinks they are a good idea. Like I said, I really don't know much about the costs involved at the end of the day, but I am more inclined to think that one of the top Universities of Canada might have some kind of clue.

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa Like I said, I really don't know much about the costs involved at the end of the day, but I am more inclined to think that one of the top Universities of Canada might have some kind of clue.

Hmmm. This university teaches/runs a POD business? Most universities in Canada are government funded, right?

Would you care to start a 'University vs. Real World' debate?

Or a Theory vs. Experience in a non-theoretical environment debate?

I don't really care who made the video, if they haven't worked in the industry, then it's not worth a pinch of shit to me.

Edit: Any responses to this post will be delayed, due to dinner

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And I will be here to revolutionize e-books.



OnT: Who gives a shit as long as it helps students grasp better the concept and complexity of the subject?

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk Hmmm. This university teaches/runs a POD business? Most universities in Canada are government funded, right? Would you care to start a 'University vs. Real World' debate? Or a Theory vs. Experience in a non-theoretical environment debate? I don't really care who made the video, if they haven't worked in the industry, then it's not worth a pinch of shit to me. Edit: Any responses to this post will be delayed, due to dinner

Partially gov't funded.

I appreciate your points, and you may very well be right, but you can't fault me for trusting in a University and many educated individuals over someone on TA.

There is no point in continuing a debate/argument etc. over it because I obviously don't know shit all about it. I am just relying on the opinions/research of people at a University and can't contribute more to the argument beyond what they say. Obviously that isn't enough to convince you, which is fair enough.

Anyway, thanks for discussing kind sir.

i have tons of books and I'm tired of falling over them. I just wish they were pdf files.