Should CDs be included with printed numismatic books?
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
I ask because the research articles on Gould and Inco private pattern pieces will soon be going to the printer. Together, the articles will consume over 200 pages, so I'm going to use the JNR publication format for these. Should I go to the extra expense and packaging cost of including a complete version on CD ROM with the printed version?
Pros - replaces an index; makes every word, catalog number and phrase locatable; can be ported to toy phones (iPhone, itPhone, dingle-berries, etc.) for convenient use at shows or other venues.
Cons - increased cost; adds multiple steps to printing and packaging; have to allow for defective CD replacement.
Experience with the books From Mine to Mint and United States Proof Coins 1936-1942 shows entirely positive reactions from buyers. But the Inco & Gould material is not really 'book length.'
Consumer input to the distributor is that there is very limited buyer interest in digital-only publications.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Comments
I have liked the CDs you have included with your other books. One for "From Mine to Mint" comes immediately to mind.
Like Bill, I also like the included CD's from your books. For me, I like the ability to capture images better (with due credit to you of course), so I would think it would be important for the Gould and Inco articles. Just my two cents.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
I have not had access to a computer with CD drive for five years +.
Maybe I will again someday, but if so, that will be because I want a more traditional-style keyboard, and any CD rom thingie will just be an extra benefit.
I like the cd's with the books, but as to your cost increase, why not just give a one time useable online download serial number with each book. Then, no one could give or sell the cd without buying the book. Just a thought. Ebay does it all the time for many books and movies.
Look forward to your new book. Good luck.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
I would love a cd.
Narrated by yourself of course, in your best Barry White voice.
RE: "...why not just give a one time useable online download serial number with each book."
Interesting idea. I'll discuss this with the distributor. One issue I see is that it would require long-term 24x7 access to the download site, which might be a maintenance problem.
RE: "Narrated by yourself of course, in your best Barry White voice."
How about if I get Vanna White to narrate, and put her photo on the cover?
If you could give it at a small or no extra cost. Just give a limited time frame from date of sale which would give you a durable time frame and it ends, and if, God Forbid, a few doesn't sell in a reasonable time, give an email address that with the serial number you could send them the cd via email. Again, just my thoughts.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
my Apple computer has no CD drive. The CD would be a waste for me.
What’s a CD?
Latin American Collection
And Boosi gives the rub.....
CDs are phased/phasing out.......
USB sticks would be better, but some don't even have USB for those...and they cost a little bit more. Less chance of a scratch or corruption though
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I have lots of profession-specific reference books (non-numismatic) that come with CDs. 90% of them have never been opened. I greatly prefer actual books but I will occasionally use the CDs if they have other content such as video.
To me, the CDs are a really positive thing. With a book the size of "From Mine To Mint" it's a great tool. It lets me search for everything on the topic I'm looking for. Really handy on flights.
A disk is nice, but anything that provides a searchable document (like a PDF) is always a big plus, be it a downloadable link, or a disk where you can copy the document off to something else.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
I like the idea of electronic access... I do use CD's (I have a separate CD drive to plug into my laptop). My preference is a downloadable version along with the book (love books). It is nice to have both options. Cheers, RickO
It wouldn't hurt.
Increasing consumer options also increases seller expenses. A CD has up-front costs, but almost no recurring or maintenance. Uploads require infrastructure to support random access throughout the book's publication lifetime. For coin books, this can be 10-years or greater. That some personal computers lack CD/DVD access is unfortunate. Many public libraries have computers with CD/DVD drives and users can copy from them to a drive-less personal computer.
As access to cheap, secure, portable data storage deteriorates, computer users increase their dependency on fee-charging third parties and an infrastructure subject to considerable outside disruption.
CD's are virtually obsolete already and will be entirely so quite soon. SD card or flash drive.
....and the reasons for obsolescence?
I like being able to search for certain text, but as fewer computers ship with a CD, a download of an ISO file (CD image) using a key stuck to the inside of the book would be useful to many. From there, I can burn to a CD if I want, or just put wherever it's of most use to me.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Happy Holidays!
I'd like to see an interactive book or app that would allow a So-Called Dollar collector to maintain and update my collection on a Kindle device.
Thanks Santa!
I always thought that CD/DVD would be around forever as a distribution method for software. But in the last several years, they have been disappearing quickly. Everything is turning to downloadable distribution. Heck even OS distribution from Microsoft and Apple are only available by download. Almost every new computer today ships without a CD/DVD ROM drive unless you special order it. People simply find it more convenient to download what they need, especially now that they don't have to wait days or hours for the download to complete. They don't have to worry about storing the disc somewhere safe.
I have a few computers and made sure I had optical disc drives in all of them. I've noticed that in the last year and a half, I've only used one of those drives one time. The next computer I build will not include an optical disc drive.
I love the option of having a book available in digital format. But I think that making it available as a download is the best option moving forward. There are plenty of options available to distribute them. You can have them ported into the Amazon Kindle format or Apple iBook and distribute an online code printed in the book to give access to download the digital version for free. That could go hand in hand with making the book available as a purchase to download for those that don't want to buy the printed version. I can't imagine you publisher not knowing of a service to turn to for distribution at a nominal cost, the infrastructures already exist. I know there has to be many services out there that I don't know of.
Put it on Amazon as an ebook....
@RogerB, As a collector, researcher, and Professional Numismatist, I like to have reference books in both hard copy (for my library and use at home, and in CD format. I love it when I can load the book onto m laptop and have it at shows - most books are pretty heavy and bulky to carry to and around at shows.
W. David Perkins Numismatics - http://www.davidperkinsrarecoins.com/ - 25+ Years ANA, ANS, NLG, NBS, LM JRCS, LSCC, EAC, TAMS, LM CWTS, CSNS, FUN
CD's and their players are simply too large and storage density is too low.
CD/DVD can add a lot of value if suitable software is provided with it.
You may find my article from Numismatic Bibliomania Society on this topic of interest:
http://www.shieldnickels.net/articles/RevolutionizingNumismaticReference.pdf
http://www.shieldnickels.net
This. It would accomplish the same thing, and you'd probably have increased sales. (There are a lot of people who just don't want hardcopy anymore.)
RE: "CD's and their players are simply too large and storage density is too low."
Understood about physical size and capacity. Yet, on-line has multiple defects of data delivery and density, plus overhead on the supplier.
Although there is a reasonably well-defined sales curve to numismatic books, it is subject to unpredictable peaks and valleys created by factors outside of the publisher's control, and at unexpected times.
Tried complying with Amazon ebook requirements and the result was a confused, disjointed book that was almost unusable. PDF at least permits fixing page format and content so that photos track with related text, etc.
According to my distributor, the demand for numismatic books in electronic format is very small -- less than 5% of printed when both are offered. Full electronic is economically viable and an author might actually make a modest profit.
But - not rejecting any idea at this point.
Some of the problem might be similar to that experienced in selling/buying coins. Older collectors want and expect a different format and experience than younger collectors; Internet vs Bourse.
Given the presumed limited distribution of the book, and the even more limited demand for electronic versions, would a note in the book stating "send me an email if you'd like a digital copy sent to you by email after you submit proof of purchase" be too informal?
@RogerB depending on the amount of photos/pics it can be challenging. My book is up on Amazon (paperback and ebook) and the total cost to set up the ebook was about $150. It might not be economically viable if the sales of ebooks are that non-existent.
I love your books. I would enjoy them more if you included a VHS tape with each one.
Skip the CD/DVD. I'm with @jtlee321.
Lance.
Just a link to download a digital copy
I have a number of books on my Kindle and would pick up some of your books electronically. I read two books in the last month.
Maybe some market info would be helpful at this point.
Typical numismatic book sales are small - 50 to 200 copies total. The only exceptions are Whitman publications. They are backed by a large wholesale and distribution company and get wide exposure.
Some books published in the 1960s - Judd's pattern book is an example - can still be bought in new condition even though they are almost totally obsolete.
My books usually have print runs of 1,000 to 2,000 copies, and it takes several years to sell out. Some titles, such as the Annual Assay Commission Minutes 1800-1943, sell more slowly and there's no idea when they will sell out.
Maintaining an on-demand infrastructure presents difficulties of technology and cost unless it is supported by multiple product channels. For a single book, or several books if past editions were added, it is impractical to do for the length of time needed to meet future book demand/sales.
As for electronic-only numismatic book editions, present hobby market data show poor sales. where this has been tried. Although some might read several e-books a month, It is likely that none of those are modern numismatic books. Market data from Europe, where numismatic book sales are stronger and much more diverse than in the USA, supports these observations.
I want to get the most useful information into the hands of collectors in the most convenient format(s) and best price.