20 books and it pays for itself: the e-reader math
A Kindle pays for itself after 20 budget books or 5 bestsellers. A cost breakdown, models and resources to get the most out of your e-reader in 2010.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
20 books and it pays for itself: the real math of the e-reader in 2010
Twenty budget books or five bestsellers: that is the threshold beyond which an e-reader starts to pay off. A calculation repeated ad nauseam puts the break-even point at around 100 euros in savings over paper, which with a basic Kindle costing under 180 euros is reached within a few months for a regular reader. Anyone reading a dozen books a year already comes out ahead; anyone devouring two a month breaks even in a quarter.
Doing the math: when does it pay for itself?
The rule is simple: each non-new-release book saves about 5 euros compared to paper; new releases, up to 20. With 20 of the first kind or 5 of the second, the device pays for itself. Some have managed it in a month by sharing the gadget with their partner and reading ten books between them. The Kindle 3 imported from the United States cost 145 euros, customs fees included, and with that reference point the return comes even faster. Those who opted for the Sony PRS-300 or the Papyre 6.2 can also vouch for it: "fully paid off in a couple of months".
Kindle, Sony and the rest: what to buy in 2010
Amazon dominates the conversation, and not just on price. Its customer service is legendary: if something breaks under warranty, they replace it without asking questions. The basic 6-inch Kindle without 3G was the most recommended, but with caveats: PDFs have to be converted to MOBI with the Calibre program, which also organizes your library with covers and metadata. Sony offered the PRS-300 as a solid alternative, and the Papyre 6.2 (from Spain's Booq) was gaining fans for its WiFi connectivity and similar price. The debate over screen size pits those who prefer 6 inches for portability against those who need 9 or 10 to read technical documents or comics, a format that only the Kindle DX covered back then. One key point: the technology must be e-ink; backlit screens (like the iPad's) strain the eyes and are "blatant misinformation" for reading.
Where to get books without breaking the bank
The web was full of resources: from digital public libraries and repositories like the Biblioteca Virtual Hispánica to endless lists of sites where you could download complete works. Borrowing from physical libraries was also mentioned as a foolproof option, albeit with the drawback of having to travel. The Calibre tool became the Swiss Army knife of the digital reader: it converts, organizes and sends books to the device. And while legal ebook prices remained anchored to paper (a bestseller cost 15-20 euros in digital versus 20-25 in physical form), the temptation to find your own way around was understandable.
Time has proved the early adopters right: the ebook didn't kill the book, but readers can no longer imagine moving house without their digital library. Fifteen years later, the promise of an iTunes for books at fair prices is still up in the air. The publishing machinery, stubborn as ever, refuses to give up the paper margin. For how much longer?
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Twenty budget books or five bestsellers: that is the threshold beyond which an e-reader starts to pay off. A calculation repeated ad nauseam puts the break-even point at around 100 euros in savings over paper, which with a basic Kindle costing under 180 euros is reached within a few months for a regular reader. Anyone reading a dozen books a year already comes out ahead; anyone devouring two a month breaks even in a quarter.
Doing the math: when does it pay for itself?
The rule is simple: each non-new-release book saves about 5 euros compared to paper; new releases, up to 20. With 20 of the first kind or 5 of the second, the device pays for itself. Some have managed it in a month by sharing the gadget with their partner and reading ten books between them. The Kindle 3 imported from the United States cost 145 euros, customs fees included, and with that reference point the return comes even faster. Those who opted for the Sony PRS-300 or the Papyre 6.2 can also vouch for it: "fully paid off in a couple of months".
Kindle, Sony and the rest: what to buy in 2010
Amazon dominates the conversation, and not just on price. Its customer service is legendary: if something breaks under warranty, they replace it without asking questions. The basic 6-inch Kindle without 3G was the most recommended, but with caveats: PDFs have to be converted to MOBI with the Calibre program, which also organizes your library with covers and metadata. Sony offered the PRS-300 as a solid alternative, and the Papyre 6.2 (from Spain's Booq) was gaining fans for its WiFi connectivity and similar price. The debate over screen size pits those who prefer 6 inches for portability against those who need 9 or 10 to read technical documents or comics, a format that only the Kindle DX covered back then. One key point: the technology must be e-ink; backlit screens (like the iPad's) strain the eyes and are "blatant misinformation" for reading.
Where to get books without breaking the bank
The web was full of resources: from digital public libraries and repositories like the Biblioteca Virtual Hispánica to endless lists of sites where you could download complete works. Borrowing from physical libraries was also mentioned as a foolproof option, albeit with the drawback of having to travel. The Calibre tool became the Swiss Army knife of the digital reader: it converts, organizes and sends books to the device. And while legal ebook prices remained anchored to paper (a bestseller cost 15-20 euros in digital versus 20-25 in physical form), the temptation to find your own way around was understandable.
Time has proved the early adopters right: the ebook didn't kill the book, but readers can no longer imagine moving house without their digital library. Fifteen years later, the promise of an iTunes for books at fair prices is still up in the air. The publishing machinery, stubborn as ever, refuses to give up the paper margin. For how much longer?
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- Sites for downloading books · 34 replies
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