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Broken Paradigm

2009-09-03 20:15:02.117913+00 by meuon 4 comments

I thought I'd be the last person to complain about this. I wanted a couple of good audio books for the next few trips. The specific books I wanted seem to only be available via audible.com, and while I'm willing to pay $8 to $13 for some mind candy:

  • I'm not willing to sign up for a monthly recurring bill to get it (they do offer a simple purchase though..)
  • I don't want to install some "free" software to manage it (and the DRM), besides - they don't support Linux anyway (Winders or OSX only).

Yet, [quick google search for title] I'm only one click away from an easy, free, transportable (playable on the TomTom or iPhone or Sandisk mp3 player) version.

I wish there was a way to properly pay the content creator(s) properly and easily for their work, I respect their IP rights, I want to support them, and I want "more like this".

The current packaging and delivery mechanisms still suck.

Back to: http://www.librivox.org - at least I'm catching up on my classics.

[ related topics: Free Software Books Music Open Source Software Engineering Consumerism and advertising Work, productivity and environment Civil Liberties Macintosh iPhone ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2009-09-03 22:48:49.092526+00 by: Dan Lyke

Yes! I got pissed off enough at Audible the first time I tried to buy something from them that I sent a nasty "please cancel everything" email. I got someone on the phone within 30 minutes who walked me through the entire process, including a 15+ minute download, but a straight MP3 would have been great.

And I haven't been back, both because the process was so much of a pain in the ass, but also because I then get this annoying DRMed file.

I really really really wish the publishers would make it easier to buy legitimate versions than to pirate it, but they seem to be intent upon driving us to external sources for the content.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-09-04 01:10:15.582597+00 by: Larry Burton

I wish there was a way to properly pay the content creator(s) properly and easily for their work,

Meuon, download the bootleg version and send the author the price of the book on Audible. Also send the author a note explaining to him or her why you had to use this method for payment. Or just buy the book through Audible and listen to the bootleg file.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-09-04 14:08:23.030081+00 by: meuon

Mailing payment is a decent idea... if I thought that the RIAA and lawyers would not seek me out, and I don't want to support the Audible distribution method.

Nancy and I just listened to a wonderful collection of Grimms Fairy Tales.. Including one in which Cinderella's step-sisters cut off parts of their feet to fit into the slipper and blood spilled out of the shoe..grusesome Grimm stories.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-09-04 17:55:49.903039+00 by: m

Get the free copy, pay the author. A moral and functional thing to do.

But its the rational solution that could cause you great problems. It is clear that the metapublishing industry (movies, audio or printed) does not want a rational solution. They might string you up to put the fear of law into the hearts of anyone who might also get uppity ideals like applying ethics or thought to the distribution problem.