The Espresso Book Machine - Better than the Kindle

If you are like me, one of the major reasons why you don't want a Kindle is that you still like the feel of holding a real book in your hands. Certainly it is convenient to be able to purchase a new book whenever you want, but it is still not the same when you are trying to read your favorite novel onscreen.

That's why I was happy to discover that On Demand Books has created the ultimate innovation in book technology. Their new Espresso Book Machine is set to revolutionize the book industry by allowing anyone to print physical books on demand.

According to On Demand Books, the Espresso Book Machine is like an ATM for books. It prints, binds, and trims new books on the spot. The result is a perfectly bound, library quality paperback book. The book covers are full color, and according to On Demand Books, the books produced by the Espresso Book Machine are "indistinguishable from other books sold in bookstores."

Now you may wonder how long it takes to print a new book. Well, unfortunately the Espresso Book Machine isn't quite as fast as the espresso machine at your local Starbucks. But at four minutes for a 300 page book, it still produces new books in much less time than a trip to the local bookstore would. Running the machine twelve hours a day, seven days a week, you can print up to 60000 books a year.

With over two million titles available for printing there is plenty to choose from when it comes to the Espresso Book Machine.

According to On Demand Books:

Ultimately, the EBM will make it possible to distribute virtually every book ever published, in any language, anywhere on earth, as easily, quickly, and cheaply as e-mail...

Content is expected to increase substantially as more EBM’s are adopted by bookstores, libraries and other venues across the globe.

There are other big advantages to the Espresso Book Machine. It is environmentally friendly, reducing CO2 emissions by reducing the need for shipping bound books from publishing houses. It also saves paper because it eliminates the need for publishing houses to print books in large batches that may have to be destroyed due to lack of demand. With the Espresso Book Machine, if there isn't a demand for the book, paper isn't wasted printing it. This could be a big boon for the environment, as an estimated 8.8 pounds of carbon are created as byproducts of each book printed.

Publishers and authors may be worried about whether the Espresso Book Machine will lead to mass producing of books that they will never be paid for. Fortunately, the Espresso Book Machine takes care of everything. It charges a base fee to cover royalties as well as an extra per page fee to cover printing costs. The royalties are automatically sent to authors, publishers, and other content providers.

You can even use the Espresso Book Machine to print your own personal writings. According to On Demand Books:

Book files can also be printed in person from CDs, flashdrives, etc.

All you need is a ebook in PDF format, and the Espresso Book Machine will print as many copies of it as you pay for. This could be desirable for self-published authors trying to whip up interest in their works.

The Espresso Book Machine can bring great benefits to small publishers, retailers, and libraries and universities. Small publishers will never have to worry about returned shipments of unsaleable books. The Espresso Book Machine will allow them to keep a smaller inventory and a smaller back list. Retailers will likewise enjoy the reduced need for shelf space. With just a few Espresso Book Machines a retailer can serve many more customers out of a much smaller facility. They will never have to worry about running out of stock. Meanwhile, the innovative on-site printing is bound to bring in customers who want to buy a book just so that they can watch the Espresso Book Machine produce it. Libraries and Universities will be able to produce facsimiles of rare and valuable books, while at the same time enjoying a new source of revenue.

Unfortunately, the Espresso Book Machine is not a device that most people can afford to own. At £68000 (more than $100000 USD), none but the very rich could afford to own one themselves. However, for book sellers, and small publishers the Espresso Book Machine may prove to be a revolutionary device.

If you don't live near one of the fifteen cities where the Espresso Book Machine is in operation, you will have to stick to more traditional methods of purchasing books. But look forward to the day when the Espresso Book Machine comes to a bookstore near you!

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