Amazon MatchBook: Paper and Kindle editions on their way

If, like me, you like to watch your films or listen to music on more than one device (in more than one location) then you’ll have had to copy/digitise/rip it, which is not always legal.

But it can be done. For your CDs you need to just put them in your computer and iTunes or other music library software will offer to rip it for you. Connect your digital audio device and copy the file across and you can listen to your CD in the car, gym, bus, or at work or walking the dog. It’s slightly more difficult for your DVDs but there is software that can rip it into an MP4/M4V or MOV or WMV file which will play on your laptop, tablet, etc. and you can watch on the train, bus, plane, or in the shed or bath (wherever you want).

But what about your extensive library of books you’ve been collecting. If, like me, you also want to be able to read these electronically then it’s a lot tougher to digitise. So why can’t you get the electronic copy at the same time as the physical one? You can do this with your DVDs and with some CDs now (some DVDs come with the Ultraviolet digital copy), so why not books?

Thankfully Amazon has now started to offer this, through Kindle MatchBook.

Where selected, and this is the crunch, you can get the Kindle edition for a vastly reduced price (or free), but this is determined by the author or publisher. It seems the requirement is that the Kindle edition associated to the physical paper, when you buy them both, must be $2.99 or less (or even free).

As you may know I’ve produced two eBooks  – “QR Codes in Education” and “What is a Learning Technologist?“. The cost to me to write, develop, produce, and provide for purchase has been minimal (not including time and effort), which is one of the advantages and positives about self-publishing. I have now investigated and started to look to produce both of these titles for print, using CreateSpace services (another Amazon company). You can be sure I will investigate Kindle MatchBook and whether it’s available for my titles, and I will look to offer the Kindle edition at a vastly reduced cost (maybe even free) for anyone buying the paper copy.

Why both, why paper and eBook? This article by Elizabeth Craig “Advantages to Having Your Self-Published Book in Print” covers some of the advantages I’ve considered, namely:

• Buying a paper copy for a present or gift is still preferable to solely electronic gifts.
• eBook price looks a better bargain when compared to the higher price for a paper copy.
• Some people will not read electronically.

Keep track of my progress and adventures in self-publishing here, on Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and updates on when the paper edition of my titles will be made available.

I think this could be another good move by Amazon, especially as I’m supposed to be able to look back over previous book orders and get the electronic editions. I’ve yet to find out how to do this … let me know if you have tried, or indeed agree or disagree with this new Amazon feature.