Why Do People In The IM/Make Money Niche Still Use PDF For Ebooks?

So I guess "theft" and "serial refunders" are just an accepted cost of doing business then? Because even when factoring them in, the extra sales you make with a PDF version still nets more profits.

Why expend the energy worrying about theft and refunds then?

One of my "work in progress" eBooks I would like to sell as an .exe instead of an eBook, does anyone here have any advice or tips on doing this? For my target marker, which are gamers, I feel that it wouldn't be long before my eBook would show up as free on gaming forums which are aplenty.

I'm not sure that I fully understand the part of your post quoted above.

The bottom line (for me anyway) is that IMers don't like to download .exe files - it's a shame because the 'creator' has more control over them to defeat the bad guys. That lack of control however, is the cost of doing business on line IMHO.

I always use .pdf.

If one is in the non IM niche, then one could probably use just about any download format that one wants, as many people outside of the IM niche usually are less aware of the potential dangers of downloading files, whatever their format - in most (but not all) cases.

Just my opinion,

Jeff.

On that very subject....

Over-the-counter ebooks

It IS a trade off. And one that makes good business sense. That's my point. I don't understand why people worry/complain about it. Especially when the ones that are bothered so much by it don't seem to be exploring any alternatives.

But it sounds like BIG Mike & Co. may be on to something that might allow those folks to have their cake and eat it too.

You nailed it. I rarely read PDFs on my PC, I use my Kindle or iPhone and read them while driving.

From the customer's perspective, the question would be: what's in it for me?

I've purchased .EXE eBooks in the past, and never liked them. As a buyer, they don't provide a benefit to me. Onscreen viewing was cumbersome and many had printing disabled. So, that limited my options.

A PDF is a much better experience. Most aren't set with disabled printing, so I can print them out and read them offline if I want. Or, I can read them right on my computer. My option.

Maybe .EXE eBooks have improved and can provide an experience comparable to a PDF, but what's in it for me? I already have a great feature set when I read a PDF, so why should I be limited by an .EXE?

Perhaps an .EXE gives more options to the seller but, as the buyer, if I've shelled out $xx for an eBook, I want to be able to read and use it in a manner I prefer. I don't see where an .EXE gives me as many options as a PDF. Plus, if I'm a Mac or Linux user, I can't use your .EXE at all, unless I boot into Windows, which I would be loathe to do just to read an eBook.

And, for those willing to write off Mac and Linux users because the Windows market is so much larger, are you also willing to lose a portion of that market, simply because some people will be unwilling to purchase an .EXE eBook?

With a PDF, you can sell your product to Windows users, Mac users and Linux users. With an .EXE, you lose the Mac and Linux users plus a portion of Windows users.

An .EXE may be good for the seller in helping to stave off piracy (maybe) but, as the buyer, any added inconveniences that protect the seller do not do me any good if they limit my options in using the product I PAID FOR!

Imagine if printed media publishers included GPS devices and locks on their books that would clamp them closed if you tried to read the book outside your home? If you wanted to read the book at the office or on the road, you'd have to purchase an additional copy. I'm sure there are publishers that would jump at the capability of doing that, but do you think buyers would be happy about it?

Corey Rudl once developed a solution for this problem. eBook Publishing Software: Make money online with eBook Pro

But the program had many flaws in the earlier versions. Don't know if the latest 6.0 version
works without hussle. You could simply deactivate a user if he asks for a refund, so he is no
longer able to read the ebook or print it out. You could offer a trial version and so on.
Another problem was, that it was only compatible with PC. I think the idea was cool, cause
it included a viral system for mailings, updates etc.

Most people get really freaked out when they see an EXE download, especially for something like a book. Not even large-scale electronic publishers use them.

One thing that might me worth trying is a simple Adobe Air App.

It may even increase the perceived value.

For some niches this could cause a support nightmare, but for others it could be seen as a benefit.