Comments on: Espresso Book Machine in the News

By: Stefano M

Stefano M — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:04:07 +0000

I’ve seen the espresso with a Konica Minolta engine (6501, I think). I agree that Kyocera would have been a poor choice but the Konica Minolta would be the best option for quality, stock, and reliability; especially since I’m sure the espresso’s capabilities will have to be honed before it is mass marketed. Perhaps cost was the determining factor as the 4112′s cpp is slightly lower.

By: Michael J

Michael J — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:02:43 +0000

On the question of quality, it’;s important to remember the conversations around cold type, then computer type, the desktop color separations. Like most disruptive innovations the first couple of versions can not compete with the quality of the established technology.

It’s important to remember that “good enough” is decided by the person who is buying it, not by the person producing it.

I agree with Bob’s point. Right now it looks much too clunky and from what I know too expensive. On the other hand I will never forget the 22 lb Kaypro computer that was “portable”

My take is that an ATM for books is too strong an experience not to have traction. It’s till an open question whether Xerox +espresso will be able to dominate a new market becuase they are first in the game.

The output technology is probably not very hard to duplicate. While Espresso has locked up traditional publishers with business deals, there is a huge amount of open source content on the web that is struggling to enter the real world in printed form. There are many data points, but folks might take a look first at PediaPress in Germany that sells printed book versions of wikipedia.

By: Bob Raus

Bob Raus — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:36:45 +0000

I like the idea overall, but the engineer in me tells me the system I saw on YouTube is too complicated to be reliable over time. This doesn’t mean it will fail, but that it needs another generation (or two) to mature. It remains to be seen if the market will be intrigued enough to let it get that far. I hope so!

By: Noel Ward

Noel Ward — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:12:50 +0000

Don’t count on this not working. Instant gratification matters.

As for quality, you make an excellent point, but production class printing and binding are no guarantees of quality. I’ve received on-demand printed books from Amazon (done by one of their digital print partners) that had the covers fall off.

In-store will not replace regular book manufacturing, but it will change the way the game is played. It’s early days and I’m guessing this will work.

By: Steve Brown

Steve Brown — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:30:52 +0000

As the president of a large digital printer, and having an intimate understanding of what it takes to make a book, ensure its printed well, and that it has binding integrity – I am confident that it is a fallacy to think a self-run machine could meet the needs of our discerning public. When you can go online and order a book and have it delivered to your home within a few days (even if it is printed on demand), why would anyone want to hassle with this process unless it was an emergency (last minute book report for students – or something like that).

Bookstores will not want to hassle with equipment downtime, returns associated with bad quality, raw materials management, and other manufacturing details.

This is going to be a failed experiment.