The Espresso Book Machine

I listened to You and Yours on Radio 4 today after a tip off that The Espresso Book Machine was being discussed. I mentioned briefly that I'd seen it in action at The London Book Fair. What came across on the Radio 4 programme, when they tested the machine about acquiring the same book on the internet, that they were looking at speed and cost. Actually I think that the purpose of having these book printing machines in book shops is that you can purchase a book that day in the place you are standing. It is a pristine paperback. You might not be bothered about it being pristine, either. The point is, you can buy a book that isn't on the shelf in front of you, that may be out of print, that you cannot find (though probably can on the internet) but you, making your choice, can ask for a book and it is printed up as you wait. Five, ten minutes, twenty at most, does that really matter? It is the fact that you can have the book.
And you can order as many copies as you want!
www.ondemandbooks.com Have a look. The test store is at Blackwells in Charing Cross, London. Come on guys - try it out in the regions - that's my only quibble. Oh and price. It seemed expensive at £17 something for a paperback, but it may have been because of the specific book. If that is the cost of any paperback to be published via this method, then it might not be as successful as they hope. Worth looking into.
And now it is the weekend. And I need ink for my printer. That's a pain, but has to be done. The digital age is great in many ways, but it still needs to be fed.
The debate on machines like the Espresso Book Machine will be interesting.