Comments on: Why Won’t Amazon Compete in the ePub Market?

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:30:27 +0000

I think that any author considering publishing an ebook should ditch the idea of DRM, most people who buy eBooks are, I believe, honest enough to simply pay for and read an eBook, especially given how much less they cost versus hard copy alternatives. Using DRM prevents most people from converting the files to a different preferred format so they can read it on any device of choice. The protection DRM provides isn’t worth it for the number of potential customers it alienates, far better to trust your customers and let them have the flexibility they need to manage their eBooks. Dishonest people that will not respect the copyright are in a minority and if they were determined to rip a book off would do it anyway, with or without DRM.

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:30:59 +0000

I think that no matter what DRM is in place, DRM won’t win in the long run. I have a Kobo and while I do enjoy it, I think that Kobo’s use of Adobe’s DRM is still problematic, even it it does use ePub format.

Most importantly, books that have Adobe DRM can’t be sideloaded onto a micro SD card and then inserted into the micro SD slot that can be used to expand the library on my Kobo. Thus, if I buy anything from the Kobo store, it can’t be stored anywhere else except within the Kobo’s native hard drive, and I find that Kobo’s ePubs tend to be bulkier than DRM-free ones. I made a deliberate choice on Saturday to buy more expensive ePub files from an independent publisher and from an independent bookstore precisely because their files were DRM-free.

By: Camilla Stein

Camilla Stein — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:06:17 +0000

Yes, same here, I am breaking my back sitting all day behind the desk, and I’d love to relax with a good book on my lap. I guess what I was trying to say is that Amazon ain’t stupid people and I am sure they are fully aware of the situation, but their solution isn’t client friendly.

By: americaneditor

americaneditor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:13:23 +0000

Amazon could solve the DRM problem by making its DRM scheme available for free to all comers. It hasn’t done that.

By: americaneditor

americaneditor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:12:27 +0000

Joe, see my reply to Camilla. I don’t want to lug around a computer just to read for pleasure nor do I want to buy a tablet, which is just another computer, just so I can read a book for pleasure. That Amazon covers most bases doesn’t really address the issue.

By: americaneditor

americaneditor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:10:34 +0000

The problem with Kindle for PC is that you have to be willing to read your books on your computer. I already sit in from of my computer all day, every day for work. The last thing I want to do is sit at my desk and read for pleasure on my computer.

By: jpreynolds7J

jpreynolds7J — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:40:21 +0000

I have an Android OS tablet (Toshiba Thrive) and buy and read all of my books from the Kindle/Amazon store. There is a free app from Kindle that makes this easy and seamless. When I choose to buy an ebook, I select the device I want it delivered to: My wife’s Kindle, my Android OS tablet, my PC, or my Android phone. Whichever I choose, my selection is downloaded at purchase and delivered to the device of my choice.

So I don’t think Amazon has left too many stones unturned to make it easy to buy ebooks and read them on the platform of your choice. It is a non-issue today.

Good Reading!

Joe

By: Piet van Oostrum (@pietvo)

Piet van Oostrum (@pietvo) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:34:22 +0000

I guess it’s this combination:
1. Publishers want DRM.
2. DRM on ePub must be Adobe Digital Editions (the only DRM is supported on the other ereaders).
3. Amazon doesn’t want to be dependent on Adobe. Similar as Apple.

By: dostendorff

dostendorff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:04:20 +0000

I wonder if it isn’t a matter of control. Amazon knew/knows they have to woo traditional publishing companies to work with them. Perhaps part of that sales pitch is a tighter control of their ebooks and readers. For example, my wife and I have books on both of our Kindles. When we give them away or sell them, the Kindle has to be re-registered and connect to Amazon’s servers. When it does this, it – I assume – is to wipe all the ebooks not owned by the new owner. Amazon needed to guarantee control of their ebook sales to publishers. Just as MP3′s universal use opened the door for digital piracy, skeptical publishers had to be convinced that these digital files of their books wouldn’t simply be tossed around the e-universe on bit torrent or some other peer-to-peer server. I really think it was a level of control and security that Amazon knew they had to be able to show big publishing houses….but that’s just my own thoughts and observations.

By: Camilla Stein

Camilla Stein — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:58:43 +0000

I’ve been wondering the same thing. It’s strange, really… You’d think money is the best motivator, but no, something else must be going on their. Maybe because Kindle ain’t as perfect a gadget as we are told, and compatibility is a huge technical problem for Amazon? On the other hand, some time ago Amazon realized they are missing out because non-Kindle owners pass Amazon stores empty handed – so they came up with Kindle for PC (free!) and Kindle for Android (free as well). Which is great. But the elephant is still in the room.