Why no eBook kiosks?

tcv · 10-29-2006, 08:13 PM

Last night I was thinking about some of the topics here and I had wanted to write you all and say, "If you know how to promote eBooks the right way, go on and open your eBook store."

But then I realized that would be a little too trollish.

Still, I am curious: If there can be Internet connected kiosks in camera shops for digital photos, why didn't Sony put full eBook kiosks in Borders? Certainly they could offer a small discount based upon what Borders had on their shelves, promote eBooks, and still give Borders a piece of the action. You go on, buy a Sony Reader, get a free SD card and are directed to the kiosk.

I guess Sony didn't want to be too successful?

Evan · 10-29-2006, 09:45 PM

The Borders Books here in McLean, VA has an endcap dedicated to the PRS-500. Ironically, they couldn't have a working demo unit as something about the display, with an operational demo unit, was a fire hazard.

I'm extremely grateful to the kind soul who indicated that Borders may have them in stock despite Sony's shortfall. My store had several and I'm now a proud owner. And G-d damn this device is amazing!

TadW · 10-30-2006, 03:53 AM

E-book kiosks... this would be an excellent idea. And the Japanese have it already:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3212

nekokami · 10-30-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan

The Borders Books here in McLean, VA has an endcap dedicated to the PRS-500. Ironically, they couldn't have a working demo unit as something about the display, with an operational demo unit, was a fire hazard.

Weird. Does the display show some working E Ink, at least? That's what I would need to sell me one.

tcv · 10-30-2006, 09:00 PM

That's the kind of thing they should have.

I am not surprised the Japanese have something like it. I wouldn't be surprised if they managed to put temporary employees in a kiosk targeted to business owners.

In any case, they aren't _here._ Why? I think it's great that the readers are in places like Borders -- much better than CompUSA -- but why not a larger presence? Why not let people use the device there right after they buy it.

I sincerely don't get it. Tell me! I suck at logicallystuff.

yvanleterrible · 10-31-2006, 09:31 AM

I think that in airports, a net connected vending machine would be a great way to get ebooks.

We must not forget that it is essential to have computer access to use a reader. I know many people who would like the reader, that have no connection. Others would like it and have no computer. When you travel to certain countries, such a "kiosk" would be the only place to get ebooks.

If ever ebooks become "solid state" you'd get them in every book store. For now the vending machine is the only remote access possibility.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-31-2006, 10:23 AM

That makes good sense for daily newspaper delivery, too. Especially if it is fast enough to handle masses of users every morning, reasonably quickly (compared to a coinbox).

I could see a preprogrammed code on the reader or memory card, purchased from the vendor like a subscription. It would be automatically read by the kiosk, and if it confirms the code, it automatically downloads the paper. A transaction like that could be done in two seconds!

nekokami · 10-31-2006, 10:46 AM

If you put your own memory card into a kiosk to get newspapers or books, what are the chances you could spread a virus that way? I know Linux is fairly virus-resistant, but the kiosk maker might decide to go with some flavor of Windows, which seems to be a virus magnet. And people tend to put the memory cards/sticks into PCs, too.

I'm not sure about putting the identification on the memory card. Publishers will assume that someone will try to copy it and give it away, so they may try to put some bogus DRM on the card itself or something.

Then if you lose that card, you lose your whole subscription.

tcv · 10-31-2006, 11:04 AM

Sure, there are chances to do that. You run just as much of a risk, anyway, as the little photoprinter kiosks in drug stores do of contracting/spreading a virus. The key is in having the system locked down and, realisitically, the systems could be frozen so that a reboot would restore it back to normal. Everything else is captured dynamically over the Internet.

It's doable. I'm just wondering why it hasn't happened.

b_k · 10-31-2006, 11:11 AM

A) you can disable Autorun in Windows.
B) SD-Cards (SecureDigital-...) already support DRM as do the so called "MagicGate" Memory Sticks.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-31-2006, 11:15 AM

As long as the memory card is not actively downloading files... only ID'ing itself to kiosk, which could be by encrypted code... and the kiosk is designed just to identify the existence of verified subscription codes, not to accept data uploaded via the card slots... I don't think viruses would be a problem.

The memory cards could always be optimized and locked by the publisher to minimize tampering, making it like a credit/memory card that the owner cannot reprogram--and as important not to lose. If you do lose it, of course, you call the company, and just like credit cards, have a new one issued to you in a few days.

Still, I'd expect any company concerned about it... or concerned about concerned customers... would avoid running it on virus-prone SW like Windows, and would make a point of touting its tamper-free systems. After all, cheap SW is cheap SW, but if you chase your customers away, was it worth being cheap?

nekokami · 10-31-2006, 11:35 AM

I'd forgotten about those photo kiosks. (I've never used one. I'm happy enough to look at my pix on the computer.)

Personally, I'd rather insert my credit/bank card along with my memory card to get my book or newspaper, but perhaps I'm in the minority on this.

NatCh · 10-31-2006, 12:37 PM

I know that hard-drives have some sort of indellible serial number that uniquely identifies them, WinXP uses it to make sure you don't reinstall your OS on another drive without paying them again.

Do SD Cards and Memory Sticks have a similar "hardware serial number" that could be read? If so, I don't see why protected contents couldn't be locked/encrypted to that SN and thus unreadable anywhere but from that card.

Copy the file? Go ahead but it won't open anywhere but on that SD card. I still think this could work.

pdam · 10-31-2006, 12:48 PM

Hang on - all these "kiosk" ideas and "you currently need a computer" talk ... isn't one of the visions of the Ilaid (at least amongst contributors to this forum) that you will be able to use WIFI to get content ... given a WIFI point in bookshops ... you then just have to walk by ... or connect at the airport or ...
it's a nice dream at least ...

NatCh · 10-31-2006, 12:58 PM

Why not both?

10-29-2006, 08:13 PM	#1
tcv Addict Posts: 330 Karma: 596 Join Date: Oct 2006	Why no eBook kiosks? Last night I was thinking about some of the topics here and I had wanted to write you all and say, "If you know how to promote eBooks the right way, go on and open your eBook store." But then I realized that would be a little too trollish. Still, I am curious: If there can be Internet connected kiosks in camera shops for digital photos, why didn't Sony put full eBook kiosks in Borders? Certainly they could offer a small discount based upon what Borders had on their shelves, promote eBooks, and still give Borders a piece of the action. You go on, buy a Sony Reader, get a free SD card and are directed to the kiosk. I guess Sony didn't want to be too successful?

10-31-2006, 11:15 AM	#11
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	As long as the memory card is not actively downloading files... only ID'ing itself to kiosk, which could be by encrypted code... and the kiosk is designed just to identify the existence of verified subscription codes, not to accept data uploaded via the card slots... I don't think viruses would be a problem. The memory cards could always be optimized and locked by the publisher to minimize tampering, making it like a credit/memory card that the owner cannot reprogram--and as important not to lose. If you do lose it, of course, you call the company, and just like credit cards, have a new one issued to you in a few days. Still, I'd expect any company concerned about it... or concerned about concerned customers... would avoid running it on virus-prone SW like Windows, and would make a point of touting its tamper-free systems. After all, cheap SW is cheap SW, but if you chase your customers away, was it worth being cheap? Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 10-31-2006 at 11:35 AM.

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10-29-2006, 09:45 PM	#2
Evan ... loves his toys! Posts: 47 Karma: 2419 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Viena, VA Device: Treo 650	The Borders Books here in McLean, VA has an endcap dedicated to the PRS-500. Ironically, they couldn't have a working demo unit as something about the display, with an operational demo unit, was a fire hazard. I'm extremely grateful to the kind soul who indicated that Borders may have them in stock despite Sony's shortfall. My store had several and I'm now a proud owner. And G-d damn this device is amazing!

10-30-2006, 03:53 AM	#3
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	E-book kiosks... this would be an excellent idea. And the Japanese have it already: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3212

10-30-2006, 09:00 PM	#5
tcv Addict Posts: 330 Karma: 596 Join Date: Oct 2006	That's the kind of thing they should have. I am not surprised the Japanese have something like it. I wouldn't be surprised if they managed to put temporary employees in a kiosk targeted to business owners. In any case, they aren't _here._ Why? I think it's great that the readers are in places like Borders -- much better than CompUSA -- but why not a larger presence? Why not let people use the device there right after they buy it. I sincerely don't get it. Tell me! I suck at logicallystuff.

10-31-2006, 09:31 AM	#6
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I think that in airports, a net connected vending machine would be a great way to get ebooks. We must not forget that it is essential to have computer access to use a reader. I know many people who would like the reader, that have no connection. Others would like it and have no computer. When you travel to certain countries, such a "kiosk" would be the only place to get ebooks. If ever ebooks become "solid state" you'd get them in every book store. For now the vending machine is the only remote access possibility.

10-31-2006, 10:23 AM	#7
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	That makes good sense for daily newspaper delivery, too. Especially if it is fast enough to handle masses of users every morning, reasonably quickly (compared to a coinbox). I could see a preprogrammed code on the reader or memory card, purchased from the vendor like a subscription. It would be automatically read by the kiosk, and if it confirms the code, it automatically downloads the paper. A transaction like that could be done in two seconds!

10-31-2006, 10:46 AM	#8
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	If you put your own memory card into a kiosk to get newspapers or books, what are the chances you could spread a virus that way? I know Linux is fairly virus-resistant, but the kiosk maker might decide to go with some flavor of Windows, which seems to be a virus magnet. And people tend to put the memory cards/sticks into PCs, too. I'm not sure about putting the identification on the memory card. Publishers will assume that someone will try to copy it and give it away, so they may try to put some bogus DRM on the card itself or something. Then if you lose that card, you lose your whole subscription.

10-31-2006, 11:04 AM	#9
tcv Addict Posts: 330 Karma: 596 Join Date: Oct 2006	Sure, there are chances to do that. You run just as much of a risk, anyway, as the little photoprinter kiosks in drug stores do of contracting/spreading a virus. The key is in having the system locked down and, realisitically, the systems could be frozen so that a reboot would restore it back to normal. Everything else is captured dynamically over the Internet. It's doable. I'm just wondering why it hasn't happened.

10-31-2006, 11:11 AM	#10
b_k Übernerd Posts: 238 Karma: 74 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Device: iRex iLiad	A) you can disable Autorun in Windows. B) SD-Cards (SecureDigital-...) already support DRM as do the so called "MagicGate" Memory Sticks.

10-31-2006, 11:35 AM	#12
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'd forgotten about those photo kiosks. (I've never used one. I'm happy enough to look at my pix on the computer.) Personally, I'd rather insert my credit/bank card along with my memory card to get my book or newspaper, but perhaps I'm in the minority on this.

10-31-2006, 12:37 PM	#13
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I know that hard-drives have some sort of indellible serial number that uniquely identifies them, WinXP uses it to make sure you don't reinstall your OS on another drive without paying them again. Do SD Cards and Memory Sticks have a similar "hardware serial number" that could be read? If so, I don't see why protected contents couldn't be locked/encrypted to that SN and thus unreadable anywhere but from that card. Copy the file? Go ahead but it won't open anywhere but on that SD card. I still think this could work.

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10-31-2006, 12:48 PM	#14
pdam Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 100 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: iLiad, iPaq, Psion5&7, Blackberry	Hang on - all these "kiosk" ideas and "you currently need a computer" talk ... isn't one of the visions of the Ilaid (at least amongst contributors to this forum) that you will be able to use WIFI to get content ... given a WIFI point in bookshops ... you then just have to walk by ... or connect at the airport or ... it's a nice dream at least ...

10-31-2006, 12:58 PM	#15
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Why not both?