Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
Sorry, but you are so WRONG! If ePub was the losing format, then Overdrive would not be supporting ePub and instead supporting AZW. The problem is that people by the Kindle and then want to borrow library eBooks and can't. Can't even borrow PDF. I'm not talking people who know how to strip DRM and format convert, but the average person who has no idea about DRM stripping/converting. For the people who want to borrow library eBooks, the Kindle is the wrong choice of reader.
Amazon should do something about that. But they won't because Jeff would have to give up control of the format of eBooks and allow content (with DRM) to be able to be purchased away from Amazon and he won't do that. Jeff's saying that the technology is changing too much to have ePub is pure BS. All of the enhancements Amazon has made to Mobipocket (aka AZW) they can make to ePub.
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You've identified a problem that can be solved, not a reason why ePub can survive the worldwide assault (and brand recognition) of Amazon. It's all about the path of least resistance when it comes to adoption. If you can sit on the beach and buy the latest best-seller on a whim, worldwide, then the average punter is going to jump at the chance. If you can get your newspaper delivered, then people are going to jump at the chance. The average punter probably has no clue about ePub vs .mobi (AZW) - most didn't have a clue about Betamax vs VHS either. What they do know is that Amazon sells books, they know that Amazon sells an ereader that can access those books, they do not care about DRM or formats or loaning out from a library (again, a problem that can be solved).
Another reason to just throw up our hands and say 'Okay, Amazon, you win', is the absolutely generous treatment that Amazon gives to independent commercial authors. Amazon is creating, little by little, a new mid list where these authors can survive, maybe even make a living with 70% royalties on their books. None of the other companies are doing this (B&N are making baby steps, but not much more).
For nearly two years I've backed ePub, but it and the companies that adopted it as a format have done nothing beyond a few meagre book stores, some limp hardware updates, and adding a few more types of DRM. We need to move forward, and to do that, some of us (the staunchest supporters of ePub even) have to admit that it failed to do what it promised and that the general public have, and are continuing to choose Amazon over everyone else.