MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Amazon Kindle might be the worst thing that could happen to e-books?

jgrnt1 · 11-20-2007, 11:14 AM

jharker,

I own 40 Mobipocket-DRM'ed ebooks, which makes the Kindle a no-go for me. If they offered a one-time conversion for pre-existing ebooks, that might cover it, since their catalogue is so much bigger than other ebook sellers. I believe stripping the DRM is possible, but who is to say that Amazon won't be able to detect it? With EVDO, they have access to your device anytime they want. They can update the OS whenever they choose. Suppose they can also check your library? You could keep EVDO turned off, but then some of the best features of the Kindle become useless.

Amazon is using the iPod/Zune model with the DRM lockdown. However, I don't think Amazon expects people to buy all their ebooks again. Most people read a book once and are done with it. There are a few people, like me, who will reread a book because they liked it so much, but they are a small minority. The only real issue then is reference works. Unfortunately, many of my Mobipocket books are reference works.

11-20-2007, 11:14 AM	#126
jgrnt1 Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Device: iPad	jharker, I own 40 Mobipocket-DRM'ed ebooks, which makes the Kindle a no-go for me. If they offered a one-time conversion for pre-existing ebooks, that might cover it, since their catalogue is so much bigger than other ebook sellers. I believe stripping the DRM is possible, but who is to say that Amazon won't be able to detect it? With EVDO, they have access to your device anytime they want. They can update the OS whenever they choose. Suppose they can also check your library? You could keep EVDO turned off, but then some of the best features of the Kindle become useless. Amazon is using the iPod/Zune model with the DRM lockdown. However, I don't think Amazon expects people to buy all their ebooks again. Most people read a book once and are done with it. There are a few people, like me, who will reread a book because they liked it so much, but they are a small minority. The only real issue then is reference works. Unfortunately, many of my Mobipocket books are reference works.