[=X=]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Every e-book I've looked at on Amazon and BN has had the same price, and if it's been available in one store, it's been in the other store. Both seem equally convenient.

I think people do care about format when they realize that Kindle both locks them out of library borrowing and ties them only to Amazon, forever. Kindle had a big head start but will its domination last with so many challengers around now?

Actually bad example, since buying books from B&N locks you into B&N forever as well.
However with both B&N and Kindle you can buy books from outside their stores. With the Kindle they must be DRM free. For B&N they must be Adobe DRM or DRM free.


Your lack of understanding in DRM is really the issue I have with ePUB. It's a subtle detail with a HUGE impact, most people don't understand it and see ePUB just like you. That is if they buy ePUB then it is accessible across all devices and that is far from the truth. If a format is associated with a DRM scheme then that virtually creates it's own format. With ePUB you have three formats an with the Kindle you have only one. To further exemplify my "One Format" point, you can even read MobiPocket books bought from any eBook store including library books on your kindle. So long as that Mobi book has your Kindle PID.


Also it looks like you are new to the eBook industry, so I'll clear something up, Amazon does not have a head start. SONY was in the business years before Amazon as was eReader.

However Amazon came in and did one thing neither of these guys did. Make buying books easy, selling books at low prices, and have a selection.

Which goes back to my point, price, selection and convenience really are key. I've said it back when even when SONY was ahead of the game as I say it today.

When B&N came into the business they too where priced much higher than Amazon so they where playing catchup since they started.

The only reason today that B&N have the same prices as Amazon is due to the publishers who forced this model on all retailers. However when their contract ends beginning of next year well see if this model will still be in place.

Originally Posted by LakeLoon

Isn't this the point? I think most people who say "Kindle should support ePub" really mean "Kindle should support Adobe Digital Editions" (or whatever DRM standard is used by a competing bookstore). If your ePub is non-DRM'd, you can convert it to MOBI, with some limitations, and vice versa.

Yes I agree with you, what people mean when they asking for is Adobe ePUB. However that is not what they are asking for, their asking for ePUB because the concept of DRM is very hard for many people to understand.
I hope that in the next ePUB go around ePUB nails down DRM, just like DVD nailed down DRM. This way when people buy ePUB it truly works across all devices.

Originally Posted by LakeLoon

I agree with =X=, it makes absolutely no business sense for Amazon to support competing DRM schemes. All it means is losing money from lost sales (i.e., the person bought the book elsewhere or borrowed it from a library).

Yeah, I've never understood the library argument. Hey Amazon if you want my money support ePUB so I can borrow library books for free.