Quote:
Originally Posted by wmaurer
I think the real problem is, though, is that any outcry is from a relatively small community. Most Kindle buyers will probably think that the Kindle is a first of breed e-book reader, and will happily buy content from Amazon without realising that Amazon is attempting to kneecap competion. It may also be the case that publishers will think that publishing on non-Kindle formats isn't worth the effort.
-Wayne
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I think that you underestimate the financial sense of the public. There is a reason commercial e-books have been a bust until now, and it ain't the lack of a device or of the wireless delivery. Kindle brings nothing essentially new, it costs a lot, e-book prices are still high, content is still locked, and people ain't stupid.
Kindle may double the e-book market though I doubt it, but it would still be a minuscule thing, so I would not worry about Kindle cornering the market. And if Mobipocket dies or withers down, all the better, just to teach again the lesson that drm is bad and people should avoid it if not convertible.
On the other the positives (more exposure, competition on e-book prices) the Kindle already brought are tangible and are a step ahead.
Now I am more and more inclined to the view that dedicated e-book devices are dead on arrival, or at best a niche market, and something like an open iPod touch or a cheaper umpc a la Raon will be the first to break out the e-book market