[MerLock]

I think ebooks have a long way to go in terms of reaching mass appeal. Not only because of the restrictive DRM but because there isn't a common format. Go into an ebook store and you have to make sure you purchase the correct file format that is compatible with the device you want to read it on. Currently, the availabilty of ebooks is pretty low compared to paper back books and having so many different formats makes it worst because it adds another limit to ebook content.

For example, a book my not be available at the sony store but at another ebook store. However, that ebook store doesn't sell that format in Sony's format, so basically even though that book is available in an ebook it's not in the format I need. That just further narrows down the amount of content from an already small content pool. I know you can do conversions of file types but that just adds another layer of effort that the general reader probably would not want to be troubled with.

It would be a lot simpliar if there was one or two formats to worry about and those formats would be supported by all e-reading devices. If and when that happens, I think ebooks would become very popular because it becomes a lot more convenient. I don't think people like being restricted to a certain file format that is only supported by one electronic reading device.

The MP3 file format gave music that freedom. Many portable music players support the mp3 format and mp3 music files can be found in a lot of different sources. So it's not hard to find the song you want in an mp3 file which will most likely be supported by whatever music player you have. And now that a lot of big companies are doing away with DRM'ed music files, it makes it even so much simpliar for the consumer to buy a song and to listen to it pretty much on any device they choose!

I understand that DRM's are important because the people who develop the works needs to get paid. But I hope ebooks will develop a common format and that a DRM can be developed that doesn't add too much restrictions to the consumer. I feel that DRM should help prevent the sharing/stealing of electronic media but it shouldn't be where it is now where it locks a legit user into using only certain devices.