MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Prediction for 2011 from Smashwords Founder

DaronFraley · 01-03-2011, 01:32 PM

I work in the Info Tech world, and I see a lot of similarities between Linux and ebooks as tools of market disruption.

In the early 90s, Microsoft was king. What did we learn when Linux came onto the scene?

1. It is possible to make money with free. Ancillary products and services around Linux is now a multi-billion dollar industry. And you know what? Linux is EVERYWHERE. GPS units, computers, phones, wireless routers, manufacturing equipment, automobiles, etc.

2. Proprietary == Evil. Secret file formats, closed APIs, etc. . . . they are the bane of the IT industry. What works is to keep file formats OPEN, instead of making devices locked-down expensive pieces of equipment.

I completely agree with Mark Coker's assessments. In fact, I would also predict that DRM will die. People are not going to put up with it. Yes, there will always be some piracy. But in reality, when a publisher opts out of the DRM garbage and uses more open file formats, and then makes their ebook product available at a fair price, with ease of portability so the paying reader can read the material anywhere . . . That is when EVERYBODY wins. The publisher and author make more money because they sell more, the customer is happy, and piracy is a spit in the wind.

Just my opinion.

01-03-2011, 01:32 PM	#39
DaronFraley Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 96 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	I work in the Info Tech world, and I see a lot of similarities between Linux and ebooks as tools of market disruption. In the early 90s, Microsoft was king. What did we learn when Linux came onto the scene? 1. It is possible to make money with free. Ancillary products and services around Linux is now a multi-billion dollar industry. And you know what? Linux is EVERYWHERE. GPS units, computers, phones, wireless routers, manufacturing equipment, automobiles, etc. 2. Proprietary == Evil. Secret file formats, closed APIs, etc. . . . they are the bane of the IT industry. What works is to keep file formats OPEN, instead of making devices locked-down expensive pieces of equipment. I completely agree with Mark Coker's assessments. In fact, I would also predict that DRM will die. People are not going to put up with it. Yes, there will always be some piracy. But in reality, when a publisher opts out of the DRM garbage and uses more open file formats, and then makes their ebook product available at a fair price, with ease of portability so the paying reader can read the material anywhere . . . That is when EVERYBODY wins. The publisher and author make more money because they sell more, the customer is happy, and piracy is a spit in the wind. Just my opinion.