Quote:
Originally Posted by eerok
An open standard like EPub invites development of ancillary software, and indeed we see examples such as Sigil (multi-platform EPub editor) and EPub Zip (a utility for rebuilding EPub archives).
An open standard also makes it easier for apps like Calibre to perform high-quality conversions.
An open standard also mitigates the ability of a corporate entity to control in its self-interest the access and use of data you have created yourself or legitimately purchased. In my 30+ years as a computer geek, I've seen lots of proprietary file format games, and in my old age I simply decline to play along. Smart people would follow my example. In the wars to come (I don't want to alarm anyone, but they are already here), open standards and open source are the way to go.
When you accept a proprietary format, you accept power over you. So it's not all about which store you like.
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The problem is that we are not talking about a truly open standard here. B&N epub books are DRM protected. Based on that, we can convert via Calibre any Kindle or azw book, same way you can with B&N, of course, breaking the DRM protection. In that case, the difference(s) or line between standards is not there anymore and I can read an Amazon book on a Nook or a Nook book on a Kindle, see?
Your argument could be 100% true if major epub stores are selling without DRM, which is not the case. What pushes and keep a format alive is the user's demand and if the technology itself satisfies the requirements or not.
I see zero advantage of getting an ereader which supports epub format if the books I like and need, are not available on the online bookstore. This is the reason why I sold my Nook 1st gen. which after firmware upgrade(s) I must say becomes a solid and fast reader, but useless if I cannot buy my IT books.
No ones now for sure, if X or Y format will die 10 years from now. Technology is so volatile and dynamic that there is no way to tell that for suret.