MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - How can we convince Amazon to sell ePub format?

LaurieGator · 01-16-2011, 04:29 PM

Just to throw another Monkey Wrench into the argument...

I picked up a Kindle 1 about 3 years ago. Back then, the only other e-reader on the market was Sony. Comparing prices, features and the number of books available to be purchased for each I decided the Kindle 1 was the better value. For 3 years I have been stocking my e-book library with Amazon books. Library book lending was not a big deal back then and the features were in Amazon's favor.

Fast forward about 3 years and we have all sorts of new things that were not available back then such as color e-readers, library book lending and books that read to us. I now have close to 1,000 books in my e-reader library. Is someone like me going to give up all of the DRM books I have to switch to a new e-reader? Not likely.

The whole AZW vs. EPub didn't become a big deal to me until I got a Nook Color and now I have an e-reader with a different format. I had a choice to make... I could strip the DRM off of all of my books so I could read my Kindle books on my Nook Color. I could also root my Nook Color so I could download Kindle for Android and still have access to all of my AZW books. I have learned a lot about Android and DRM copy protection in the last month.

I think Amazon is also banking on the fact that once you have a Kindle and you have built up a substantial e-library of your own that you are going to be very hesitant to switch over to another e-reader. This is giving Amazon a whole set of people who will likely not switch over. I don't think that Amazon is worried about losing their customer base but they are reaching out to other technologies to make sure that the Amazon books are accessible on many different devices. I also appreciate the fact that if I order an e-book by mistake then I can get a refund within 7 days. If I screw up in the Barnes and Noble store I am stuck with the book. Customer service is very important too!

I don't forsee that Amazon will be forced to accept and sell books in EPub format anytime soon. I think they made good choices when they first got into the e-reader and e-book market.

I prefer that books be DRM free and we are able to read any book on any e-reader. Let the stores that sell e-books battle it out on pricing and customer service.

01-16-2011, 04:29 PM	#291
LaurieGator Crazy Cat Lady Posts: 96 Karma: 13662 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle 2i, Nook Color (Rooted)	Just to throw another Monkey Wrench into the argument... I picked up a Kindle 1 about 3 years ago. Back then, the only other e-reader on the market was Sony. Comparing prices, features and the number of books available to be purchased for each I decided the Kindle 1 was the better value. For 3 years I have been stocking my e-book library with Amazon books. Library book lending was not a big deal back then and the features were in Amazon's favor. Fast forward about 3 years and we have all sorts of new things that were not available back then such as color e-readers, library book lending and books that read to us. I now have close to 1,000 books in my e-reader library. Is someone like me going to give up all of the DRM books I have to switch to a new e-reader? Not likely. The whole AZW vs. EPub didn't become a big deal to me until I got a Nook Color and now I have an e-reader with a different format. I had a choice to make... I could strip the DRM off of all of my books so I could read my Kindle books on my Nook Color. I could also root my Nook Color so I could download Kindle for Android and still have access to all of my AZW books. I have learned a lot about Android and DRM copy protection in the last month. I think Amazon is also banking on the fact that once you have a Kindle and you have built up a substantial e-library of your own that you are going to be very hesitant to switch over to another e-reader. This is giving Amazon a whole set of people who will likely not switch over. I don't think that Amazon is worried about losing their customer base but they are reaching out to other technologies to make sure that the Amazon books are accessible on many different devices. I also appreciate the fact that if I order an e-book by mistake then I can get a refund within 7 days. If I screw up in the Barnes and Noble store I am stuck with the book. Customer service is very important too! I don't forsee that Amazon will be forced to accept and sell books in EPub format anytime soon. I think they made good choices when they first got into the e-reader and e-book market. I prefer that books be DRM free and we are able to read any book on any e-reader. Let the stores that sell e-books battle it out on pricing and customer service.