Thread: The true cost of publishing on the Amazon Kindle
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Old 02-19-2011, 01:42 PM   #17
Kali Yuga
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Quote:
Originally Posted by karunaji View Post
That's why devices should be separated from content delivery....
C'mon man, reading comprehension. Absolutely nothing about opening up the 3g delivery would change the fact that these companies don't uniformly pass on cost savings to customers.



Quote:
Originally Posted by karunaji
The closed systems mean that ultimately everybody loses.
Open systems aren't a bliss of freedom either. Android developers are routinely driven up a wall by apps that work on one smartphone but not another. Similarly an open system basically allows for lots of shenanigans.

There are also tons of closed systems that are not only doing well but are fostering innovations and transforming the industry. The Kindle and Apple -- which you are deriding so thoroughly -- both utilize largely closed systems, yet are doing more for ebooks than Project Gutenberg. Go figure.

(This is not at all to say that "closed is better," only that "open is not a definitive win.")


Quote:
Originally Posted by karunaji
It is also the price I would get charged if I used Kindle 3G for my own document delivery. And I don't want to pay.
So? Sideload it. Or get an iPad.

The iPad, by the way, does allow you not only to use competing ebook apps, but allows you to use your own SIM card as well. Yet Apple is still railing magazine publishers with a 30% royalty (like Amazon did until a few months ago), and I doubt that if they increase the royalty rates that the magazine publishers will change their prices.

There are genuine pros and cons to open vs closed. But in this case, you're chasing an illusory benefit.


Quote:
Originally Posted by karunaji
The current system is very much like if you had a car and you would be allowed to buy gas only from gas stations that belong to the car maker.
Or, it's like owning an XBox360 and finding out you can't play PS3 or Wii games on it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by karunaji
Who gives it up without a fight?
What are you, a porcupine? :P

Everyone has to pick their battles selectively. And of all the perceived injustices of the world, this is a fairly petty one.
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