Quote:
Originally Posted by mdmorrissey
I would buy a Kindle tomorrow if it could read library books.
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I don't see why owning two ereaders is considered an unacceptable choice for avid readers (which probably defines many of us here).
I have a Kindle 3 which I prefer to read on, has great access to the largest selection of commercial books, a great screen and user community. When I purchase books for it, I generally save $5 or more per title; over time, the device pays for itself.
I have an original Kobo which I enjoy reading on, has access to a surprising number of commercial books not at Amazon, access to free-to-read library books, performs the basics of an e-ink reader, and has a vocal user community the vendor listens to. When I purchase books for it, I often save $10 per title, partly due to Kobo's ongoing generous weekend discounts; over time, the device pays for itself.
In this real-life example which I am living today, and at around $150 per ereader, I am net money in my pocket within a year of owning each device.
Amazon's challenge, if it were to release a K4 in late summer, is what could it offer that improves the current value proposition? Really, the only thing Kindle lacks is library access: if Amazon figures out how to be the conduit to the end-user that Overdrive is today -- borrow/return a book "owned" by your local library which is facilitated by Amazon's servers / software -- then it essentially erases the remaining competitive gap. (Another solution would be to enable a segregated "library mode" which handles DRM epub directly on a Kindle from Overdrive using wifi only as transport through Amazon to complete and validate the transaction.)