Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
But are not all eBook readers closed and considered expensive? The iLiad is the only one that is not closed.
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I guess I kinda got the thread off on this tangent by cutting and pasting from the interview about the failed Cytale.
Here's what they had to say just above the first quote I posted:
"Bookeen was created in April 2003 by Laurent Picard and myself. Laurent and I have worked in the e-book industry since 1998. We were part of the first French company, Cytale, that developed an e-book reader: a 10-inch LCD color screen with touch-screen capability—a kind of TabletPC light version or iRex in color. Cytale developed from scratch a whole distribution chain, from the digital-conversion service for a publisher to the hardware device. We developed our own format based on OEB (something very close to the current Adobe .epub format), our own DRM system (based on the well-known PGP model and used by every current serious DRM provider), our own e-book store, and our own device. Cytale’s value rose to 11 million euros (about $17 million), and they had 49 people on staff (only three of us were dedicated to the hardware, and Laurent and I were among these three). The device was on sale by the end of 2000, was sold for 1,000 euros (about $1,500), and was able to read only the Cytale format, offering 1,500 French titles in their catalog. The company did not succeed and was forced to close its doors in July 2002."
and the original quote, expanded:
"Now it seems obvious to everyone why Cytale has failed, but if you observe the current market, you can see that some of the actors are still going through the same story: closed model, weak catalog, high-priced device. At the end of Cytale, Laurent and I decided to offer a second chance to the Cybook, and we launched Bookeen. Our first step was to open the device to many digital formats; by doing so, we immediately increased the number of digital documents that can be read on the Cybook."
So the Cytale used a proprietary format and was incompatible with any other format. With Cybook, they wanted to make sure it could be used with as many formats as fiscally feasible given the cost of the device.
I still kinda see Sony referred to in their remarks, although they could be talking about the high price of the Iliad. They mention the Cytale was a $1500 color device which could only read its own catalog of 1500 books. It could not be used for any other format or function.
Anyhoo, the thread sorta went the way of a lot on this board, sort of 'defend your device' and trash the other guys.
Personally, I've got two makes of devices in my house with a third on the way and they all are great gadgets, worthy of the praise heaped on them my loyal owners.
We are all early adopters of a new-fangled device. The passion engendered by one's own device and the scorn heaped on a rival device reminds me of the late 50's-early 60's when users were very snobbish about their stereo equipment, and if you didn't own the 'right' equipment other owners looked down their noses at your 'sorry stuff'.
By the mid-60's <everyone> had a decent system and fights were rare and 'uncool'.