Quote:
Originally Posted by stonetools
Actually, it doesn't matter to the 99%. Maybe it should, but it totally doesn't .
Run this thought experiment. Let's say Apple says tomorrow,
" We will offer books in the iBookstore DRM free but at the same prices as before, i.e. higher than Amazon ".
According to you customers should run to iBooks. In reality, I expect only the techie handful will do that .
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if another store did manage to compete on price with amazon and sell cheaper, it wouldn't matter as the 99% are locked into the kindle. The other stores cannot offer drm'd kindle compatible books.
The 99% may not know what drm is and I imagine most don't but they will know that the other stores are not selling kindle books.
Price will matter however if the books are drm free as then customers could buy from non amazon stores if the price was cheaper or they had a better loyalty program or some other incentive. Whilst drm remains though that is not even a remote possibility outside of those that can remove drm.
Whilst drm remains, the publishers are playing into the hands of the largest device owner, in this case amazon due to the lock in potential. Simply removing drm won't be a silver bullet though, but it will at least open the door for other retailers to target kindle owners.