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Originally Posted by latepaul
OK sorry to be dense but does that include changing the Kindle firmware or not?
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Two different things: selling epubs to non-Kindle customers and turning Kindle into ADEPT devices.
The former means setting up a parallel store for epubbers. And making prices equal would mean Amazon would have to eat the Adobe tax. That...is asking a bit much. Not only would they be helping a competing ecosystem, they would be paying Adobe for the "privilege".
The latter requires new firmware, raises hardware costs, makes Kindles more complicated, and increases support costs. All to help prop up a competing ecosystem?
Not. Going. To. Happen.
Consumers that actively want epub and only epub have plenty of fine options. Amazon is fine with that.
Amazon is competitive, yes, but they are not blindly competitive. They are not into scorched-earth policies designed solely to hurt competitors or into PR-driven, "we're nice to people who want us gone" policies. Both policies are fast prescriptions for running a company into the ground and *has* happened.
Amazon is too polite to say it, but their approach is clear: if you don't care about ebook plumbing and are open to their products they will do business with you and do everything they can to please you.
If you are not, they will not be offended if you go elsewhere.
They are not gunning for 100% market share.
They are not looking to destroy all competitors at any cost.
They just want as big a market as they can *profitably* maintain.
Market share at any cost is a poor strategy. Look up the history of Palm vs PocketPC.