Quote:
Originally Posted by maximus83
Thanks all for the discussion, very useful insights.
Some responses in no particular order:
* Somebody well known here on Mobileread pointed out in a PM that while Amazon may not be an actual monopoly, they could sure use some competition to be more open in their formats. IMO, competition is good for everybody, including consumers and Azon itself. So for me, it makes sense to continue my plan to buy from sellers that are trying to use a format based on an open spec, like Epub. Hoping to eventually nudge Azon in a more "open" direction.
* That said, it's ALSO true what others noted here: you can still convert most if not all Amazon ebooks today if you can obtain the AZW3 file. So for now, there's no harm in getting Azon ebooks provided that you can still convert them into a usable "open" file format.
* While there's not a total consensus on the formats issue, even here at Mobileread as evidenced in the older "format future proofing" threads that somebody linked to, it does seem that of all the imperfect file specs and formats available today, epub probably has the broadest industry and library support, and the most going for it. Being in epub doesn't solve all problems (since everybody implements it differently and then devices also render it differently). But since epub3 is directly based on HTML5 and CSS3, it's at least based on universal W3 web standards and moving in the right direction, basically "converging on a standard." Storing your ebook files in epub today seems to make it most likely that you'll be able to use open source tools in the future to get your files converted to whatever format you need.
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I would prefer that we be very clear about what is necessary for future-proofing and what has other motivations, conscious or otherwise.
1. A boycott of Amazon to nudge it in a more open direction is not a ridiculous idea. However, those choosing to do so incur a cost, likely paying higher prices, no access to many of the increasingly Amazon exclusive Indies, and dealing with usually much inferior "competitors". All for something which will attract little support and has little chance of having any effect. Such a boycott stems from a laudable moral/political position, but does nothing for future-proofing.
2. Not only is there no harm in buying Amazon ebooks. They are as accessible as ever. The difference is that if you have a more modern reader than a Paperwhite 1 then some books delivered directly to that device will be .kfx. However, I have not seen a single example of a .kfx book that cannot be downloaded in an Alf-friendly format, either through K4PC or direct download. Yes, Amazon can change this readily with a K4PC version supporting .kfx, and stopping direct downloads, leaving direct delivery to older devices the only way to obtain an Alf-friendly format. However, they have not done so yet, may not do so, and a K4PC version supporting .kfx may well assist with the "cracking" of the .kfx format. Meanwhile, over in the epub world, we have Adobe with a so far uncracked drm system which it would already have made compulsory had it not discovered that its customary disregard for criticism would not fly in this instance. But that also can change effectively overnight. But it hasn't changed yet. No one outside of Amazon seems to like .kfx, but why single out Amazon. Right now either books from Amazon or Adobe Epubs remain Alf-friendly, and rationally plays little role in choosing so far as future-proofing is concerned.
Finally, there is no reason related to future proofing to prefer epub. Once liberated from DRM, either format can be read by open source tools. It is a fantasy to pretend that you will not be able to read a drm-free ebook in azw or mobi format in the future. As for epub3, personally I would prefer .azw3, not for future-proofing but because I personally don't like the format.
The discussion is worthwhile and timely, and I thank you for bringing it up. However, I think that your positions in some respects have little or nothing to do with future-proofing and stem more from current ideology, some of which I understand and sympathise with. However, I do think we should be clear on which is which.