Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
Sony says what they do do and Amazon says what they do. Jetbook doesn't say what they don't do which in this case is a serious mistake. A lot of people who shop at BB&B are like my mother. And if she was to purchase a Jetbook, she'd find it the wrong device for her because it would not allow her to read the books she likes.
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Here is the current Amazon Kindle 2 home page:
www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Generation/dp/B00154JDAI
When I do a find on "Sony", nothing comes up on reading Sony books, or not (there is one comment by a user on Sonys coming with covers). When I search on DRM, it also comes up blank, only mention is in the user tags. Now, doubtless, they could wander through the Amazon forums, consumer comments, and eventually find it, but most wouldn't bother, and I think the point is made, Amazon is not all that up-front in its marketing materials on what formats it does or does not read, DRM or not.
Here is the Sony PRS-700 home page, U.S.:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fw ww.sonystyle.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet %2FProductDisplay%3FcatalogId%3D10551%26storeId%3D 10151%26langId%3D-1%26productId%3D8198552921665562069&ei=TSTsSYaABoG Itgeyi6CeBg&usg=AFQjCNE7URd4CNQ5t8DVeAQlzCa1dS-vgw
First page has no mention of Amazon or DRM. To it's credit, Sony does list DRM in the specifications, but buried in a tab, and with no explanation.
Anyway, the point I was making is that none of the eBook reader manufacturers is putting the DRM issue, or the tower of Babel of formats, all that out front. They are pushing the aspects they're good at. That's known as marketing. Like I said, I don't particularly like that, but I'm not going to condemn Jetbook for not putting it out there, any more than I'd condemn Amazon or Sony for their marketing approaches.
So then, how is a consumer to know? I suppose they would consult resources like Consumer Reports, or the web resources like Mobileread, it's not really rocket science. Consumers Reports, basically says don't buy eBook readers, they're too expensive, at least in the case of Amazon and Sony. They like the technology, but think it needs to come down in price. They do pick the Amazon over the Sony, but don't really consider Jetbook, at least that I could find. Perhaps Jetbook's lower price would change their conclusion, probably not.
But really, a big part of the discussion, seems to be the Bed Bath and Beyond aspect. That they'd sell an eBook, or at least one without DRM (or maybe, that's not a Sony
), seems objectionable to some. Well, Hoover's lists Consumer Electronics as the one of the main areas of BB&B sales (#3), and further lists Target and Walmart as prime competitors (both of which carry eBook readers). So partly, they're responding to competition. BB&B has a pretty good relative PE ratio, is having some problems with the slump (most retailers are), but it says in the company statement that they need to find new products and areas, this eBook seems to me to be part of an effort in that direction. Obviously BB&B is doing a LOT better than its closest competitor, LnT, so lets give the people that run it a little credit. Median income on its customers is generally higher. eBook readers in BB&B (along with the 20% coupons) are doubtless floor traffic generators, another marketing technique, an often effective one, and retailers are fighting very hard to get consumers back on their floors right now. Have to get people back into stores before they'll start buying stuff again. Is the consumer in BB&B somehow dumber, or less educated than the consumer in Walmart, Target, BB (would have included CC, but...)? Well, ignoring perhaps the sexist aspect in that question for a bit, I would say the objective evidence is actually the opposite, from the BB&B demographics. Some of the sharpest, most educated, most informed shoppers out there are female, somebody's Mom might get confused (mine would not, she's the one that runs the PC in the family, Dad, well, Dad is retired), new technology can be confusing at times, doesn't matter the age or the sex. However, if you go into BB&B you'd realize quickly enough, some of what they sell is quite complicated, lots of factors or trade-offs involved, knowledge needed to make the right decisions. What they offer is a lot of choice. Nothing wrong with that. And in the end, do most of us, when we buy something, really know what's inside, how the product is designed, every last detail of it? Does a BB customer know more about what they're buying than a BB&B customer? I think not. Mostly we study things a bit, ask friends, read up and research if we can, look for a name we're familiar with (hence the whole branding thing), maybe ask the salesman (all too often that's good for a laugh), and then just make our best guess.
And in the end, that's why I'm fine with BB&B carrying the Jetbook. It offers the consumer more choices. And for some, the Jetbook will be the right choice. It's cheaper than the competition, it supports a lot of formats, and for many, its lack of DRM is just fine. Maybe they're opposed to DRM, maybe they want the kids to stay with the classics, or don't want unfettered access to the online stores (and the consequent
surprises on the credit card bill). Or they're looking at the Jetbook as a way to dip a toe in the water, a not too expensive way to try out eBooks while waiting for the technology to mature. Let's not equate being a BB&B customer with being dumb.