MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

spinoza · 09-13-2009, 01:33 PM

"Going back to Spinoza's original post, I think we are going about this backward. His/her problem is finding books he wants to buy but that the PRS can't render. If our book readers could render every major eBook format we would be free to go to the lowest priced vendor."

This is a good point, but I don't see the marketplace realizing this any time soon. First, the technology is still very much in development, and settling on a general platform would stifle innovation. And second, the competition among ebook manufacturers is still in its infancy.

DRM is a different story. As an author I can understand the need for DRM, and I personally have no problems with a robust DRM as long as I can control the books I own. The early DRM schemes like the MS Reader were atrocious abominations. Other schemes like iTunes and the Sony DRM, on the other hand, I have found reasonable since they allow me to control what devices I use through my account. As long as I can deauthorize devices I no longer own or use, I'm satisfied.

So until all this plays out, I foresee a proliferation of formats and pricing schemes, and it will take consumers some real "ebook savvy" to navigate the waters and to find the best prices. Communities like this forum, in which we can share notes, will keep the publishers and retailers honest.

09-13-2009, 01:33 PM	#48
spinoza Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston area Device: PRS-505, iPhone, MacBook Pro	"Going back to Spinoza's original post, I think we are going about this backward. His/her problem is finding books he wants to buy but that the PRS can't render. If our book readers could render every major eBook format we would be free to go to the lowest priced vendor." This is a good point, but I don't see the marketplace realizing this any time soon. First, the technology is still very much in development, and settling on a general platform would stifle innovation. And second, the competition among ebook manufacturers is still in its infancy. DRM is a different story. As an author I can understand the need for DRM, and I personally have no problems with a robust DRM as long as I can control the books I own. The early DRM schemes like the MS Reader were atrocious abominations. Other schemes like iTunes and the Sony DRM, on the other hand, I have found reasonable since they allow me to control what devices I use through my account. As long as I can deauthorize devices I no longer own or use, I'm satisfied. So until all this plays out, I foresee a proliferation of formats and pricing schemes, and it will take consumers some real "ebook savvy" to navigate the waters and to find the best prices. Communities like this forum, in which we can share notes, will keep the publishers and retailers honest.