Quote:
Originally Posted by jswinden
The decade+ old and proven model used by Palm and WM powered PDAs, and to a much lesser extent Apple's limited iPhone/touch, is the hands down BEST model to follow:
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I always shake my head when someone talks about how they want an OPEN device and then point to Apple as the model to follow.
Do you realize that Apple only allows you to sync your iPod with iTunes. You can only get iPod apps from the iTunes store. You must have an iTunes store account. Even as an iPhone / iPod developer you must pay the developer fee to even put an iPod/iPhone app on your own device for testing. Don't get me started on OS X which the refuse to allow anyone to run unless they have bought Apple hardware.
Hey, I like my iMac and my kids love their iPods. First thing one of my Sons did was jailbreak it so he could access the storage and put apps that weren't "approve by Apple" on his iPod Touch.
If you want to look at a company that is OPEN take a look at MS.
Now... all that rant aside, I disagree with you. The problem with dedicated eBook devices is NOT that you can't run any software you want on them... it is that they publishers and content "providers" use arcane and useless DRM and proprietary formats that tie your hands. (No I don't want to get into a DRM discussion.)
If you look at the way computers evolved you see the same thing. Each type of computer you bought was an island. you could only run the OS and software from the vendor you bought the machine from. Eventually that will happen with readers. But the ONLY way this will happen is if more and more readers are developed and released and used by people.
So yes EVERY new ebook reader device that comes out is one step closer to your nirvana. It will happen.
BOb