MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - E-books one of the biggest technology flops?

RWood · 04-14-2007, 04:45 PM

I have about 2 TB of storage on my music server filled from my CDs and Lp albums that I have transcribed over the years. Many of the albums were never issued in CD form. Some of the 78 rpm records I have transcribed were never even issued in 33-1/3 rpm or 45 rpm formats. This is what fills my Creative mp3 player. This is what I listen to while I type this response. Sure there were many long nights tagging the files and some of those I have never listened to. They are there for that day when I want to listen to them. I have boxes of DVD backups stored off-site to ensure that I don't have to do all of that again.

Was it worth it? Yes!

It is mostly a matter of what each person wants. Those of us currently at MobileRead seem to be the ones that will take the time to work at their content. The average consumer just wants it simple and easy to use. Will eBooks get there? Yes, but not soon. Music required a standard format (mp3) as did video (vhs over betamax.)

Sharing, bootlegging, or piracy if you care to call it by those names are just noise that obscure the real problem of old established businesses that are resisting any change to their traditional business models in light of the technology advances. Rather than endorse them and lead the market they are doing all they can to keep the new technologies from being used to their fullest. Under the banner of "trusted platform" the new CPUs and operating systems such as Vista are large DRM schemes that provide others with control of your computer to say what you may and may not do with it but cannot keep your kids from hard core porn for that would not be "right."

The economics have shifted and the old business models will soon be in the trash heap of history. Where was the outcry of the buggy whip manufacturers when the automobile started to become popular? How many spoke out for the poor blacksmiths when the demand for horse shoes declined? Why are we hearing now about the poor publishers with their warehouses full of dead trees? Have we all become professional victims?

04-14-2007, 04:45 PM	#50
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	I have about 2 TB of storage on my music server filled from my CDs and Lp albums that I have transcribed over the years. Many of the albums were never issued in CD form. Some of the 78 rpm records I have transcribed were never even issued in 33-1/3 rpm or 45 rpm formats. This is what fills my Creative mp3 player. This is what I listen to while I type this response. Sure there were many long nights tagging the files and some of those I have never listened to. They are there for that day when I want to listen to them. I have boxes of DVD backups stored off-site to ensure that I don't have to do all of that again. Was it worth it? Yes! It is mostly a matter of what each person wants. Those of us currently at MobileRead seem to be the ones that will take the time to work at their content. The average consumer just wants it simple and easy to use. Will eBooks get there? Yes, but not soon. Music required a standard format (mp3) as did video (vhs over betamax.) Sharing, bootlegging, or piracy if you care to call it by those names are just noise that obscure the real problem of old established businesses that are resisting any change to their traditional business models in light of the technology advances. Rather than endorse them and lead the market they are doing all they can to keep the new technologies from being used to their fullest. Under the banner of "trusted platform" the new CPUs and operating systems such as Vista are large DRM schemes that provide others with control of your computer to say what you may and may not do with it but cannot keep your kids from hard core porn for that would not be "right." The economics have shifted and the old business models will soon be in the trash heap of history. Where was the outcry of the buggy whip manufacturers when the automobile started to become popular? How many spoke out for the poor blacksmiths when the demand for horse shoes declined? Why are we hearing now about the poor publishers with their warehouses full of dead trees? Have we all become professional victims?