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Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
this bandwagon-bashing is directed at content producers... not at consumers. I don't criticize anyone for choosing a device that works for them, and enjoying it. But I caution against allowing the device to draw users into proprietary products and formats that will be a lot of trouble to replace later. Hopefully books-as-apps won't catch on, but they are out there. DRM-laden ePubs are out there. I sympathize with anyone, in the future, who discovers they cannot move their book to their new InfiniPod (or whatever) that doesn't support that format of DRM scheme. And I hope most people manage to avoid it.
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I am certain, Steve, that you would not bash someone for using a device they find useful, and that fits their needs. And while there is some Kindle bashing on MR, I have not seen the type and extent of iPad user bashing here.
It seems acceptable to some to equate a person finding a gadget they find fits their need to "someone willing to be fleeced in order to be part of the in-crowd". or a fanboi.
Nonsense! I have owned several ebook readers (and I imagine I will own more) and have found value in all of them. I have not owned an apple computer in over 15 years. And I knew exactly what I was getting when I purchased my iPad. And the one thing I knew I was absolutely NOT purchasing was membership in the in-crowd.
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Hopefully books-as-apps won't catch on, but they are out there
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Don't be frightened. There are lots of horrible ideas that have and are "out there". This is one of the horriblier ones, and it ain't going anywhere but to the dustbin next to the pocket fisherman.
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DRM-laden ePubs are out there
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So were DRM laden audio files. Don't see much of them anymore. And most DRM-laden epubs are trivial to free. The publishing industry will either recognize the futility of trying to wrap their files in Double Top Secret encryption, or lose to piracy.
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I sympathize with anyone, in the future, who discovers they cannot move their book to their new InfiniPod (or whatever) that doesn't support that format of DRM scheme. And I hope most people manage to avoid it.
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Me too.
But bashing one device over another ain't going to change anything. All devices have the same feature. Either they cannot use DRM ebooks (thereby frustrating users who can't read the best seller DRM'd ebooks) or they do use DRM ebooks (thereby causing frustration for not being able to use the ebook on a newer or replacement device.)
Or they come to MR and discover that no matter what device they use, they can get around the DRM scam.
The last thing they need is someone telling them the device they chose makes them look stupid and their butt look big.