A former Kindle user's manifesto... (or something like that..)

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by Barty

Back to the original question. I was concerned about being locked in for a long time, but turned out what I was really concerned was having to pay $400, then $300, etc. To be locked in. When the price dropped to $140, my concern was allayed :-)

But seriously, my beef with Amazon is they not only locked me in, but they locked me in an inferior format nobody else uses . I still hold out hope they will support ePub some day, just so they can say kindle now reads library books like the Other National Leading Brands.

Well as somebody who has probably lost $1000s of dollars in lost, damaged, and no longer viable media files (video games, iTunes, poorly backed up computers that crashed) I understand the sentiment.

I'm going to leave the "inferior" format comment alone because first of all I'm not terribly picky about my formatting. I like it readable and that's about it. But mostly I'm not all that convinced Amazon will ever switch to ePub or that they even need to. Right now they are clearly controlling most of the eBook market and raking in the money as they do it. They don't need to offer Library Downloads to sell the Kindle, and let's face it - there's no money for a bookseller in library downloads (Other than Overdrive).

How about this?
Amazon sets up their own library content system supplier or actually buys Overdrive and starts supplying Ye Olde Public Library with their own Kindle books. hmmmm, 60% to 80% of US digital reader owners out there have a Kindle device or App and now the libraries are serving them. Amazon is selling the devices AND the library eBooks.

My point is, this digital book market is in an uncontrolled explosive stage. None of us really know where any of these retailers are headed 5 years in the future so thinking you are protecting yourself by buying ePub only is a high risk gamble.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by FF2

As one exploring this issue - wouldn't you have to plan in advance and download the kindle4pc application and then download all of your archived content to the pc? I am not sure you can convert the versions on the kindle deice or can you? While I'm sure we would have some warning about Amazon's impending implosion I'm just trying to get my head around what is necessary. Of course, if Amazon were going to implode I might also be concerned if there'd really be electricity to charge my ereader whatever the brand. Back to paper for me.

I have no idea, I have never looked at it as an option and I am not worried about Amazon exploding so I am not hunting for info right now.

I have a feeling that if the worst case scenario were to happen, the fine folks at this board would be able to help me through the process.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by FF2

As one exploring this issue - wouldn't you have to plan in advance and download the kindle4pc application and then download all of your archived content to the pc? I am not sure you can convert the versions on the kindle deice or can you? While I'm sure we would have some warning about Amazon's impending implosion I'm just trying to get my head around what is necessary. Of course, if Amazon were going to implode I might also be concerned if there'd really be electricity to charge my ereader whatever the brand. Back to paper for me.

One should make a habit of backing up their ebooks onto a computer and onto some removable media (and even another cloud) on a regular basis. That way, one wouldn't have to scurry to get everything downloaded should something bad occur.

[DiapDealer]

While I'm sure we would have some warning about Amazon's impending implosion I'm just trying to get my head around what is necessary.

The way things currently work, if Amazon were to implode tomorrow, one would have to hope that nothing ever happened to the computer you are currently on (and you have every book you ever purchased already downloaded to K4PC)... if you want to entertain any chance of liberating and/or converting your library.

My advice? Don't wait to ensure the future viability of your purchases. Take care of business while you have the ability.

If this sort of thing concerns you, of course.

[FF2]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

One should make a habit of backing up their ebooks onto a computer and onto some removable media (and even another cloud) on a regular basis. That way, one wouldn't have to scurry to get everything downloaded should something bad occur.

Hey, you ain't so daffy afterall

Yes, playing catchup is the issue. Just the last few days, I've been trying to create a simple text file with Book, Author and Description so I know what I've been grabbing.

I just downloaded the kindle4pc so catching up on archiving is the plan. I do wonder if Amazon Bots are out there saying FF2 is certainly not going to be reading all of those books on his computer, wonder why he's grabbing them all immediately now???? FLAG THAT ACCOUNT (yes, I accidently removed my tinfoil hat this morning)

Thanks for the help and hints. Do I hear some rumbling in downtown Seattle (just a couple of miles from here)?

Maybe the end is near - I've just imploded kindle4pc twice importing an archive item.

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by carld

I'm glad ePub makes you happy, but I honestly don't see the point of your post. Thankfully it's just short of feeling like you're trolling. I read all sorts of stuff on my Kindle and don't feel the least bit "locked in."

This housewife/grandma completely agrees.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by FF2

As one exploring this issue - wouldn't you have to plan in advance and download the kindle4pc application and then download all of your archived content to the pc? I am not sure you can convert the versions on the kindle deice or can you? While I'm sure we would have some warning about Amazon's impending implosion I'm just trying to get my head around what is necessary. Of course, if Amazon were going to implode I might also be concerned if there'd really be electricity to charge my ereader whatever the brand. Back to paper for me.

those of us who have been around since K1 days learned about putting books on cards

Originally Posted by FF2

Hey, you ain't so daffy afterall

Yes, playing catchup is the issue. Just the last few days, I've been trying to create a simple text file with Book, Author and Description so I know what I've been grabbing.

I just downloaded the kindle4pc so catching up on archiving is the plan. I do wonder if Amazon Bots are out there saying FF2 is certainly not going to be reading all of those books on his computer, wonder why he's grabbing them all immediately now???? FLAG THAT ACCOUNT (yes, I accidently removed my tinfoil hat this morning)

Thanks for the help and hints. Do I hear some rumbling in downtown Seattle (just a couple of miles from here)?

Maybe the end is near - I've just imploded kindle4pc twice importing an archive item.

*waves from across the sound*

[ProfCrash]

I think there was a secret meeting of non-Kindle owners to include the concept that Kindle owners are locked in to Amazon's bookstore in their posts this Holiday season.

It seems to be a recurring theme. Heck, I added a signature line to address that very theme.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

One should make a habit of backing up their ebooks onto a computer and onto some removable media (and even another cloud) on a regular basis. That way, one wouldn't have to scurry to get everything downloaded should something bad occur.

Absolutely.

Your books safety is in your hands.

Take control of your own destiny........

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think there was a secret meeting of non-Kindle owners to include the concept that Kindle owners are locked in to Amazon's bookstore in their posts this Holiday season.

Funnier still is that the OP is/was a Kindle owner! I have actually started to enjoy seeing this in writing. I can't help but to see the humor in it.

[FF2]

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Funnier still is that the OP is/was a Kindle owner! I have actually started to enjoy seeing this in writing. I can't help but to see the humor in it.

While humorous in the abstract, it appears that too many people think that Kindles can only get content from Amazon. The misconception appears to be pretty widespread. And, frankly, until told about a FREE BOOK from Smashwords, I, too, was under that impression. I did know I could load pdf files from other sources but not mobi-format books.

[abookreader]

I actually was sitting in a Barnes and Noble cafe once and heard the nook demonstrator get into a squabble with one of the people watching over this

No, only Amazon
Not true. I buy from ....
No, only Amazon
Not true. I buy from ....

I thought I was going to have to separate them.

[Kitabi]

Seems, I need to make it a habit of pointing this out.

To those pointing out that Kindle owners have choices, I say - yeah, sort of. If your definition of choice is buying from niche sellers, you have choices. However, for a lot of people, that is no choice. If I want the independence to buy any title from any seller like I have for pbooks, I don't have it with the Kindle. This is the classic definition of a closed tech ecosystem.

The same is not true of the ePub ecosystem. Currently, the only problem is that B&N is using a different DRM scheme from the others and this is what most Kindle apologists latch on to. I would like to point these latchers on towards the several threads that discuss B&N reaching an agreement with Adobe whereby Adobe will start supporting B&N's DRM scheme in addition to it's ADEPT DRM. Thereon, this stumbling block to accessibility should fall too.

Amazon, IMHO as a customer, has made a bad decision in going with a proprietary format. They would have cornered the same market share on the strength of their hardware/software quality, excellent customer service and aggressive pricing. By going with the proprietary format they have lost customers who do not wish to be locked in.

And lock in it is - make no mistake. I have already pointed out the inability to buy books from any source. The other half is being able to read Kindle content on competing hardware. In ePub world, I can read the same content on 10 different e-ink readers. In Kindle world, there are no other manufacturers of readers because Amazon has not licensed it's technology to anyone. This also gives lie to their claim that they are using a proprietary format to innovate faster. If it were true, they could erect a consortium of booksellers and hardware makers around their format. Their objective is lock-in. Period.

To understand the implications of this, think back to the history of MS Office. Ever since MS got rid of competitors like Word Perfect, it has run roughshod over customers - think new releases without significant updates but still priced high. The options for customers unwilling to pay have been pirated copies or watered down nagware from MS.

If Amazon were to somehow corner significant market share, what is to stop them for jacking the Kindle price back up? Or increasing prices on books. On the other hand, if they decide to get out of business for whatever reason, what happens to your content? These questions are not an issue in the ePub world.

This brings us to the final point brought forward by the apologists - strip DRM and convert format using Calibre. However, DRM stripping is (borderline?) illegal in the US and in other countries where content companies have bought such laws. This is deterrent enough for many people who would not strip DRM. Also, many people out there are not savvy enough to do this - not even with the plugin - they haven't heard of Calibre.

As a customer, I should NOT have to put up with this. The companies obviously have their reasons for doing what they do but for me, my interest and convenience comes before theirs.

[JeremyR]

Hell, I have the plugin but I still can't figure out how to strip DRM from epubs (Amazon, I did). And I grew up using dos.

But really, the reason for buying the Kindle 3 is that it's basically the cheapest e-ink e-reader that doesn't suck in terms of screen quality. Trying to read from a Kobo or Nook 1 would probably leave me blind, much less frying my eyes with an LCD like Nook Color.

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by Kitabi

As a customer, I should NOT have to put up with this. The companies obviously have their reasons for doing what they do but for me, my interest and convenience comes before theirs.

Customers never have to put up with anything. Go buy a nook. That's what a marketplace economy is about. Pretty much the one thing you can't do though is insist that Amazon must bend their business to your individual will. Right now, the majority of digital reader buyers don't agree with you and your concerns.

If Amazon were to somehow corner significant market share, what is to stop them for jacking the Kindle price back up? Or increasing prices on books. On the other hand, if they decide to get out of business for whatever reason, what happens to your content? These questions are not an issue in the ePub world.

Except for - what if the Adobe Content Service were to go out of business and there is no longer a company there to verify your ePub DRM?

And what do you mean exactly that these things are not an issue in the ePub world? Book format has nothing to do with price. ePub books cost the same as AZW books. If Amazon starts jacking up book prices, somebody will put out a reader that reads cheaper books and customers will flock to them instead of Amazon.

In fact, your entire argument sound eerily like the Agency 5. We can't allow Amazon to offer low prices now because what if they stop wanting to offer low prices five years from now and insist on high prices. Thus, we must save you from that theoretical doom that might happen five years from now by insisting that the low prices must stop now and be replaced with the high prices that we're scared they will insist on.

There, aren't you glad we're here to protect you?

Amazon apologists? Puhleeze.