How can we convince Amazon to sell ePub format?

[boswd]

What is funny is, if Amazon actually ever does open up and allow ePub all of sudden all the kindle owners tune will change, from defensive and denial to jubilation.

totally reminds me of my iPhone days. I used to have the 3g and the 3Gs and when Android phones started to get good and had features that the iPhone didn't have such as Folders, multitasking etc. the response was very similar to Kindle owners now in regards to epub. ( don't need it, why do we need it etc etc. the typical defensive over compensating argument) But now that iPhone owners just got the abilitly to have folders and I guess technically multitasking All of a sudden these are great features.

Same song different channel.

like sand through the hourglass so are the days of our walled garden.

[daffy4u]

I'll post more when I get home. I'm working and have intermittent internet.

I just want say those of you who feel you have to name call and disparage people who have made a choice different than yours what does that say about you. If you can't make your point (many of which are valid) without lowering the conversation to name calling, maybe you arguments are not as strong as you think.

[Purple Lady]

One way I try to get Amazon to add formats is to refuse to purchase any ebooks from them, and download plenty of free ones with K4PC. I can easily strip the DRM and convert.

I have found plenty of books cheaper than what Amazon has because they do not have coupon codes. Even Fictionwise(when they still had a selection) was cheaper with 50% off. Kobo still has coupon codes and so does Border's.

I don't see why whispernet can't be used for library books except if Amazon doesn't allow connection to the library site. I can download library books straight to my reader. It's a little slow accessing the website, so I don't normally do it, but it works.

[K-Thom]

like sand through the hourglass so are the days of our walled garden.

Yep, and ADE sure is the open space where we all live free and in peace ... Adobe will control its impact on the ePub market just as much as Amazon controls its own infrastructure.

Try to register your 7th device on ADE (and try to get Adobe to de-register one of your former six), then we'll talk about "walled gardens" again.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by boswd

Oh no the horror of actually stepping outside of your house.

pssst here's a tip, go to a library in your county

Umm, this was about a poster whose nearest library with e-books was 400 miles away and why distance matters, even for e-books.

I already have a library card.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Umm, this was about a poster whose nearest library with e-books was 400 miles away and why distance matters, even for e-books.

I already have a library card.

And he mentioned epub matters only if "you visit the library a lot"--implying that he'd need to make repeated 400-mile trips.

[Jack Tingle]

Originally Posted by rogue_librarian

As do the ones in Germany. Really everybody but Amazon, I'd say.

Now that's ironic. Mobi/azw is a French format.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Can you increase the font and still have it look ok on the K2 or K3? I'm probably an extreme case, but I use 175% - 225% font size increase.

I scanned a page from "The Pawn" by Steven James. It's a Topaz (.azw1) book.

I'm showing you sample font sizes 3, 5, 6 and 7 (of 8) using both my K2 and K3 (I normally read a 3 or 4). If you double click on each image, the full size image will very close to the same physical size of both Kindles, which is a much clearer representation than a screen grab. I'm not sure how they translate percentage wise.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I scanned a page from "The Pawn" by Steven James. It's a Topaz (.azw1) book.

I'm showing you sample font sizes 3, 5, 6 and 7 (of 8) using both my K2 and K3 (I normally read a 3 or 4). If you double click on each image, the full size image will very close to the same physical size of both Kindles, which is a much clearer representation than a screen grab. I'm not sure how they translate percentage wise.

I can definitely see the degradation on the K2, but the K3 isn't too bad.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I can definitely see the degradation on the K2, but the K3 isn't too bad.

My K2 US screen is not as good as the K2 International screens (I'd heard that but I didn't have a K2i to compare with). The pearl screen of the K3 and the Sony 650 are really beautiful in comparison to my K2.

[JLeighs]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I just want say those of you who feel you have to name call and disparage people who have made a choice different than yours what does that say about you. If you can't make your point (many of which are valid) without lowering the conversation to name calling, maybe you arguments are not as strong as you think.

I was just about to post something similar. I do NOT understand why it is necessary to slam other members over their choice in ereaders. Who cares? Why does it even matter? "Oh no! A happy Kindle owner has no problems with Amazon!! Biased b*stards!"

It's so silly.

[JLeighs]

Originally Posted by Catlady

And he mentioned epub matters only if "you visit the library a lot"--implying that he'd need to make repeated 400-mile trips.

I think I can safely say that even one 400-mile trip for a library card would be too much --for me anyway.

[JeremyR]

I've love to see Amazon support ePub, but not the Adobe DRM.

Call me crazy, but I find the prospect of one company controlling the DRM (and thus access) to every bookseller to be a bit scary. Hopefully B&N doesn't get aboard as well and sticks with their own.

(I also find it rather disconcerting that Overdrive has no competition when it comes to library DRM. Only company controlling - and perhaps monitoring - library use across the country - or world - is even spookier)

[CazMar]

I used to spend money every year buying Amazon books (over at least 10 years) but since the Kobo I haven't bought a single one. I'm not going to either go back to buying PBooks or changing my reading device so I guess Amazon misses out. A pity, the site is good, but if they want my business....

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They are *not* going to give up Whispernet. And Whispernet is incompatible with ADEPT, in case you hadn't given it much thought.

What does Whispernet have to do with the issue at hand?

Nothing. Only Kindles can use it, and they are already supported by Amazon's proprietary format. The issue is the additional sales they could make to non-Kindle customers like me.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They are not going to keep two sets of customer support personnel or dilute their existing staff to support somebody else's software and/or hardware. Not going to happen.

You seem quite certain on this point--even adamant. But it's a weak argument.

If the sale of eBooks, in any format, is not highly automated, then shame shame on the seller. But I'm quite sure that Amazon automates everything to the highest degree they can.

And they come across looking a little unscrupulous working toward the Microsoft-style near monopoly by pressing their advantage in a hard nosed way almost to the exclusion of tact. That could will hurt sales.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Amazon customers are satisfied with their devices, their bookstore, their *network*, their customer service, their prices.
Amazon is satisfied with the size of their customer base and revenue streams.
Neither has any valid reason to change.

Well this Amazon customer used to be satisfied with Amazon up until now. I'm no longer satisfied because they won't sell me the product I want in a format I can use. (Like the super grocery stores that won't sell milk by the half gallon. I don't shop there either.)

Second, Amazon's mechanism from the very start was to get big. They sold books at cost (zero profit) for a long time. Why? To get as big as possible as fast as possible. So now you are saying they've changed--they are content to ignore us former customers that would eagerly still shop there if we could? They will only do that if they think they can get bigger faster with their current hard-nosed policy than a more welcoming policy.

I'm not sure what they'll do, but your confidence seems unjustified.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Say what you will about Kindle and Amazon, they are successful. And the reason they are successful is because their *customers* like it. And they are Legion.

You're trying to turn the argument around and argue it backwards. Yes I decided I dislike the Kindle and Amazon's control over it. But ultimately I don't care much about the Kindle or Whispernet or the AZW format. I just want them to sell me the product I want in a format I can use.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

When the day arrives that ePub makes *economic* and *business* sense to support (if ever) Amazon will (probably) think about it.

No kidding.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

But until then they are *not* going to do their enemies any favors.

Enemies! Who is Amazon's enemy? How is selling books at a mutually agreeable price a favor to one's enemies?

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Money talks and Kindle sales talk louder than pundits.

No kidding. They can make even more profit selling ePub once they come down off their high horse. More sales is more profit. And we agree that money talks.