Is book selection really a factor?

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The biggest advantage of Amazon, especially with the 3G Kindle is that it's all so easy. Browse the bookstore on the device, click a button, and a minute later you're reading the book. Amazon aren't just selling you the reader, but the whole "infrastructure", and more than anyone they've got it right.

You're absolutely right; if you're willing to strip DRM, and if it's legal where you live (it isn't where I live, for example) there's no particular advantage in one bookstore over another; they all sell pretty much the same books. But it's a lot easier not to have to have all the hassle of removing DRM, even if it is legal.

Agree!

Some titles are available for B&N and Amazon. But because the prices are the same and the book is of course the same, why buy from B&N, remove the DRM (which is illegal in USA) so I can read on my Kindle?

I can be wrong but lot of USA people mainly buy from their main ereader bookstores, with the only exception of Europe or some Latin countries. USA folks don't buy a Nook to get books from Amazon or vice-versa, not in a consistent way. If that's the case, I think that person bought the wrong ereader.

Tablets are a bit different, because thanks to apps , you can read whatever you want on your Android or iPad tablet.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But we now have the nook and the Kobo that will give similar experiences and maybe better ones given that there is no need for an obsolete 5-way controller to select.

Actually, Jon, I find the 5-way controller a quicker and more accurate method of selecting text than the touch screen of the Sony. It's a lot easier to Mark a particular section of text with a cursor than with a touch-screen.

[Ea]

I don't understand why geo-restrictions doesn't count? It's those that primarily limits the book selection available to me

[bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Ea

I don't understand why geo-restrictions doesn't count? It's those that primarily limits the book selection available to me

I agree. For the most part it's due to the geographical restrictions that you can't get a particular book. (Though ve haf vays....)

There is, however, one other consideration. I've heard complaints from some Kindle owners that the selection of non-English language titles is limited for the Kindle. Here in France, current titles in French are only available in ePub version and given the French publishers' coddled status, I suspect they are not going to be doing any deals any time soon to allow Amazon to distribute their titles.

While you might consider that "geographical restriction" it does seem to count as a consideration involving "book selection" when choosing an e-reader.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Ea

I don't understand why geo-restrictions doesn't count?

Geo restrictions can be a subject for another poll.
The main reason is that georestrictions are usually supposed to be across the board. If a georestricted title is available in one ebookstore but not another, it's usually because of lack of enforcement where it's available. It probably shouldn't be available in any case.
If you know for a fact a title is legitimately available if you had a different reader (which you are allowed to have...not grey market imports with a spoofed vpn....) then by all means, enter a YES vote. That would be the reader store/format blocking your access, not the georestriction. I'd be interested to hear the details.

[jocampo]

Not sure about others users or languages, but I usually find my Spanish books on Amazon as well. Granted, I prefer to read my computer books in English, not Spanish, the same goes for my self help books. But I think it depends more of the title and publisher.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by ApK

Geo restrictions can be a subject for another poll.
The main reason is that georestrictions are usually supposed to be across the board. If a georestricted title is available in one ebookstore but not another, it's usually because of lack of enforcement where it's available. It probably shouldn't be available in any case.
If you know for a fact a title is legitimately available if you had a different reader (which you are allowed to have...not grey market imports with a spoofed vpn....) then by all means, enter a YES vote. That would be the reader store/format blocking your access, not the georestriction. I'd be interested to hear the details.

Thank you. I think it was the thread title that confused me - it's talking about book selection, not format, so I guess I was "tuned" into that.

Since I own (too) many ebook readers, I'm too well covered - but if I'd only had a kindle (my favourite) I would have had a problem with Danish books.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ea

Since I own (too) many ebook readers, I'm too well covered - but if I'd only had a kindle (my favourite) I would have had a problem with Danish books.

Yes, ePub is definitely the dominant format for non-English European bookstores. I'm sure that Amazon will improve in this area in the not too distant future; they've recently launched a German-language Kindle bookstore, so other languages are perhaps not too far behind (although it may take them a while to get around to Danish ).

[DMB]

I voted "yes" but only because so many books I'd like to read in eformat are still only available in dt versions. In practice, buying only within the UK, I haven't found any significant difference in what's available in the different formats.

I've only has an ereader since last August and am heartened by the expansion of choice since that time. Various books I had hoped to find that at first weren't available as ebooks or were subject to geographical restrictions have become available.

I do find the lack of Kindle books in French a mild annoyance, but the opening of the German Kindle store gives me hope.

[elemenoP]

My sister is getting her Master's and wants an ereader so she doesn't have to lug her books around. We looked up about 5 of her books: 2 were available from multiple sources, 2 were only available on Kindle, and 1 was not available as an ebook. These are not academic textbooks, btw, more like self help books. (what can I say, it's a dubious sort of Master's.) She is not technical enough to strip DRM. I do feel that if you need or want specific books outside of the bestsellers, Amazon is most likely going to suit you better than all the epub bookstores combined.

eP

[GoodCompany]

Just got my first ereader -- Sony 350 and am loving the heck out of it. BUT, I am really disappointed at how many books I'm looking for that are only available through Amazon. Hey, I thought I was supposed to have more choices on where to buy with a reader that reads epubs, instead of no choice! Happy to make Amazon my main source for books again -- if they would start offering epub editions.

[crich70]

I don't know about stripping DRM so if a book has it and isn't compatible with my Kindle I'm pretty much out of luck no matter where it's sold from. In fact I have that problem with books from Mobipocket.com which is owned by Amazon. (One of my few pet peeves against them).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by crich70

I don't know about stripping DRM so if a book has it and isn't compatible with my Kindle I'm pretty much out of luck no matter where it's sold from. In fact I have that problem with books from Mobipocket.com which is owned by Amazon. (One of my few pet peeves against them).

Amazon's AZW is just Mobipocket format under the hood. AZW without DRM is Mobipocket. The DRM for AZW is different and thus, AZW and Mobipocket are not compatible with DRM. It's like buying an ePub from B&N and Sony. Yes, ePub under the hood, but the DRM is different.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Amazon's AZW is just Mobipocket format under the hood. AZW without DRM is Mobipocket. The DRM for AZW is different and thus, AZW and Mobipocket are not compatible with DRM. It's like buying an ePub from B&N and Sony. Yes, ePub under the hood, but the DRM is different.

Well, yes and no. There are some enhancements made by Amazon, like compression ratio, is better on azw.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Well, yes and no. There are some enhancements made by Amazon, like compression ratio, is better on azw.

Maybe AZW is using the better Mobipocket compression where most Mobipocket use the standard compression. That would explain the compression on AZW being better. Wen the DRM is removed from AZW, Mobipocket Reader will display it just fine. SO it cannot be some nonstandard compression.