Oprah's Kindle Discount - $50 Off

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Hi JJ!
You are assuming she is really touting the Kindle as her 'favorite gadget'. Does no one else get the feeling she is being paid for this? Of course she is. Thats why there will be no mention of alternate devices.

That's because she had Bezos on her show and he gave her one. So of course she loves it. But I highly doubt she's tried or read about any of the others. So in this case, I do think her opinion is highly skewed.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's because she had Bezos on her show and he gave her one. So of course she loves it. But I highly doubt she's tried or read about any of the others. So in this case, I do think her opinion is highly skewed.

No... if you ask me what my favorite gadget I am going to tell you which of the gadgets I have is my favorite. That doesn't mean I've tried every gadget in any way. Also, I'm not sure how you can say "opinion" is skewed... since it is after all "opinion".

BOb

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

That's your opinion... and one I strongly disagree with. The more Amazon can demonstrate that ebooks sell, the more publishers will do the work to create ebook versions. The more ebook versions available the more available for all ebook readers.

Remember, a rising tide raises all boats. So, if a small percentage of these new ebooks are exclusive to the Kindle for a few months in the grand scheme of things who cares. The market is growing.

Me thinks he doth protest to much. Would you complain if Sony got some exclusive deals too?

BOb

Amazon will convince the publishers that people want eBooks for the Kindle and Amazon will get Kindle editions. Which cannot be purchased by anyone without a Kindle. And it will take at least 6 months for these books to come out in any other format. This is not good at all.

If I found out that Sony had an exclusive deal, I would also not be happy. It's not fair for anyone to have an exclusive deal. In fact, it's actually not good when any books are not in all the major formats because that too limits what some people can read.

So what we have is exclusive deals and limited formats both of which are bad. And it doesn't matter who's doing it. bad is bad regardless.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Amazon will convince the publishers that people want eBooks for the Kindle and Amazon will get Kindle editions. Which cannot be purchased by anyone without a Kindle. And it will take at least 6 months for these books to come out in any other format. This is not good at all.

I don't think 6 months is going to matter to much in the scheme of eBooks. We are at the very beginning of ebooks. So, in 2,3,5,10 years time what will it matter if you could only get the eBook from the Kindle store for the first 6 months? I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

BOb

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

So, if a small percentage of these new ebooks are exclusive to the Kindle for a few months in the grand scheme of things who cares. The market is growing.

Me thinks he doth protest to much. Would you complain if Sony got some exclusive deals too?

Bob, I do not care if Amazon gets 6 month exclusivity. It just means they are more aggressive in the marketplace. What I do care about are (a) permanent exclusivity, which is, I believe, where Bezos is heading if he can, and (b) the impact on publishers and authors. Bezos is already trying to force publishers into better deals for Amazon, deals that will not or do not convert into better deals for consumers -- note: better deals for Amazon, not for consumers.

We have begun to see this with the pressure Amazon has been putting on UK publishers and on POD (print on demand) publishers in the US. Amazon has demanded that UK publishers increase the discount to Amazon, but there hasn't been the concomitant promise of increasing the discount to consumers (or even the whisper that it would be so). In the US, if you want the one-click button you have to use Amazon's POD services, not the services of other POD printers.

What I am concerned about is that as the tide swells to its peak we will see more publishers publishing ebooks, but as the tide recedes the only boat not wrecked is the Amazon. Too much market power, particularly in a market that is supposed to be the market that generates the full exchange of ideas -- regardless of their frivolity -- does not bode well for free exchange.

And, FWIW, I would complain equally as much if it were Sony that cut these types of deals. I am simply opposed to giving a single vendor too much power in the marketplace of ideas.

[CCDMan]

Gag. Make me want to sell my Kindle. The woman is a woo-woo pushing idiot.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's because she had Bezos on her show and he gave her one. So of course she loves it. But I highly doubt she's tried or read about any of the others. So in this case, I do think her opinion is highly skewed.

If you watched the show, you'd know that was not how she got one. I know you can't stand it but she likes the Kindle.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by rhadin

What I am concerned about is that as the tide swells to its peak we will see more publishers publishing ebooks, but as the tide recedes the only boat not wrecked is the Amazon.

Well, if Buba Gump Shrimp was the only one smart enough or lucky enough to ride out the storm, shouldn't they reap the benefits? God forbid is a company tries to make money. I'm sure that's what the shareholders want.

BOb

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Are you saying that celebrities endorse product strictly for the money, and don't use or believe in the product they are endorsing? Certainly this can't be true. And certainly not about Oprah.

Well, if it is true then Oprah is violating US law, something I do not believe she -- or her army of lawyers -- would let occur. US law is quite clear that celebrity endorsers of products must actually use the product. I wouldn't be surprised, OTOH, if she was paid to try the product as a way to get it into her hands, and once she agreed that she liked it was paid to say so. However, to comply with US law she actually must use the product personally and regularly, not just fleetingly.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Well, if Buba Gump Shrimp was the only one smart enough or lucky enough to ride out the storm, shouldn't they reap the benefits? God forbid is a company tries to make money. I'm sure that's what the shareholders want.

If Bubba Gump shrimp was the only survivor of the storm, then BSG would be able to dominate the market for all of a few months at maximum -- because BGS could not dictate to the shrimp who to be caught by. Then Bob's Shrimping for Shrimp could buy a boat and challenge BGS.

But once Amazon controls vertically the publishing of ebooks, there is no way for another competitor to come along and alter the market. A more apt comparison rather than BGS is the problems Apple and Linux have had penetrating the personal computer OS market in the US. Yes Apple and Linux exist and are "growing," but it is Microsoft that really controls the marketplace and new competitors are simply not coming out of the netherworld.

Perhaps an even better comparison might be the browser market wars or even the desktop publishing wars.

I do not want Amazon in the position of Microsoft when it comes to the dissemination of knowledge.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

If you watched the show, you'd know that was not how she got one. I know you can't stand it but she likes the Kindle.

And of course she never lies or twists the truth to her advantage.

She may indeed like the Kindle.....whats not to like?

I find it repugnant that such a wonderful device is now being bought because she decided it was worthwhile, for whatever reason. I'd feel the same way if any highly paid, untalented, movie/TV/sports/music celebrity did so.

Wish she had gone for a Sony........or better yet, a Hanlin...........

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

And of course she never lies or twists the truth to her advantage.

She may indeed like the Kindle.....whats not to like?

I find it repugnant that such a wonderful device is now being bought because she decided it was worthwhile, for whatever reason. I'd feel the same way if any highly paid, untalented, movie/TV/sports/music celebrity did so.

Wish she had gone for a Sony........or better yet, a Hanlin...........

Wow. Just Wow.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Wow. Just Wow.

If I"ve offended the duck, I'm sorry. Wouldn't do that for the world.

Its just that I bought the Kindle on its merits, and I've defended it on its merits. Watched the video, did some research

Now when people see me with it, they are going to think I bought it because of her!

AAARRRRGGG!!

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Now when people see me with it, they are going to thing I bought it because of her!

AAARRRRGGG!!

I can appreciate that but nothing can stop you from reveling in the fact that you were ahead of the pack because you had it first. Tell 'em Oprah was just handging on your coat tails.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I can appreciate that but nothing can stop you from reveling in the fact that you were ahead of the pack because you had it first. Tell 'em Oprah was just handging on your coat tails.

Thats why I love you Daffy...........